Leica 50mm f/2 APO Summicron M Mount ASPH Lens (Black) Apochromatic

  

Aperture Range: f/2 to f/16. Minimum Focusing Distance: 2.3. I traditionally have been a Canon DSLR user. With my move over the last couple of years to more manual lenses (typically the more recent Zeiss offerings on the Canon mount) and a desire to find high quality small systems I can take traveling, my road led me to Leica.

My only use of this lens has been on a Sony A7II camera body with a Voigtlander Close-Focus adaptor so my thoughts here will be on the lens itself and its marriage with the Sony body. Everything about the build of the lens lives up to the Leica reputation - exemplary in all respects save two comments. The aperture ring is a bit too loose and one can knock it to a different setting unexpectedly or without knowing. Secondly, and this may be matter of preference after using Zeiss for years, but I could have used a bit more throw to dial in focus with more precision.

The mating of the lens with Voigtlander on the Sony is a great thing. One of the Achilles' Heel of all Leica systems has been their long minimum-focus distance. With the adaptor, you can half your minimum focus distance. While still not in macro-magnification territory, you can obtain some reasonably close (0.4m) shooting distances. The lens, adaptor and camera all fit together very snuggly, minimal movement and no light leakage.

Performance of this lens is already well known, stellar, peerless as many have said. Usage on the Sony is generally exceptional with the lens really singing over the vast majority of the frame.

It is a true feat to have a lens with such optical precision yet have a pleasing bokeh (see the flower picture). The lens is every bit as sharp wide-open as many lenses are at their best. Fringing is also well controlled as is the flare - if there was a problem with flare at launch, it has been addressed. However, the very extreme corners of the frame do experience marginal (splitting hairs here) softening. The Zeiss Otus 55mm had consistently sharper corners at the same apertures. It should be noted that this lens is not optimized for the Sony sensor, I have read that there are panes of glass on the Sony sensor that given the distance or proximity to the rear element of the lens, cause this softness for Leica-to-Sony adapted lenses. The shorter focal-length lenses having more difficulties up to and including discoloration issues.

The 50mm Leica lenses seem to be just on the edge of having no impact. I would say for a lens such as the Noctilux, this would be a non-issue given its corner performance - but the APO is an unforgiving lens. Again, extreme corner performance we are talking about here. Overall, this tiny lens packs quite the performance - it's really quite impressive actually. I would caution others that using this lens on a Sony body as cheap substitute to a Leica body will not avail the full capability of the lens nor the Sony sensor given their respective designs.

However, the handing and usage of the lens on the Sony make a great combination, particularly with the focus-peaking and magnification. Pairing the classic normal focal length with an optically refined design, the black APO-Summicron-M 50mm f/2 ASPH.

Lens from Leica is a fast standard prime characterized by its apochromatic designation. Using anomalous partial dispersion and high refractive index glasses in its design, this lens is capable of focusing red, green, and blue wavelengths at the same plane in order to virtually eliminate chromatic aberrations.

One aspherical element is also featured in the design, to reduce spherical aberrations, and a floating element maintains clarity and sharpness throughout the focusing range from 2.3' to infinity. This compact 50mm lens is also distinguished by its compact form factor, making it ideal for use as an everyday lens. Like all M-mount lenses, this 50mm f/2 features a manual focus design, and a convenient focusing tab for more refined control during use.

Apochromatic design employs three elements made from anomalous partial color dispersion glass, as well as two high refractive index elements, in order to suppress chromatic aberrations throughout the aperture range for increased color accuracy and clarity. One aspherical element reduces spherical aberrations for improved sharpness from edge to edge. A floating element is used to maintain clarity and sharpness throughout the focusing range, from 2.3' to infinity. In addition to the apochromatic designation, this lens also pairs a Gaussian type optical construction in front of the aperture along with a design resembling the Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 behind the aperture, in order to significantly reduce distortion while also increasing overall sharpness and consistent illumination.

Bright f/2 maximum aperture benefits working in difficult lighting conditions and also affords greater control over depth of field. Compact overall design is ideal for use in everyday shooting situations. Manual focus design provides a minimum focusing distance of 2.3' with a maximum magnification ratio of 1:11.3. Built-in extendable lens hood shades and protects the front element to reduce lens flare and ghosting. Additionally, the front of the lens is threaded to accept 39mm screw-in filters.

11.5 x 7.5 x 6.25. 2.3' / 70 cm. 8 Elements in 5 Groups.

Ø: 1.9 x L: 2.1 / ø: 47.0 x L: 53.0 mm. 10.6 oz / 300.0 g. An APO lens (apochromatic), has better correction of chromatic and spherical aberration than other non-APO ones.

And it shows, shooting wide open you will see that purple fringing is almost non-existent. It also has better wide-open sharpness. There's an article comparing different 50mm lenses by lensrentals, which is a recommended read. The item "Leica 50mm f/2 APO Summicron M Mount ASPH Lens (Black) Apochromatic" is in sale since Wednesday, February 27, 2019.

This item is in the category "Cameras & Photo\Lenses & Filters\Lenses". The seller is "duhshop" and is located in Beverly Hills, California. This item can be shipped worldwide.

• Lens Aperture: F2.0
• Model: 50mm f/2 APO-Summicron-M ASPH
• Compatible Brand: leica
• Mount: Leica M
• Modified Item: No
• Country/Region of Manufacture: Germany
• Brand: Leica
• Camera Technology: Film
• Camera Type: Rangefinder
• Focal Length: 50mm
• Series: Leica SUMMICRON-M
• Maximum Aperture: f/2
• Focus Type: Manual
• Type: Standard
• Product Line: Leica Summicron-M
• Focal Length Type: Fixed/Prime
• Additional Tech Characteristics: Aspherical
• MPN: 11826