SOOIC. An early collapsible Summicron that uses radioactive glass, commonly known as the Thorium Summicron. This one has a serial number in the 990,000 range, making it an under-million series from 1952. It has a feet scale. Due to the radioactive glass, there is some yellowing, though it is relatively mild, so any color cast in actual shooting is likely minimal.
Many Thorium Summicron lenses show scratches or coating deterioration, making it rare to find one that offers the original image quality. This particular lens is unusual in that it has only minor scratches and no haze.
There are minor scuffs on the base and collapsible section, but overall, the plating remains in excellent condition, maintaining a beautiful appearance.
A full overhaul was performed in 2017 when it was last sold, and we have carried out another full overhaul for this sale. The aperture and focusing helicoid now offer an exceptionally smooth handling experience. The rangefinder coupling is also perfectly aligned, allowing you to enjoy the sharp focus characteristic of the Thorium Summicron.
There are a few minor cleaning marks and extremely slight coating wear, visible only under strong LED light, which should not affect image quality. The original coating is well-preserved on each surface, making this a rare example for a Thorium Summicron. Comes with original front and rear caps.
