Summarit 50mm f1.5, early version with Taylor Hobson engraving. Leica screw mount. Leitz product code SOOIA. Distance scale marked in feet.
Serial number in the 740,000 range, manufactured in 1949. This example comes from the very first production batch, made in the Summarit's introductory year! Summarit production began with serial number 740001, making this the 479th example produced. The chrome plating appears slightly more lustrous than that of later Summarits.
This is a rare version with Taylor, Taylor & Hobson engraved on the barrel and U.S. Pat. Nr.2019985 on the opposite side. In the world of Leica collecting, where more engravings often mean greater prestige, this is certainly a lens worth showing off! Haha.
The Summarit is an improved version of the prewar Xenon 50mm f1.5, a fast Leica screw mount lens designed by Schneider. It retains the Xenon's optical construction of 7 elements in 5 groups, while incorporating new types of optical glass for improved performance.
Before the introduction of the Summilux in 1961, the Summarit was the fastest lens available for Leica cameras. Wide open, it produces elegant, soft images with a delicate glow. As the aperture is stopped down, contrast increases dramatically, transforming the rendering into something remarkably sharp, rich, and full-bodied.
The filter thread is E41. As an early version, it also accepts genuine slip-on filters. The correct original hood is the rectangular XOONS.
A first-batch Summarit, especially appealing to collectors who appreciate the earliest versions of classic Leica lenses.

The lens is in beautiful overall cosmetic condition, showing only very minor signs of use, such as faint scuffs. No noticeable scratches or dents are present.
Fully overhauled in October 2026. Thanks to careful servicing, the aperture ring and helicoid, which often feel stiff and rough on Summarit lenses, now operate smoothly. Rangefinder coupling is also spot on.
The front element shows a few very faint cleaning marks. The coating is also missing from several surfaces, but the glass is still in quite good condition for a Summarit, a lens often found with optical issues.
Test shots produced good results, confirming that this example delivers very pleasing images.
Comes with genuine front and rear caps.