New Leica Summilux-M 50mm f1.4 Lens
Leica has expanded its vintage-inspired Classic Line with the new Summilux-M 50mm f1.4 (2025) ($3,895), a retro-styled lens that pays homage to its historical predecessor. The lens is the fifth in the Classic Line and features a solid brass, handmade construction reminiscent of Leica’s designs from the 1950s and 1960s.
The other four lenses in the Classic Line series are:
Leica 50mm f1.4 2025 Key Specs
- 50mm Focal Range
- F1.4 Max Aperture
- Filter Thread: 46mm
- Max Format: 35mm FF
- Leica M Mount
- 7 Elements in 5 Groups
- 12-blade Diaphragm
- Weight: 417g
- Diameter x Length: 58mm x 45
- Min Focus Distance: 0.7m
- Max Magnification: 0.08x
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Leica Summilux-M 50mm f1.4 Lens and the Leica M11 Camera
Internally, the optical formula is based on the Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 (II) from 1962, and is known for its soft bokeh at f/1.4, making it ideal for portrait photography. While it maintains the vintage aesthetic, the new lens benefits from modern glass and manufacturing techniques, offering improved contrast and resolution when stopped down. Additionally, it has an upgraded minimum focusing distance of 0.7m, compared to the 1m limit of the original.
Chrome-plated Surface finish and Black Hood is not a good match in our opinion
The latest 50mm F1.4 lens that Leica released in M-mount was the Leica Summilux-M 50mm F1.4 ASPH back in 2023. The older lens is more expensive at $4,895 ( vs $3,895), probably due to its use of an Aspherical element.
Leica Summilux-M 50mm F1.4 ASPH 2023 vs Leica Summilux-M 50mm F1.4 2025
Price and Availability
The Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 Classic is available now in chrome-plated surface finish for $3,895.
Leica Summilux-M 50mm f1.4 2025 Sample Image
Press release:
Leica Summilux-M 50 f/1.4
Wetzlar, 20 February 2025
Lenses from Leica boast a tradition that spans over 150 years. During this time, many handcrafted masterpieces have been created and have gone on to reach numerous milestones while defining trend-setting standards. The history of the legendary M-Lenses began over 70 years ago. Each of them tells a success story, with some of these legends now enjoying a renaissance decades later. This is the case for the new Leica Summilux-M 50 f/1.4.
The Summilux-M 50 f/1.4 (I) was launched onto the market in 1959 as the first lens released under the name Summilux. This is derived from the Latin “summa lux”, meaning “maximum light”. Since then, Summilux has become synonymous for particularly fast Leica lenses featuring an aperture of f/1.4 to f/1.7. The new interpretation combines the classic vintage look with state-of-the-art technology and is the fifth member of the Leica Classic Line. Just like the Summaron-M 28 f/5.6, the Thambar-M 90 f/2.2, the Noctilux-M 50 f/1.2 ASPH. and the Summilux-M 35 f/1.4, its timeless aesthetics are reminiscent of its historical predecessor.
The optical calculation is based on the second Summilux-M 50 f/1.4 (II), an almost unchanged version of which was produced from 1962 to 2004. It is noted for its impressive image quality and unmatched image characteristics at a wide aperture. The new Summilux-M also captures the moment in this unique look with particularly soft bokeh when a wide aperture is used, making it ideal for portrait photography. When stopped down, the new lens produces sharper and higher-contrast images than its historical predecessor. This is ensured by modern production techniques and the use of special types of glass. The new edition of this classic lens fulfils all the requirements of modern M-Cameras with a high-resolution sensor. Compared to its historical predecessor, it offers even more creative freedom thanks to its extended close focusing distance of 0.7 m.
Like all M-System lenses, the new Summilux-M proudly bears the “Made in Germany” label and is testament to the quality for which Leica lenses are known all around the world. The new lens is made by hand from solid brass and fitted with a high-quality, round vintage lens hood. As the new standard lens in the Leica Classic Line, it combines a charming vintage design with technical precision par excellence.
The Summilux-M 50 f/1.4 is the first Leica lens to come in the newly designed packaging. The high-quality boxes do not contain any plastic at all and are also produced in Germany.
The Leica Summilux-M 50 f/1.4 is now available worldwide from all Leica Stores, the Leica Online Store and specialist retailers. The recommended retail price is EUR 3,850.00 incl. VAT.
