Leica has officially announced the Summicron-M 66mm f/2, a limited-edition M-mount lens that reinterprets the rare Elcan 66mm f/2 developed by Dr Walter Mandler at Ernst Leitz Canada in the late 1960s for a US Navy contract.
The new lens extends Leica’s Classic Line with the unusual 66mm focal length. Leica says the optical and mechanical design are based on the original Elcan but have been optimised and adapted to current standards. The aperture ring rotates in the opposite direction to standard Leica M lenses, and the distance-scale arrangement follows the original military specifications.
Leica will produce 660 units worldwide, each with a three-digit serial number and a certificate of authenticity. The company says the lens uses six elements in five groups, a nine-bladed diaphragm, and an f/2–f/16 aperture range. It measures approximately 60.1mm long, 60mm in diameter, and weighs 456g.
The Summicron-M 66 f/2 will be available worldwide from September 3, 2026, through Leica Stores, the Leica Online Store and authorised dealers. The recommended retail price is €9,850 including VAT. Serial number 001 is scheduled to be auctioned at the Leitz Photographica Auction in Wetzlar in November 2026.
Source: Leica Camera
Source: Leica Camera newsroom
Source: PetaPixel
