Having ordered a few lenses over the years from Leica Classic store in Vienna, I decided to visit there yesterday.

While there, I asked about a 135mm Tele-Elmar. The salesman excused himself to the stockroom and momentarily returned with one that appeared to be in remarkable optical and cosmetic condition. It was not within my preferred range of production years for Mandler glass, so I didn’t bite. But G.A.S. struck while I slept and I found myself back at the store to more thoroughly examine the lens this morning.

The salesman informed that the condition is A/B, which is near mint. A flashlight exam showed the optics to surprisingly clean for a 60-year old lens. It mounted perfectly on my M-Adapter-T. All I needed to do was click a few shots, check infinity focus, and I’d make it mine.

Then I noticed the aperture ring couldn’t be opened wider than f/5.6. I mentioned this to the salesman, who seemed both aware of and unperturbed by it, as though an f/4 lens that can’t be shot at f/4 is a normal thing. He said he’d ask his boss if it could be fixed, then returned a couple of minutes later to say it couldn’t be.

I thanked him for his time, passed the lens back to him, and left the store. Checking with a fellow enthusiast who’s familiar with the Leica market in Europe, I learned that sometimes even reputable dealers here think that a foreigner might be too excited about his impending acquisition to check the item thoroughly.

Not this foreigner. But I’m grateful for the lesson learned. And sad to find yet another photography dealer that can’t be trusted.

SL2/50mm Summilux-M II . . .