Vintage Leica M3 with Collapsible Leica Summicron L39 50mm/F2.0 Radioactive Lens

Today is a happy day as I have finally managed to get the M3 camera Body (from 1957-8) and the Leica 50mm collapsible len 1043XXX (from 1952/3). This is one of the more rare early Summicron 50mm lenses, which uses thorium and or lanthanum glass elements, giving it the slightly yellow hue. Many love the overall rendering qualities combined with being the smallest collapsed and lightest Summicron 50 len. The lens was very solidly built and tiny. This lens was full of character, the old Leica character that everybody loved

One of the challenge is to find one in good condition. I was lucky as the front len is protected by a Leica UV or IA filter. Finding a "clean" lens is very difficult but It is worth it. It was good enough for Cartier-Bresson, it is good enough for me. It was the absolute top lens of its time and the working tool of many famous top photographers.

The Leica Summicron L39 50mm was produced from 1953-1956. One of the key reason for getting the Leica M3 is because of the discretion and portability of the cameras versus the nice but attention seeking Rolleiflex.

One can see the yellow hue from the len below

The first year or so of production (below about serial number 1,050,000) emits about 20 microSieverts per hour at the front of the lens (0.2 mR/hr or 2 µSv/hr from rear of lens), while lenses made from 1956-on are inert.

  

This is Leica's first 50mm SUMMICRON, with seven elements and 10 blades. It replaces the SUMMITAR(1939-1953), which replaced the SUMMAR (1933-1939, 6 blades). The two versions differ only mechanically from each other:

1952-1956: collapsible screw mount, 216.2g, 7.625 oz., SOOIC. (228.7g, 8.065 oz. mit M-adapter.)

(Source: http://www.kenrockwell.com)

7 elements in 4 groups.

http://www.antiquecameras.net/50summicronmlenses.html