Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim (OVU)

Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim (OVU)

When it arrived in 1961, this was the first version of the 35mm Summilux and one of the fastest wide-angle lenses available for a rangefinder camera [1][3]. Collectors call it the "Steel Rim" for the distinctive metal ring around its front element, and over the decades it has become one of the most sought-after classic Leica lenses, with clean examples commanding very high prices[2]. The optical design is attributed to Walter Mandler and Leitz Canada in Midland, Ontario, the workshop responsible for several of Leica's defining fast lenses. Its seven-element formula and ten-bladed diaphragm sit in a compact barrel that takes an unusual 41mm filter, a thread it shares with very few other Leica lenses.

The lens was offered in two forms. Versions intended for the M3 carried bayonet-mounted "goggles," an auxiliary optical attachment that adapted the 35mm field of view to the M3 finder and allowed close focusing, while versions for the M2 were supplied without goggles. Internally the barrel was built around brass, and the finish was either silver chrome or black anodised aluminium, since Leica did not adopt black chrome plating until 1971. Focusing is by a conventional helicoid, and aperture is set on a ring at the front of the barrel. The lens is not the easiest to use wide open by modern standards, but its handling and build are typical of Leitz craftsmanship of the period.

The matching OLLUX hood, catalogue number 12522, was sold as an accessory and is now a collectible in its own right, trading for substantial sums; reviewers note that it attaches loosely and is prone to falling off in use. In 2022 Leica reissued the design as a Classic-line lens using modern glass and coatings chosen to approximate the original character, which helps distinguish vintage examples from the modern remake.

Optical qualities

Rendering The Steel Rim is valued more for its character than for clinical performance. Wide open it is soft and low in contrast, often producing a pronounced glow around highlights that many photographers describe as dreamy or veiled[4]. Erwin Puts, quoted by reviewer Jonathan Slack, observed that at full aperture the lens shows low overall contrast and modest rendering of fine detail, improving markedly on stopping down.

Sharpness Performance climbs quickly as the aperture closes. By f/2.8 the lens is considerably sharper, the centre is very sharp by f/5.6, and the edges clean up by f/4, though the extreme corners never reach the same level.

Bokeh and transitions The combination of the f/1.4 maximum aperture and the lens's gentle wide-open rendering gives smooth out-of-focus areas and a soft, atmospheric look that is a large part of its appeal.

History

Development and Launch The 35mm f/1.4 Summilux version 1 was produced from 1961 to 1966 and represented the fastest 35mm lens of its day. It came in two configurations tied to the camera bodies of the era: goggled examples for the M3 and plain examples for the M2, the M2 being the body conventionally associated with wide-angle work.

Production Evolution Roughly 8,000 examples were made in total. Because the Leitz shipping records did not record finish or mount type, the relative quantities have been reconstructed by researcher Lars Netopil, who estimated approximately 4,400 chrome goggled lenses, 3,360 chrome lenses without goggles, 160 black goggled lenses and 80 black lenses without goggles, while suspecting the true number of black non-goggled examples may be closer to 200. The silver finish was chrome plating and the black finish was anodised aluminium, with brass used internally in both.

Collector Notes Buyers should confirm the finish and mount configuration, since black examples and non-goggled examples are far scarcer than the common chrome goggled version. The original OLLUX hood (12522) is frequently missing or replaced and is expensive to source separately. As with any lens of this age, the goggles, coatings and glass should be checked for scratches, haze and fungus, and rear-element coating wear is not unusual on used copies. Examples are often described as Canada or Midland made, reflecting the lens's Leitz Canada origins. Note that the close-focus capability of 0.65m applies to the goggled M3 version; non-goggled M2 examples were limited to about one metre, so prospective buyers should match expectations to the specific variant they are inspecting.