Leica’s 35mm Summilux-M f/1.4 wide-angle lens was once called the “king of bokeh” and for good reason. This little masterpiece of engineering from the iconic camera manufacturer creates some truly stunning close-perspective shots with superb bokeh in the background.
Now, it’s been rereleased for the digital age. Originally launched in 1961, the older 35mm Summilux-M f/1.4 has gone through decades of production with no major changes and remains popular even now.
The 35mm Summilux-M f/1.4 model’s extremely compact form factor and mere 200-gram light weight made it ideal for photographers of all kinds. On top of this, its performance has been widely hailed by professionals both famous and unknown.
Because of the wide aperture of the 35mm Summilux-M f/1.4, coupled with its precision engineering from a camera brand that’s firmly known for strong quality, the lens is capable of delivering wonderfully soft, nearly edited-looking bokeh.
The nature of the background blur is so good that even a digital photo editing pro would be hard-pressed to simulate the same with software. This is the key reason why it has been called the king of bokeh by many.
The wide-angle 35mm Summilux-M f/1.4 lens is capable of producing tack-sharp photos with practically little distortion at f/2.8.
Given the foregoing, many photographers will likely snap up the newly released model of this famous lens.
Leica’s new model is produced in the company’s hometown of Wetzlar, Hesse, Germany, where the company also maintains its headquarters. It maintains the same timeless aesthetic as its forerunner and provides the same precise optical calculation.
The new 35mm Summilux-M f/1.4 has the same features as the original, including a stainless steel front ring, a locking focus ring, and an attachable black lens hood. However, the re-release now includes a brand-new E46-threaded, circular lens hood. To further refine their search, users can now make use of additional filters, thanks to this updated feature.
The new Leica 35mm Summilux-M f/1.4 wide-angle lens retails for $3,895 and may be purchased at any Leica store, from an authorized dealer, or on the Leica camera website. Those who are already familiar with and appreciate Leica’s technological prowess will likely buy it regardless of its high price.
