Should I buy a Leica lens?
p.2 #1Should I buy a Leica lens?
damonnomonon wrote:
Although I have a Lieca M6, I’ve never actually owned a Leica lens. I have had a whole lot of LLL and Voightlander with the idea that they are nearly as good at a fraction of the price and they are new so that also avoids some issues. Do you think I would actually notice the quality of a Leica Lens (I could have probably afford a basic summicron) or would it just be a disappointment because they don’t perform any better than anything I already have? In other words, is it true that the more and more third party...Show more →
Depends ... if you want a 135/3.4 APO for M mount ... then, yup, you need to buy a Leica lens. If you want a 50/3.5 APO close focus, then you need to buy a Voigtlander. If you want a pocket rocket 40 ... there's the Leica Summicron-C and the Voigtlander 40/1.4.
While folks will speak to the size difference that Leica brings to the table, that is but ONE consideration. If you want the approach to rendering of a Mandler style lens or a Karbe or a Zeiss style rendering that's another consideration. If you want a level of aberration correction / vignetting for a given aperture, that's another level of consideration.
The point is that with lenses ... it's almost like wine or craft beer. The nuance is in the combinations of considerations that are employed / deployed in the optical design choices. From the use of ASPH elements to APD elements you can get different renderings, or things like focus shift, etc. The tolerance for different aberrations, likewise.
That said ... the "nearly as good" needs to be put in context "good at what" (or sometimes it is an issue of "not good at what"). A blanket statement that is espoused as a universal truism is rarely actually true. The devil is in the details. What do you "already have" vs. what might you be considering from a Leica offering standpoint. That, and what do you want from your lens?
I think there's a few different questions / answers to be derived before your broad / blanket question can be prudently answered. Do I think that there's a difference that can be realized in different Leica optics vs. the host of other considerations. I do, depending on what your goals might be. But, I would not consider a blanket statement for / against the value proposition vs. performance / rendering proposition, sage. I think the answer deserves to be much more considerate than that.
Although I have a Lieca M6, I’ve never actually owned a Leica lens. I have had a whole lot of LLL and Voightlander with the idea that they are nearly as good at a fraction of the price and they are new so that also avoids some issues. Do you think I would actually notice the quality of a Leica Lens (I could have probably afford a basic summicron) or would it just be a disappointment because they don’t perform any better than anything I already have? In other words, is it true that the more and more third party...Show more →
Depends ... if you want a 135/3.4 APO for M mount ... then, yup, you need to buy a Leica lens. If you want a 50/3.5 APO close focus, then you need to buy a Voigtlander. If you want a pocket rocket 40 ... there's the Leica Summicron-C and the Voigtlander 40/1.4.
While folks will speak to the size difference that Leica brings to the table, that is but ONE consideration. If you want the approach to rendering of a Mandler style lens or a Karbe or a Zeiss style rendering that's another consideration. If you want a level of aberration correction / vignetting for a given aperture, that's another level of consideration.
The point is that with lenses ... it's almost like wine or craft beer. The nuance is in the combinations of considerations that are employed / deployed in the optical design choices. From the use of ASPH elements to APD elements you can get different renderings, or things like focus shift, etc. The tolerance for different aberrations, likewise.
That said ... the "nearly as good" needs to be put in context "good at what" (or sometimes it is an issue of "not good at what"). A blanket statement that is espoused as a universal truism is rarely actually true. The devil is in the details. What do you "already have" vs. what might you be considering from a Leica offering standpoint. That, and what do you want from your lens?
I think there's a few different questions / answers to be derived before your broad / blanket question can be prudently answered. Do I think that there's a difference that can be realized in different Leica optics vs. the host of other considerations. I do, depending on what your goals might be. But, I would not consider a blanket statement for / against the value proposition vs. performance / rendering proposition, sage. I think the answer deserves to be much more considerate than that.
Sep 06, 2026 at 07:29 PM
p.2 #2Should I buy a Leica lens?
damonnomonon wrote:
As long as you promise us you'll only buy one... yes, absolutely! 
If I had to recommend just a single lens, I'd go with one of the classic ASPH. ones that cover most lighting conditions:
35mm shooter: 35mm f/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH. (FLE v1 or v2)
50mm shooter: 50mm f/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH.Probably a 50mm. Is the 11891 a good one?
The classic 11891 Summilux is an incredible lens, that focuses down to the 0.7m rangefinder limit, which should be plenty for your needs. The newer version carries over the same optical design and adds close-focusing down to 0.45m (for digital bodies via Live View), but honestly, you are more than covered with the 11891, especially given today's used prices.
Fred Miranda wrote
Earlier quote
Should I buy a Leica lens?If I had to recommend just a single lens, I'd go with one of the classic ASPH. ones that cover most lighting conditions:
35mm shooter: 35mm f/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH. (FLE v1 or v2)
50mm shooter: 50mm f/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH.
The classic 11891 Summilux is an incredible lens, that focuses down to the 0.7m rangefinder limit, which should be plenty for your needs. The newer version carries over the same optical design and adds close-focusing down to 0.45m (for digital bodies via Live View), but honestly, you are more than covered with the 11891, especially given today's used prices.
Sep 06, 2026 at 07:45 PM
p.2 #3Should I buy a Leica lens?
I second the 11891 Summilux. I regret selling mine, and if I would "only have one Leica lens", I would likely go back to it. Either that or the 35 Summilux FLE.
Sep 07, 2026 at 04:40 AM
p.2 #4Should I buy a Leica lens?
gavinsan wrote:
I second the 11891 Summilux. I regret selling mine, and if I would "only have one Leica lens", I would likely go back to it. Either that or the 35 Summilux FLE.
I actually just noticed the Thypoch Simera 50mm f1.4 is a good performer. Or is that more of a copy of a more modern Summilux?
I second the 11891 Summilux. I regret selling mine, and if I would "only have one Leica lens", I would likely go back to it. Either that or the 35 Summilux FLE.
I actually just noticed the Thypoch Simera 50mm f1.4 is a good performer. Or is that more of a copy of a more modern Summilux?
Sep 08, 2026 at 01:32 AM
p.2 #5Should I buy a Leica lens?
See Fred's Thypoch 50/1.4 review with direct comparison to the 50 Lux ASPH:
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1878983
I believe that yes, the Thypoch is very close to the Lux ASPH, which means it's not quite the same as the pre-ASPH. I believe the major visual difference will primarily be in rendering character.
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1878983
I believe that yes, the Thypoch is very close to the Lux ASPH, which means it's not quite the same as the pre-ASPH. I believe the major visual difference will primarily be in rendering character.
Sep 08, 2026 at 01:42 AM
p.2 #6Should I buy a Leica lens?
The Summilux-M 50mm ASPH, specifically a pre-owned 11891, available at the nearest Leica dealer, is THE reason I added the Leica M system, in April 2018. I visited this lens, several times, trying it on pre-owned and demonstrator M9 and M Type 240 cameras, before decided to buy the lens. Only after making my buying decision, did I begin to sort-out which camera body I would be using, to keep the dust from entering the rear of the lens. 😉
I had not yet been able to see or handle an M10, which was still rare, in the wild, at the time, but it was my good fortune that this dealer had must finished fulfilling their waiting list, for the M10, and had two freshly-delivered new M10 cameras, still in the back room, on the day that I was buying the lens. (This was not a single-brand Leica Store, but a pro-oriented multi-brand camera store, Houston Camera Exchange, in Texas. The local market for Leica is limited, in Texas, so, HCE does not keep the full line of Leica cameras and lenses on display, or in stock.)
To this day, I believe that I started “At The Top.” I later bought a “spare/back-up” Summilux-M 50mm ASPH, though the heaver, silvery-tone chromed-brass 11892.
My second most-favored M-Mount lens is a Zeiss, the Distagon 35mm f/1,4 ZM.
I had not yet been able to see or handle an M10, which was still rare, in the wild, at the time, but it was my good fortune that this dealer had must finished fulfilling their waiting list, for the M10, and had two freshly-delivered new M10 cameras, still in the back room, on the day that I was buying the lens. (This was not a single-brand Leica Store, but a pro-oriented multi-brand camera store, Houston Camera Exchange, in Texas. The local market for Leica is limited, in Texas, so, HCE does not keep the full line of Leica cameras and lenses on display, or in stock.)
To this day, I believe that I started “At The Top.”
I later bought a “spare/back-up” Summilux-M 50mm ASPH, though the heaver, silvery-tone chromed-brass 11892.My second most-favored M-Mount lens is a Zeiss, the Distagon 35mm f/1,4 ZM.
Sep 08, 2026 at 11:29 AM
p.2 #7Should I buy a Leica lens?
damonnomonon wrote:
I actually just noticed the Thypoch Simera 50mm f1.4 is a good performer. Or is that more of a copy of a more modern Summilux?
I see the Thypoch as a copy, targeting the Summilux. I have not used a Thypoch, but this is what I see, when folks post images on-line.
On the matter of third-party M-mount lenses, I buy them because I like them for what they are. For example, I was a fan of Zeiss lenses, from my DSLR/SLR days. So, my Carl Zeiss ZM lenses are not substituting for any Leica lenses. Even the 35/1,4 ZM Distagon is very much its own lens, not a “substitute” for the Leica Summilux-M 35mm ASPH.
Another example is my Zeiss 21mm f/4.5 C Biogon. It is a stand-lone lens, not being a substitute for any Leica 21mm lens. Monochrome architecture is the game, for this lens, though some of most-loved close-range family images were captured with this one, too.
For that matter, my Voigtlander Nokton 21mm f/1.4 Aspherical VM is nothing like the Leica Summilux-M 21mm ASPH. TOTALLY different rendering. Totally different character. Night sky is my plan, for this one. I would never want to use a Summilux 21 for night sky! Should I ever add a Summilux-M 21mm ASPH, it would be for its DIFFERENCE in rendering/character, NOT because it would be an “upgrade.” Addition, or complement, not replacement/upgrade. (Actually, on my retiree’s budget, I am unlikely to add more Leica-brand lenses, new or pre-owned.)
I should emphasize that I was already acquainted with Zeiss and Voigtlander lenses, before I added the Leica M system.
gavinsan wrote
I second the 11891 Summilux. I regret selling mine, and if I would "only have one Leica lens", I would likely go back to it. Either that or the 35 Summilux FLE.I see the Thypoch as a copy, targeting the Summilux. I have not used a Thypoch, but this is what I see, when folks post images on-line.
On the matter of third-party M-mount lenses, I buy them because I like them for what they are. For example, I was a fan of Zeiss lenses, from my DSLR/SLR days. So, my Carl Zeiss ZM lenses are not substituting for any Leica lenses. Even the 35/1,4 ZM Distagon is very much its own lens, not a “substitute” for the Leica Summilux-M 35mm ASPH.
Another example is my Zeiss 21mm f/4.5 C Biogon. It is a stand-lone lens, not being a substitute for any Leica 21mm lens. Monochrome architecture is the game, for this lens, though some of most-loved close-range family images were captured with this one, too.
For that matter, my Voigtlander Nokton 21mm f/1.4 Aspherical VM is nothing like the Leica Summilux-M 21mm ASPH. TOTALLY different rendering. Totally different character. Night sky is my plan, for this one. I would never want to use a Summilux 21 for night sky! Should I ever add a Summilux-M 21mm ASPH, it would be for its DIFFERENCE in rendering/character, NOT because it would be an “upgrade.” Addition, or complement, not replacement/upgrade. (Actually, on my retiree’s budget, I am unlikely to add more Leica-brand lenses, new or pre-owned.)
I should emphasize that I was already acquainted with Zeiss and Voigtlander lenses, before I added the Leica M system.
Sep 08, 2026 at 12:03 PM
p.2 #8Should I buy a Leica lens?
RexGig0 wrote:
I actually just noticed the Thypoch Simera 50mm f1.4 is a good performer. Or is that more of a copy of a more modern Summilux?I see the Thypoch as a copy, targeting the Summilux. I have not used a Thypoch, but this is what I see, when folks post images on-line.
I wasn't aware of it until yesterday and have just gone through Fred's review. Apparently it's almost indistinguishable unless you really pixel peep or know what you are looking for so when you 'see folks post images on-line' you wouldn't be able to tell a difference in rendering to make the assertion that it was a copy or not, for that particular Leica design. Fred even did some blind tests. In any case, I think we were talking about two different versions of that particular lens, which was clarified above.
So the original question of the post is still alive and well: it seems there's a copy, whatever your feeling on that is, that is close to whatever Leica has done, so what's the reason for needing to get one? Re the summulix, the one major factor for me would probably be the size and aesthetics of the Leica being preferable. But that version is probably well out of my price range anyway. I'm looking at a max of $1800US. With which I could get two quality Chinese lenses.
Bedsides that, what do you prefer about the 11891's rendering that's appealing to you?
damonnomonon wrote
gavinsan wrote
I second the 11891 Summilux. I regret selling mine, and if I would "only have one Leica lens", I would likely go back to it. Either that or the 35 Summilux FLE.I wasn't aware of it until yesterday and have just gone through Fred's review. Apparently it's almost indistinguishable unless you really pixel peep or know what you are looking for so when you 'see folks post images on-line' you wouldn't be able to tell a difference in rendering to make the assertion that it was a copy or not, for that particular Leica design. Fred even did some blind tests. In any case, I think we were talking about two different versions of that particular lens, which was clarified above.
So the original question of the post is still alive and well: it seems there's a copy, whatever your feeling on that is, that is close to whatever Leica has done, so what's the reason for needing to get one? Re the summulix, the one major factor for me would probably be the size and aesthetics of the Leica being preferable. But that version is probably well out of my price range anyway. I'm looking at a max of $1800US. With which I could get two quality Chinese lenses.
Bedsides that, what do you prefer about the 11891's rendering that's appealing to you?
Sep 08, 2026 at 03:34 PM
p.2 #9Should I buy a Leica lens?
damonnomonon wrote:
I actually just noticed the Thypoch Simera 50mm f1.4 is a good performer. Or is that more of a copy of a more modern Summilux?I see the Thypoch as a copy, targeting the Summilux. I have not used a Thypoch, but this is what I see, when folks post images on-line.I wasn't aware of it until yesterday and have just gone through Fred's review. Apparently it's almost indistinguishable unless you really pixel peep or know what you are looking for so when you 'see folks post images on-line' you wouldn't be able to tell a difference in rendering to make the assertion that it was a copy or not, for that particular Leica design. Fred even did some blind tests. In any case, I think we were talking about two different versions of that particular lens, which was clarified above.
So the original question of the post is still alive and...Show more →
The 11891 may well have saved me from quitting photography. I had seen the images posted on-line. So different from the technically perfect images of living, breathing, traumatized, crime victims I had photographed, with the then-best weather-sealed, best-Image-Stabilized, fast-auto-focusing macro lens in the world. “Action Macro!” Evidentiary/Forensic photography had been my reason to become serious about photography, and start using interchangeable lens camera. I was dedicated, and dutiful. I spent my money on the best cameras, lenses, and flashes, for the task.
I had thought that bird and wildlife photography would be my salvation, post-retirement. It helped. Didn’t work, completely.
A pre-owned 11891, for some reason, called out to me. An employee mounted it on a pre-owned M9, and on pre-owned or demonstrator M Type 240 cameras, during several visits. I looked my test shots, taken inside the camera store. I realize that the optical corrections and “character” were design choices, made by Peter Karbe, not “magic,” but the effect was, well, magical.
My point of reference was the Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L, which I had owned. (Canon had been my first primary system, and was what I had used, while on duty, though I did not use the 50L on duty.) The 11891 did a better job, with people who were in-focus, and a MUCH better job with out-of-focus highlights.
I had test-shot a pre-owned Nikkor AF-S 58mm F/1.4G, on a Nikon D700, so, it might have become THE lens that would have saved me, except that I decided to sleep on it, and by the next day, before I could test it more, someone else had bought it.
There is something meditative, about manually focusing with a rangefinder. Tis probably contributed to the “magical” effect, but, of course, is the same movement of parts, as when using a lens with more or different optical correction.
Then, there is the ergonomic/haptic factor. There is something “right,” for the fingers of my left hand, about the size and shape of the 11891/11892. I would not want them to be larger, or smaller. For what it is worth, I am left-handed, when writing, and when using many smaller tools. I throw right-handed, however, and have tended to use larger, heavier tools right-handed, with the result that my right hand has not aged as well, so, I tend to carry a camera/lens combo in my left hand. The lens barrel is, in reality, my “add-on accessory grip.” 🙂
Further, on this matter of ergonomics and haptics, I may simply prefer the Germanic factor. My apparently-French surname may indicate that I might not like German things, but further research has indicated that my surname may have originally been of Germanic tribal origin. And, of course, I love a number of Cosina-made Zeiss and Voigtlander lenses, for their ergonomics and haptics, so, German/European manufacture is not a requirement.
Notably, I have tended be more of a 35mm shooter, or 40mm shooter, than a 50mm shooter, if not using a short telephoto focal length lens. It was NOT primarily the 50mm focal length that drew me to the 11891.
I would like to be clear, that this is not THE way, but simply my way. I am not an expert, and am probably artless. Leica M rangefinder shooting is, well, therapeutic, in my case. Now that then, I make a good shot, as a blind squirrel occasionally manages to find an acorn. Life can be beautiful. 🙂
Sorry for “talking” so much. I tend to over-think, and then over-talk/over-type. 😉
RexGig0 wrote
damonnomonon wrote
gavinsan wrote
I second the 11891 Summilux. I regret selling mine, and if I would "only have one Leica lens", I would likely go back to it. Either that or the 35 Summilux FLE.So the original question of the post is still alive and...Show more →
The 11891 may well have saved me from quitting photography. I had seen the images posted on-line. So different from the technically perfect images of living, breathing, traumatized, crime victims I had photographed, with the then-best weather-sealed, best-Image-Stabilized, fast-auto-focusing macro lens in the world. “Action Macro!” Evidentiary/Forensic photography had been my reason to become serious about photography, and start using interchangeable lens camera. I was dedicated, and dutiful. I spent my money on the best cameras, lenses, and flashes, for the task.
I had thought that bird and wildlife photography would be my salvation, post-retirement. It helped. Didn’t work, completely.
A pre-owned 11891, for some reason, called out to me. An employee mounted it on a pre-owned M9, and on pre-owned or demonstrator M Type 240 cameras, during several visits. I looked my test shots, taken inside the camera store. I realize that the optical corrections and “character” were design choices, made by Peter Karbe, not “magic,” but the effect was, well, magical.
My point of reference was the Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L, which I had owned. (Canon had been my first primary system, and was what I had used, while on duty, though I did not use the 50L on duty.) The 11891 did a better job, with people who were in-focus, and a MUCH better job with out-of-focus highlights.
I had test-shot a pre-owned Nikkor AF-S 58mm F/1.4G, on a Nikon D700, so, it might have become THE lens that would have saved me, except that I decided to sleep on it, and by the next day, before I could test it more, someone else had bought it.
There is something meditative, about manually focusing with a rangefinder. Tis probably contributed to the “magical” effect, but, of course, is the same movement of parts, as when using a lens with more or different optical correction.
Then, there is the ergonomic/haptic factor. There is something “right,” for the fingers of my left hand, about the size and shape of the 11891/11892. I would not want them to be larger, or smaller. For what it is worth, I am left-handed, when writing, and when using many smaller tools. I throw right-handed, however, and have tended to use larger, heavier tools right-handed, with the result that my right hand has not aged as well, so, I tend to carry a camera/lens combo in my left hand. The lens barrel is, in reality, my “add-on accessory grip.” 🙂
Further, on this matter of ergonomics and haptics, I may simply prefer the Germanic factor. My apparently-French surname may indicate that I might not like German things, but further research has indicated that my surname may have originally been of Germanic tribal origin. And, of course, I love a number of Cosina-made Zeiss and Voigtlander lenses, for their ergonomics and haptics, so, German/European manufacture is not a requirement.
Notably, I have tended be more of a 35mm shooter, or 40mm shooter, than a 50mm shooter, if not using a short telephoto focal length lens. It was NOT primarily the 50mm focal length that drew me to the 11891.
I would like to be clear, that this is not THE way, but simply my way. I am not an expert, and am probably artless. Leica M rangefinder shooting is, well, therapeutic, in my case. Now that then, I make a good shot, as a blind squirrel occasionally manages to find an acorn. Life can be beautiful. 🙂
Sorry for “talking” so much. I tend to over-think, and then over-talk/over-type. 😉
Sep 09, 2026 at 12:02 PM
p.2 #10Should I buy a Leica lens?
One more thing: I decided to buy the Summilux-M 50mm ASPH before I had decided to buy a Leica M digital camera. After several test-shooting sessions, I told the camera store employee I would be buying the lens, that day in April 2018. I had no plans to buy any specific camera, on that day. So, I started with an actual Leica M lens, and, to this day, believe that I started “at the top.” I was, at that moment in time, still wondering whether I might buy a film Leica M, or, an adapter, and perhaps a non-Leica camera body.
The camera store employee got on the computer, to remove the lens from their on-line inventory, so that an on-line buyer would not make a purchase. Then, she asked me whether I wanted her to check with their “Leica guy,” to see if any M10 cameras, that had been recently delivered, were available for over-the-counter purchase. We then learned that, indeed, two M10 cameras were available for purchase, as the store had just fulfilled their M10 waiting list. (The M10 had been announced in 2017, but, in April 2018, potential buyers were still on waiting lists.)
To end this quickly: I crunched the numbers, decided to cancel plans to buy a Nikon “super telephoto,” and bought the M10, along with the Summilux.
So, I was never in the position of having a Leica M body, and trying to decide whether to buy a “real” Leica lens. And, it was the Nikon camera system that had normalized the concept of spending large sums of money on cameras and lenses. I paid far less for the new M10, plus the pre-owned Summilux, than I would have paid for any one of the top three contenders for my Nikon “super telephoto” holy grail lens.
At the time, in 2018, when I made the step into the M system, I believe I made the correct decision. My wife was 60 years old, and I was age 56, feeling like I was going on 77, so, we needed to stop dreaming of hauling huge, heavy lenses out and about…. Our nature photography still happened, but, plants, trees, insects, and wee beasties…
The camera store employee got on the computer, to remove the lens from their on-line inventory, so that an on-line buyer would not make a purchase. Then, she asked me whether I wanted her to check with their “Leica guy,” to see if any M10 cameras, that had been recently delivered, were available for over-the-counter purchase. We then learned that, indeed, two M10 cameras were available for purchase, as the store had just fulfilled their M10 waiting list. (The M10 had been announced in 2017, but, in April 2018, potential buyers were still on waiting lists.)
To end this quickly: I crunched the numbers, decided to cancel plans to buy a Nikon “super telephoto,” and bought the M10, along with the Summilux.
So, I was never in the position of having a Leica M body, and trying to decide whether to buy a “real” Leica lens. And, it was the Nikon camera system that had normalized the concept of spending large sums of money on cameras and lenses. I paid far less for the new M10, plus the pre-owned Summilux, than I would have paid for any one of the top three contenders for my Nikon “super telephoto” holy grail lens.
At the time, in 2018, when I made the step into the M system, I believe I made the correct decision. My wife was 60 years old, and I was age 56, feeling like I was going on 77, so, we needed to stop dreaming of hauling huge, heavy lenses out and about…. Our nature photography still happened, but, plants, trees, insects, and wee beasties…
Sep 09, 2026 at 12:33 PM
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p.2 #11Should I buy a Leica lens?
Well, the Leica itch is not scratched yet
I just bought the LLL 1966 second hand in China.
I just bought the LLL 1966 second hand in China.
Sep 14, 2026 at 04:17 AM
p.2 #12Should I buy a Leica lens?
A friend of mine who loves Leica lenses says flat out he cannot use the thypoch 50 1.4 till f 4 says the quality is just not there. Maybe he got a bad one I do not know
Sep 20, 2026 at 08:31 PM
p.2 #13Should I buy a Leica lens?
No (to answer your original question). Not worth it.
Look at the value proposition for what you have just bought. Looks truly beautiful! Congrats.
Look at the value proposition for what you have just bought. Looks truly beautiful! Congrats.
Sep 20, 2026 at 09:09 PM
p.2 #14Should I buy a Leica lens?
If photography is a hobby, buy the lenses you can afford and the ones you like.
You only live once.
Professional photography—like any other job—is simply about working with the best tools available within budget.
The M-system world offers an amazing array of lenses from various manufacturers. It is a lifelong world of discovery.
You only live once.
Professional photography—like any other job—is simply about working with the best tools available within budget.
The M-system world offers an amazing array of lenses from various manufacturers. It is a lifelong world of discovery.
Sep 21, 2026 at 01:21 AM
p.2 #15Should I buy a Leica lens?
Thypoch took the pre-CF Summilux 50/1.4, then modified many elements and used a lot of HRI glass. They corrected the midfield curvature and added an extra group - helping off-center subject placement. Bokeh is unusual - it merely softens background subject matter, no harsh lining and they kept contrast moderate - but context is retained, with little blur out . Here are a couple at f1.4 (or f1.7) because nothing compares to viewing actual images in making judgments. (shot on Sony a7rII).
ISO 1600- 1/160s
ISO 2000 - 1/15s
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ISO 2000 - 1/15s
Sep 21, 2026 at 01:40 AM
p.2 #16Should I buy a Leica lens?
I do love my Thypoch Simera lenses for certain uses. The large aperture blade count is special in some use cases. However I find the ergonomics a bit quirky.
The leica lenses are so well built with superb ergonomics. Optically for me the Summilux lenses are so flexible. Nera APO when stopped down. When Peter Karbe says that the Summilux lenses should be shot wide open at f/1.4 he has reason. The lenses render with a beautiful glow, but somehow manage to retain amazing detail.
I'm not saying that one can instantly identify a Leica Summilux lens when viewing an image, so we don't need to go there. But I find in summation I enjoy both the shooting experience, the images I get, and the ownership experience more than any other lenses I own.
You should at least own one, and discover the experience for yourself. I recommend either a 35mm or 50mm Summilux current version as your first Leica lens of your wallet will allow.
The first image was shot at a Medieval Festival here in Parma yesterday. Hand held, natural light, spontaneous street style portrait. Wide open at F/1.4 on the current version Leica 35mm Summilux. I only took one lens out walking with me yesterday. So, the rest were shot with the same lens at various apertures. I enjoyed making the images and the results.
The leica lenses are so well built with superb ergonomics. Optically for me the Summilux lenses are so flexible. Nera APO when stopped down. When Peter Karbe says that the Summilux lenses should be shot wide open at f/1.4 he has reason. The lenses render with a beautiful glow, but somehow manage to retain amazing detail.
I'm not saying that one can instantly identify a Leica Summilux lens when viewing an image, so we don't need to go there. But I find in summation I enjoy both the shooting experience, the images I get, and the ownership experience more than any other lenses I own.
You should at least own one, and discover the experience for yourself. I recommend either a 35mm or 50mm Summilux current version as your first Leica lens of your wallet will allow.
The first image was shot at a Medieval Festival here in Parma yesterday. Hand held, natural light, spontaneous street style portrait. Wide open at F/1.4 on the current version Leica 35mm Summilux. I only took one lens out walking with me yesterday. So, the rest were shot with the same lens at various apertures. I enjoyed making the images and the results.
Sep 21, 2026 at 02:45 AM
p.2 #17Should I buy a Leica lens?
I personally dont believe the voigtlander and zeiss and Chinese lenses are inferior to leica lens.
Sep 21, 2026 at 05:30 PM
p.2 #18Should I buy a Leica lens?
1bwana1 wrote:
The first image was shot at a Medieval Festival here in Parma yesterday. Hand held, natural light, spontaneous street style portrait. Wide open at F/1.4 on the current version Leica 35mm Summilux. I only took one lens out walking with me yesterday. So, the rest were shot with the same lens at various apertures. I enjoyed making the images and the results.
I'm not usually very sensitive to the rendering and out-of-focus qualities that others often prize so highly, but these are beautiful. I replaced my V1 FLE with a VM Nokton 35mm f1.5 a couple of years ago because I preferred the size and handling of the Voigtlander and didn't see important differences in the image quality. I've never regretted it but now I'm wondering if it was a mistake!
But then again, the credit should probably go to the quality of the photography rather than the characteristics of the lens.
The first image was shot at a Medieval Festival here in Parma yesterday. Hand held, natural light, spontaneous street style portrait. Wide open at F/1.4 on the current version Leica 35mm Summilux. I only took one lens out walking with me yesterday. So, the rest were shot with the same lens at various apertures. I enjoyed making the images and the results.
I'm not usually very sensitive to the rendering and out-of-focus qualities that others often prize so highly, but these are beautiful. I replaced my V1 FLE with a VM Nokton 35mm f1.5 a couple of years ago because I preferred the size and handling of the Voigtlander and didn't see important differences in the image quality. I've never regretted it but now I'm wondering if it was a mistake!
But then again, the credit should probably go to the quality of the photography rather than the characteristics of the lens.
Sep 22, 2026 at 02:40 AM
p.2 #19Should I buy a Leica lens?
Matt White wrote:
I'm not usually very sensitive to the rendering and out-of-focus qualities that others often prize so highly, but these are beautiful. I replaced my V1 FLE with a VM Nokton 35mm f1.5 a couple of years ago because I preferred the size and handling of the Voigtlander and didn't see important differences in the image quality. I've never regretted it but now I'm wondering if it was a mistake!
But then again, the credit should probably go to the quality of the photography rather than the characteristics of the lens.
Thanks for the kind words Matt
Not a mistake if you enjoy using the lens, and like the images that it produces.
I have standardized my core lens kit for the M11 on Leica Summilux in order to have similar ergonomics, colors, and rendering. However, I also like my Voigtlander (28mm, 75mm, 90mm) lenses, and my Simera (50mm). I have posted a variety of uses cases with those lenses below, As you can see subject sharpness, color, bokeh, personality, and beautiful rending are not the exclusive territory of Leica lenses. Others also produce wonderful images.
Don't let FOMO lower your enjoyment of your existing lens library.
Voigtlander 75mm Nokton f/1.5
Voigtlander 28mm Ultron
Voigtlander 90mm APO Color-Skopar f/2.8
Thypoch Simera 50mm f/1.4
1bwana1 wrote
The first image was shot at a Medieval Festival here in Parma yesterday. Hand held, natural light, spontaneous street style portrait. Wide open at F/1.4 on the current version Leica 35mm Summilux. I only took one lens out walking with me yesterday. So, the rest were shot with the same lens at various apertures. I enjoyed making the images and the results.But then again, the credit should probably go to the quality of the photography rather than the characteristics of the lens.
Thanks for the kind words Matt
Not a mistake if you enjoy using the lens, and like the images that it produces.
I have standardized my core lens kit for the M11 on Leica Summilux in order to have similar ergonomics, colors, and rendering. However, I also like my Voigtlander (28mm, 75mm, 90mm) lenses, and my Simera (50mm). I have posted a variety of uses cases with those lenses below, As you can see subject sharpness, color, bokeh, personality, and beautiful rending are not the exclusive territory of Leica lenses. Others also produce wonderful images.
Don't let FOMO lower your enjoyment of your existing lens library.
Voigtlander 75mm Nokton f/1.5
Voigtlander 28mm Ultron
Voigtlander 90mm APO Color-Skopar f/2.8
Thypoch Simera 50mm f/1.4
Sep 22, 2026 at 07:36 AM
p.2 #20Should I buy a Leica lens?
1bwana1 wrote:
As you can see subject sharpness, color, bokeh, personality, and beautiful rending are not the exclusive territory of Leica lenses. Others also produce wonderful images.
Indeed, those are beautiful too. A good illustration that in nearly every case the thought that "my lenses don't look like that" should really be "my photography doesn't look like that". I'm old enough to have learned this lesson time and again. But I'll never be old enough to stop wondering if different kit might nonetheless be the answer!
1bwana1 wrote:
Don't let FOMO lower your enjoyment of your existing lens library.
Hehe, it won't. I've gradually divested from nearly all my Leica lenses because I've found others with combinations of characteristics that I genuinely prefer. But even so, the demon lure of new or different gear still lurks below the surface, greedily eyeing the headroom on my credit card.
As you can see subject sharpness, color, bokeh, personality, and beautiful rending are not the exclusive territory of Leica lenses. Others also produce wonderful images.
Indeed, those are beautiful too. A good illustration that in nearly every case the thought that "my lenses don't look like that" should really be "my photography doesn't look like that". I'm old enough to have learned this lesson time and again. But I'll never be old enough to stop wondering if different kit might nonetheless be the answer!
1bwana1 wrote:
Don't let FOMO lower your enjoyment of your existing lens library.
Hehe, it won't. I've gradually divested from nearly all my Leica lenses because I've found others with combinations of characteristics that I genuinely prefer. But even so, the demon lure of new or different gear still lurks below the surface, greedily eyeing the headroom on my credit card.
Sep 22, 2026 at 08:21 AM