Discover the Leica Summicron-M 66
The 66 mm focal length of the original Elcan was the result of a precise optical requirement rather than a stylistic decision. The aim was to achieve exceptional resolution and a fast f/2 aperture while keeping the lens compact and discreet.
Dr. Walter Mandler selected 66 mm as the ideal focal length to balance these demands. The Summicron-M 66mm F/2 continues this approach, offering a distinctive perspective between the classic standard and portrait focal lengths.
What are the strengths of the 66mm Leica M-Lens?
Prized for its distinctive rendering
The 66 mm focal length delivers a natural perspective with a subtle telephoto effect. At f/2, the lens creates a clear separation between subject and background, with smooth, harmonious bokeh. Its distinctive rendering brings depth and character to portrait and reportage photography, whether used on a Leica M or Leica SL with an adapter.
Maximum sharpness
Stopped down, the Summicron-M 66mm F/2 delivers exceptional resolution, rendering even the finest details with clarity. This characteristic reflects the original Elcan 66mm F/2, designed to maintain sharpness even under significant enlargement. Today, this optical precision makes the lens particularly well suited to architectural and landscape photography, as well as close-ups.
Limited Edition inspired by Leica History
Part of the Leica Classic Line, the Summicron-M 66mm F/2 is limited to just 660 units worldwide. Each lens features a unique three-digit serial number engraved on the front ring and comes with a certificate of authenticity, making every piece a distinctive part of Leica’s optical heritage.
Inspired by the rare Elcan 66mm F/2, which was never commercially available and was produced for official use in a limited run of around 200 units, the new Summicron-M 66mm F/2 brings this exceptional concept to a new generation of photographers.
Its compact design, distinctive 66 mm focal length and high optical performance reflect the original lens, while subtle details set it apart. Like the Elcan, its aperture ring rotates in the opposite direction to standard M-Lenses, while refined lettering gives the new lens its own distinctive character.
In the Leica archive
With only around 200 units ever produced, the Elcan 66mm F/2 is one of the rarest lenses in Leica M history. One example is preserved in the Leica Archive in Wetzlar. Originally part of the photographic equipment aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Little Rock, the lens was decades later used to photograph the decommissioned ship, creating a remarkable link between its operational past and historical memory.
Historical accounts indicate that lenses of this type may also have been used by Western allied partners during the Cold War. Many are associated with the Leica KE-7A, the military version of the Leica M4, forming compact photographic systems designed for discreet work where high resolution was essential.
The original equipment was supplied with an instruction manual detailing how to destroy the camera and lens in the event of capture, a striking reminder of the sensitive nature of the assignments for which they were developed.
History, Reinterpreted
The Summicron-M 66mm F/2 reinterprets the historic Elcan 66mm F/2, carrying its distinctive design details into the present. Like the original, the lens features key identification markings on the front ring, including its serial number and special-edition number.
The Elcan name, formerly associated with Ernst Leitz Canada and now part of Leitz Wetzlar, further connects the new lens to its heritage.
A subtle detail on the barrel is the engraved “60”, a reference to the individually measured focal length. As on the original, the digits represent the precise focal length without a decimal point: 66.0 mm. This detail reflects the meticulous optical standards shared by the historic Elcan and the new Summicron-M 66mm F/2.
