{"id":39953,"date":"2023-06-05T07:23:04","date_gmt":"2023-06-05T06:23:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/?p=39953"},"modified":"2026-03-23T15:12:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T14:12:13","slug":"review-leica-50mm-1-4-summilux-m-asph","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/review-leica-50mm-1-4-summilux-m-asph\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Leica 50mm 1.4 Summilux-M Asph"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/h2>\n
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Leica 50mm 1.4 Summilux-M Asph on Leica M10<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This Leica Summilux-M 50mm 1.4 Asph is definitely among Leica’s most famous M-mount lenses. When it had been released in 2004 there was nothing quite like it. A compact fast 50mm rangefinder lens with aspherical element and floating elements design? You could not find this anywhere else.
\nBut – maybe unlike some of the Nocitlux lenses – this wasn’t just a showcase of engineering technology, it actually proved to be a useful and capable lens cherished by many to this day.
\nLeica kept this in their portfolio – with unchanged optics – for 20 years, so how does it stack up against its younger and significantly cheaper competitors in 2023, especially the Voigtl\u00e4nder VM 50mm 1.5 Nokton MC<\/a> and the TTArtisan 50mm 1.4 Asph<\/a>? Let’s find out in this review.
\nThis lens will be reviewed on the 42mp Sony A7rII and the 24mp Leica M10.<\/em><\/p>\n

Sample Images<\/h2>\n
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Leica M10 | Leica 50mm 1.4 Asph | f\/1.4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Leica M10 | Leica 50mm 1.4 Asph | f\/1.4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Leica M10 | Leica 50mm 1.4 Asph | f\/1.4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Leica M10 | Leica 50mm 1.4 Asph | f\/1.4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"leica
Leica M10 | Leica 50mm 1.4 Asph | f\/1.4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Leica M10 | Leica 50mm 1.4 Asph | f\/1.4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

Most of the sample images in this review can be found in full resolution here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n

Specifications \/ Version History<\/h2>\n

Leica’s non-Asph 50mm 1.4 had been made for more than 40 years when it was replaced by this Leica Summilux-M 50mm 1.4 Asph in 2004. Keep in mind this was 5 years before the first fullframe digital Leica M camera, the M9, and 2 years before Leica’s first digital M, the M8 (that only featured an APS-H sized sensor) were released.
\nThis Leica 50mm 1.4 Asph had been designed for film in the film era, 20 years ago – keep that in mind when having a look at its optical performance further down this review.<\/p>\n

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I am reviewing the most common Leica 50mm 1.4 Asph in black here (top left). It also comes in a ~125g heavier silver version.
\nIn 2015 a “black chrome” version with the same optical but different mechanical design – reminiscent of Leica’s 50mm 1.4 from the 1960s – had been released. It also features a smaller E43 filter thread but no built-in hood.
\nThen in 2023 a new version with slightly altered optical design and improved 0.5 m minimum focus distance replaced the previous versions.<\/p>\n

The earlier version I am reviewing here has the following specifications:<\/p>\n