Keith Walker's Experience With The New Leica Summilux-M 50mm f1.4
18th April 2025
In: News, Members' Articles
The New Leica Summilux-M 50mm f1.4
Leica introduced a new version of the 50mm Summilux lens in February 2025, this is how Leica described it:
“We are introducing a new version of the Summilux-M 50mm f1.4 which is based on its iconic predecessor from 1959. Be inspired by the vintage design, excellent imaging performance, and extraordinarily beautiful bokeh of this classic lens.”
In spite of their use of the word ‘bokeh’ which I hate, I decided to purchase the lens.
Several reasons (or excuses) were dreamt up
- for a new f1.4 lens the price is reasonable (for Leica)
- it would be a good alternative to the oh-so-perfect APO-Summicron
- it would have a less modern rendering without the risk of haze,
fungus and balsam separation in older lens
- I find the lens body especially appealing based on the Version 1.
Our late and much missed friend Erwin Puts described that
lens thus “The optical cell has been fitted in one of the most
beautiful mounts that Leitz has ever designed…”
- ease of use with M11
- it was available
Ease of use with M11, what am I referring to? On my other M bodies to shoot at f1.4 has meant the use of a Neutral Density filter to reduce the light reaching the sensor(or film). The M11 has to advantages which negate the use of ND filters - a base ISO of 64 and a top shutter speed of 1/16000 sec. The M11 allows you to set a ‘Hybrid’
shutter, which works as a mechanical shutter to 1/4000th sec and the moves to an electronic shutter up to the maximum.
All my use of the M11 previously has involved only the manual shutter, which to my ears makes the most gorgeous ‘click’. When I first tried the camera at 1.4 I thought nothing was happening. I had forgotten the electronic shutter is totally silent. Doh! I
can’t say I like the silence, as the only indication of an exposure I can tell is a flicker of the exposure speed reading in the viewfinder, but I guess I will get used to it!
I have had the lens for a couple of weeks, and fortunately this has coincided with some much longed for sunshine. All the pictures supporting the piece were taken on the M11-P and all at f1.4. You may or may not like the out of focus rendering, being mindful that you are seeing low resolution jpegs.
Alfie
Daffodils
Kingston Lacy Lion
Snowdrops
The Colour of Rust
Walnut Tree
Leica introduced a new version of the 50mm Summilux lens in February 2025, this is how Leica described it:
“We are introducing a new version of the Summilux-M 50mm f1.4 which is based on its iconic predecessor from 1959. Be inspired by the vintage design, excellent imaging performance, and extraordinarily beautiful bokeh of this classic lens.”
In spite of their use of the word ‘bokeh’ which I hate, I decided to purchase the lens.
Several reasons (or excuses) were dreamt up
- for a new f1.4 lens the price is reasonable (for Leica)
- it would be a good alternative to the oh-so-perfect APO-Summicron
- it would have a less modern rendering without the risk of haze,
fungus and balsam separation in older lens
- I find the lens body especially appealing based on the Version 1.
Our late and much missed friend Erwin Puts described that
lens thus “The optical cell has been fitted in one of the most
beautiful mounts that Leitz has ever designed…”
- ease of use with M11
- it was available
Ease of use with M11, what am I referring to? On my other M bodies to shoot at f1.4 has meant the use of a Neutral Density filter to reduce the light reaching the sensor(or film). The M11 has to advantages which negate the use of ND filters - a base ISO of 64 and a top shutter speed of 1/16000 sec. The M11 allows you to set a ‘Hybrid’
shutter, which works as a mechanical shutter to 1/4000th sec and the moves to an electronic shutter up to the maximum.
All my use of the M11 previously has involved only the manual shutter, which to my ears makes the most gorgeous ‘click’. When I first tried the camera at 1.4 I thought nothing was happening. I had forgotten the electronic shutter is totally silent. Doh! I
can’t say I like the silence, as the only indication of an exposure I can tell is a flicker of the exposure speed reading in the viewfinder, but I guess I will get used to it!
I have had the lens for a couple of weeks, and fortunately this has coincided with some much longed for sunshine. All the pictures supporting the piece were taken on the M11-P and all at f1.4. You may or may not like the out of focus rendering, being mindful that you are seeing low resolution jpegs.
Alfie
Daffodils
Kingston Lacy Lion
Snowdrops
The Colour of Rust
Walnut Tree
Comments
By Michael Gornall: Very interesting lens which I’m sure you’re enjoying the original lens produced cost £113.19 shillings and nine pence times certainly have changed By Ken Davis: Michael - I've run £114 in 1959 through the Bank of England inflation calculator to find its current value. It's £2,272. By Cled lewis: The M11 and the Summilux family is a cracking combination and when used at f1.4 leaves you in no doubt what the photographer wants you to see.
I know what you mean Keith about the silent shutter as I was used to the mechanical shutter too. By David Askham: Keith, I sense the excitement you are experiencing with your new lens. I have the aspheric version and quickly learned that it is not essential to use full aperture for most pictures. Your image 'The colour of rust' exemplifies the fact that close-up pictures usually require a smaller lens aperture to clarify the content. I speak as an illustrative photographer. Depth of field at full aperture at close distances is minuscule. At first glance, nothing appears to be sharp. This is just a personal point of view. By Keith Walker: Hi David. I agree, images at f1.4 can be pretty boring and I certainly would not want to use just that aperture! This exercise was about two things - seeing what the f1.4 rendering (fall off etc.) was like and testing the 'freedom' to use f1.4 without ND filters. I think wide open the lens has a softness associated with the pre-ASPH version 1 that does create an unsharp vibe, but it is a feature of the lens. By dennis Steel: Hi Keith Many thanks for the article on your new 50mm f1.4 lens. For me I would be more interested in your new lens low light capabilities. I have a new 50mm f1.4 lens and it's the next lens to be fitted to either M11 or M11 mono for test. I have just finished testing my new 21mm f3.4 Super Elmar on the M11 mono and I am very pleased with the low light results. By Keith Walker: Hi Dennis. Not 100% sure what you mean by low light - after dark? I have recently put a couple of indoors snaps on the Fellowship's Flickr page if that helps.