Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4

NormalMount: Leica M35mmf/1.4 – f/16
Introduced: 1990
Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4
Image: Wolfgang Thanner — Public domain

Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 is the fast Leica M wide-normal — among the most-revered lenses in the Leica system. Multiple optical generations: v1 (1961, "Steel Rim"), v2 (1990s pre-ASPH "King of Bokeh"), v3 ASPH (1994+), v4 ASPH FLE (2010+). Each generation has a distinctive rendering character and a vocal user community.

Key features

  • Leica M bayonet mount
  • Optical formulas vary by generation: pre-ASPH 7-element / ASPH 9-element with one aspheric surface / FLE adds floating element for close-range correction
  • 46mm filter thread (most generations); some pre-ASPH used 41mm
  • Manual aperture + manual focus
  • Built-in retractable lens hood

Use case + rendering

The Summilux 35 is the available-light reportage + low-light street Leica M lens. At f/1.4 on the rangefinder it allows shooting in interiors and twilight where slower lenses would fail.

The pre-ASPH "King of Bokeh" v2 is famous for its swirling out-of-focus areas and gentle wide-open rendering — many photographers prefer it for portraiture even though the ASPH versions resolve more detail. The ASPH FLE is the modern reference: tack-sharp wide-open with clean rendering, distortion well-corrected.

Wide-open performance varies by generation — pre-ASPH softens toward edges at f/1.4, ASPH versions are usable corner-to-corner from wide-open.

Compatible bodies

Related lenses