Anyone own a silver/chrome penultimate 50 cron?

[Flyfisher Tom]

I've been informed by a reliable friend from Pnet that this exists. But, I've never heard of this version of the penultimate 'tabbed' Cron being in silver. I've only ever seen it in black. Am I wrong? Steve Gandy doesn't seem to mention it, and I can't find any references to it. Or is there a sandblasting machine that can do this ;-) Thanks

[PaulN]

Are you thinking of the new LHSA 50 'LUX ASPH? The 50 'LUX ASPH was only produced in black, until recently. Leica made 500 in silver/tabbed format to go along side the LHSA MP3. It looks dope. Too bad my black version arrived 2 weeks before this one was announced. Ahh well; I saved a few $$. At the price of the 'LUX as it is, anything helps :)

-Paul

[Flyfisher Tom]

Hi Paul:

No, he distinctly said it was the 50 cron (tabbed) penultimate.

In any event, congrats on the 50 asph-lux, I am green with envy! How are you liking it?

[bmattock]

Penultimate? I thought that just meant 'next to last.' Can someone explain what it means in this context?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

[dcsang]

I've got a 50 cron black that's tabbed.. it's nice... but it hasn't made me rich (yet) or gotten me a date with Jessica Alba (yet) or somehow erased Tom Cruise from history (yet) so I'd like to hear about this "penultimate" cron and how it's going to do these things for me :D

Cheers
Dave

[regit]

Penultimate? I thought that just meant 'next to last.' Can someone explain what it means in this context?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

Heh, heh ... Guess I'm wrong about the pen. version ... reply omitted!!!

[Rich Silfver]

Yup, penultimate = second to last.

There were indeed some 'crons made with a focusing tab on both black and chrome bodies.

The Leica code for the chrome ones would be 11825 (11819 for black) and they came with both concave ("saddle shaped") or convex focusing tabs.

(Concave as of serial number 3098901)

I believe the tab was taken off the design in 1994.

[dcsang]

Yup, penultimate = second to last.

There were indeed some 'crons made with a focusing tab on both black and chrome bodies.

The Leica code for the chrome ones would be 11825 (11819 for black) and they came with both concave ("saddle shaped") or convex focusing tabs.

(Concave as of serial number 3098901)

I believe the tab was taken off the design in 1994.

I should check mine. .. because I really now think that I have one of these "Penultimate" chrons of which you guys speak.

Cheers
Dave

[paulh]

I think its because the summicron with a tab and detachable hood was made in relatively few numbers before it was discountinued. So it became a collector's item to some. Optics wise it should be no different to the black ones.

Cheers,
Paul

[Ben Z]

The "tabbed" Cron was made in silver in small numbers near the end of the run, before the mount was improved. The 25th anniversary LHSA set includes one. The focusing tabs are plastic (you knew that, right?) and probably Leica couldn't silver-coat them without it wearing off, so all the silver tabbed lenses have black tabs, which to me looks butt ugly (and why would anyone bear the extra weight of the silver lenses other than for pure looks?).

[paulh]

Hi Ben,

The M6 Colombo set also includes the chrome summicron but specially engraved. The chrome lens are definitely heavier becuase of the brass used but I for one do like the looks. And hey, you get more Leica for the same price : )

Cheers,
Paul

[Gabriel M.A.]

The "tabbed" Cron was made in silver in small numbers near the end of the run, before the mount was improved.
Wow. Silver? That's got to be a pain to clean. Why would anybody make lenses out of silver? I know Leica has made special runs of some equipment in 24K gold (talk about hefty), but silver? That's just gotta be a pain to handle.