Leica revives uncommon 66mm navy lens as limited-edition Summicron-M

Leica has launched the Summicron-M 66 f/2, a brand new limited-edition lens primarily based on a uncommon 66mm f/2 optic initially developed for the US Navy within the late Sixties.

The authentic Elcan 66mm f/2 was designed by famend optical engineer Dr Walter Mandler at Ernst Leitz Canada. Around 200 examples have been produced, making it one of many rarer lenses related to the Leica M-System.

According to Leica, the lens was commissioned for covert reconnaissance images, with the weird 66mm focal size chosen as a steadiness between decision, distinction and compact measurement.

The lens has additionally been related to the Leica KE-7A, a navy model of the Leica M4, with historic accounts suggesting gear of this kind was utilized by Western allies in the course of the Cold War.

The new Summicron-M 66 f/2 retains the weird focal size and is predicated on the optical design of the unique, however has been up to date for modern manufacturing and efficiency requirements.

Leica has additionally retained a number of of the unique lens’s distinctive mechanical particulars. The aperture ring rotates in the wrong way to straightforward Leica M lenses, whereas the gap scale association follows the navy specification. The engraving has been redesigned to echo the unique, together with a small ’60’ marking indicating a exactly measured focal size of 66.0mm.

With a most aperture of f/2, Leica says the lens is designed to mix excessive distinction with tender bokeh, whereas stopping down is meant to maximise decision and nice element. At 66mm, it sits between the normal 50mm normal focal size and longer portrait lenses.

The Summicron-M 66 f/2 will probably be produced as a restricted version of 660 lenses, with every carrying a particular serial quantity alongside the optical calculation quantity B1047 and Leica’s inside materials quantity.

The lens additionally carries a beneficial retail worth of (maintain your wallets) $17,500 together with GST in Australia and is on the market from Leica Stores, the Leica Online Store and authorised sellers from 3 September 2026.

The first lens within the version, serial quantity 001, is because of be auctioned on the Leitz Photographica Auction in Wetzlar in November 2026.