Leica Summarit-M 90mm f/2.5

Leica Summarit-M 90mm f/2.5

When Leica introduced the Summarit-M line in 2007, it created a more affordable tier of M lenses positioned below the Summicron and Summilux ranges, and the 90mm f/2.5 was the longest of the original quartet that also included 35mm, 50mm and 75mm focal lengths, all sharing the same f/2.5 aperture [1][2]. The lens was conceived as a lighter, less expensive alternative to the 90mm Summicron, trading a stop of speed for a smaller and more practical short telephoto, and Leica's own description framed it as the lens that rounded out the new speed class [3]. It carries the order number 11646 and was offered in black anodized finish.

Optically the lens uses a modest five-element, four-group design, which keeps the barrel compact and the weight to roughly 360 g. The aperture runs from f/2.5 to f/16 with click stops and half-value settings, operating through an eleven-blade diaphragm, and focusing extends from 1 m to infinity with a combined meter and feet scale. The lens is rangefinder coupled and mounts on the standard Leica M bayonet; it carries a six-bit barcode at the mount so digital M bodies can identify it, with the code 101110, although it is not factory six-bit coded in the firmware sense. It accepts E46 screw-in filters through a non-rotating front, ships with a protection ring on the external thread, and uses the separately available bayonet hood 12460. Some reviewers noted that the Summarit-M build departed from Leica's traditional standards, citing a rubberized focus grip and a rounded typeface rather than the engraved metal ribbing and font of the costlier M lenses.

The 90mm f/2.5 was produced from 2007 until around 2014, when it was superseded by the redesigned 90mm f/2.4 Summarit-M. Because the line was short-lived and overshadowed by Leica's faster glass, the f/2.5 version is relatively unremarkable to identify: it is engraved LEICA SUMMARIT-M 1:2.5/90 E 46 followed by its serial number. Buyers should confirm they are looking at the f/2.5 first generation rather than the later f/2.4 model, which shares the Summarit-M name and a similar appearance.

Optical qualities

Rendering Documented impressions of the 90mm f/2.5 are consistently positive on image quality despite its budget positioning within the M range. One reviewer rated its optics as superb and considered them effectively on par with the discontinued 90mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M and the 90mm f/2 APO-ASPH in practical use. Another found it produced rich, sharp results with good texture, pleasing color and agreeable out-of-focus rendering, and reported it focused accurately and easily on the M 240. Reviewers also noted that the Summarit lenses, while a stop or more slower than their Summicron and Summilux counterparts, deliver comparable sharpness and color and differ mainly in their bokeh and overall look.

Sharpness The lens is regarded as very sharp, with users describing crisp detail wide open and across the frame on digital M bodies.

Collector and user notes Opinions on the Summarit-M build diverge. One reviewer praised the lens highly as a shooter and a value, while another judged its mechanical construction inferior to Leica's traditional standards and questioned its long-term resale, even while conceding its optics were excellent.

History

Development and Launch The Summarit-M family debuted in 2007 as Leica's response to demand for less costly M lenses, with four focal lengths sharing an f/2.5 maximum aperture. The 90mm was the telephoto of the set, intended as a handier and lighter option than the 90mm Summicron while remaining within the Leica M system. At launch it sold for roughly US $1,595 in 2008, well below the price of Leica's faster 90mm lenses.

Production Evolution The lens remained in production from 2007 to about 2014, after which Leica replaced it with the 90mm f/2.4 Summarit-M, a marginally faster successor that continued the line.

Special editions No major factory special editions of the 90mm f/2.5 Summarit-M are widely documented; it was offered as a standard black anodized lens under order number 11646.

Collector Notes The most important point of confusion is distinguishing the original f/2.5 model from the later f/2.4 Summarit-M, since both carry the same name and focal length. The lens takes E46 filters and uses the bayonet hood 12460, both worth verifying when buying secondhand, and the inscription LEICA SUMMARIT-M 1:2.5/90 E 46 with the serial number confirms the first-generation version. The six-bit barcode at the mount allows digital M bodies to identify the lens.