Leica’s Ultimate 50mm Lens: Worth the Price?

The Leica APO-Summicron-SL 50mm f/2 ASPH. Lens is extensively mentioned as a pinnacle lens for complete body cameras. Can it in reality dangle the crown?

Coming to you from Christopher Frost, this detailed video supplies a simple take a look at the Leica APO-Summicron-SL 50mm f/2 ASPH. lens, particularly inspecting construct high quality, dealing with, and symbol efficiency. Frost highlights that the lens is constructed with Leica’s feature consideration to element: solidly steel, weather-sealed, and ergonomically easy. He notes the absence of an aperture ring, one thing Leica intentionally selected to exclude from this lens, aligning with their more recent digital camera designs. One attainable worry he raises is the stiffness of the guide concentration ring in his checking out pattern, one thing to remember for those who depend closely on guide changes. Frost additionally mentions noticeable concentration respiring and slight noise from the autofocus motor—each components would possibly affect your determination for those who shoot video continuously.

Image high quality is the place this lens actually units itself aside. Frost checks sharpness at each same old (24 MP) and better (60 MP) resolutions, discovering that the lens persistently delivers very good sharpness from middle to edge. Even on the wide-open aperture of f/2, sharpness and distinction stay very good with out noticeable colour fringing. He supplies transparent visible examples of this efficiency, demonstrating how the lens manages to ship professional-grade effects irrespective of your digital camera’s solution. The 50mm maintains its remarkable sharpness till diffraction somewhat softens pictures at round f/16. Frost additionally runs checks on distortion and vignetting, noting minimum distortion however a noticeable vignette at f/2, which disappears through f/2.8.

Key Specs

• Focal Length: 50mm

• Aperture Range: f/2 to f/22

• Lens Mount: L Mount

• Format Coverage: Full Frame

• Angle of View: 47.2°

• Minimum Focus Distance: 35 cm (1.15 toes)

• Magnification: 0.2x

• Autofocus: Yes

• Image Stabilization: No

• Filter Size: 67 mm

• Dimensions: ø 73 mm x 102 mm

• Weight: 740 g (1.63 lb)

Where the lens somewhat falters is its dealing with of flaring and glare, which Frost identifies as simply reasonable—surprising for Leica’s usually meticulous optical requirements. Additionally, the close-focusing talent is significantly robust, outperforming many competition at this focal duration, even though a minor contact of red fringing seems on the widest aperture. However, this disappears at f/2.8, showcasing the full very good optical correction of the lens. The APO designation (apochromatic design) successfully minimizes chromatic aberration, leading to exceptionally blank pictures even in difficult lights stipulations. Bokeh efficiency is any other spotlight; Frost presentations how the lens delivers pleasingly comfortable, out-of-focus backgrounds with out harshness.

Considering this lens’s efficiency, it is obtrusive why it instructions a top rate value. While obviously centered at critical lovers and pros, working out its minor shortcomings and critical strengths is important to figuring out if it’s well worth the funding to your specific taste or wishes. Check out the video above for the total rundown from Frost.