Leica Summarit-M 90mm f/2.4

Leica Summarit-M 90mm f/2.4

The Summarit-M 90mm f/2.4 is the most affordable telephoto in Leica's M lineup, conceived as a compact and lighter alternative to the larger and far more expensive APO-Summicron-M 90mm f/2 ASPH [1][2]. It belongs to the second generation of Summarit-M lenses, which Leica announced in September 2014 to replace the earlier f/2.5 range with a uniform f/2.4 maximum aperture, revised optics, and a new external design [3][4]. Reviewers have repeatedly compared it to Leica's discontinued Tele-Elmarit 90mm f/2.8, the so-called "Pocket 90," noting that the Summarit revives a similar combination of modest size and useful reach in a current production lens.

Optically the 90mm uses a five-element design in four groups, focuses down to 0.9 m, and couples to the rangefinder for accurate manual focusing. Build quality is essentially all metal, with a smooth focus ring, an aperture ring that clicks in half stops, and tight assembly tolerances that match the rest of the Leica M range despite the lens sitting below the Summicron and Apo-Summicron in price and prestige. The diaphragm uses eleven blades, the filter thread is 46 mm, and the lens is supplied with a screw-in metal hood and metal caps rather than a built-in hood; the small 46 mm filter size is shared with lenses such as the Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. At roughly the size of a fast 50mm, it is light and easy to carry, with a short focus throw that makes it quick to use for a 90mm.

The lens is offered in black and silver anodized finishes, carrying model numbers 11684 for black and 11685 for silver, and it is not six-bit coded for automatic body recognition. Compared with the earlier Summarit-M 90mm f/2.5 it gains the slightly larger f/2.4 aperture and a closer minimum focusing distance, while otherwise continuing the same general rendering and handling philosophy.

Optical qualities

Rendering Documented impressions describe a modern rendering rather than a vintage one, with strong subject separation and a clean, contrasty look. Reviewers report that the lens delivers high sharpness across most of the frame from f/2.4, with corners tightening only marginally on stopping down, so it remains usable throughout its aperture range.

Bokeh and transitions Out-of-focus areas are generally described as smooth and pleasant, helped by the eleven-blade diaphragm, with background detail blending away cleanly and a rendering that leans modern rather than classic.

Distortion and vignetting As a telephoto prime the lens shows little geometric distortion in practice, which makes it suitable for portraits as well as cityscape work. Vignetting is visible wide open at f/2.4, is largely reduced by f/2.8, and is essentially gone by f/4.

Flare resistance At least one reviewer reported no notable flare problems in use, to the point of often shooting without the supplied hood, though this is a single observation rather than tested data.

Digital use The lens has been used successfully on digital M bodies and, via adapter, on the Leica SL, where its compact size and easy focusing are noted as advantages.

History

Development and Launch Leica introduced the f/2.4 Summarit-M generation at Photokina, announcing the range on 16 September 2014 as a replacement for the previous f/2.5 Summarit-M lenses. The family retained the same four focal lengths of 35, 50, 75 and 90 mm but moved to a common f/2.4 aperture, improved imaging characteristics, and a redesigned barrel, and for the first time the lenses were offered in both black and silver anodized finishes. The 75mm and 90mm were the first to reach dealers, in September 2014, with the 35mm and 50mm following in October. Leica positioned the 90mm as the versatile telephoto that rounds out the family, emphasizing its compact size and a closest focusing distance reduced to 0.9 m.

Production Evolution The most significant change relative to the previous model was the move from the older Summarit-M 90mm f/2.5 to the f/2.4 design, accompanied by the closer 0.9 m minimum focus and the new dual-finish availability. Leica also began supplying the lens complete with a metal lens hood and metal cap as standard, where earlier Summarit accessories had been treated differently.

Special editions No widely documented factory special editions of the Summarit-M 90mm f/2.4 are known; the lens has been sold in its standard black (11684) and silver (11685) finishes.

Collector Notes Buyers should confirm which finish a given example carries, since the black and silver versions use different model numbers, 11684 and 11685 respectively. The lens is not six-bit coded, so users relying on automatic lens detection on digital M bodies will need to set the profile manually. Because the metal screw-in hood and the two metal caps were part of the original package, collectors may wish to verify that these accessories are present and original, as the screw-in hood is a distinct feature compared with the built-in hoods of some older Leica 90mm lenses.