Leica Brings a Secretive 1960s Optic Back Into Focus

Leica revisits an intriguing chapter of optical history with the Summicron-M 66 f/2, a contemporary interpretation of a lens originally developed for US Navy reconnaissance. Inspired by the rare Elcan 66mm f/2 from the late 1960s, the new release preserves its unconventional focal length, reversed aperture ring and distinctive engravings. Its rendering shifts from soft bokeh at wider apertures to exceptional detail when stopped down, echoing its surveillance origins. Limited to 660 individually numbered examples, the lens transforms a once-secret piece of engineering into a highly collectible photographic object.