Price: $1,425.00 Payment method: PayPal Item condition: 8+ Shows moderate wear or finish marks
Selling one of my favorite lenses of all time! An amazing performer on both digital and film.
The lens has been used but not abused -- there is moderate wear to the paint on the barrel, but the glass is clean and has had a UV filter on the front element since day 1.
The reason I am pricing it as low as I am is that the front of the lens has a minor wobble to it, which is a common repair. It doesn't affect images or real-world-use in any way, which is why I haven't gotten around to sending it out.
YYE has quoted me $180 for a CLA (add 30% for 10-day turnaround), so I figured I would list this at a $250 discount in case someone wants a beautiful lens at a significant discount and doesn't care about the minor wobble. If it doesn't sell, I'll take the listing down and send it out for a CLA.
The lens was also CLA'd by DAG in 2021 and has been performing great for me over the years!
Comes with caps + original Leica lens hood. 1425 net to me. NYC pickup welcome.
That would make a GREAT 1st lens for someone who hasn't experienced true Leica glass yet (or wants a lens for those "rough" places we go).
GLWS ...
Reminds me of a story from long ago (late 80's) ...
I was in San Diego at a Camera Show (remember those) and talking with some folks drooling over things as we do. Young and broke sailor, my budget was severely hampered. I had scrimped and saved money during a deployment and bought a shiny new Canon A-1 in Kowloon (across the bay from Hong Kong to most folks).
Well, my fancy electro-gizmo of the day, succumbed to my addiction to photographing Sunset Cliffs and other salt air environments, and incurred some internal corrosion. I found it, got it repaired and then was looking for something more mechanical oriented, that would hold up to the riggers of being a sailor.
Still being young and drooling over shiny things, I met a seasoned photographer, who explained to me I needed to be looking for an undamaged, but brassed body. His point was ... undamaged = not neglected. Lots of smooth brassing = well loved / used a lot / it was a long term keeper for someone, and built to last through eons of use / love.
I look at this lens, and while it isn't the yellow brassing, its wear pattern on the aperture ring looks like it was "well loved" (i.e. not damaged) through this point in its life.
If I didn't already have this lens in my bag ... I can almost see the fellow at the camera show, nodding with approval, when I point to "this one?".
Anyway, hope you don't mind the story, as I hope it lends a thought to this lens finding its way to the right buyer.
Pics of front / rear glass might be helpful, too.
P.S. I bought a brassed Nikon FE ... and used it for my entire film era (still have it). I've found my way to Leica since running into some guys at this place called FredMiranda.
This is an amazing story, thanks so much for sharing! I totally agree. I work in documentary film and so this lens has been on many fun adventures with me At the end of the day, its the pictures that matter more than keeping gear in "mint" condition....
Thanks for the story -- I'm also very jealous that you experience Kowloon in that time period. One of my favorite bodies of work is Greg Girard's photographs from Kowloon's Walled City.
Leica 35mm Summicron ASPH V1
At the end of the day, its the pictures that matter more than keeping gear in "mint" condition....