Leica Summicron-M 50mm f/2 Lens
The Leica 50mm f/2 is a 50mm f/2 lens designed for Leica M mount cameras. Used copies start from $957.78 on GearFocus, with buyer protection on every purchase.
Leica Summicron-M 50mm f/2 Lens
Used Leica 50mm f/2 Listings on GearFocus
Lens Overview — Leica 50mm f/2
Key Features — Leica 50mm f/2
Leica M Mount: Designed for the Leica M rangefinder system and compatible with a wide range of M-mount mirrorless bodies from Leica and other manufacturers.
50mm Standard Focal Length: Offers a perspective closely aligned with natural human vision, making it a versatile choice for street, documentary, and portrait photography.
f/2 Maximum Aperture: Provides strong light-gathering performance for a standard prime, allowing shooting in low-light conditions and meaningful background separation.
Full-Frame Coverage: Designed to cover full-frame sensors with no vignetting or crop factor concerns on compatible bodies.
Compact 240g Build: At just 240g, the lens pairs naturally with the slim, lightweight bodies typical of the Leica M system for unobtrusive everyday carry.
Manual Focus Design: Fully manual focus operation encourages a deliberate shooting approach well suited to rangefinder-style photography.
Lens Specifications — Leica 50mm f/2
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Use Cases | Travel, Documentary |
| Lens Type | Prime |
| Format | Full Frame |
| Zoom/Prime | Prime |
| Focal Length | 50mm |
| Maximum Aperture | f/2 |
| Camera System | Mirrorless |
| Lens Mount | Leica M |
| Autofocus | No |
| Focus Type | Manual |
| Image Stabilization | None |
| Filter Thread | 39mm |
Description — Leica 50mm f/2
The Leica Summicron-M 50mm f/2 is a manual focus prime lens built around the Leica M mount, designed to pair with mirrorless camera bodies in the M system. With a maximum aperture of f/2 and a fixed 50mm focal length sitting squarely in the standard range, it is a versatile choice for a wide variety of photographic subjects. The lens provides full-frame coverage, ensuring no vignetting or crop factor concerns on compatible full-frame bodies.
At just 240g, it is impressively lightweight for a lens of this calibre, making it practical for photographers who value a compact, unobtrusive kit. The 39mm filter thread allows for the use of a range of filters, though a step-up ring may be needed for larger modern filter systems. With no image stabilization and manual focus only operation, this lens is built for the considered, hands-on approach that defines rangefinder photography.
Pros — Leica 50mm f/2
- ✓Maximum aperture of f/2 provides strong light-gathering capability for a standard prime
- ✓Lightweight at just 240g, making it well-suited for extended handheld or travel use
- ✓Full-frame coverage (lensFormat: Full Frame) with no crop factor concerns on compatible bodies
Cons — Leica 50mm f/2
- ✗Manual focus only with no autofocus support, requiring more deliberate technique from the shooter
- ✗No image stabilization, which can be a limiting factor in very low light at slower shutter speeds
- ✗39mm filter thread, while functional, is a less common modern size that may require step-up rings for newer filter systems
Videos — Leica 50mm f/2
Why It's Expensive - Tiny Leica 50mm Lens! - Leica Summicron-M 50mm F2 (Ep. 10) — ZY Cheng
Frequently Asked Questions — Leica 50mm f/2
What camera mount does this lens use?+
This lens uses the Leica M mount. It is designed for use on Leica M-mount mirrorless camera bodies.
Does this lens have autofocus?+
No, this lens is manual focus only. There is no autofocus mechanism, so focus must be set manually by the photographer.
Will this lens cover a full-frame sensor?+
Yes, the lens is specified as a full-frame format lens, so it will provide full coverage on full-frame sensor cameras using the Leica M mount.
What is the maximum aperture of this lens?+
The maximum aperture is f/2, which allows for a moderate degree of background separation and improved performance in lower light conditions.
What filter size does this lens accept?+
The lens has a 39mm filter thread. You may need a step-up ring if you want to use filters from a larger, more common modern filter system.
How heavy is this lens?+
The lens weighs 240g, making it a compact and lightweight option that is comfortable for day-to-day carry alongside a rangefinder-style body.