Leica Summilux-M 90mm f/1.5 ASPH.

Leica Summilux-M 90mm f/1.5 ASPH.

When Leica introduced this lens in December 2019, it was the first time the Summilux name had been applied to a 90mm M-mount optic, and it arrived as the fastest 90mm lens Leica had ever produced [1][2]. Conceived as a portrait lens rather than a low-light specialist, it pairs a moderate telephoto focal length with an unusually wide f/1.5 aperture to deliver an extremely shallow plane of focus. Leica positioned it as a close relation of the Noctilux-M 75mm f/1.25 ASPH., and the two lenses share much of their design philosophy and exterior dimensions[3]. The depth of field at full aperture is roughly half that of the 50mm Noctilux-M f/0.95 ASPH., which gives the 90mm its pronounced subject-isolation character.

The optical design is complex for an M lens, with eight elements in six groups, two of them aspherical and made from special glass types, plus a floating element group that keeps performance consistent across the focusing range. The aperture uses 11 blades for rounded out-of-focus highlights, and the lens focuses to one metre for a reproduction ratio of about 1:8.8. Build quality follows Leica's usual standard, with a precision-machined black aluminium barrel and a built-in lens hood that pulls out and locks with a twist. It is a substantial lens, sharing the 67mm filter thread and overall length of the 75mm Noctilux and weighing just over a kilogram, which makes it one of the largest and heaviest lenses in the M range. The lens is rangefinder coupled for use on M bodies and also pairs well with Leica SL bodies through the M-to-L adapter, where live view and image stabilisation help with focus precision at such a thin depth of field.

The lens carries the order number 11678 and was offered in black anodised finish. Because it is a current-production lens with a single documented configuration, there are no major variant or coating differences to track.

Optical qualities

Rendering Reviewers and Leica's own technical material describe a lens that performs strongly at full aperture, with high sharpness at the plane of focus and a smooth, gradual transition into the out-of-focus background. The 11-blade rounded diaphragm contributes to soft, even bokeh without harsh artefacts. Leica states that vignetting and distortion, common in fast lenses, are very well controlled in this design. The overall character is one of strong central sharpness combined with pronounced three-dimensional subject separation, which is the trait most often singled out by users[4].

Digital use The lens was designed with digital M bodies such as the M10 in mind, and it adapts to the SL system, where electronic viewfinding and in-body stabilisation assist accurate focusing wide open.

History

Development and Launch Leica announced the Summilux-M 90 mm f/1.5 ASPH. in December 2019, presenting it as a new benchmark for portrait photography within the M system and as the fastest lens of its focal length the company had made. It followed shortly after the Noctilux-M 75mm f/1.25 ASPH. and shared that lens's emphasis on extreme aperture speed and shallow depth of field rather than compactness. At launch it carried a high list price, reported around 12,995 US dollars.

Special editions No major factory special editions or alternative finishes of this lens are widely documented; it has been catalogued in black anodised finish under order number 11678.

Collector Notes The lens is identified by the engraved Summilux-M 90 mm 1:1.5 ASPH. markings and the order number 11678. Buyers should confirm the presence and smooth operation of the built-in, twist-lock lens hood, since it is integral to the barrel rather than a removable accessory. Its considerable size and weight, comparable to the 75mm Noctilux, are worth noting for handling expectations on a compact M body. As a current and relatively recent lens, condition and accessory completeness (caps and original packaging) are the main points to verify rather than version or coating differences.