How Much Is a Used Leica Summicron-R 50mm Worth? (2026 Price Guide)

Version 2, the 1976 Leitz Canada redesign with six elements in four groups, is the one most buyers want for its higher contrast and flatter field, and it is the easier version to find with a 3-cam or ROM mount. Version 1 (six elements in five groups, made through 1976) is a fine classic but is usually a 1-cam or 2-cam lens, which limits body and adapter compatibility.

A 3-cam or ROM example mounts on every Leicaflex and Leica R body and on the official Leica R-Adapter L for the SL, SL2, and CL mirrorless cameras. Early 1-cam and 2-cam lenses give stop-down metering only on later film bodies and should not be fitted to the R-Adapter L, which is rated for lenses made from 1976 onward.

Both are f/2 six-element normals of similar rendering, but the R lens is an SLR design that focuses closer and is built for reflex bodies, while the M lens is a smaller rangefinder optic. On a mirrorless camera the R version is often cheaper for comparable image quality, which is a large part of why R glass stays popular.

Check for haze or fungus inside the elements and that the aperture blades are dry and snappy. Confirm the cam configuration matches your camera or adapter, since a 1-cam or 2-cam lens will not meter correctly on later bodies or mount safely on the R-Adapter L.