Summarex 85mm f1.5. Serial number in the 820,000 range, manufactured in 1950. Leitz product code SOOCX. Leica L-mount with rangefinder coupling. Optical design: 5 groups, 7 elements in a modified Gauss formula. Distance scale in feet. The diaphragm consists of 15 blades, delivering beautifully smooth bokeh. Filter size E58.
Among Leitz screw-mount medium-telephoto lenses, the Summarex 8.5 cm boasts the largest maximum aperture. Its appearance with the elaborate dedicated hood attached is truly impressive. The earliest Summarex lenses were finished in black paint, with only a little over a hundred produced; by around 1948, the finish changed to chrome.
At full aperture the rendering is quite soft with pleasing glow, while distortion remains minimal—making it a wonderful choice for portrait work. Even a slight stop-down brings a marked increase in resolution, and stopping down further transforms the image into a crisp, high-contrast depiction.
To maintain accurate rangefinder coupling, choose an L/M adapter that positions the tripod socket of the barrel directly downward. Genuine Leitz or Rayqual adapters are the most reliable options.
Some plating loss and scuff marks are visible from normal use. The hood shows a very slight deformation, though it is hardly noticeable from a distance.
Fully overhauled in October 2025. Summarex lenses tend to have stiff aperture and helicoid movements, but this example has been finished with a smooth, well-damped feel.
Many Summarex lenses also have unreliable rangefinder coupling, yet this one maintains accurate focus from 2 m to infinity even at full aperture. At the near-focus range around the 5–6 ft mark, there is a slight back-focus tendency of about 3 cm. Although there is no index mark, the closest focusing position (actually measured at 1 m) reaches proper focus.
The inner elements show faint cleaning marks and some coating deterioration around the periphery, but none of these have any noticeable effect on the image.
Test shots produced excellent results. Sample images are posted in our Test Gallery, all taken with rangefinder focusing.
Comes with the impressive original hood and aftermarket front and rear caps.
