Early Summilux 50mm f1.4, first version with a beautiful chrome finish, often nicknamed Lady. Serial number in the 1.69 million range, manufactured in 1959. Leitz product code SOOME.
This pre-design change Summilux 50mm 1st version is a highly sought-after model, known for its gentle, soft rendering at wide open aperture. Stopping down just one stop tightens the image with crisp detail and strong three-dimensionality. A lens with remarkable versatility and expressive depth.

The elegant and refined finish that earned it the name Lady blends seamlessly not only with contemporary M3 and M2 cameras but also with modern digital bodies, embodying a timeless design.

This copy shows traces of fungus and separation, and is offered at a special price. Nevertheless, it has been carefully serviced, performs well, and is an excellent choice for those who wish to use it without hesitation.

There are a few extremely minor scuffs on the filter rim, but overall it shows very little sign of use and remains in very clean condition. Fully overhauled in July 2025, with careful servicing that has resulted in excellent operation of the aperture and helicoid, both offering a superbly smooth feel. Rangefinder coupling is perfectly accurate.

The lens glass shows spot-like traces of fungus around the periphery of the front element and two small balsam separations in the center of the front group, but no haze, giving it a clear and bright condition. Although there are some imperfections in the glass, test shots produced excellent results. Sample images are available on our gallery site. It delivers the refined rendering at wide open that is characteristic of the 1st version.

Comes with third-party front and rear caps, along with a 43mm filter specifically made for this lens, sold by a major camera retailer.