Leica Summicron-M 66mm f/2 Lens

The Summicron-M 66 f/2 is being released as part of the Leica Classic Line in a limited edition of 660 units worldwide. Each lens has its own unique three-digit serial number engraved on the front ring and comes with a certificate of authenticity. As such, each Summicron-M 66 f/2 lens is a unique piece of Leica history. The historic Elcan 66 mm f/2 was never commercially available. Produced for official use in a run of around 200 units, examples that appear on the market today are generally understood to originate from former military inventories. The new Summicron-M 66 f/2 brings this once inaccessible concept into the present as a strictly limited Leica Classic Line lens. Its distinctive focal length, compact form and exceptional resolution recall an era in which optical performance had to serve absolute discretion.The objective in developing the Elcan 66 mm f/2 was to achieve the highest possible resolution while maintaining a fast lens speed and a compact, unobtrusive design. Dr Mandler, already a leading figure in his field at the time, opted for a focal length of 66mm as it best met all the requirements. The Summicron-M 66 f/2 builds on this concept, opening up a new photographic dimension and bridging the gap between classic standard and portrait focal lengths.

The Elcan's mechanical design continues to influence lens design to this day. Both the original special-purpose lens and this reinterpretation differ from standard M-Lenses in that their aperture ring rotates in the opposite direction. Furthermore, the Summicron-M 66 f/2 distinguishes itself from other Leica lenses with its more refined lettering.

Prized for its Distinctive Rendering

With a focal length of 66mm, you can take photos that look natural and have a slight telephoto effect. With a wide aperture, your subject will stand out clearly from the background, creating a soft, harmonious bokeh effect. This gives your images the depth typical of portrait and reportage photography using a Leica M or Leica SL (with an adapter).

Maximum Sharpness When Stopped Down

When stopped down, the Summicron-M 66 f/2 continues to impress with its high resolution, rendering even the finest details clearly. This strength was already a key feature of the historic Elcan 66mm f/2, which was designed to produce images that could be enlarged significantly without losing sharpness. Such optical reserve made the lens particularly suited to specialised workflows in which negatives had to withstand substantial enlargement and close examination, at times with dedicated enlarging equipment. This quality is particularly evident today in architectural and landscape photography as well as close-ups.

In the Leica Archive

Only around 200 Elcan 66mm f/2 lenses were ever produced. As a result, this bespoke spy lens is one of the rarest in the Leica M series' history. One of these lenses is held in the Leica Archive located in Wetzlar. It once formed part of the photographic equipment on board the guided-missile cruiser USS Little Rock. Decades later, the same lens was used to photograph the decommissioned ship, thus completing the circle between service and remembrance.

Another detail can be found on the lens barrel: the '60' engraving continues the tradition of high-precision optics. As with the original, it refers to the actual focal length, which was measured individually. To ensure the greatest possible accuracy, the digit before and after the decimal are engraved without a decimal point. Thus, the marking '60' stands for an exact focal length of 66.0 millimetres, emphasising the high standards that characterise both the Elcan and the new Summicron-M 66 f/2.

Key Features:

Limited Edition of 660 Units

Unique Three-Digit Serial Number

Distinctive 66mm f/2 Focal Length

Compact and Unobtrusive Design

Exceptional Resolution and Sharpness

Soft Bokeh and Natural Rendering

What's in the Box:

Leica Summicron-M 66mm f/2 Lens