Summar 5cm f2 with rigid barrel. A rare version produced only in small numbers during the earliest period of Summar production. Nickel-finished barrel. Serial number in the 190,000 range, manufactured in 1933, the first year of production, from the third production batch. Leitz product code SUMAR. Distance scale in meters. Three glass surfaces, including the front and rear elements, retain coatings that appear to have been applied later by Leitz.
The Rigid Summar has long been highly prized for its distinctive appearance and rarity. It also looks superb when paired with a black and nickel Barnack Leica.
At the same time, however, the Rigid Summar is a lens that requires particular caution. Some examples suffer from play in the focusing mechanism, resulting in inconsistent rangefinder coupling, while others have been poorly polished overseas and show serious problems with focus or resolving power. Unfortunately, examples with such major issues are not uncommon.
When purchasing a Rigid Summar, we strongly recommend inspecting the actual lens and testing it on a digital Leica M rather than judging it by appearance alone. It is also a lens that we inspect with particular care when purchasing for our shop.
There are some scuffs and plating loss around the front edge of the barrel, but for a Rigid Summar, the exterior is in quite good condition. There are no noticeable scratches or dents.
A full overhaul, including focus adjustment, was completed in September 2026. All controls now operate smoothly with a pleasantly moderate amount of torque, and the rangefinder coupling is spot-on.
The front element of Rigid Summars is often heavily worn, but this example is in good condition with relatively few scratches. There are also some minor cleaning marks on the middle and rear elements. A slight haze remains due to coating deterioration on the middle element. During servicing, the repair specialist cleaned the lens with the priority of preserving as much of the original coating as possible.
In test shooting, a slight drop in contrast can be seen outdoors in bright sunlight or when the lens is pointed toward a light source indoors. On the other hand, this particular example produces impressively crisp and well-resolved images even wide open, with the sharp rendering and rich bokeh that can be enjoyed from a good Summar. Considering how many Summars, both Rigid and collapsible versions, suffer from damaged glass, this example can be regarded as one of the better performers overall.
An original Bakelite front cap, original painted rear cap, and a period-correct red box are included. Also an excellent choice for a collection.
