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Most of us seem to be photographers as well as collectors. Show me your favorite lenses, old and new alike. I like the Noctilux range for the extreme apertures, but I prefer the Summilux range for the best speed:size/weight ratio. Here’s a Summilux gathering of 21, 24, 28, 35, 50 and 75mm. All in black.

Choosing the right Leica M lens can be a daunting and challenging thing, given the very rich variety in M focal lengths, lens character, maximum apertures, size, optical design etc. M lenses span many decades of evolution, with major milestone designs from two influential eras: Mandler’s classic, filmic look, and Karbe’s modern, technically optimized designs. There is also a huge variety of other choices. This guide highlights some of the key aspects of choosing the right M lenses - focal length, character, speed, form factor, price and rarity, helping you find the ideal lens for your style and needs (hopefully). I have created a checklist of five questions to ask before the purchase: WHAT FOCAL LENGTH DO I WANT? Current M lenses offer a range of focal lengths from 16mm super-wide to 135mm telephoto, with classic street photography favorites being 28mm, 35mm, and 50mm for their versatility. Portrait and telephoto options like 75mm, 90mm, and 135mm bring subjects closer and tighter, though focusing accuracy can be challenging with a rangefinder (EVF to the rescue where applicable). Of course some prefer wide and ultra wide lenses as their daily driver and many good and useful combinations between focal lengths have been suggested - 35mm + 75mm, 24mm + 50mm + 90mm, 21mm + 35mm etc. WHAT CHARACTER SHOULD THE LENS HAVE? Leica M lens character differs significantly between two major milestones - the Mandler era and the Karbe era. Walter Mandler designed lenses, known for their softer pre-aspherical "character" rendering and sometimes signature glow, emphasize color rendition and tonal transitions, often using classic glass types to create a unique 'Leica look.' Mandler’s lenses (like the Pre-ASPH 35mm Summilux) are loved for their dreamy, filmic qualities. Peter Karbe’s lenses later introduced APO (Apochromatic) and ASPH (Aspherical) technologies, delivering sharpness across the frame and reducing aberrations, like in the 35mm and 50mm APO-Summicron. These lenses prioritize technical perfection and "clinical" sharpness with minimal optical flaws and are (as per their designer) supposed to be used even wide open without any major quality loss issues. WHAT MAXIMUM SPEED DO I NEED? Usually the hustle is between f/2 and f/1.4 as common choices for their balance between light-gathering and size, keeping in mind that every f/1.4 lens is also a f/2 lens, but not vice versa. Fast lenses like the Noctiluxes (f/0.95 or f/1.25) offer ultra-shallow depth of field and excel in low light but are generally larger, bulkier, heavier, and more challenging to focus. Summilux (f/1.4) lenses balance high speed and portability, while Summicron (f/2) lenses prioritize compactness and are versatile enough for most lighting conditions. Some users do not need the speed at all and are happy with f/2.8 or even f/4. IS FORM FACTOR AND SIZE IMPORTANT TO ME? The size of Leica M lenses ranges from ultra compact (such as the 28 summaron, 40 summicron, 28 elmarit, 35mm Summicrons I- IV or collapsible 50mm Elmar) to larger, heavier options. Mandler-era (and earlier) lenses are often more compact due to simpler optical formulas, while modern ASPH and APO lenses can be bulkier due to their complex elements, but this is not a particular rule. Many Leica M photographers favor compact lenses for the M system's signature light weight and unobtrusiveness and there are not that many choices of those in the latest modern line-up, which is a shame. HOW MUCH AM I PREPARED TO PAY? Prices of Leica M lenses have always been high. Used ones vary greatly depending on rarity, internet trends, special edition status and demand. Some have always been and others have just recently become collectibles, with prices rising through the roof. The rule of thumb for new lenses is the slower the lens, the cheaper it should be. If you are after a special, limited edition lens like a silver wide angle 28mm summicron, black paint 50mm noctilux or AA double aspherical 35mm summilux be prepared to pay the premium. No new lenses currently available as regular editions are rare and there are always some "sleepers" and bargains to be had. Please feel free to comment and add your observations. What are the perks you encountered when buying a M lens? Is the process confusing? Are they overpriced for what they offer?