Lenses from Leica boast a tradition that spans over 150 years. During this time, many handcrafted masterpieces have been created and have gone on to reach numerous milestones while defining trend-setting standards. The history of the legendary M-Lenses began over 70 years ago. Each of them tells a success story, with some of these legends now enjoying a renaissance decades later. This is the case for the new Leica Summilux-M 50 f/1.4.

The Summilux-M 50 f/1.4 (I) was launched onto the market in 1959 as the first lens released under the name Summilux. This name is derived from the Latin summa lux, meaning “maximum light.” Since then, Summilux has become synonymous with particularly fast Leica lenses featuring an aperture of f/1.4 to f/1.7. The new interpretation combines the classic vintage look with state-of-the-art technology and is the fifth member of the Leica Classic Line. Just like the Summaron-M 28 f/5.6, the Thambar-M 90 f/2.2, the Noctilux-M 50 f/1.2 ASPH., and the Summilux-M 35 f/1.4, its timeless aesthetics are reminiscent of its historical predecessor.

The optical design is based on the second Summilux-M 50 f/1.4 (II), an almost unchanged version of which was produced from 1962 to 2004. It is noted for its impressive image quality and unmatched image characteristics at a wide aperture. The new Summilux-M also captures the moment in this unique look with particularly soft bokeh when a wide aperture is used, making it ideal for portrait photography. When stopped down, the new lens produces sharper and higher-contrast images than its historical predecessor. This is ensured by modern production techniques and the use of special types of glass. The new edition of this classic lens fulfills all the requirements of modern M-Cameras with a high-resolution sensor. Compared to its historical predecessor, it offers even more creative freedom thanks to its extended close focusing distance of 0.7 m.

Here are some sample pictures: