Leica Summilux-M 24mm f/1.4 ASPH.

Leica Summilux-M 24mm f/1.4 ASPH.

The Summilux-M 24mm f/1.4 ASPH. occupies an unusual place in the Leica M catalogue as the only 24mm lens the company has built at f/1.4, pairing an extreme wide-angle field with the speed normally reserved for standard optics. Leica had carried a 24mm focal length in the M system only since the late 1990s, so when this lens arrived in 2008 it was a relatively recent addition to the line rather than a descendant of a long-running design [1]. Its appeal to collectors and users rests on that combination of fast aperture and wide coverage, achieved within a compact M-mount barrel.

Optically the lens uses a retrofocus layout of ten elements in eight groups, with a single aspherical surface placed on the first surface of the last group [2]. Two floating elements, the rearmost single elements, adjust spacing across the focusing range to hold correction at close distances, and five elements are made from glass with anomalous partial dispersion to control color error. The eleven-blade diaphragm closes from f/1.4 to f/16 with half-stop clicks, and the lens focuses to 0.7 m[3]. Build is the usual anodized aluminum and glass, finished in black, with a manual focusing helicoid and full rangefinder coupling. Because no Leica M body provides 24mm frame lines, the lens is normally used with an accessory optical viewfinder or with live view on digital M cameras, a workflow consideration buyers should expect. It accepts Series VII filters held in the dedicated lens hood.

The lens has been offered in a single black anodized finish and carries the order number 11601. It is engraved SUMMILUX-M 1:1.4/24 ASPH., and the documented accessories include the 12462 hood and matching front cap, plus the bright-line finders Leica lists for the focal length. No major factory special editions of this reference are widely documented.

Optical qualities

Rendering Reviewers describe a sharp, high-contrast image with good performance even at the maximum aperture, alongside the field curvature and complex distortion typical of a fast retrofocus wide-angle. The lens is well corrected for color fringing and resists flare and ghosting in normal use.

Sharpness The center is reported as sharp and contrasty wide open at f/1.4, with the edges softer at full aperture but improving on stopping down. The plane of best focus is curved rather than flat owing to field curvature.

Bokeh and transitions Out-of-focus rendering is regarded as smooth, with backgrounds in the central area falling away pleasantly, though defocus is naturally limited by the short focal length.

Flare resistance Flare and ghosting are minimal in ordinary shooting, generally appearing only when a bright source is deliberately placed in or near the frame.

Distortion and vignetting The lens shows complex distortion that can be visible on subjects with straight lines, a trade-off of the fast wide design.

History

Development and Launch Leica introduced the Summilux-M 24mm f/1.4 ASPH. in 2008 as a fast counterpart to its slower 24mm M lenses. Because the 24mm focal length had only entered the M lineup in the late 1990s, the lens was a comparatively modern entry built to deliver f/1.4 speed at a wide angle while correcting distortion and vignetting for general photography and reportage. Contemporary listings placed it near the top of the M wide-angle range in price.

Collector Notes The lens is engraved with the SUMMILUX-M 1:1.4/24 ASPH. inscription and the order number 11601, and it has been sold only in black anodized finish, so unexpected colors or markings warrant scrutiny. Buyers should confirm the presence of the correct 12462 hood, which holds Series VII filters, and verify the front cap and any bundled finder, since these accessories are easily separated from the lens over time. The anodized finish can pick up scratches and wear with use. Filter and polarizer fit through the hood can be finicky, so accessory compatibility is worth checking before purchase.