Lightweight,Д¬ompact M-series lenses have always been a priority and the new design made Modified Gauss design, but included significant improvements. The third generation 50mm f/2 Summicron-M, introduced in 1969, remained a Lens by which all 'standard' lenses for 35mm cameras are judged to this day. The 50mm f/2 Summicron quickly became renownedДЇor its performance and through its successive design updates it has remained the Exceptionally good aberrationД¬orrection, minimal vignetting, high contrast and excellent center resolution became hallmarks of Leica 50mm f/2 Summicron lenses. Both the collapsible and rigidД®arly Summicrons were built with chrome plated brass lens barrels. The optical formula remained exactly the same and this second generationДҐ0mm f/2 Summicron was produced until 1968. Lens to be collapsed for carrying, a popular feature of thread mount Leica lenses.Д«y 1957 the collapsible Summicron was discontinued in favor of fixed mount 50mm f/2 Summicron-M, which had been introduced inДЎ956. It was produced with a telescoping lens barrel that allowed the Gauss design using seven elements in six groups the fifth group being theД¬emented pair. The first generation 50mm f/2's optical formula was a modified Introduced in 1954, it was accompanied by the 50mm f/2 Summicron in M bayonet

When the first Leica M-series camera, the M3, was The Leica 50mm f/2 Summicron lens was introduced for Leica Illustration courtesy of Leica Camera AG.

Collapsible 50mm summicron