Leitz launched the Summicron-R with the first Leicaflex in 1964, and both of its versions were designed at Leitz Canada in Midland, according to Leica historian Erwin Puts. The first is a 6-element lens that focuses to 0.5 m, and Puts says it was tuned for higher contrast than the M Summicron of its day. The second, from 1976, is a 6-element, 4-group design with a built-in hood that Leica shared almost exactly with the 1979 Summicron-M. Puts rates it better than the first wide open. Leica made it until the R system ended in 2009. On a mirrorless body it's a compact standard lens of about 290 g with Leica's all-metal build, and the aperture is set on the lens, so a plain mechanical adapter is all it needs. On APS-C it frames like a 75mm. Its age decides the cams on the mount, which matter only on Leica film bodies.
On a mirrorless camera
It’s a Leica R lens, and its mount sits 47 mm from the film. Every mirrorless mount below sits closer than that, so a plain adapter ring fills the gap and the lens still focuses to infinity. On a smaller sensor it frames tighter, like a longer lens.
Versions
Version I (1964–1976) is a 6-element, 5-group lens with Series 6 filters, about 340 g, made as 1-cam and then 2-cam, with early ones in chrome. Version II (1976–2009) is a 6-element, 4-group lens with E55 filters, a built-in hood and about 290 g, made as 3-cam, as R-only lenses sold with R cameras, and from 1996 as ROM. Engravings read Leitz Wetzlar or Leitz Canada, or just Leica on lenses made in Solms from about 1990.
These are all-metal lenses, so most faults come from age: haze, fungus, oily aperture blades and dried focus grease. Version II has two cemented groups, so check for separation.
New to old glass? How to check a used vintage lens covers haze, fungus and the rest in detail.
Buying guide
We'd buy the US dealer's 3-cam copy at $500 delivered with free shipping, the later version with the built-in hood, just under the $525–825 band. There are at least 100 for sale, nearly all from Japan dealers asking $399–1,159 delivered under their own Exc+5 and MINT grades, while US dealers ask $500–522. Version I (1964–1976) takes Series 6 filters and came 1-cam or 2-cam, and version II from 1976 has a built-in hood, E55 filters and a 3-cam, R-only or ROM mount, and Leica historian Erwin Puts rates it better wide open. The cams only matter on Leica film bodies, so pick by version and glass, ask for a flashlight photo through the back for haze, fungus or separation and one of the blades at f/8, and skip the zero-feedback US seller. It needs a Leica R adapter, and the model page lists the adapters by camera.
![[Exc+5]Leica Leitz Wetzlar Summicron-R 50mm f/2 1-Cam Lens From JAPAN #0742](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/VckAAeSwCGNqgGdT/s-l500.jpg)
$398.99est. delivered
The lowest delivered copy here at $399, a 1-cam version I from Wetzlar graded Exc+5 by the Japan dealer. The single cam only matters on Leica film bodies, so ask for a flashlight photo through the back and judge it by the glass.
[Exc+5]Leica Leitz Wetzlar Summicron-R 50mm f/2 1-Cam Lens From JAPAN #0742
$499.99delivered
A Leitz Canada 3-cam copy from a US dealer at $500 with free shipping, under the band, with the built-in hood and front cap in the photo. That makes it version II, the one Puts rates better wide open, so ask for a photo of the blades at f/8.
Leica Summicron-R 50mm f/2 (3 Cam) Lens #Z-79952
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 14, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 14, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$398.99est. delivered
$349.99 + $49.00 shipping
Buy It Now$349.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
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Good buy
Version I, 1-cam. Exc+5 is the Japan dealer's grade.
Seller: hisagi.camera.marketjp
100% positive
Used$499.99delivered
$499.99 · free shipping
Buy It Now$499.99
Good buy
US dealer, free shipping. Leitz Canada 3-cam, front cap in the photo.
Seller: gulfcoastcamera
100% positive
![[Exc+5] Leica Summicron R 50mm f/2 2Cam From JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/-ZkAAeSwrj5qiZnZ/s-l500.jpg)
Used$439.99est. delivered
$369.99 + $70.00 shipping
Buy It Now$369.99
Our take
Version I, 2-cam. Exc+5 is the Japan dealer's grade.
Seller: ma88_9646
99.7% positive
Used$508.26est. delivered
$499.99 + $8.27 shipping
Buy It Now$499.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
US seller. E55 in the photo, so version II.
Seller: ge_74104
100% positive
![ROM [Top MIN] Leica Summicron R 50mm f/2 E55 Mount MF Standerd Lems From JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/fFcAAeSw~F5qvGfV/s-l500.jpg)
Used$689.21est. delivered
$609.21 + $80.00 shipping
Buy It Now$609.21
Our take
ROM, the last version II mount. Top Mint is the Japan dealer's grade, caps in the photo.
Seller: casasar-61
100% positive
![[UNUSED] Leica Summicron R 50mm f/2 E55 R Only Standard Lens R Mount from JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/D0sAAeSw5M9p3EId/s-l500.jpg)
New old stock$975.00est. delivered
$799.00 + $176.00 shipping
Buy It Now$799.00
Our take
Titled unused, an E55 R-only lens, with $176 shipping from Japan.
Seller: camera_taro
100% positive
Used$617.85est. delivered
$600.00 + $17.85 shipping
Buy It Now$600.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Check the seller
Seller has zero feedback. Titled 2-cam, great condition.
Seller: jamalw321
No feedback yet
![[Unused] Leica Summicron R 50mm f/2 R Only Standard MF Lens From JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/M~kAAeSwV9Rqy6P7/s-l500.jpg)
New old stock$1,159.00est. delivered
$899.00 + $260.00 shipping
Buy It Now$899.00
Priced high
Titled unused with a Leitz box in the photo, but $184 over the other unused copy, with $260 shipping.
Seller: syashinkiten_japan
100% positive
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