Leica 50mm Summilux-R f/1.4

When I developed my photos from our northern forests at every f stop my heart skipped a beat. I have owned canon L series lenses, and Nikons latest lenses, and I can tell you there is no contest. This 50 1.4 rom is magic.

It is the perfect size and not to mention again and again the awsome images.

NONE NONE NONE

None in it's class

did not need it

Summilux-R 50mm 1:1.4 (new type) WOW! WOW! I never even imagined that 35mm could be as good as this. The quality of the Summilux-R 50mm 1.4 is aboslutely mindblowingly gorgeous. My hairs raised when I first scanned pictures from this lens. I have never seen such a "smoothness" in the details before inn 35mm, only in medium format. It can resolve the deepest shadows, the brightest highlights. Contrast is way, way, way better than anything I have seen before. I love the 50mm perspective, and have previously owned 50mm 1.8 and 50mm 1.4 from both Canon AND Nikon (4 lenses). I have even used the Contax G 45mm 2,0 a lot (terrible contrast, too hard), and the Voigtlander 50mm 1,5 Nokton (too soft). All are sold and gone now, and I don't regret. When I look back on the pictures from these lenses, which are all very good indeed they all look flat and clinical. Then, of course, all of these lenses combined cost about half the price of the Summilux-R 50 (no kidding). Its very very expensive, but worth it. Its so expensive that I -have- to live with only a 50mm. All for the better. I'd much rather have one killer lens than a bag full of dull Nikkors or Canon EF lenses. (exept for the Af-Nikkor 85mm 1,4 which I use for concerts and will never sell) To sum it up, it is the closest I can get to medium format quality in 35mm. Also it is extremely good mechanically, smooth focus, nice aperture ring, reassuringly heavy (over 500 Grams!). Built in Hood (a little small? never had any problems with flare)

I find it very hard to believe that 35mm can get better than this.

Price... Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Id still give it a 5 though. Depends on how much you use the 50mm lens.

Nikon 50mm 1,8 MF/AF, Nikon 50mm 1,4, Canon EF50mm 1,8, Canon EF50mm 1,4 Richoh 50mm 1,7, Contax G45mm 2,0, Voigtlander 50mm 1,5

never used.

A fantastically good lens. Very good at 1.4, and in my view as good if not better than the Summicron-R at f/2 - 4. Very good contrast, giving the photos a seldom seen punch

Fully useable at 1.4, and no competition when stopped down slightly

Price I guess. Competition can offer lenses of not quite the same quality but close enough for a third of the price

Summicron-M 50 mm, old Summilux-R 50 mm

Not tested with this lens. With other products - excellent, but at a price

Optically if you want the best, look no further, much better than the old 55mm filter version. Edge delineation never seen better with a standard lens, almost looks like it's apo quality. The expensive price and silly lens hood won't hinder the overall quality of the lens.

Optically unsurpassed, always excellent Leica cam and mount.

Price, relatively heavy for its size, pretty useless built in hood

Canon 501.4,

Non-required.