Summilux Explained

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.

History

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

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

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

For the Leica M mount:

• Summilux-M 21 mm ASPH.^[3]
• Summilux-M 24 mm ASPH.^[4]
• Summilux-M 28 mm ASPH.^[5]
• Summilux 35 mm ^[6]
• Summilux-M 35 mm ASPH. FLE Version V^[7]
• Summilux-M 35 mm ASPH. FLE "Short Focus" Version VI^[8]
• Summilux 50 mm ^[9]
• Summilux-M 50 mm ASPH.^[10]
• Summilux-M 75 mm ^[11]
• Summilux-M 90 mm ASPH.^[12]

For the Leica R mount:

• Summilux-R 35 mm ^[13]
• Summilux-R 50 mm 1st version^[13]
• Summilux-R 50 mm 2nd version^[13]
• Summilux-R 50 mm 3rd version – 1997 (ROM contacts)^[13]
• Summilux-R 80mm ^[13]

For the Leica L Mount:

• Summilux-TL 35 mm ASPH.^[14]
• Summilux-SL 50 mm ASPH.^[15]

For the Four Thirds mount^[16] :

For the Micro Four Thirds mount:

• Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Summilux 10-25 mm ASPH.^[17]
• Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 12 mm ASPH.^[18]
• Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 15 mm ASPH.^[19]
• Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 25 mm ^[20]
• Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 25 mm II ASPH.^[21]

External links

• Summilux.net lens review site
• Overgaard Leica 35mm Summilux article
• Overgaard Leica lens compendium of all Summilux lenses

Notes and References

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