Leica APO-Summicron-M 50mm f/2 ASPH Lens (Silver Anodized)

A lightweight lens with extraordinary optics (by report tests) and real-world capture by me. The feel, fit and finish of the lens is beyond all my very high expectations. I appreciate the fancy metal lens cover and lockable built-in lens hood. This is one piece of glass I KNOW will be in my camera back for LIFE. I am in the unique position to own both the new 50mm summilux and the 50mm 0.95 noctilux. And therefore, able to compare. There is a great youtube video by Steve Huff showing this comparison as well. Of the three 50's, the summilux is probably the most reasonable when it comes to price vs optics. The weight of the noctilux is very high compared to the other two. The noctilux does have some chromatic aberration that I have not seen on this lens. But, of ... MoreA lightweight lens with extraordinary optics (by report tests) and real-world capture by me. The feel, fit and finish of the lens is beyond all my very high expectations. I appreciate the fancy metal lens cover and lockable built-in lens hood. This is one piece of glass I KNOW will be in my camera back for LIFE. I am in the unique position to own both the new 50mm summilux and the 50mm 0.95 noctilux. And therefore, able to compare. There is a great youtube video by Steve Huff showing this comparison as well. Of the three 50's, the summilux is probably the most reasonable when it comes to price vs optics. The weight of the noctilux is very high compared to the other two. The noctilux does have some chromatic aberration that I have not seen on this lens. But, of course, the noctilux out performs the others in the near darkness. At the present time, this lens is still new for me. I have tried it on the Monochrom and M9 so far. The M 240 will be next. I will need a longer period of time to experiment with this new APO summicron version, however, I am certain that it's great advertizing claims will be born out in the end. While I am still in shock over the uber-high price, I do not believe I will EVER have buyer's remorse.If you have the opportunity to try this lens, DON'T!!! It will be very hard to return it due to it's favorable size, weight, and optics. YOU WILL WANT TO BUY IT. The price tag is very steep and the wait is still very long. Mine was 6 months. If, on the other hand, you ARE in the market for such a beast, think no more...venture no further...you have found near perfection!

After reading lots of reviews, I finally made the decision to purchase this lens. But what I got is defective! I had the same problem with Michael: the aperture blades buckled from f2 to f16. Actually the blades can't form a round aperture. The shape of the hole is irregular and is changing while turning the aperture ring. I just shipped it back today and will wait for my exchange lens. In one month, two lenses sold by B&H have the same defective problem. A couple of years ago, this lens had flare issue, then Leica fixed it. Right now it looks like Leica's QC need to be improved. I do not know what B&H or Leica will do with these defective lenses. Although B&H customer service told me that they never re-sell them, I still want to post the lens information in here. ... MoreAfter reading lots of reviews, I finally made the decision to purchase this lens. But what I got is defective! I had the same problem with Michael: the aperture blades buckled from f2 to f16. Actually the blades can't form a round aperture. The shape of the hole is irregular and is changing while turning the aperture ring. I just shipped it back today and will wait for my exchange lens. In one month, two lenses sold by B&H have the same defective problem. A couple of years ago, this lens had flare issue, then Leica fixed it. Right now it looks like Leica's QC need to be improved. I do not know what B&H or Leica will do with these defective lenses. Although B&H customer service told me that they never re-sell them, I still want to post the lens information in here. So people can avoid them in second hand market or somewhere else. My lens is black, manufactured on 10/21/2016, serial # is 04666972. I will keep it updated after the exchange lens comes.

I traditionally have been a Canon DSLR user. With my move over the last couple of years to more manual lenses (typically the more recent Zeiss offerings on the Canon mount) and a desire to find high quality small systems I can take traveling, my road led me to Leica. My only use of this lens has been on a Sony A7II camera body with a Voigtlander Close-Focus adaptor so my thoughts here will be on the lens itself and its marriage with the Sony body. Everything about the build of the lens lives up to the Leica reputation - exemplary in all respects save two comments. The aperture ring is a bit too loose and one can knock it to a different setting unexpectedly or without knowing. Secondly, and this may be matter of preference after using Zeiss for years, but I could ... MoreI traditionally have been a Canon DSLR user. With my move over the last couple of years to more manual lenses (typically the more recent Zeiss offerings on the Canon mount) and a desire to find high quality small systems I can take traveling, my road led me to Leica. My only use of this lens has been on a Sony A7II camera body with a Voigtlander Close-Focus adaptor so my thoughts here will be on the lens itself and its marriage with the Sony body. Everything about the build of the lens lives up to the Leica reputation - exemplary in all respects save two comments. The aperture ring is a bit too loose and one can knock it to a different setting unexpectedly or without knowing. Secondly, and this may be matter of preference after using Zeiss for years, but I could have used a bit more throw to dial in focus with more precision. The mating of the lens with Voigtlander on the Sony is a great thing. One of the Achilles' Heel of all Leica systems has been their long minimum-focus distance. With the adaptor, you can half your minimum focus distance. While still not in macro-magnification territory, you can obtain some reasonably close (0.4m) shooting distances. The lens, adaptor and camera all fit together very snuggly, minimal movement and no light leakage. Performance of this lens is already well known, stellar, peerless as many have said. Usage on the Sony is generally exceptional with the lens really singing over the vast majority of the frame. It is a true feat to have a lens with such optical precision yet have a pleasing bokeh (see the flower picture). The lens is every bit as sharp wide-open as many lenses are at their best. Fringing is also well controlled as is the flare - if there was a problem with flare at launch, it has been addressed. However, the very extreme corners of the frame do experience marginal (splitting hairs here) softening. The Zeiss Otus 55mm had consistently sharper corners at the same apertures. It should be noted that this lens is not optimized for the Sony sensor, I have read that there are panes of glass on the Sony sensor that given the distance or proximity to the rear element of the lens, cause this softness for Leica-to-Sony adapted lenses. The shorter focal-length lenses having more difficulties up to and including discoloration issues. The 50mm Leica lenses seem to be just on the edge of having no impact. I would say for a lens such as the Noctilux, this would be a non-issue given its corner performance - but the APO is an unforgiving lens. Again, extreme corner performance we are talking about here. Overall, this tiny lens packs quite the performance - it's really quite impressive actually. I would caution others that using this lens on a Sony body as cheap substitute to a Leica body will not avail the full capability of the lens nor the Sony sensor given their respective designs. No free lunches... However, the handing and usage of the lens on the Sony make a great combination, particularly with the focus-peaking and magnification. Highly recommended lens!