Leica Summilux-M 50mm, E46

The Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 E46 is a classic fast standard lens for the Leica M system, combining a natural 50mm perspective with a bright f/1.4 maximum aperture and Leica's compact manual-focus rangefinder design.

This is the later pre-ASPH version, product number 11868, finished in black anodised metal and fitted with an E46 filter thread and built-in telescoping lens hood. It retains the classic 7-element, 5-group Summilux optical design, while this later barrel allows focusing down to 0.7 metres.

At 50mm, it's an incredibly versatile lens. Street photography, portraits, documentary work, travel and everyday shooting all feel natural, while the f/1.4 aperture gives you considerably more flexibility as the light drops and lets you work with a shallower depth of field.

This particular lens is serial 3694833 and comes with its original Leica box, marked Summilux-M 1:1.4/50mm and product number 11868.

It's also a lens that comfortably crosses Leica's film and digital eras. Use it on a compatible classic Leica M film body or a modern digital M while keeping essentially the same manual focusing experience.

Best for

Street photography, documentary work, portraits, travel, available-light photography, everyday shooting, Leica M film cameras, Leica M digital cameras and collectors looking for a classic pre-ASPH Summilux.

What to expect

This generation of Summilux has a different character from Leica's later ASPH lenses. It uses the longstanding 7-element / 5-group optical design rather than the newer aspherical construction, while the later 11868 barrel brings a closer 0.7m minimum focusing distance, E46 filters and an integrated telescoping hood.

At f/1.4, you get the shallow depth of field and available-light flexibility that makes a Summilux appealing. Stopping down gives you a more controlled standard lens for general photography.

Everything is manual. Focusing is through the Leica M rangefinder system, aperture is selected directly on the lens and there's no autofocus or image stabilisation.

Developing

This lens is compatible with both Leica M film and digital cameras.

On a film Leica M body, developing depends on the film loaded into the camera. Colour negative film commonly uses C-41 processing, while black and white and slide films require their respective processes.

On a compatible digital Leica M body, no film developing is required.