Canadian-made Summilux 35mm f1.4, second generation. Leica product code 11870. Serial number in the 2.99 million range, manufactured in 1979.
A flagship large-aperture wide-angle lens from Leitz, produced for more than thirty years since the first Steel Rim version.
Wide open, it renders with a soft, gentle glow, and when stopped down it delivers a sharp image while retaining a calm and natural atmosphere. Its lines are finer than those of the Summicron, giving it a more delicate character. The sense of three-dimensionality when slightly stopped down is also excellent. A classic Leica 35mm lens that offers a wide range of expressive qualities.
This item was previously sold by our shop and has now returned after being carefully used by its owner. There is a very small rub mark on the focusing knob, but no other noticeable flaws. The exterior has a deep, subdued shine and looks beautifully clean overall. The edges of the barrel and the hood mount show almost no signs of use.
It received a full overhaul in 2022, and another full overhaul was performed in 2025 prior to this resale. Thanks to the meticulous servicing, the aperture and helicoid operate with exceptional smoothness. Rangefinder coupling is perfectly aligned and focus accuracy is excellent.
A very fine scratch of about 1–2 mm can be seen on the front element. When held under strong LED light, the middle element shows extremely slight coating wear, but this will have virtually no effect on image quality. There is no haze, and the lens remains clear and bright. As a Summilux, this example ranks among the better ones and will deliver its characteristic rendering at a high level.
On certain digital Leica M bodies, the helicoid may not move at infinity or near-infinity due to interference with the rear-element guard. This issue was observed on the Leica M9 and M240, but the lens worked without any problems on the Leica M10-P. All film-era Leica M bodies can be used without issue.
A genuine 12504 hood and Series 7 filter are included, so you can head straight out and start shooting.
