{"id":7068,"date":"2017-03-15T18:10:24","date_gmt":"2017-03-15T17:10:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/?p=7068"},"modified":"2026-03-24T13:37:53","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T12:37:53","slug":"review-leica-summilux-35mm-1-4-asph-fle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/review-leica-summilux-35mm-1-4-asph-fle\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Leica Summilux 35mm 1.4 Asph FLE"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/h1>\n
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Sony A7rII with Voigtlander VM-E close focus adapter and Leica Summilux 35mm 1.4 Asph FLE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Leica Summilux 35mm 1.4 Asph FLE is to my knowledge the most expensive 35mm lens for fullframe money can buy and it is also very highly regarded among the few that can afford it. But does it make any sense to use this lens on an A7 series camera? Read the review to find out.<\/p>\n

Update July 2024:<\/strong> If you care about the performance of this lens on a Leica M camera have a look at my review of the updated Leica 35mm 1.4 Summilux-M Asph FLE MK II<\/a> which performs just the same in most categories. The updated version has been tested on a Leica M10 and in more detail. You will also find many modern alternatives being discussed there.<\/em><\/p>\n

Sample Images<\/h1>\n
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Sony A7rII | Leica Summilux 35mm 1.4 Asph FLE | f\/2.0 | shot handheld | full resolution<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Sony A7rII | Leica Summilux 35mm 1.4 Asph FLE | f\/1.4 | full resolution<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Sony A7rII | Leica Summilux 35mm 1.4 Asph FLE | f\/4.0 | full resolution<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This lens was also featured in my fast 35mm manual focus lenses comparison<\/a> you might want to have a look at.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Disclosure<\/h1>\n

Initially I only wanted to find out whether the “Front filter solution” for rangefinder wide angle lenses (see this article<\/a>) also works on the Summilux 35mm 1.4 FLE. I knew someone who owns this lens and to my suprise he gave it to me for a full week. So at first a huge “Thank you!” to Stuttgart based wedding and portrait photographer Rocco<\/a>! Still, I usually use lenses at least 3-4 weeks, often even months before writing a final conclusion, so at the end you will only get my “Impressions after one week of usage”<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Specifications \/ Version History<\/h1>\n

The Leica Summilux 35mm 1.4 has been around since 1960 and to my knowledge there have been three different versions<\/strong> which have been produced in greater numbers:<\/p>\n