The 50mm f/1.4 Summilux-M lens is sometimes regarded, within Leica circles, as inferior to other cur

Excellent performance; small size; built in retractable hood

Expensive

This lens is a good compromise for Leica M users who want a 'standard' lens that is fast, has very respectable performance and is not too bulky. The 50mm f/1.4 Summilux-M lens is sometimes regarded, within Leica circles, as sligthtly inferior to other current Leica M lenses, on account of its old...

Excellent performance; small size; built in retractable hood

Price

The new Leica 50mm 1.4 m lens ASPH is one of the top performing 50mm lenses I have ever used. Sharpness is superb, contrast is excellent, and the bokeh (background blur) at 1.4 is smooth with an individual characteristic to it.

Durable; Easy To Clean; Rugged; Sharp Focus

The LEICA SUMMILUX-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH is a remarkable lens, being the world's only aspherical 50/1.4 with floating elements.

There's a reason there is a long waiting list for this lens...Simply amazing IQ, in the same category as the 35mm FLE lens. The silver version is great, but heavier than the black - but the silver one is a lot more scratch resistant from what I understand

So what can I say about this lens. It produces the cleanest images I have ever seen. Everything is buttery smooth, there is nothing on the images that should not be there. The micro-contrast is amazing, the transaction between in-focus nad out-of-focus is mindblowing.

The Leica 50mm Summilux is a staple lens for the Leica system. The 50mm perspective is a classic one with a decades long tradition, and the slightly narrower perspective means there is less clutter in the frame compared to say, the 35mm, usually making for better photos.

The Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. ($3,995 list) is a lens against which others are judged. It's got a fast f/1.4 aperture for available-light shooting, and is extremely sharp from edge to edge even when pushed to the maximum aperture.

Edge-to-edge sharpness; Fast aperture; Compact; Built-in hood; Negligible distortion

Very expensive; Manual focus only

I went back and forth among this lens, the 50 2.0, and the 50 2.0 APO. The APO, which costs a fortune, didn't seem to me any better than this. The 1.4 seemed to have a more special look than the 2.0. I've now tried the 1.4 for a few weeks and am glad I chose this lens. Outstanding sharpness.

Leica's Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. ($3,995) is a familiar lens to many rangefinder photographers. It covers a standard-angle field of view, a bit tighter than the moderate wide-angle captured by another fan favorite, the Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH. The Summilux is a fine performer, capturing crisp images at its maximum aperture and getting better and better as it's stopped down. It's a solid, but expensive, choice to pair with your Leica rangefinder or mirrorless camera. If you can live with an f/2 aperture, our Editors' Choice, the Zeiss Planar T* 2/50 ZM, is a fine budget alternative. DesignThe Summilux is a compact, heavy lens. It measures 2.1 by 2.1 inches (HD), weighs 11.8 ounces, and supports 46mm front filters. It's made from anodized aluminum and available in black or silver, but the silver version costs more—$4,250. A third version of the lens, finished in black chrome, sells for $3,950, but has a slightly different design that omits the focus tab and built-in hood, and ...

The pricey Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. is the go-to standard-angle lens for many a rangefinder shooter, and with good reason.

Wide aperture design; 0.7-meter close focus; Built-in lens hood; Crisp optics; Negligible distortion

Expensive; Manual focus isn't for everyone