Leica 50mm f1.4 Summilux-M Lens - Silver Chrome

The Leica 50mm f1.4 Summilux-M Lens in Silver Chrome combines heritage design with advanced optics. It features seven elements in five groups and delivers exceptional sharpness and contrast. The fast f1.4 aperture and 12-blade diaphragm create smooth, natural bokeh, while the improved 0.7m minimum focus distance allows for tighter framing and greater subject detail. A click-on lens hood helps minimise flare and maintain optimal image quality.

Leica 50mm f1.4 Summilux-M Lens Key Features:

• Redesign of the Summilux- M 50 f1.4 from Leica’s classic line
• Combines heritage-style design with modern optics
• Upgraded optical construction featuring 7 elements in 5 groups
• Exceptional depth of field control with an f1.4 maximum aperture
• 12-blade diaphragm for smooth, naturally circular bokeh
• Get closer with an improved 0.7m minimum focusing distance
• Highly accurate manual focusing in line with all M lenses
• Combined scale with measurements for meters (m)/feet (ft)
• Benefits from Leica’s well-renowned premium build-quality
• Includes Leica’s click-on lens hood and hood cap
• Compact and lightweight design, weighing only 417g

How to use the Leica 50mm f1.4 Summilux-M Lens

Optical design for high-resolution imaging

The Leica 50mm f1.4 Summilux-M Lens features a 7-element, 5-group optical construction designed to minimise aberrations and maintain image clarity across the frame. This design ensures consistent sharpness from the centre to the edges, even when shooting at wide apertures. The precision-matched glass elements provide accurate colour reproduction, making the lens well-suited for documentary, portrait, and street photography.

f1.4 aperture for low-light shooting

The fast f1.4 aperture allows for shooting in low-light conditions without increasing ISO. This benefits photographers working in dimly lit environments, such as indoor events or night scenes, where maintaining image detail without excessive noise is essential. The wide aperture also enables subject isolation, helping to create depth in an image by separating the subject from the background.

12-Blade diaphragm for controlled background blur

A 12-blade diaphragm produces smooth, natural bokeh, avoiding harsh edges in out-of-focus areas. This feature is handy for portrait photographers who require a gradual transition between sharp focus and background blur. The rounded aperture blades contribute to an even defocus, making the lens effective for rendering soft backgrounds in still photography and video applications.

0.7m minimum focus distance for close framing

The updated focusing system reduces the minimum focus distance to 0.7m, allowing for tighter framing and capturing finer subject details. This improvement provides more flexibility for close-up portraits and product photography while maintaining accurate focus and sharpness. The extended focusing range benefits photographers who need to work within confined spaces or want to emphasise specific elements in a scene.

Manual focusing with dual-scale engraving

As a manual-focus lens, the Summilux-M 50mm f1.4 includes a precisely machined focus ring with an engraved dual scale in metres and feet. This feature ensures precise control over focus adjustments, which is essential for photographers using rangefinder cameras or working with fine depth-of-field adjustments. The smooth operation of the focus ring allows for incremental changes, making it practical for controlled focusing in both static and dynamic scenes.

Click-on lens hood for flare reduction

The lens includes a click-on hood designed to minimise stray light and reduce flare when working in bright conditions. This hood is particularly beneficial for outdoor photography, where strong directional light can affect contrast. The hood’s compact design ensures it does not interfere with the lens's handling, maintaining its portability while improving optical performance.

Durable construction with a compact form factor

The lens, constructed from solid brass and finished in silver chrome, maintains Leica’s high manufacturing standards. Its metal housing provides durability for regular use, while its compact 417g design ensures balanced handling on M-mount cameras.

What’s in the box?

• 1 x Leica 50mm f1.4 Summilux-M Lens
• 1 x Rear Cap
• 1 x Lens Hood
• 1 x Hood Cap

FAQs:

What type of camera is the Leica Summilux-M 50mm f1.4 lens compatible with?

Leica designed the 50mm f1.4 Summilux-M lens for M-mount rangefinder cameras, including digital and film models. It features 6-bit encoding, which allows digital Leica M cameras to recognise the lens and apply metadata. While the lens is primarily intended for rangefinders, users can also adapt it for use on mirrorless cameras with the appropriate third-party adapters.

Does the Leica 50mm f1.4 Summilux-M lens support autofocus?

No, the Summilux-M 50mm f1.4 is a fully manual-focus lens. It features a precisely machined focus ring with an engraved dual scale (metres/feet) for accurate focusing, especially when using a rangefinder system.

What type of aperture control does the Leica 50mm f1.4 Summilux-M lens have?

The lens features a click-stop diaphragm with half-increment lock settings, allowing precise manual control of aperture adjustments from f1.4 to f16.

Can I use filters with the Leica 50mm f1.4 Summilux-M lens?

The Summilux-M 50mm f1.4 has a 46mm E46 filter thread, compatible with standard screw-in filters such as UV, ND, and polarising filters. These filters can help control light, enhance contrast, or protect the front element from dust and scratches.

Leica 50mm f1.4 Summilux-M Lens - Silver Chrome - Sample Images