LEICA 50MM 1.4 SUMMILUX-M ASPH is its as good as they make it out to be ??
If you are a Leica fan, you probably know that the Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH is one of the most popular and sought-after lenses for the M system. It is a fast, compact, and versatile lens that can handle almost any situation. But is it really as good as they make it out to be? In this blog post, I will share my personal experience with this lens and give you some pros and cons to help you decide if it is worth your money.
## Pros
- Wide aperture design. The f/1.4 aperture allows you to shoot in low light conditions and create beautiful bokeh effects. The lens has 11 aperture blades, which make the bokeh rounder and smoother than the previous version with 9 blades.
- Close focus. The lens can focus as close as 45 cm (17.7 inches), which is an improvement from the previous version's 70 cm (27.6 inches). This gives you more flexibility and creativity when shooting close-up subjects.
- Built-in lens hood. The lens has a metal hood that screws outwards, which protects the front element from flare and damage. The hood is integrated in the lens, so you don't have to worry about losing it or forgetting it at home.
- Crisp optics. The lens has an aspherical element and a floating element, which reduce aberrations and improve sharpness across the frame. The lens also has a high contrast and color rendition, which make your images pop.
- Negligible distortion. The lens has very little distortion, which is important for shooting architecture or geometric subjects. The lens also has minimal vignetting and chromatic aberration, which can be easily corrected in post-processing.
## Cons
- Expensive. The lens costs $4495 for the black version or $4795 for the silver version, which is a lot of money for a 50mm lens. You can get a similar performance from other lenses for a fraction of the price, such as the Zeiss Planar T* 2/50 ZM ($680) or the Voigtlander Nokton 50mm F1.1 ($999).
- Manual focus isn't for everyone. The lens has a smooth and precise focus ring with a focus tab, which makes manual focusing easy and enjoyable for some people. However, some people may prefer autofocus or find manual focusing too slow or difficult, especially at wide apertures or close distances.
- Size and weight. The lens is compact and lightweight compared to other f/1.4 lenses, but it is still bigger and heavier than other Leica 50mm lenses, such as the Summicron-M 50mm f/2 ASPH ($8,709) or the Summarit-M 50mm f/2.4 ASPH ($2,695). The lens may also block some of the viewfinder on some M cameras.
## Conclusion
The Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH is a superb lens that delivers excellent image quality and versatility. It is a great choice for portrait, street, or low light photography, or for anyone who loves the classic Leica look and feel. However, it is also a very expensive lens that may not suit everyone's budget or preferences. If you are looking for a cheaper alternative, you may want to consider other brands or models that offer similar performance at a lower cost.
I hope this blog post was helpful and informative for you. If you have any questions or comments about this lens or any other Leica product, please feel free to leave them below. Thank you for reading!
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