Review: Leica 50mm f/2 Summicron

In summary, the Summicron isn’t 100% perfect but will deliver razor-sharp images in almost all real-world circumstances.

Focus shift: I remember seeing some focus shift when I tested for it at 0.7m, but I never noticed significant focus shift in my photos.

The 50mm Summicron is a fantastic standard lens. It’s tack sharp throughout almost the whole frame even at f/2, which is way better than your classic nifty fifty from Canon/Nikon/etc. The edges/corners don’t get sharp until around f/2.8 or f/4, but this almost never matters. The Summicron delivers this excellent image quality in a small package with perfect handling.

The only real downside is its price, which although low by Leica standards, is still very high at above $1,500 on the used market. This is particularly problematic since the Zeiss 50mm f/2 Planar is almost identical for a much lower price (review). The most significant difference between those two lenses might be that the Zeiss doesn’t have a built-in hood. Another very strong alternative is the Voigtlander 50/2 APO-lanthar (review), which offers truly perfect performance at the cost of being slightly larger and heavier than the other 50/2 options. If you want a wider aperture, your best choice is probably the Voigtlander 50mm f/1.5 II (review) or the Leica 50 Summilux ASPH. But keep in mind that neither of these will give you quite the same corner-to-corner sharpness as one of the 50/2 options.

I used my Summicron for about a year and sold it, since I wasn’t using 50mm much and I wanted the funds to try out other lenses. Since then, I’ve realized I miss having my 50 Summicron for travel, landscapes, and portraits. I might buy another one some day, if I can swallow the price difference versus the Zeiss and Voigtlander offerings.

GoodImage qualityBuild qualitySize and feelBuilt-in hood

BadMore expensive than Zeiss/Voigtlander alternatives

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