Leica Summicron-M 66 f/2: a secret legend reimagined

The Leica Summicron-M 66 f/2, black anodized is far more than another lens for the Leica M-System. It is a modern reinterpretation of a remarkable piece of Leica history: the Elcan 66mm f/2, developed by Ernst Leitz Canada in the late 1960s under a confidential contract with the U.S. Navy.

Released as part of the Leica Classic Line and strictly limited to only 660 lenses worldwide, the Summicron-M 66 f/2 brings the distinctive focal length, philosophy and selected mechanical characteristics of this historic lens to contemporary photographers.

Inspired by the legendary Elcan 66mm f/2

In the late 1960s, Leitz Canada was commissioned by the U.S. Navy to develop a Leica M lens for a highly specific application.

The requirements were demanding: the lens had to remain compact and discreet, resembling a conventional photographic lens, while providing an exceptionally high level of resolving power.

Development was entrusted to Dr. Walter Mandler, then head of optical development at Ernst Leitz (Canada) Ltd.

Focal lengths between 50 and 90mm were initially considered before Mandler selected a highly unconventional solution: 66mm.

The Elcan 66mm f/2 was born.

A lens developed for reconnaissance photography

The Elcan 66mm f/2 was designed for specialized reconnaissance photography. Its optical performance had to allow negatives to withstand substantial enlargement and extremely close examination while retaining fine detail.

Only approximately 200 examples were produced, making the Elcan 66mm f/2 one of the rarest lenses in Leica M history.

The original lens was never officially offered to the general public. Examples occasionally appearing on the collector market are generally believed to originate from former military inventories.

Why 66 millimetres?

The unusual 66mm focal length was not selected as a stylistic exercise. It was the result of an uncompromising search for optical performance.

Walter Mandler sought the optimum balance between extremely high resolution, a large aperture, correction of optical aberrations, the available types of optical glass and compact dimensions.

A Gauss-type optical concept offered the desired compromise, with 66mm ultimately proving to be the focal length best suited to the project's demanding specifications.

The Leica Summicron-M 66 f/2 builds upon this concept, creating a distinctive photographic perspective between conventional standard lenses and traditional short portrait telephotos.

Natural perspective with a subtle telephoto effect

On a full-frame Leica M camera, the Summicron-M 66 f/2 provides a diagonal angle of view of 36.3°.

Its focal length produces a natural perspective while offering tighter framing than a conventional 50mm lens. It is particularly well suited to portraiture, reportage, selective street photography and situations where the photographer wishes to isolate a subject without adopting the stronger perspective of a conventional telephoto lens.

The Summicron-M 66 f/2 can also be used on Leica SL cameras with a suitable adapter.

Fast f/2 aperture and smooth bokeh

The maximum f/2 aperture allows photographers to work with shallow depth of field and clearly separate subjects from their surroundings.

Its 9-blade diaphragm contributes to smooth transitions between areas of focus and defocus, producing soft and harmonious bokeh.

Combined with the 66mm focal length, the f/2 aperture makes the lens particularly appealing for environmental portraiture and reportage, where the surrounding context can remain visible while attention is naturally drawn toward the main subject.

High resolution from maximum aperture

Outstanding resolution was one of the defining characteristics of the original Elcan, and the Summicron-M 66 f/2 continues this philosophy.

Even at f/2, the lens is designed to reproduce very fine details with impressive clarity. Stopping down allows its resolving capabilities to be exploited even further.

This optical reserve makes the lens particularly suitable for images intended for significant enlargement or close inspection.

Beyond portraiture and reportage, these qualities make the Summicron-M 66 f/2 an attractive choice for architecture, landscape and detailed photography.

Compact optical construction

Despite its emphasis on resolving power, the Leica Summicron-M 66 f/2 remains faithful to the compact philosophy of the Leica M-System.

Its optical design consists of 6 lens elements arranged in 5 groups. The lens measures approximately 60.1mm in length and 60mm in diameter, with a weight of approximately 456g.

Manual focusing is possible from 1 metre to infinity, with a combined distance scale marked in metres and feet.

Maximum reproduction ratio is 1:13.4, while the smallest object field on a full-frame camera measures 321 × 481mm.

Mechanical details inspired by the original Elcan

Leica has gone beyond simply recreating the historic focal length. Several design details directly reference the original Elcan 66mm f/2.

As on its predecessor, the aperture ring rotates in the opposite direction to conventional Leica M lenses.

The aperture can be adjusted in half-stop increments from f/2 down to f/16.

The Summicron-M 66 f/2 also features distinctive, refined lettering that visually differentiates it from other Leica M lenses.

The distinctive “60” engraving

Another fascinating detail can be found on the lens barrel: the “60” engraving.

This continues a tradition associated with high-precision optics. As on the historic lens, the marking refers to the individually measured actual focal length.

The digits before and after the decimal point are engraved without a decimal separator. The “60” marking therefore indicates an exact focal length of 66.0mm.

It is a subtle reminder of the precision standards associated with both the historic Elcan and the new Summicron-M 66 f/2.

Leica history preserved in Wetzlar

One of the approximately 200 original Elcan 66mm f/2 lenses is preserved today in the Leica Archives in Wetzlar.

The lens was once reportedly part of the photographic equipment carried aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Little Rock. Decades later, the same lens was used to photograph the decommissioned ship, creating an extraordinary link between its period of active service and its later preservation.

Historical sources also associate the Elcan 66mm f/2 with the Leica KE-7A, a special military variant of the Leica M4. Together, these compact camera and lens combinations were intended for situations where discretion and exceptionally detailed image reproduction were essential.

The sensitive nature of their intended use is illustrated by an extraordinary detail: original sets were supplied with instructions explaining how to destroy the camera and lens in the event of capture.

Leica Classic Line: limited to 660 lenses

The Leica Summicron-M 66 f/2 joins the Leica Classic Line as a strictly limited edition of just 660 lenses worldwide.

Each lens features an individual three-digit number engraved on the front ring and is supplied with a certificate of authenticity.

Its markings also reference the historic Elcan. While the original carried its production number, C283 optical serial number and U.S. Navy order number, the Summicron-M 66 f/2 features the current B1047 serial number, its individual special-edition number and material reference number.

Elcan, formerly Ernst Leitz Canada, is now known as Leitz Wetzlar, providing a visible link between the original development and its contemporary reinterpretation.

A collector's piece made for photography

Its extraordinary history, limited production and unconventional focal length inevitably give the Summicron-M 66 f/2 considerable collector appeal.

Yet it remains first and foremost a Leica M photographic lens.

The combination of high resolving power, an f/2 aperture, 66mm focal length, natural rendering, smooth bokeh and compact dimensions gives it a distinctive photographic personality between a standard lens and a classic portrait lens.

The Leica Summicron-M 66 f/2 therefore transforms a once-inaccessible lens developed for confidential missions into both a contemporary photographic instrument and an exceptional piece of Leica history.

Technical specifications