Jono Slack Review: Leica 50mm Summilux f1.4

[thrid]

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On 2/20/2025 at 6:35 PM, Vanillasludge said:

Based on the mtf charts this has to be one of  highest performing non-asph high speed 50’s ever made.  That’s a pretty tremendous increase in performance vs the original, with much better outer zones. 

According to Puts the last (2nd?) version of the Summilux-R 1.4/50 is supposedly a little better than the M version wide open, but both are really good. The R version is also physically bigger, which may explain that. I have a Summilux-R 1.4/50 on my R bodies and it's really, really nice. Sharp and creamy and the color reproduction is excellent. The bokeh and fall off into OOF is smooth as silk. Maybe my favorite SLR 50 of all time.

 I also shot a lot with a Zeiss ZF Planar 1.4/50 on my Nikon film and now digital bodies. The Zeiss is really good and a noticeable step up from any high speed 1.4 Nikkor I've ever shot and I think I've owned most of the manual focus and the old original AF 50's at one point or another.

But I prefer the Summilux in both the R and M versions. (talking non-asph here).

In my experience the first Lux ASPH blew the non-asph away at 1.4 in terms of sharpness. No contest. That's obviously even more so the case with the latest version.

My main beef with the first Lux ASPH was the transition from in to out of focus. Because it is more highly corrected that transition occurs more abruptly and to my eye is flattens the image a little. I also recall that it had the star pattern on some highlights.

Apparently the latest ASPH is smoother and more like the last non-asph, but I haven't tried it, yet.

Maybe this reissue will land somewhere in-between the last pre-ash and first ASPH. A little sharper wide-open due to some tweaks, but with the overall quality of the original.

 

 
 

Edited March 8 by thrid

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[brickftl]

I'm sold on this lens but it seems that they're on backorder everywhere I checked.

[thrid]

Can anyone share their observations on frame line intrusion of this lens? 

It's shorter than the last pre-ASPH (11868), but wider. In theory it shouldn't intrude much into the 50mm frame lines...

OLD  55mm length /  48mm diameter   (11868)

NEW 45mm length /  58mm diameter   (11714)

thanks 

[T25UFO]

6 hours ago, thrid said:

Can anyone share their observations on frame line intrusion of this lens? 

It's shorter than the last pre-ASPH (11868), but wider. In theory it shouldn't intrude much into the 50mm frame lines...

OLD  55mm length /  48mm diameter   (11868)

NEW 45mm length /  58mm diameter   (11714)

thanks 

Without lens hood the intrusion is minimal, just clips the bottom right corner but not as far as the 75mm frame line.  In normal use you do not notice it.

[farnz]

11 hours ago, thrid said:

Can anyone share their observations on frame line intrusion of this lens? 

Extreme!  For every picture I take using the rangefinder something puts frame lines between the subject and me.  I can't seem to get rid of them.  I don't blame the lens though because I can look directly through the lens and there are no frame lines.  I think it's got something to do with the camera itself. 🤔

Pete.

PS, Apologies, Thrid, I couldn't resist.  I don't use a hood with this lens so intrusion isn't a problem for me.

[pedaes]

1 hour ago, farnz said:

I don't use a hood with this lens so intrusion isn't a problem for me.

Getting back to boring stuff. That’s interesting. Obviously no problems. Presumably no filter? 
I will try it as several advantages to not having large hood sticking out in front! Thanks 

Edited June 26 by pedaes

[farnz]

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3 hours ago, pedaes said:

Presumably no filter?

No filter either, Keith.  Just bare nekkid lens.

Pete.

[thrid]

On 6/26/2025 at 5:25 AM, farnz said:

Extreme!  For every picture I take using the rangefinder something puts frame lines between the subject and me.  I can't seem to get rid of them.  I don't blame the lens though because I can look directly through the lens and there are no frame lines.  I think it's got something to do with the camera itself. 🤔

Pete.

PS, Apologies, Thrid, I couldn't resist.  I don't use a hood with this lens so intrusion isn't a problem for me.

ok, now that's funny.

😁

[thrid]

Thanks everyone .

This lens is starting to tick more and more boxes.

Now Leica just has to make it in black...
🙃

[didier]

1 hour ago, thrid said:

in black...

In black paint would be sooo nice  

[rmueller]

couldn't resist, got it last week. I kind of like the silver lens on an all black body. Posted some images here

It isn't as "buttery" as the 35mm steel rim but has a lovely bokeh nevertheless IMO. Guess will be a permanent resident of the MM1.

@jonoslack, thanks for the great review, this certainly increased my appetite for this lens. 

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Edited June 30 by rmueller

[Steadimann]

This 50 classic is amazing. If somewhere in the middle of "normal - modern" lux and 50 noctilux. Though it's heavy compared to other 50mm lens! But image wise, if you're looking for character and don't want to go extreme like 50 Noctilux, this is the one to get! 

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[phototrope]

On 2/20/2025 at 8:38 PM, RobW0 said:

I agree, would love to see this in black anodized aluminum. Hopefully they will not do the same thing they with the SR reissue and only make a few for the collectors. 

I would love to see in brass with black paint, so it can develop a patina over time with my M11 glossy black. Oh what joy.

[keith.christie]

I have this lens fitted to my M11-D.

I have noted that when I have a Leica UV filter (13034) fitted for protection and no lens hood, the silver, metal lens cap supplied is a loose fit as it does not engage fully onto the lens due to the added dimension of the filter, because of this sometimes the lens cap becomes detached.

Has anyone else noted this and is there a solution? other than removing the filter.

Best regards

Keith

[adan]

Get a standard Leica E46 snap-in lens cap to clip into the filter itself?

https://leicacamerausa.com/leica-lens-cap-e46.html?srsltid=AfmBOopqJOBG4IP1aFCNcQfPvTM6n6Yx3ppYz6tR2kggMSyJ4VcQA2yX

 

[keith.christie]

2 hours ago, adan said:

Get a standard Leica E46 snap-in lens cap to clip into the filter itself?

https://leicacamerausa.com/leica-lens-cap-e46.html?srsltid=AfmBOopqJOBG4IP1aFCNcQfPvTM6n6Yx3ppYz6tR2kggMSyJ4VcQA2yX

 

Thank you for your reply. I will order one of those. 
Best regards

Keith

[pedaes]

On 7/13/2025 at 9:59 AM, phototrope said:

brass with black paint

I think the request was for black aluminium to reduce weight!

[FrozenInTime]

1 hour ago, pedaes said:

I think the request was for black aluminium to reduce weight!

Never mind the weight, if Leica ever found themselves in a cash flow problem, regular production black paint on brass versions of the classic 35 and 50mm Summilux lenses would be the answer. 

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[Robert Ardinger]

7 hours ago, adan said:

Get a standard Leica E46 snap-in lens cap to clip into the filter itself?

That cap has a larger "flange" as it is designed for a 46mm filter thread on a lens with a built in (retractable) lens hood (i.e. the 50mm 1.4 ASP).  The larger flange is so the cap can cover the diameter of the retracted hood. It will work perfectly will on the reissue 50mm with a filter but looks a bit odd.  This is the cap I use when not using the hood. (I have these caps on other lenses too, they seem better built than other, perhaps cheaper caps, but still are not very expensive (46mm one is $7.00).