LEICA SUMMILUX M 50mm 3rd
Titanium exterior color, amber coat
A review and Photo example of the Leica SUMMILUX M 50mm F1.4 3rd(Titan color).
Table of contents
Gallery
- Sample photos taken with the LEICA M9
Review
1．Usage
The third-generation Summilux 50mm does not have the sharpness of the fourth-generation lens, which uses aspherical lenses, but compared to older lenses, it has a clear and clear image, and there are many scenes where the image is not too sharp, which is preferable. Personally, I have used the first-generation, third-generation, and aspherical M-mount Summilux 50mm, but the third-generation, which has a minimum shooting distance of 0.7m and a soft image, was the easiest to use.
Even when I focused very carefully at full aperture using the M-type rangefinder, the focus was sometimes off. This may require training to understand the quirks of the camera and lens and to be able to focus where I want it, but when I use other lenses, I forget that habit, so I think this is a trick that only people who use this lens can do. It goes without saying, but the focus position is quite stable when narrowed down to around F4.
The focus ring felt light when turning, but I don’t know if this is appropriate, perhaps because the grease has worn off.
The built-in lens hood is not long enough to be practical even when pulled out, and it is rarely extended because it has poor light blocking properties. If there is one thing to praise about this small hood, it is that it does not get in the way of the viewfinder window due to its length. It is assumed that this hood became a bonus because of the evolution of lens coatings over time, which improved resistance to backlight.
The amber coating that appears when held up to the light is beautiful. It seems to be a coating color unique to this era, and the R-mount Summilux lens I own with a filter diameter of 55mm (E55 type) manufactured in 1989 looks to have the same coating color.
I bought this lens as a set with the LEICA M6 Titanium Color, Summilux 35mm ASPH., and Summilux 50mm III. I bought it about 15 years ago, and the camera store I bought it from seemed to have excess stock, so I was able to buy it quite cheaply. As of 2024, all of them are quite expensive and it seems difficult to buy them again.
2．Overview
The third-generation Summilux 50mm is a standard lens for the Leica M mount. 18,132 were produced between 1992 and 2006.
It has an amber lens coating, and the simple cylindrical lens barrel with no bumps, which has been continued since the first generation, and the integrated and minimalist design of the lens with the built-in hood are beautiful.
There are many color variations, including black, silver, titanium, and black paint. The black paint version is limited and has a different design for the focus ring, etc. The built-in hood, which is a design feature, is only slightly longer than the original LEICA 46mm lens filter even when extended.
The third-generation Summilux 50mm is available in M mount and L39 screw mount, and the minimum shooting distance of the M mount version has been changed to 0.7m. Because the mount shape is new, it is possible to officially modify it by adding a 6-bit code for lens recognition.
The L39 screw mount version is a limited edition model in silver, and the minimum shooting distance is limited to 1m, just like the second generation, but this is to match the Barnack Leica that is equipped with the L39 screw mount. Photographers who are concerned about the minimum shooting distance should be careful when purchasing.
There is a fair chance of seeing cloudy M-mount lenses of the same era, including this lens, on the used market. The type of glass and balsam material may be prone to clouding depending on the storage conditions.
3．Titan Color
Leica has released many titanium-colored products, and the Summilux 50mm is one of them.
M-mount titanium-colored lenses include the Summicron 35mm F2 ASPH., Summicron 50mm IV, Summicron 90mm, Elmarit 90mm, Summilux 50mm III, Summilux 35mm (spherical), Summilux 35mm ASPH., and APO-Summicron 90mm ASPH. Some lenses are expensive because they are produced in small numbers.
The above lenses are painted titanium-colored, but there are special models of the Leica M7 and M9 that use titanium instead of paint for the exterior. The included lenses are also made of titanium, making them very expensive.
I used to own three titanium-colored lenses, the Summilux 35mm (spherical), the Summilux 35mm ASPH., and the Summilux 50mm III, as well as an M6, but I have already sold the M6, Summilux 35mm ASPH., and Summilux 50mm III, and only the Summilux 35mm (spherical) remains.
Specification and Competitor
| Lens name | SUMMILUX M 50ASPH. | SUMMILUX M 50 III型 | SUMMILUX M 50 I,II型 |
| Focal length(mm) | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Max aperture | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.4 |
| Min aperture | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| Leaf blade | 9 ＞11(New) | 12 | 16 or 12 |
| Lens Construction | 8elements in 5groups | 7elements in 5groups | 7elements in 5groups |
| Min distance(m) | 0.7 ＞0.45(New) | 0.7 | 1.0 |
| Lens length(mm) | 52.5 ＞59.3(New) | 54.5 | – |
| Lens Max diameter(mm) | 53.5 ＞58.6(New) | 47.7 | – |
| Filter Size(mm) | 46 | 46 | 43 |
| Hood | 内蔵 | 内蔵 | XOOIM 12521 12586 |
| Weight(g) | 335(Balck) ＞337(New) 460(Silver) | 275(Black) 380(Silver/Titan) | – |
| Release date | 2006 ＞2023 | 1992 | 1961 |
Reference links
Update history
- 2024.11.4
- 2024.03.11
- 2023.04.14
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