Last Updated on 03/02/2019 by Mark Beckenbach
Looking for the next rare Leica item to add to your vintage collection? This prototype lens certainly fits the bill — and is guaranteed to rip a hole through your wallet.
It’s yet another day for a rare vintage Leica, so if you’re looking for one, today is your lucky day. But, maybe not so much for your wallet. This rare silver prototype of the Leica 35mm Summilux-M f1.4 Double Aspherical Lens has once again surfaced on our ebay radar, still with the hefty price tag. But, we’ll let you be the judge of whether it’s worth the $750,000 asking price!
To refresh your memory, the item listed by Toronto-based ebay seller setadel_studios is described as an extremely rare prototype of the 35mm Summilux-M 35mm f1.4 AA (double aspherical) lens. In fact, it’s the one and only prototype made, with a unique brass body in silver chrome version. As it’s made with brass, it weighs 400g — heavier than the regular black anodized lens at 340g. “Probably the greatest find and most desirable lens ever in the Leica system,” the listing description went on. This lens is supposedly within the ranks of collectibles like the coveted 50mm f1.2 Noctilux lens.
The item has a cosmetics rating of 9.5+/10, free of dings, marks, or dents and shows virtually no signs of wear on the barrel. The focusing is smooth and the aperture clicks are crisp. The optics also has no fog, fungus, separation, or scratches. This pricey glass also has nine elements in five groups, 46° angle of view, minimum aperture f16, and a filter size of E46.
Other features mentioned are:
- Two hand-ground aspherical elements that were incredibly fragile that a lot of them broke when being grounded.
- A unique design that features a concave lens element on both the front and rear element. The only Leica lens to feature this.
- Extremely expensive to produce to the point where Leica had to stop production, change the element design, and re-release the lens.
Now, as we always say with items of this supposed rarity and value, it’s highly suggested to ask around for more information on the history, features, and actual market value before you part with your cash. Proceed to the ebay listing with caution!
Photo from the ebay listing by setadel_studios