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.

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.

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 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

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

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.

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. ($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

A combination of the know-how of Leica's engineers and the latest developments in manufacturing technology has resulted in this outstanding standard lens. It delivers high-contrast images, with high-resolution detail, even at its widest aperture, and down to its minimum focusing distance.