Beyond Normal: 5 Great Fast 50s From Leica:
Unsurpassed and seldom equaled they cemented Leica’s optical legacy.
by Jason Schneider
Beginning with the 50mm f/3.5 Elmax, Elmar, and Leitz Anastigmat lenses fitted to various iterations of the first production Leica I (Model A), Leica has always produced normal lenses of outstanding quality. But it took the company a while to equal and then surpass Zeiss when it came to delivering fast 50s with maximum apertures in the f/1.4 to f/2 range. The first real breakthroughs came with the introduction of the 50mm f/2 Summicron (essentially an upgraded version of the landmark 7-element Summitar of 1939) in 1953, and the release of the 50mm f/1.4 Summilux in 1961. Both these classics were steadily improved through a process of continual optical evolution, eventually resulting in what are arguably the world’s best performing lenses in their respective categories. Here are the details of 5 of the sharpest, best performing high speed 50mm Leica lenses along that unique and exalted painstaking timeline.
50mm f/2 Dual Range Summicron
Perhaps the most celebrated fast 50mm lens Leica ever made was the exquisitely crafted 50mm f/2 Dual Range Summicron that had a long 12-year production run from 1956 to 1968. Hailed by many as the greatest 50mm lens Leica ever made, this 7-element, 5-group classic employs 4 elements made of LaK9 glass. Its outstanding overall performance has stood the test of time and hasn’t been significantly exceeded by any Leica lens in current production, including those designated as ASPH and incorporating aspheric elements.
The most signature feature of this lens, generally known as the DR Summicron, is its separate (non-continuous) near focusing range. The lens gets down to 1 meter in the normal range, but when you attach the close focusing adapter (commonly known as “goggles”) it can focus from 0.88 meters to 0.478 meters (2 feet, 11 inches to just under 20 inches) while correcting the camera’s viewfinder frame lines for parallax error and reduced angular coverage (due to the increase in effective focal length) at close focusing distances. This is a great technological achievement by Leica, and even if it is not quite as precise as a completely parallax-free SLR, the system is remarkably effective and useful.
Another prized feature of the Dual Range Summicron is its mostly brass mechanical construction, which is far more robust and precise than subsequent lenses made by virtually anyone, and is reminiscent of a precision custom-built scientific instrument. The ultra-precise engraving on all scales is equally impressive. Fortunately for Leica fans, The DR Summicron with “goggles” is compatible with most Leica M models, including the M3 to the M6, the current MP, and the M10 and M11, the last two with some adjustments and restrictions. However, it won’t work properly on the M6 TTL, M8 or M9 due to top plate discrepancies.
The 50mm f/2 Dual Range Summicron in clean working condition is readily available on the leading online auction sites and from Leica= dealers specializing in used equipment at prices ranging from about $1,100 to $1,300 complete with “goggles.”
Leica APO-Summicron-M 50mm f/2 ASPH
More than 30 years after the launch of the Summicron-M 1:2/50 mm, which remains in the line, the Leica APO Summicron-M 1:2/50 mm ASPH. was first marketed in 2013. It represents a totally new optical and physical design. With a compact body, only marginally longer and slightly heavier than the Summicron-M 1:2/50 mm, and with an almost identical diameter, it provides observably higher image quality that exceeds what was possible with any previous Leica lens in its class. Indeed, the exceptional optical correction of the Leica APO Summicron-M 1:2/50 mm ASPH. enables all aberrations to be reduced to a minimum, and they are negligible even in ultra-hi-res digital photography.
Its key features include excellent contrast rendition, all the way to the corners of the image, even at maximum aperture. The use of a floating element design ensures that this level of performance is retained, even for close-up shots. Vignetting is limited to the extreme corners of the image and measures just two stops at maximum aperture in the full frame 35 mm format. Stopping down to f/2.8 visibly reduces even this amount, leaving only the natural vignetting due to laws of optical physics. Distortion is likewise very low with a maximum amount of just 0.4 % (pincushion type), which is essentially imperceptible.
A total of 8 lens elements in 5 groups are used to achieve this exceptional performance. To deliver apochromatic correction ( a common focusing plane for the three principal light wavelengths), three of these elements are made of special glass types with high anomalous partial color dispersion, while two of the others have a high refractive index. An aspherical surface on the first element in the rear group helps to reduce spherical aberration and flatten the image field, while the optics in front of the lens aperture are of the Gaussian type, an arrangement also used in the acclaimed Summilux-M 1:1.4/35 mm ASPH. This group comprises a floating element which is moves independently of the rest of the lens to maintain the highest degree of correction over the entire focusing range down to the minimum focusing distance of 2.3 feet. In short, the Leica APO Summicron-M 1:2/50 mm ASPH. delivers exceptional image quality that sets new standards in 35 mm digital and analog photography.
The 50mm F/2 APO-Summicron-M has an 11-bladed diaphragm with click stops at half-stop intervals to f/16, a built-in extendable lens hood, measures 1.85 inches in length and 2.08 inches in diameter, and weighs in at 10.6 ounce. Current retail price new: $9.295 in black, $9.595,00 in silver anodized finish. Note: The Leica APO-Summicron-SL 50mm f/2 ASPH. in black finish is available new in L-mount at $5,095.00, but this moisture resistant autofocus lens employs a different optical formula.
Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH
Leica released the first 50mm f/1.4 Summilux-M lens, basically a tweaked 50mm f/1.5 Summarit, way back in 1959. Then, a mere 2 years later, the great Walter Mandler designed an improved “version 2” of the 50mm f/1.4 Summilux that was noticeably sharper and had gorgeous rendition along with some residual aberrations. It was and is a lovely lens and it remained in production with minor cosmetic variations for a staggering 43 years! Finally, in 2004 Leica decided to throw down the gauntlet and deliver a truly spectacular 50mm f/1.4 Summilux that would blow everything else into the weeds. So, they asked Peter Karbe, their renowned chief camera lens designer, to come up with something extraordinary, and he did! It was an 8-element, 5-group masterpiece known as the Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH.
The 2004 Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. is nothing less than a “reference lens” designed to push the technical boundaries of photography to a new level, and when Popular Photography tested it back then, the editors declared it to be the best 50mm lens they’d ever tested. It delivers virtually the same outstanding performance at all apertures and focusing distances. Every innovation then available in lens technology was used to create this lens—aspherical elements, glass with anomalous partial dispersion, high refractive index glass, and a pair of floating elements bringing up the rear—were combined to create a lens that set a new standard in this focal length class The lens employs a 9-bladed diaphragm, focuses down to 0.7m (2.3 feet) , measures 2,1 inches in length and 2.1 inches in diameter, anw weighs in at 16.2 ounces in chrome plated brass and 11.8 ounces in black chrome (black anodized aluminum) finish.
Here are some comments on the Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. by Peter Karbe, the man who designed it,
taken from an interview by noted Leica expert, photographer and writer Jack Takahashi:
“The glass I chose for lens element 3 is of crucial importance in minimizing the secondary color aberration. This glass, formerly made at the Leitz glass laboratory, was for a long time offered by another supplier who had taken over its production. But they had stopped making it, so I had to “encourage” another German glassmaker to literally reinvent this glass type. Today this glass is extremely expensive. Indeed, the material for this lens element alone costs as much as the glass used in all the other lens elements of the Summilux 50mm f/1.4 ASPH!”
“The 50 Summilux ASPH also pioneered the use of a floating group in an M lens. This was not easy to engineer, but was necessary to correct for spherical aberration at all distances.”
“The challenge was to achieve this floating element without enlarging the size of the lens and keeping the well-known, super-smooth “Leica feel” in the focusing mount. This proved to be a nightmare on the production line, and we needed several trials to achieve an optimized production process.”
In addition to being one of the earliest lenses to use aspheric surfaces and a floating group, the 50 Summilux ASPH is also described by Peter Karbe as having an apochromatic design, even though it was never I’m not sure how meaningful this is marketed as an APO. It’s also fascinating to note that the optical design of the 50mm f/1.4 Summilux ASPH resembles that of the 50mm f/2 APO-Summicron, a landmark lens that was released much later in 2012.
The Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. is readily available in pristine condition, in chrome or black finish, on the leading online auction sites or from Leica dealers specializing in used equipment at prices ranging from $2,500 to $4,000. “New In Box” examples run slightly higher.
Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. (2023 Version)
Featuring a redesigned housing and updated optics, the latest Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. is a fresh take on a beloved focal length. Inherently one of the most versatile lenses, this updated 50mm f/1.4 has a much closer minimum focusing distance of 1.5 feet (down from 2.3 feet), a new 11-blade diaphragm (up from 9 blades) for smoother bokeh, and an updated lens body that matches the Summilux-M 35mm's sleek and lightweight design, along with a built-in, retractable lens hood.
This 50mm f/1.4 lens is characterized by its high-speed performance that benefits both low-light usage along with greater control over depth of field. Updated optical design is better tuned to newer high-resolution sensors and produces greater sharpness, resolution, and contrast. One aspherical element minimizes spherical aberrations and distortion for highly accurate rendering. New 11-blade diaphragm produces more visually round bokeh when working at middle aperture values.
Beyond updated optics, this lens also sports a refreshed external design that matches other refreshed Summilux-M lenses, like the 35mm f/1.4.
The minimum focusing distance has been improved from 2.3' to 1.5' to take advantage of the lens's use in conjunction with cameras that feature live view or when working with the Visoflex or Leica FOTOS app. Note: Rangefinder focusing is still only supported down to 2.3 feet; live view focusing must be used between 2.3 feet and 1.5 feet. Integrated retractable lens hood design eliminates the need to carry an auxiliary hood. Compact design measures 2.3 x 2.3 inches and the lens weighs just under 12 oz. Conventional M bayonet lens mount, with 6-bit encoding, enables using this lens on any Leica M.
The Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. (2023 Version) is currently available new in black at $4,695.00 and in Silver at $4,895.00.
Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 reissue of 2025
Leica just announced a new addition to the “Classic Line” of M lenses , the newly released Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4, a lens that combines the most desirable aspects of versions I, II, and III of the legendary 50mm non- ASPH Summilux along with the benefits of modern manufacturing techniques, optical glass, and lens coatings. It retains the solid brass barrel and silver chrome finish of the original 1959 Summilux, version II’s improved optics and clip-on ventilated hood, and the 0.7m close focus and E46 filter size of version III. For 50mm Summilux devotees, ot combines the best aspects of the pre-ASPH era in a single, modern production model.
With its silver chrome over brass construction, the reissued Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 weighs in at a hefty 417 grams, about 100 grams more than its late-1950s predecessor. The scalloped focusing ring, red distance scale in feet, and clip-on black ventilated lens hood complete its classic mid-century look, and it comes with a silver chrome metal lens cap and a black plastic push-on hood cap for a period-accurate presentation. Its optical design is directly based on the second-generation Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 designed by Dr. Walter Mandler, produced from 1961 to 2004 with little change over its four-decade-long production run. Acclaimed for its exceptional image quality and distinctive rendition, the lens delivers a beautifully soft bokeh at its widest apertures, making it a go-to choice for portraits and other applications where limited depth of field yields striking results. When stopped down, the lens can capture sharp, contrasty, detailed images while preserving the unique character of its predecessor.
Another big advantage is the ability to use standard E46 filters with the clip-on lens shade, rather than the special slim profile filters required on previous iterations. And while Leica has released ASPH versions with similar styling cues, such as the special edition LHSA and black chrome models, this new Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 offers a true pre-ASPH experience in a modern production lens. The new lens is currently available in a silver chrome finish, priced at $3,895. As with other recent Leica Classic Line lens intros, supplies will be limited at launch.
Leica Summilux-SL 50mm f/1.4 ASPH
Claimed to be a category defining “reference 50mm” the Summilux-SL 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. has been developed to capture images of exceptional quality with edge-to-edge sharpness, even at maximum aperture. Designed for Leica's full-frame SL-series of mirrorless cameras, this 50mm benefits from a new design granted by the short flange distance. It also benefits from having two aspherical elements and four anomalous partial dispersion elements to keep aberrations to an absolute minimum. The fast maximum aperture of f/1.4 enhances imaging capabilities by facilitating the creation images with a shallow depth of field and also extending its capabilities in low-light conditions.
Multi-layer coating along with the included rectangular lens hood, helps prevent flare and ghosting. The internal focusing design also results in a non-rotating filter ring for precise use of polarizing filters and its dust- and moisture-resistant construction extends its outdoor capabilities in inclement conditions. As an L-mount optic it is also compatible with T-series APS-C cameras where it provides a 75mm equivalent focal length.
Specifications:
Maximum Aperture
f/1.4
Minimum Aperture
f/22
Lens Mount
L-Mount
Lens Format Coverage
Full-Frame
Angle of View
47.9°
Minimum Focus Distance
1.97' / 60 cm
Maximum Magnification
0.1x
Optical Design
11 Elements in 9 Groups
Focus Type
Autofocus
Image Stabilization
No
Filter Size
82 mm (Front)
Dimensions (ø x L)
3.46 x 4.88" / 88 x 124 mm
Weight
2.34 lbs. / 1065 g
The Leica Summilux-SL 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. is currently available brand new at a suggested price of $6,595.