Downside of Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 Asph. (2023)?

[BWColor]

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I’m not a 50mm friendly photographer and it’s been years since I used film as a primary medium.  In fact, the only Leica I’ve been using is an M11 Monochrom, but I’m venturing back into film and I’ve decided to force the issue, jump in and get wet.  I’ll be using Portra 160 and Ektar and after decades of primarily shooting 21mm & 35mm, I would like to go out with a fast 50 and change my viewpoint.  I’ve a few M cameras, but will likely use my M3 and M6 reissue for the 50mm.  Secondly, I want to explore the f/1.4 world of isolation and bokeh.  That said, ignoring price, I’m wondering what the downside might be of using the latest 50mm f/1.4 Summilux-M Asp.  I’ve heard that the aluminum might not hold up as well as brass and that the slide out lens hood is a bit too short.  What are the downsides of this generation of this lens?  I do like the bokeh with the greater number of aperture blades and given that I primarily will use this lens when traveling, the lighter weight is appreciated.  Thanks in advance…

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[frame-it]

there is no downside, its a beautiful lens, brass is a bit heavy but one can get used to it.

[misteracng]

50 lux asph is great with film, particularly the M3, I use the combo often, M3 .91 finder is great for accurate focus on a 50mm 1.4. The current 50 lux I believe is aluminum in black and chrome same weight. The previous chrome version is brass, I don’t think there is any issue with durability. The 50 lux is already heavy by M lens standard, so I don’t prefer even more weight with the brass version.

[Jeff S]

4 hours ago, BWColor said:

 I do like the bokeh with the greater number of aperture blades…

Makes no difference at f/1.4, of course.

I prefer the simplicity of the first version, without close focusing mechanism.

[erl]

As already noted, the slide out lens hood is near useless. Buy a cheap screw on one, literally for a few dollars, including shipping. Then your lens will be functional.

[Keith (M)]

11 hours ago, erl said:

As already noted, the slide out lens hood is near useless. Buy a cheap screw on one, literally for a few dollars, including shipping. Then your lens will be functional.

Oh, I don't know - it controls flare quite nicely...  😉

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2015 Summilux-M ASPH on M10M

[evikne]

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15 hours ago, Jeff S said:

I prefer the simplicity of the first version, without close focusing mechanism.

Not to mention the Black Chrome version (11688) with its beautiful scalloped focus ring. It is a bit heavier though, but I thought it balanced very well on my M10, so the weight didn't bother me. I never used the large hood, but it is probably more effective than the one on the standard version.

[Leon Berg]

vor 9 Minuten schrieb evikne:

Not to mention the Black Chrome version (11688) with its beautiful scalloped focus ring. It is a bit heavier though, but I thought it balanced very well on my M10, so the weight didn't bother me. I never used the large hood, but it is probably more effective than the one on the standard version.

I am thinking of getting the Black Chrome, although I hear it vignettes more. Not sure, if it really does ant the vignette would bother me. 

My second choice is the 11892, which is in brass. Mechanically the older version seems to be prone to loss of adjustment, but again, this is something I read a lot about, 

but haven't witnessed myself. 

The newer one seems to have fans and people who dislike it, like with everything in life and in photography.. Compared to the older version, I liked the older better, 

but of course am impressed by what was achieved in the 11728/9. 

My heart screams 11892 or black chrome.. 

[JoshuaR]

16 hours ago, misteracng said:

50 lux asph is great with film, particularly the M3, I use the combo often, M3 .91 finder is great for accurate focus on a 50mm 1.4. The current 50 lux I believe is aluminum in black and chrome same weight. The previous chrome version is brass, I don’t think there is any issue with durability. The 50 lux is already heavy by M lens standard, so I don’t prefer even more weight with the brass version.

I’ve been away from film for a while and have never owned an M3. I’m thinking of buying one to use exclusively with this lens. The M3 is so affordable (by Leica standards)!

[Leon Berg]

vor 10 Minuten schrieb JoshuaR:

I’ve been away from film for a while and have never owned an M3. I’m thinking of buying one to use exclusively with this lens. The M3 is so affordable (by Leica standards)!

It seems to be, right. 

I have an M3 as my only analog Leica (used to have M2 and M4 too, but since I only used 50mm for a long time, the M3 was just about perfect - it's also the most beautiful M, but
opinions may differ..) I will probably get an M2 again because I shoot a lot more 35mm than ever before and want to avoid googles. The M3 is the only M I feel which works well with googles, because the frame lines of 50mm are displayed which are so great in the M3. On a digital M for example the frame lines of 75 and 50 are displayed and it can be a bit annoying to look and compose through them. 

You can have them all, I especially love the M2/3/5

 

Back to the topic: you want to get the newest version for a film M? I mean, why not, but a model before would be completely sufficient. 

[misteracng]

4 hours ago, JoshuaR said:

I’ve been away from film for a while and have never owned an M3. I’m thinking of buying one to use exclusively with this lens. The M3 is so affordable (by Leica standards)!

I really like my M3 the most, it’s really a great experience, you can see the 50mm frame perfect with glasses, and the patch is large and great for focus, nothing else compares. I’m a big fan of the M4 as well, for a .72 finder. No meter but the price is good and they are solid. I’m going to get a goggles 35mm because I want the 35mm option and still want to use the M3.

[catacore]

On 8/11/2025 at 2:22 AM, BWColor said:

I’m not a 50mm friendly photographer and it’s been years since I used film as a primary medium.  In fact, the only Leica I’ve been using is an M11 Monochrom, but I’m venturing back into film and I’ve decided to force the issue, jump in and get wet.  I’ll be using Portra 160 and Ektar and after decades of primarily shooting 21mm & 35mm, I would like to go out with a fast 50 and change my viewpoint.  I’ve a few M cameras, but will likely use my M3 and M6 reissue for the 50mm.  Secondly, I want to explore the f/1.4 world of isolation and bokeh.  That said, ignoring price, I’m wondering what the downside might be of using the latest 50mm f/1.4 Summilux-M Asp.  I’ve heard that the aluminum might not hold up as well as brass and that the slide out lens hood is a bit too short.  What are the downsides of this generation of this lens?  I do like the bokeh with the greater number of aperture blades and given that I primarily will use this lens when traveling, the lighter weight is appreciated.  Thanks in advance…

On the M3 camera you are restricted to 1m MFD. On any other film cameras you will not be able to use the lens' 0.45m MFD capability.

On my v1 lens I can feel the stickyness on the focusing ring that some users keep mentioning over the web. The issue seems to be caused by the FLE complex mechanism. It is often said that the new v2 can deal better with this issue due to its wider diameter. I have not noticed the stickyness on my newly bought v2 in the short time I have used the lens.

In my opinion the ASPH Lux is a good option for film cameras due to its good sharpness and the film will "tame" whatever "perfect-ness" of the lens. Or you can look into the newly released Summilux Classic 50/1.4, which has a quite similar rendering to the ASPH, albeit a bit "rounded". And it just looks gorgeous.

 

L.E. Regarding the bokeh, the v1 has 9 aperture blades, the v2 has 11 and the Classic has 12. Also they say the v2 has different (better) coatings than the v1.

 

Edited August 12 by catacore

[Vanillasludge]

The biggest downside for me is the kick in the ass I would get from my wife if I spent $4000 on another 50mm lens.  Otherwise the lens is essentially perfect as a photographic tool.  

[Jeff S]

17 hours ago, evikne said:

Not to mention the Black Chrome version (11688) with its beautiful scalloped focus ring. It is a bit heavier though, but I thought it balanced very well on my M10, so the weight didn't bother me. I never used the large hood, but it is probably more effective than the one on the standard version.

I had one but sold it and retained my standard Summilux ASPH v.1.  Instead I added a 50 Summicron v.5 (current), which I owned in my film days.

[Eoin]

I own both the latest close focus version and the chrome 11892 Summilux ASPH.

In rendering there are subtle differences, on screen at high magnification, even less so in print.

The only downside I can imagine in your case, is paying more for the newer version which brings no benefit on a film M.

[BWColor]

I would also use it on my M11 Monochrom and can take advantage of the close focus.  Lots of good reasons to support purchasing various versions.  Thanks for your feedback.

[Loplop]

A tip, if you buy the close focus version; if you like straps on your cameras, you could consider mounting a strap that doubles as a minimum focus distance estimator.  I use an artisan & artist silk strap (standard length, ~980mm), and it's just about perfect when pulled forward.  I have used this method to good effect with both the 50mm close focus and 35 close focus on my M6.  I just received my 50mm Classic, haven't yet developed the first roll, but I'm looking forward to comparing it to the Lux ASPH.

[FrozenInTime]

11 minutes ago, Loplop said:

A tip, if you buy the close focus version; if you like straps on your cameras, you could consider mounting a strap that doubles as a minimum focus distance estimator.  I use an artisan & artist silk strap (standard length, ~980mm), and it's just about perfect when pulled forward.  I have used this method to good effect with both the 50mm close focus and 35 close focus on my M6.  I just received my 50mm Classic, haven't yet developed the first roll, but I'm looking forward to comparing it to the Lux ASPH.

A variation on the Minox measuring chain technique : https://www.cryptomuseum.com/covert/camera/minox/chain/index.htm

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[catacore]

11 hours ago, Loplop said:

A tip, if you buy the close focus version; if you like straps on your cameras, you could consider mounting a strap that doubles as a minimum focus distance estimator.  I use an artisan & artist silk strap (standard length, ~980mm), and it's just about perfect when pulled forward.  I have used this method to good effect with both the 50mm close focus and 35 close focus on my M6.  I just received my 50mm Classic, haven't yet developed the first roll, but I'm looking forward to comparing it to the Lux ASPH.

Looking forward to your findings.

I have shot the Classic Lux and the ASPH v1 side by side (only a few pictures) on my M240-P and could not see much of a difference (or, to put it differently, the difference is subtle). I expect even less difference on film. But the Classic Lux has quite high (barrel) distorsion levels, especially for a 50mm lens.

[Kiwimac]

I had the last version of the 50 Lux before the recent update. 
 

I liked it - and it remains the best looking lens on an M IMV. 
 

However, I didn’t use it as much as I thought I would, so traded it in against a better 35. 
 

I now have the version 11811. It’s the same body as the LHSI limited edition but rather than black paint, it’s black chrome and of course lacks the limited edition engravings. 
 

It is a limited edition itself, though, because only 700 were made. 
 

Beneath the stylish vintage exterior lies the very modern Apo 50 Summicron. 
 

I’d think the Apo would be stellar on the Monochrom. I suspect film wouldn’t have the resolution to match, but it would still be as good as it could be. 
 

The standard production version is a tiny jewel, far lighter than my full brass version. 
 

The Apo 50 (and 35) have very high prices, of course, which is unfortunate. What is true is that they’ll never be cheaper than today. I expect the typical 10% increase next year. 
 

The rapid focus transition in the Apo actually makes it look at f2 very similar to f1.4 on the Lux. 
 

Yes, it’s expensive. But it’s the lens I’d want on my Monochrom if I had one, for sure. 

Edited August 20 by Kiwimac