The name Summilux is used by Leica and Panasonic Lumix to designate camera lenses that have a maximum aperture brighter than f/2, typically at f/1.4, but dimmer than f/1.0. The lens has been in production since 1959 and carries on to the present day.

Leica Summilux-M 50 mm f/1.4 Version 2 (1961 – 1968)
Leica Summilux 35 mm f/1.4 Version 1
Optical Diagram of Leica Summilux-R 50mm f/1.4 II lens.

History

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The name Summilux is a combination of Summum, which is the Latin word for highest, while Lux is for light.[1] The first Summilux was the 50 mm of 1959, followed by a new 50 mm Summilux design in 1961, whose optics remained unchanged until replaced by the 50 mm Summilux-M ASPH of 2004. [2]

Description

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The Summilux lenses have a maximum f-number of f/1.4, f/1.5 or occasionally f/1.7. This one to 1.5 stops lower than Leica's Noctilux lenses, but the Summilux lenses are smaller as a result.[1] Summilux lenses are designed for low-light photography.

Market position

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The Summilux lenses are less expensive than the Noctilux lenses, which has a smaller f-number.[1] However they are bigger, heavier and more expensive than the Summicron.

List of Summilux lenses

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For the Leica M mount
  • Summilux-M 21 mm f/1.4 ASPH.[3]
  • Summilux-M 24 mm f/1.4 ASPH.[4]
  • Summilux-M 28 mm f/1.4 ASPH.[5]
  • Summilux 35 mm f/1.4[6]
  • Summilux-M 35 mm f/1.4 ASPH. FLE Version V[7]
  • Summilux-M 35 mm f/1.4 ASPH. FLE "Short Focus" Version VI[8]
  • Summilux 50 mm f/1.4[9]
  • Summilux-M 50 mm f/1.4 ASPH.[10]
  • Summilux-M 75 mm f/1.4[11]
  • Summilux-M 90 mm f/1.5 ASPH.[12]
For the Leica R mount
  • Summilux-R 35 mm f/1.4[13]
  • Summilux-R 50 mm f/1.4 1st version[13]
  • Summilux-R 50 mm f/1.4 2nd version[13]
  • Summilux-R 50 mm f/1.4 3rd version – 1997 (ROM contacts)[13]
  • Summilux-R 80mm f/1.4[13]
For the Leica L Mount
  • Summilux-TL 35 mm f/1.4 ASPH.[14]
  • Summilux-SL 50 mm f/1.4 ASPH.[15]
For the Four Thirds mount[a 1]
For the Micro Four Thirds mount[a 1]
  • Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Summilux 10-25 mm f/1.7 ASPH.[16]
  • Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 12 mm f/1.4 ASPH.[17]
  • Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 15 mm f/1.7 ASPH.[18]
  • Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 25 mm f/1.4[19]
  • Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 25 mm f/1.4 II ASPH.[20]
  1. ^ a b manufactured under license by Panasonic

References

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  1. ^ a b c Taylor, David (2014). Leica M Typ 240 Expanded Guide. United Kingdom: Ammonite Press. ISBN 978-1781450390.
  2. ^ Winchester, Simon (2018). "The perfectionists: how precision engineers created the modern world". Science. 360 (6396): 226–229. Bibcode:2018Sci...360.1408.. doi:10.1126/science.aau3874. S2CID 51601931.
  3. ^ "Summilux-M 21mm f/1.4 ASPH. // M-Lenses // Leica M-System // Photography - Leica Camera AG". us.leica-camera.com. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
  4. ^ "Summilux-M 24mm f/1.4 ASPH. // M-Lenses // Leica M-System // Photography - Leica Camera AG". us.leica-camera.com. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
  5. ^ "Summilux-M 28mm f/1,4 ASPH. // M-Lenses // Leica M-System // Photography - Leica Camera AG". us.leica-camera.com. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
  6. ^ "LEICA SUMMILUX 35mm f/1.4 (1961-1995)". www.kenrockwell.com. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
  7. ^ "Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH. // M-Lenses // Leica M-System // Photography - Leica Camera AG". us.leica-camera.com. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
  8. ^ "Leica 35mm Summilux History". overgaard.dk/. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  9. ^ "LEICA SUMMILUX 50mm f/1.4 (1960-2004)". www.kenrockwell.com. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
  10. ^ "Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. // M-Lenses // Leica M-System // Photography - Leica Camera AG". us.leica-camera.com. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
  11. ^ "75mm f/1.4 Summilux-M - Leica Wiki (English)". www.l-camera-forum.com. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
  12. ^ "Leica Extends Summilux-M Series with 90mm f/1.5 Lens". B&H Explora. Retrieved 2019-12-17.
  13. ^ a b c d e Puts, Erwin (July 2003). "Leica R-Lenses" (PDF). {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  14. ^ "Leica Summilux-TL 35mm F1.4 ASPH: Digital Photography Review". www.dpreview.com. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
  15. ^ "Leica Summilux-SL 50mm F1.4 ASPH: Digital Photography Review". www.dpreview.com. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
  16. ^ "Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Summilux 10-25mm F1.7 ASPH: Digital Photography Review". www.dpreview.com. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
  17. ^ "Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Summilux 12mm F1.4 ASPH: Digital Photography Review". www.dpreview.com. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
  18. ^ "Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 15mm F1.7 ASPH: Digital Photography Review". www.dpreview.com. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
  19. ^ "Panasonic Leica Summilux DG 25mm F1.4: Digital Photography Review". www.dpreview.com. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
  20. ^ "Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 25mm F1.4 II ASPH: Digital Photography Review". www.dpreview.com. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
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