A Legendary Lineage — The Elcan 66 mm f/2
The Leica Summicron-M 66 f/2 draws its identity from one of the rarest and most historically significant lenses in the Leica M-System: the Elcan 66 mm f/2. Originally developed by Dr. Walter Mandler at Ernst Leitz Canada in the late 1960s as a specialist lens for the US Navy, it was never released for public sale — with only around 200 units ever produced. Now, more than half a century later, this once-secret optic returns as a numbered Limited Edition of 660 units, giving photographers and collectors alike the chance to own a piece of contemporary Leica history.
Unique Within the Leica Portfolio
The Summicron-M 66 f/2 stands alone in the Leica lineup as the only lens ever offered with a 66 mm focal length — a distinctive in-between perspective that sets it apart from every standard prime in the M-System. This rarity of focal length, paired with its extraordinary origin story, makes the lens as much a collector's object as it is a working photographic tool.
Distinctive Rendering, Wide Open and Stopped Down
Wide open at f/2, the lens produces soft, harmonious bokeh with a flattering, slightly telephoto character, making it particularly well suited to portraiture. Stopped down, it reveals the maximum sharpness already associated with the historic Elcan 66 mm f/2 — a duality of dreamy rendering and clinical precision that defines the shooting experience across the aperture range.
Leica Summicron-M 66 f/2 — Key Specs & Highlights
GPSR:
Leica Camera AG, Am Leitz-Park 5, D-35578, Wetzlar - Germany
