Leica focal points are amazing and desired around the world.
If you’re looking for the Best Vintage Leica lenses for your camera, the Leica Elmarit-TL 18 / f2.8 ASPH Lens (on Amazon) and Leica 11675 Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 (on Amazon) are my favorites.
We’ll cover some of the most popular vintage lenses. Many of these lenses have unique stories to tell. Many are created by legendary designers. In the case of the Leica 35mm f/2 lens, Walter Mandler invented the aspherical lens element.
His planar optical formula was later copied by many other lens manufacturers.
If you’re on a budget, a vintage LEICA lens is a good option. It’s far less expensive than a new LEICA M9, and the lenses are still state-of-the-art preferences.
With the savings, you can buy a new LEICA. If you’re not willing to spend the money, you’re better off buying a used film camera and a used Leica lens instead.
If you are looking for a vintage Leica lens, consider a 21mm or 55mm lens instead. You don’t need a second finder, and you’ll save money for the next one.
Leica M-lenses and M-Cameras make an incredible group.
These are the 10 Best vintage Leica lenses of 2022:
1. Leica Summilux-M 35mm 1.4
Leica 35mm f/1.4 ASPH Summilux-M Lens
- Wide Angle
- 35 Millimeters
- High resolution images at all apertures
- Sharpness & Contrast
Dispatched in 1960 and still a piece of the Leica focal point line-up these days, the Summilux-M 35 1.4 is the first in class 35mm wide-point focal point for Leica M cameras.
The Summilux is the older sibling of the Summicron 35, being a marginally quicker focal point at over double the cost.
The Summilux 35 1.4 is intended for the individuals who need to shoot with accessible light, regularly under troublesome conditions: photojournalists.
Pros:
- Brilliant picture quality
- Sharpness
- Lack of contortion
- No vignetting
- Contrast
Perhaps the most flexible focal point accessible for Leica M-mount rangefinders, the dark Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH. So is an overall wide-point focal point portrayed by its modern optics and splendid f/1.4 most excellent opening?
The quick focal point is appropriate for accessible light photography and bears the cost of more major power over the profundity of the field for specific center shooting.
The optical plan fuses one aspherical component to control circular abnormalities and twist for improved sharpness and clarity. In addition, a gliding components framework is utilized to keep up execution all through the centring range.
2. Leica Summicron 35mm F2 Leitz Wetzlar
Leica 35mm f/2.0 SUMMICRON-M Aspherical Lens, Silver
- Color: Silver
- Lens Type: Standard
- Max. Focal Length: 35 millimeters
- Brand: Leica
The Summicron 35 1:2 was presented in 1958. It was at first planned by amazing Walter Mandler – who was liable for a scope of other noteworthy focal point plans.
The 35 Summicron is yet underway these days, albeit the focal point has been refreshed a few times.
I have feared doing an audit of the Summicron 35 for some time. I know the term incredible gets tossed around a ton in vintage photography; however, if this term can be utilized for one focal point, it most likely would be the Summicron 35.
A perpetual creation runs traversing over 50 years. Heaps of significant pictures taken with this focal point are sufficient to demonstrate that the Summicron can appropriately be considered the 35mm Leica focal point second to none.
I should concede, I do comprehend why this small focal point has such countless admirers throughout the planet.
Pros:
- Built quality
- Ergonomics
- Sharpness
- Bokeh
- Size and weight
- Contrast
- Colors
Much under troublesome, low-light circumstances the Summicron 35 conveys, it is no big surprise that it is one of the go-to focal points for narrative picture takers.
It’s anything but a subtle focal point that is wealthy in subtleties. The Summicron 35 is perhaps the best wide point focal point accessible for photographic artists moving a ton.
3. Leica 50mm f/1.4 Summilux-M
Leica 50mm f/1.4 Summilux-M
- Compatible mountings: Leica M
- Max. Focal Length: 50mm
- Lens Type: Wide angle
If you’ve been considering purchasing a new lens for your camera, consider the Leica 50mm f/1.4 Summirlux-M.
The lens combines the expertise of Leica engineers and the latest manufacturing technologies. The result is an image that combines high-resolution detail and high contrast at the widest aperture, even at the lowest focusing distance.
Several special features, including a floating element and aspherical surfaces, contribute to this lens’s exceptional resolution and contrast.
The lens’ bright maximum aperture is impressive, and it is compact and comfortable to carry. Leica has also improved its lens’ ergonomics, making it an excellent choice for frequent carrying.
It is well balanced with Leica M cameras and comes with a leather case and a built-in extendable lens hood. It also accepts 46mm screw-in filters. A leather carrying case is included for protection and convenience.
Despite the fact that the Leica 50mm f/1.4 Summielux-M is a fast and versatile lens, it has a relatively high price tag.
Its sharpness is exceptional in the center and only begins to diminish outward. This characteristic contributes to its modern appearance at wide apertures. However, the lens vignettes heavily at f/1.4.
The lens’ light focus action is a plus, as it has a dedicated focus tab. Its aperture ring helps to buffer the blades, and the lens’ built-in lens hood provides extra protection against dust.
This lens is also compact and lightweight, with an overall length of a little over two inches and a weight of under twelve ounces.
Unlike other Leica 50mm f/1.4 lenses, it fits comfortably in the palm of your hand.
Pros:
- Built with quality
- You own a piece of history
- Will hold its worth
- Reasonably sharp when halted down
4. Leica Elmarit-R 135mm f/2.8
Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70mm f/2.8
- Lens Type: Telephoto
- Compatible mountings: Leica L
- Max. Focal Length: 70mm
- Meta body with weather sealing
The Leica Elmarit-R 135 2.8 is an excellent focal point fabricated for Leica R film cameras. The Elmarit was made for an aggregate of 34 years until creation was suspended. In 1998 more than 60 000 focal points were made both in Germany and in Canada.
The focal point is among the more reasonable Leica marked focal points. As far as an incentive for cash, this is an excellent purchase.
They say, “There are no awful 135mm focal points,” and the Leica Elmarit-R 135 2.8 is no exemption. On the contrary, it is a very well-performing focal point that checks all the right boxes.
Pros:
- Built quality
- Sharp
- Ergonomics
- Bokeh
- Contrast
- Built-in focal point conceal
- Value for cash
The fabricated nature of the Elmarit-R is the first-rate. The focal point is made out of metal and feels strong (it is relatively weighty). The centring is smooth.
I particularly like how the centring ring is extensive. The focal point conceal is joined into the focal point barrel (it’s anything but an extraordinary arrangement, and you will not need to convey an additional focal point hide around).
5. Leica APO-SUMMICRON-SL 75mm f/2
Leica APO-SUMMICRON-SL 75mm f/2
- Aperture range: f/2 to f/22
- One aspherical element
- Multi-Layer and Quadra Coatings
A good general wide-angle prime lens for full-frame L-mount mirrorless cameras is the Leica APO-Summicron-SL 35mm f/2 ASPH. Its bright f/2 maximum aperture strikes a balance between speed and size, offering an excellent combination of performance and portability.
This lens excels in available light conditions. The following are some of its benefits.
The APO-Summicron-SL 75mm f/2 ASPH is the next evolution in the SL-System. The new lens has a significantly lower weight and compact dimensions, compared to the previous model. It also offers superior imaging performance at all apertures and features anomalous partial dispersion for most of its 11 elements.
The lens also offers a new Dual Syncro DriveTM autofocus system, which allows you to achieve faster, more precise results.
The 75mm f/2 Summicron-SL offers exceptional manual focus drag. Unlike other lenses, the SL ring is not mechanically connected to the focusing mechanism. Because of this, the lens offers a smooth and responsive focus feel.
In addition, the 75mm f/2 lens is fully weather sealed. This means that it can be used in rain or shine without worries of damage.
The APO-Summicron-SL 75mm f/2 ASPH lens’s design makes it highly desirable for portrait photographers.
Its f/2 maximum aperture is ideal for capturing stunning portraits, while its 24-megapixelmegapixel sensor ensures that sharp images are produced. The APO-SUMMICRON-SL 75mm f/2 ASPH lens offers excellent image quality, even with typical chromatic aberrations.
Pros:
- Ergonomics
- Sharpness
- Size and weight
- Versatility
- Value for cash
This Leica lens model is an unadulterated satisfaction to utilize, and it is small, gauges nothing, and is genuinely sharp. Because of its smaller size and lightweight fabrication, it is additionally one of those focal points that aren’t a weight to convey.
6. Leica Summaron 35mm f3.5
The Summaron 3.5cm 3.5 was presented in 1945. It was fabricated both for Leica screw-mount cameras and Leica M cameras. It was manufactured until the 1960ies, and more than 100 000 units were created, making it one of the essential Leica wide-point focal points.
Generally, the Summaron 35mm is a fascinating focal point appropriate for highly contrasting and imaginative photography. It consolidates numerous angles, such as vignetting, delicateness, and difference, to make interesting-looking pictures.
It is the audit of the Summaron 35mm 3.5 – the 2.8 renditions that isn’t being talked about here.
Pros:
- Built quality
- Size and weight
- Artistic focal point
- Lots of character
- Good for Black and White photography
7. Leica Elmarit-R 2.8 24mm – Leitz Wetzlar
The Leica Elmarit-R 2.8/24mm focal point is a total point focal point fabricated for the Leica-R 35mm cameras. The focal point was presented in 1974 and was created until 2006. Altogether, it made around 20 000 focal points.
The Minolta organization created the underlying plan.
The Elmarit-R is a decent, extensive point focal point with incredible picture quality.
Even though it’s anything but a modest focal point, it is profoundly valued via a scene and structural photographic artists for its sharpness and absence of bending.
Pros:
- Built quality
- Ergonomics
- Minimal contortion
- Image quality
- Corner to corner sharpness
- No vignetting
The Leica Elmarit-R 2.8/24mm is a firmly assembled focal point. All metal development feels unbending and very much produced.
Because of the riffled surface and the particular gap clicks, you get a ton of input from the focal point when you are working it. It doesn’t feel like a modest focal point by any means, which is consoling.
The Elmarit-R 24 has an incredible focal point conceal. It feels determinedly connected to the focal point, and it’s anything but enormous, feels just consummately adjusted, and looks pretty cool.
8. Leica Super-Angulon-R 21mm f/4
The Leica Super-Angulon-R 21mm f/4 is an extensive point focal point produced for cameras’ Leica R mount scope. (There is an adaptation for the Leica M rangefinder cameras, yet this focal point contrasts a ton from the Leica-R rendition and subsequently isn’t covered here).
The Leica Super Angulon-R 21mm f/4 was not produced by Leitz/Leica yet by the truly trustworthy Schneider-Kreuznach organization. Creation began in the mid-seventies and was stopped in 1992.
Altogether made somewhat more than 10 000 focal points.
This Super-Angulon rendition is generally excellent focus sharpness, non-abrasiveness in the corners, and is somewhat inclined to erupt. However, a pre-owned sticker price of more than $500 has choices in its value range that ought to be thought of.
Pros:
- Built quality
- Sharp in the middle
- Contrast
The Super-Angulon is a legitimate focal point. It’s made out of metal, and there scarcely is any plastic. Subsequently, it is pretty hefty.
Ergonomically the focal point offers what you anticipate: smooth centring, gap settings with clicks; everything feels appropriate, strong, and simple to utilize. One thing you understand immediately is the colossal front focal point component.
9. Summilux-R 50mm 1.4 – Leica-R
The Summilux-R 50mm 1.4 was created for now stopped Leica R line of SLR cameras. Created by Heinz Marquardt in 1967, the Summilux-R had an extremely long creation that arrived behind schedule from 1970 to 2009.
Altogether produced more than 35,000 duplicates of the Summilux 50 for the Leica R cameras.
The Summilux-R is an eminent 50mm prime focal point, offering sharpness, top fabricated quality, excellent differentiation, decent tones, and flexibility. Flare and extreme lethargies are killed.
The Leica R mount can undoubtedly be adjusted for various cameras, making the 50 Summilux-R a top pick for photographic artists and videographers.
Pros:
- Sharp
- 3D look
- Bokeh
- Excellent contrast
- Almost no erupting
The 50mm Summilux is an excellent 50mm prime focal point. This focal point is exceptionally sharp, and the picture quality you acquire is incredible at all opening settings.
The Summilux is one of those focal points that will convey a good picture with practically any environment.
Open you acquire a pleasant shallow background and a ton of sharpness regarding your matter, particularly in the middle.
The Summilux isn’t just sharp. It’s anything but a ton of difference, making for pictures understood and brimming with subtleties.
10. Meyer Görlitz Trioplan 1:2.8 F=10.5cm
Trioplan – that word alone can send authorities of photographic and clients of manual focal points into a craze. The old Trioplan 100 2.8, with its cleanser bubble bokeh, is such a worshipped focal point by numerous that the recycled value continues to soar.
It was one of the first old-school exemplary focal points that have been renewed. The creation has been redone by the as of late once again introduced Meyer-Optik Görlitz brand. Did you realize that there are additionally different focal points named Trioplan?
This article might present a unique jewel: The Trioplan 2.8 F10.5 cm from the mid 1930ies. You could contend that this is to some degree the dad of the dearest Trioplan 100 2.8.
The Trioplan 10,5cm has a couple of attributes and is a secretive focal point (I could scarcely discover any data on it).
Pros:
- Bokeh
- Built quality
- Superb representation focal point
Generally, the picture quality is sensibly sharp – the ordinary Trioplan 100 2.8 is unquestionably better in this division. However, I expect that the more “present day” Trioplan 100 2.8 could depend on further developed glass and likely covering.
Best Vintage Leica Lenses: Summary
LEICA-R lenses are among the finest lenses ever made. These hand-crafted lenses were manufactured by LEITZ, Germany, and ELCAN, Canada, and were mounted to Leicaflex SLR bodies in the mid 1960s.
Many of these lenses are still in perfect condition and feature matching coatings.
These vintage lenses have been modified for use with cinema cameras, like the RED and ARRI Alexa. Some of them are even fitted with 77mm filter threads.
The Summicron V4 lens was fabricated in Canada and Germany. Later models have a slightly lower f-stop number, which makes them lighter.
Resolution is good throughout the frame and cleans up by f/4. There is some axial CA, which can be corrected in post, but it lessens as shutter speed increases. Flare control is also commendable for a vintage lens.
Conclusion
The joined viewfinder and rangefinder of Leica M arrangement cameras have made them the dears of many knowing photographers for more than 60 years.
However, their reduced, moderate plans and practically quiet activity make these cameras ideal for road photography, candid picture, and considerably more other than.
Leica M-mount focal points are intended to convey remarkable goal, contrast, shading version, structure, and apparent profundity. Accordingly, the current reach is isolated into four classes.
Primes are parted into ‘quick and conservative,’ ‘high velocity and ‘exemplary’ segments, though the ‘zoom’ classification is as of now a class of one, the TRI-ELMAR-M 16-18-21mm.
Leica focal points pass by an assortment of names. As a result, it tends to be mistaken for the unenlightened.
However, the basic effortlessness is that the characters allude to opening evaluations. Rising request speed, the Summaron has an opening of f/5.6, while it’s f/4 Elmar, around f/3.4 to f/3.8 for the Super-Elmar, and f/2.8 for the Elmarit.