Summicron 35mm 8-element, black paint. Early model with a serial number in the 1,630,000 range. Made in Germany. The Leitz code is SAMWO, later known as 11108. A glorious lens from 1958. During this period, including the surrounding years of 1957, 1958, and 1959, Leica produced several black paint models that are highly coveted by collectors, such as the Leica MP black paint, M3 black paint with black counter, M2 black paint with button rewind, and the first official batch of M3 black paint cameras in the 950,000 range.

This particular lens is an early 8-element black paint model, manufactured right in the middle of this golden era. Among the variations within the 1,630,000 serial number range, this lens features a black-painted mount side and a chrome-plated mount surface. While many lenses from this lot show significant paint wear, this one is in excellent condition, making it a truly exceptional piece.

This is the perfect lens to pair with a Leica M3 black paint. A rare find indeed.

The black paint on the mount side and nameplate shows some bubbling, and the stopper area reveals some brass, but overall, the black paint is well-preserved, making this early black 8-element model in very good condition. It underwent a full overhaul in 2023, including the goggles attachment. All operations remain smooth, and the prism is clear, maintaining the excellent view through an M3 viewfinder. The lens shows no wiping marks or significant haze, and it’s crystal clear. The coating is fully intact, with the purple tint adding to the bold look of the black paint.

It comes with the original black paint front cap.

This item was sold in-store while being prepared for sale. Thank you!