Leitz 50mm f/1.5 Summarit
The Leitz 50mm f/1.5 Summarit is a fast standard prime for Leica rangefinder cameras, produced in both Leica screw-mount (LTM) and early M-bayonet versions during the post-war era. It was designed as Leitz's low-light fifty, sitting between the slower Elmar and Summicron lines and the later Summilux that eventually replaced it.
At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the 50mm f/1.5 Summarit have ranged from £81 for a heavily used example up to £2,000 for an exceptional copy, with most clean user-grade lenses trading in the £350–£400 band and a median of roughly £387 across the sample. As of today in 2026, that puts a typical working Summarit firmly in the mid-hundreds at saleroom level, while mint or boxed examples and scarce early variants are what push the price well into four figures. These are wholesale hammer results and exclude buyer's premium, so retail dealer asking prices sit noticeably higher than what the lens sells for under the hammer.
Variants
| Variant | Years | Edition | Sales | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LTM | — | — | 7 | £170 – £562 |
| M | — | — | 0 | — |
Sales History
Prices shown are UK auction hammer results — the wholesale level achieved in the saleroom. Neither buyer’s nor seller’s commission is included. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher.
| Date | Price | Source | Variant | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2026 | £288 | Flints Auctions | — | |
|
Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 15) Title: A Leitz Wetzlar Summarit f/1.5 5cm Lens
Description:
chrome, serial number 1211442, barrel VG, optics F with internal haze, and light cleraning marks to front. |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Nov 2025 | £350 | Flints Auctions | — | |
|
Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 16) Title: A Leitz Summarit f/1.5 50mm Lens
Description:
chrome, serial no. 953414, body, VG, elements, G-VG, some light cleaning marks, complete with XOONS lens hood Note: A 5% import VAT applies to this |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Sep 2025 | £81 | Flints Auctions | — | |
|
Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 18) Title: A Leitz Wetzlar Summarit f/1.5 5cm Lens For Repair
Description:
chrome, serial number 822337, optics F, partially dismantled, for restoration. |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Jul 2025 | £288 | Flints Auctions | — | |
|
Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 6) Title: A Leitz Wetzlar Summarit f/1.5 5cm Lens
Description:
chrome, serial number 821674, barrel G, optics F with internal haze and cleaning marks. |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Jun 2025 | EUR 4,000 | Leitz Auction | — | |
|
Auction: Leitz Auction 46 (Lot A01483) Title: Summarit 1.5/5cm Midland
Description:
Beautiful very rare Summarit with original Midland engraving, in absolutely mint condition, good optics only showing a few light cleaning marks, with front cap and uncommon metal rear cap with 'E. Leitz Wetzlar' engravings. Estimate: EUR 4,000 - EUR 5,000 |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Apr 2025 | £375 | Flints Auctions | — | |
|
Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 71) Title: A Leitz Summarit f/1.5 50mm Lens
Description:
chrome, serial no. 1391148, body, VG-E, elements, G-VG, some internal haze and one single blooming spot |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Apr 2025 | £400 | Flints Auctions | — | |
|
Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 25) Title: A Leitz Summarit f/1.5 50mm Lens
Description:
chrome, serial no. 1527927, body, VG, elements, VG, some light internal haze, with maker's rear cap and filter |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Mar 2025 | £302 | Chiswick Auctions | LTM | |
|
Auction: Photographica (Lot 206) Title: A Leitz 5cm f/1.5 Summarit LTM Lens
Description:
A Leitz 5cm f/1.5 Summarit LTM Lens Serial No: 1119971 (1953) Body: VG Optics: G - some haze and internal spotting to front element group Notes: with (Qty: 1) ... read more |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Jan 2025 | £225 | Flints Auctions | — | |
|
Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 9) Title: A Leitz Wetzlar Summarit, f/1.5 5cm Lens
Description:
chrome, serial number 1078739, barrel G, optics F with haze and fungus, with plastic bubble, G. |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Jan 2025 | £188 | Flints Auctions | — | |
|
Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 16) Title: A Leitz Wetzlar Summarit, f/1.5 5cm Lens
Description:
chrome, serial number 801536, barrel G, iris blades out of alignment, optics F with haze and light cleaning marks, with leather case, G. |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Jan 2025 | USD 700 | pedia_sales_tamarkin | — | |
|
Auction: 2025 Auction Results (Lot 207) Title: 50mm Summarit f1,5 in Leica screw mount.
Description:
50mm Summarit f1,5 in Leica screw mount. |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Oct 2024 | £280 | Harper Field Auctions | LTM | |
|
Auction: Buying & Selling (Lot 1657) Title: Leitz Summarit screw mount f=5cm 1:1.5 camera lens, serial number 149967 (likely pre 1957), with UVa
Description:
Leitz Summarit screw mount f=5cm 1:1.5 camera lens, serial number 149967 (likely pre 1957), with UVa |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Aug 2024 | £328 | Chiswick Auctions | LTM | |
|
Auction: Photographica (Lot 273) Title: A Leitz 5cm f/1.5 Summarit LTM Lens
Description:
A Leitz 5cm f/1.5 Summarit LTM Lens Serial No: 890766 (1951) Body: VG Optics: VG Notes: Leica thread mount (Qty: 1) |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Apr 2024 | £240 | Special Auction Services | LTM | |
|
Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 552) Title: A Leitz Wetzler 5cm f/1.5 Summarit Lens
Description:
A Leitz Wetzler 5cm f/1.5 Summarit Lens, L39 mount, serial no 891119, 1951, barrel G, elements some pitting on bottom rim, elements G, some fogging, |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Jan 2024 | USD 1,100 | pedia_sales_tamarkin | — | |
|
Auction: 2024 Results (Lot 357) Title: 50mm Summarit f1,5 in Leica screw mount
Description:
50mm Summarit f1,5 in Leica screw mount |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Sep 2023 | £375 | Flints Auctions | — | |
|
Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 12) Title: A Leitz Summarit f/1.5 5cm Camera Lens
Description:
chrome, serial no. 1500802, body VG, optics F, some internal haze present, with Summarit UVa screw-in filter, in maker's lens bubble, (Qty: 1) |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Aug 2023 | £170 | Special Auction Services | LTM | |
|
Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 99) Title: A Leitz Wetzlar Summarit 5cm f/1.5 L39 Mount Lens
Description:
A Leitz Wetzlar Summarit 5cm f/1.5 L39 Mount Lens, serial no 1119561, 1953, barrel G, elements P-F, fugus/haze to elements |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| May 2023 | £562 | Flints Auctions | LTM | |
|
Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 40) Title: A Leitz Summarit f/1.5 50mm Lens
Description:
1957, chrome, serial no. 1471980, body, VG-E, elements, VG, some internal haze, complete with Leica M adapter and maker's bubble |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Nov 2021 | EUR 220,000 | Leitz Auction | — | |
|
Auction: Leitz Auction 39 (Lot AI_39_39581) Title: Summarit M 1.4/5cm First One prototype Nr. A
Description:
A sensational recent discovery and an important part of the history of Leica - a prototype M Summarit 1.4/5cm with the special serial number 'A'. It shows some of the characteristics of the early prototype Summarit 1.4/50mm lenses, as well as some unique features like the unusual focusing tab or reversed knurling on the focusing ring. It is in beautiful, almost perfect condition. The lens comes with an original 1958 blueprint 'Objektiv Summarit f=5c, 1:1,4' stamped red with 'UNGÜLTIG' (invalid) and with the Summarit name changed later to Summilux. Included in the lot is also a written expertise from Mr. Ottmar Michaely. It may be the first Leica 1.4/50mm lens with a Leica M bayonet made! It is, for sure, one of the most interesting lenses we've offered for sale in our auction! Estimate: EUR 120,000 - EUR 140,000 |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Jun 2021 | EUR 2,000 | Leitz Auction | — | |
|
Auction: Leitz Auction 38 (Lot AI_38_39404) Title: Summarit 1.5/5cm SOOIA
Description:
an interesting Summarit with no Canada or Wetzlar engraving, the factory records of the Leitz engraving department revealed interesting supplementary information about the lenses from a small batch 1526900-1527160: 'ELC irrtümlich von Polier Abtg.' (Ernst Leitz Canada, mistakenly engraved from the polishing department), the lens is in beautiful, mint condition and there are no delivery entries for this serial number, included in this lot is a written expertise from Mr. Ottmar Michaely, a very interesting piece of the history of Leica Estimate: EUR 4,000 - EUR 5,000 |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Apr 2021 | £558 | Flints Auctions | — | |
|
Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science (Lot 21) Title: A Leitz Summarit f/1.5 50mm Lens
Description:
1957, chrome, serial no. 1528163, body, VG-E, elements, VG, some very light cleaning marks to front element and light internal haze, in maker's |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| May 2020 | £490 | Flints Auctions | — | |
|
Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science (Lot 32) Title: A Leitz Summarit f/1.5 50mm Lens
Description:
A Leitz Summarit f/1.5 50mm Lens, 1949, chrome, serial no. 740189, body, G, elements, F-VG, some internal marks; Engraving to barrel 'Taylor, Taylor |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Nov 2019 | USD 4,500 | pedia_sales_tamarkin | — | |
|
Auction: November 2019 Auction Results (Lot 247) Title: Leica 50mm Summarit f1,5 Midland, Nr. 1526987
Description:
Leica 50mm Summarit f1,5 Midland, Nr. 1526987 |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Oct 2019 | £288 | Flints Auctions | — | |
|
Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science & Medicine (Lot 166) Title: A Leitz Summarit f/1.5 50mm Lens
Description:
1953, chrome, serial no. 1054220, body, VG-E, elements, G, some internal haze and a few cleaning marks to front element, with maker's caps. |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Nov 2018 | £300 | Flints Auctions | — | |
|
Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science & Medicine (Lot 1014) Title: A Leitz Summarit f/1.5 50mm Lens
Description:
1953, chrome, serial no. 1057192, body, VG, elements, VG, some light cleaning marks |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Oct 2017 | £300 | Flints Auctions | — | |
|
Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 15) Title: A Leitz Summarit f/1.5 50mm Lens
Description:
chrome, serial no. 1527319, body, VG-E, elements, VG, some internal haze, with maker's front cap |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Nov 2005 | EUR 3,975 | Leitz Auction | — | |
|
Auction: Leitz Auction 8 (Lot AI_8_26095) Title: Summarit 1.5/5cm Cut-away
Description:
with M-mount, original Leitz cut-away without lenses, rare Estimate: EUR 400 - EUR 500 |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| May 2004 | EUR 938 | Leitz Auction | — | |
|
Auction: Leitz Auction 5 (Lot AI_5_23550) Title: Summarit ELC 1.5/5cm
Description:
mint and rare lens engraved: Ernst Leitz Canada Ltd.Midland, orig.NY UV filter, both caps Estimate: EUR 1,955 - EUR 1,246,601 |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Sep 2003 | £164 | Christie's | — | |
|
Auction: CAMERAS & PHOTO EQUIP, INCLUDING A EUROPEAN LEICA COLLECTION (Lot 57) Title: Summarit 5cm. f/1.5 no. 1120676
Description:
Summarit 5cm. f/1.5 no. 1120676 Estimate: £100 - £150 |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| May 2000 | £258 | Christie's | LTM | |
|
Auction: Magic Lanterns, Optical Toys and Cameras (Lot 176) Title: Summarit f/1.5 5cm. lens no. 891993
Description:
Summarit f/1.5 5cm. lens no. 891993 Estimate: £100 - £150 |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||