Leica Summarit-M 90mm F2.4 ASPH

Leica M-Mount

Review

The Leica Summarit-M 90mm F2.4 ASPH is a highly regarded lens that embodies the quintessential characteristics of Leica’s optics, delivering excellent performance in a compact form. Designed for Leica M mount cameras, this lens is perfect for portraiture and close-up work due to its focal length and wide aperture.

Build Quality and Design

Leica has built a reputation for its robust and timeless designs, and the Summarit-M 90mm is no exception. The lens features an all-metal construction with a classic, minimalist look that complements the elegance of M series cameras. Its compact size—almost pocketable for a 90mm lens—makes it convenient for street photography and travel.

The lens incorporates aspherical elements to reduce optical aberrations and improve sharpness, while multicoated glass helps minimize flare and ghosting. This attention to detail ensures that the Summarit-M delivers impressive image quality with a pleasing bokeh, ideal for isolating subjects against beautiful backgrounds.

Optical Performance

Optically, the Summarit-M 90mm F2.4 ASPH is outstanding. It provides excellent sharpness across the frame both wide open and stopped down, making it versatile for varying lighting conditions. The transition from in-focus to out-of-focus areas is smooth, and the bokeh is creamy and aesthetically pleasing, which is especially beneficial when shooting portraits.

Color rendition is another highlight of this lens. Images display rich, vivid colors with a slight warm tone that is characteristic of Leica lenses. Contrast levels are high as well, giving images a three-dimensional quality.

Handling and Usability

The lens has a relatively moderate weight, which balances well with the Leica M camera bodies. The focus ring is smooth and precise, reassuringly damping without being too stiff, making manual focusing a joy. The minimum focus distance of 0.85 meters also allows for some interesting close-up compositions, although it might not compete with macro lenses.

However, because the lens is designed in the classic style, there is no autofocus mechanism, which might discourage photographers who are accustomed to modern autofocus systems. They will need to be comfortable using manual focus techniques to make the most of this lens.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Exceptional build quality and timeless design
• Compact and lightweight for a 90mm lens
• Excellent optical performance with sharpness and contrast
• Pleasing bokeh suitable for portrait work
• Rich color rendition with slight warm tones

Cons

• Manual focus only, which may not suit all photographers
• Price point may be higher than other alternatives, making it more of a luxury purchase

Verdict

The Leica Summarit-M 90mm F2.4 ASPH is a stellar choice for those who appreciate manual focusing and value outstanding optical quality in a beautifully crafted lens. While it comes at a premium price, the performance, build quality, and overall experience make it a worthy investment for dedicated Leica enthusiasts and photographers seeking to elevate their portraiture and general photography. If you can embrace the manual focus and the cost, this lens will not disappoint you.