Leica 90mm f/2.5 Summarit-M Manual Focus Lens (Black) USA

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The Leica 90mm f/2.5 Summarit-M Lens is a fast telephoto lens that is part of the Summarit-M class of affordable rangefinder lenses. This lens is ideal for portraiture and photojournalism, or for quick snapshots when you want to take pictures inconspicuously from a distance.

Summarit-M lenses are designed to offer traditional Leica optical and mechanical excellence, while positioned at a price level below the current M ASPH lenses. With a maximum aperture of f/2.5, and by applying classical and proven spherical lens designs, these lenses provide excellent quality. These features also result in a very compact design.

This lens has been updated with the "6-bit" coding, which allows the digital M camera to read this information optically and to identify which lens is being used. The camera can then (optionally) apply a "final stage" software based vignetting correction (for RAW images the lens used is simply recorded, no change is made).

All letter and number engravings will be made using the traditional "Leitz-Norm" font as originally used by Leitz Wetzlar during the 1960's, and the red button on the lens mount will be true to the original color used on lenses produced since the introduction of the M mount through the 1970's.
Includes "6-bit code" which allows the digital M8 camera to identify which lens is being used, and also to store this information in image metadata.
High quality, fast, compact and lightweight.
The 11-bladed circular aperture creates a shallow depth-of-field that brings attention to the subject and blurs the background, which is ideal for portraits and weddings.
Manufactured and marked "Made in Germany".
Filter Size 46mm
f/Stop Range 2.5-16
Minimum Focus Distance 3.3' (1 m)
Angle of View 27°
Groups/Elements 4/5
Length 2.6" (66mm)
Maximum Diameter 2.2" (55mm)
Weight 12.7 oz (360 g)

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
Leica 90mm f/2.5 Summarit-M Manual Focus Lens (Black)
 
4.8

(based on 12 reviews)

Ratings Distribution

  • 5 Stars

     

    (10)

  • 4 Stars

     

    (2)

  • 3 Stars

     

    (0)

  • 2 Stars

     

    (0)

  • 1 Stars

     

    (0)

100%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

  • Lightweight (11)
  • Strong construction (9)
  • Durable (6)
  • Consistent output (5)
  • Easily interchangeable (5)

Cons

    Best Uses

    • Portraits (5)
    • Landscape/scenery (4)
    • Low light (3)
      • Reviewer Profile:
      • Pro photographer (4), Semi-pro photographer (3)
      • Was this a gift?:
      • No (10)

    REVIEWS

    Reviewed by 12 customers

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    Displaying reviews 1-12

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    (2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

     
    5.0

    Great lens! Delivers on every shot.

    By bobboyd

    from Houston, TX

    About Me Semi-pro Photographer

    Verified Reviewer

    Pros

    • Consistent Output
    • Durable
    • Fast / accurate auto-focus
    • Lightweight
    • Nice Bokeh
    • Rugged
    • Strong Construction

    Cons

      Best Uses

      • Weddings/Events

      Comments about Leica 90mm f/2.5 Summarit-M Manual Focus Lens (Black):

      I'm very happy with this lens. It's super sharp, easy to focus, and the bokeh is nice and smooth. Great for portraits or discreet street photography. It's extremely well built and I would buy it again. Highly recommended!

      • Was this a gift?:
      • No

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      (2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

       
      5.0

      Smooth operation; crisp results

      By Hank

      from Indiana

      About Me Pro Photographer

      Verified Buyer

      Pros

      • Lightweight
      • Strong Construction

      Cons

        Best Uses

        • Landscape/Scenery
        • Portraits

        Comments about Leica 90mm f/2.5 Summarit-M Manual Focus Lens (Black):

        Unlike some others report, my copy of this lens is very smooth to operate and the the results with a Leica M9 are excellent.

        • Was this a gift?:
        • No

        Share this review

        (2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

         
        5.0

        An actual Leica I can (sort of) afford

        By Andrew

        from Toledo

        About Me Photo Enthusiast

        Verified Buyer

        Pros

        • Durable
        • Easily Interchangeable
        • Lightweight
        • Strong Construction

        Cons

          Best Uses

          • Street photography
          • Weddings/Events

          Comments about Leica 90mm f/2.5 Summarit-M Manual Focus Lens (Black):

          I just bought this lens and am still getting to know it (so I can't yet report on how things look at the lower f-stops, for example). So far it seems exactly as advertised. I have a Voigtlander R3M, and my other lenses are Voigtlanders, but after looking at all available information, I decided that this one was worth the extra cost over the Voigtlander f3.5 90mm, which is bigger and heavier, roughly half as bright, and has a screw mount (so the adapter would add even more weight). Thus far I am feeling very pleased with that decision.

          Note: does not come with a lens hood, which you definitely need.

          • Was this a gift?:
          • No

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          (3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

           
          5.0

          Good lens, good value

          By Jarj

          from Salt Lake City, Utah

          About Me Semi-pro Photographer

          Verified Buyer

          Pros

          • Consistent Output
          • Durable
          • Easily Interchangeable
          • Lightweight
          • Nice Bokeh
          • Strong Construction

          Cons

            Best Uses

            • Landscape/Scenery
            • Night Photography

            Comments about Leica 90mm f/2.5 Summarit-M Manual Focus Lens (Black):

            Great optics, very clear all over at all apertures. Build is excellent. A bargain for Leica users. The lens has a little less glow than a 2.8 Elmarit and does not come with a lens hood so a used Elmarit with built in hood may be a better value. For a new lens, this is hard to beat at the price.

            • Was this a gift?:
            • No

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            (7 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

             
            5.0

            Excellent lens - sharp - great value!

            By Peter Brown

            from Cairns - Australia

            About Me Pro Photographer

            Verified Reviewer

            Pros

            • Consistent Output
            • Lightweight
            • Nice Bokeh
            • SHARP SHARP SHARP
            • Strong Construction

            Cons

            • No lens hood included

            Best Uses

            • Fashion
            • Indoors/Low Light
            • Landscape/Scenery
            • Photojournalism
            • Portraits
            • Street photography

            Comments about Leica 90mm f/2.5 Summarit-M Manual Focus Lens (Black):

            I purchased this 90mm lens to use with my Leica M9 because I wanted a lens similar to the Canon 85/1.2 which I use for a large percentage of my work on the F/F Canon cameras. The 85mm produces stunning images and although this lens is not quite as fast, it still produces beautiful results which mirror those which I get from the Canon lens.

            I use this lens on my M9 and the sharpness is just as good if not better, with the bokeh (at f2.5) comparable to the Canon 85mm at a similar f-stop - which is saying something.
            Portraits taken with this lens wide open are fantastic, with a special "sharp/soft" look to them which is hard to define.
            The detail in distant scenes is excellent, with amazing micro detail - certainly a great lens for landscapes.
            I also use this lens for my fashion/beauty work - it is fast to use and easy to focus.

            This is a lightweight, well-made lens with exceptional performance - the rubberised focusing ring makes focusing a breeze and the click-stops are firm and sure. The lens cap is excellent and not easily dislodged.
            My one negative comment is the lack of an included lens hood and the difficulty in finding one - I still don't have one and really don't like using lenses without them.
            However, this lens has not exhibited any flare whatsoever, so maybe I can get along without a hood for a little while longer.

            I'd highly recommend this lens - excellent value for money.

            • Was this a gift?:
            • No

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            (3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

             
            5.0

            Summarit 90 f/2.5

            By Chuck

            from Dallas, TX

            About Me Semi-pro Photographer

            Verified Buyer

            Pros

            • Compact for a 90mm
            • Lightweight
            • Strong Construction

            Cons

            • lens hood not included

            Best Uses

            • Landscape/Scenery
            • Portraits

            Comments about Leica 90mm f/2.5 Summarit-M Manual Focus Lens (Black):

            This seems to be one of the most under-appreciated of Leica's newer lenses - and it shouldn't be, it is an excellent lens! The lens is reminiscent of the best Leica lenses made before the introduction of the current crop of lenses with aspherical properties and floating elements.

            • Was this a gift?:
            • No

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            (2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

             
            5.0

            Correct previous review

            By Marc Petersen

            from Santa Clara, CA

            About Me Pro Photographer

            Verified Buyer

            Pros

            • Consistent Output
            • Durable
            • Easily Interchangeable
            • Fast / accurate auto-focus
            • Lightweight
            • Nice Bokeh
            • Rugged
            • Strong Construction

            Cons

              Best Uses

              • Indoors/Low Light

              Comments about Leica 90mm f/2.5 Summarit-M Manual Focus Lens (Black):

              In my last review of this Leica Summarit, I mistakenly called it a Summicron. I didn't want to mislead anyone. It's a great lens. Worth every dollar.

              • Was this a gift?:
              • No

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              (2 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

               
              5.0

              The naysayers are wrong.

              By Marc Petersen

              from Santa Clara, CA

              About Me Pro Photographer

              Verified Buyer

              Pros

              • Consistent Output
              • Durable
              • Easily Interchangeable
              • Fast / accurate auto-focus
              • Lightweight
              • Nice Bokeh
              • Rugged
              • Strong Construction

              Cons

                Best Uses

                • Indoors/Low Light

                Comments about Leica 90mm f/2.5 Summarit-M Manual Focus Lens (Black):

                This lens isn't loved. I read reviews and looked at photographs made with it. Most reviews were tepid, because, I guess, it's a Leica, and so deserves at least some respect. It was one photo on Flickr that got me to order one, as soon as B&H had one in stock. The portrait of an old man, of the photographer's father. Can I name the photographer? It was Bob Boyd. I bought the lens. I love this lens, and I've got a room full of lenses, all kinds, expensive and inexpensive, Leicas and lots of others. The optics on this lens are as good as my Summicron optics, as good as my Nokton optics. But there's something else: The Leica intangible. Almost a caress. I use an M8. My wife wanted to know if I was going to buy an M9. I told her no. With this 90mm Summicron, my M8 is still my favorite camera.

                • Was this a gift?:
                • No

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                (1 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

                 
                4.0

                90 mm Summarit

                By Leica lover

                from Alberta Canada

                About Me Hobbyist/Enthusiast

                Verified Buyer

                Pros

                • Durable
                • Easy To Use
                • Lightweight
                • Reliable

                Cons

                  Best Uses

                  • Home
                  • Landscape Photography
                  • Portraits
                  • Studio
                  • Traveling

                  Comments about Leica 90mm f/2.5 Summarit-M Manual Focus Lens (Black):

                  I use the lens for portrait type shots. It is a very sharp lens, but I find it a bit difficult to focus in low light conditions wide open.

                  • Was this a gift?:
                  • No

                  Share this review

                   
                  5.0

                  Compact Power

                  By PhotoRaider

                  from Texas

                  About Me Hobbyist/Enthusiast

                  Verified Buyer

                  Pros

                  • Easy To Use
                  • Lightweight

                  Cons

                  • Price

                  Best Uses

                  • Portraits
                  • Studio
                  • Traveling

                  Comments about Leica 90mm f/2.5 Summarit-M Manual Focus Lens (Black):

                  Great for casual portraits. Good for landscape photography. This is a fast, compact lens that you will appreciate carrying at the end of the day.

                  • Was this a gift?:
                  • No

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                  (11 of 11 customers found this review helpful)

                   
                  5.0

                  Great medium telephoto

                  By Steve

                  from Milwaukee, WI

                  Verified Buyer

                  Comments about Leica 90mm f/2.5 Summarit-M Manual Focus Lens (Black):

                  I wondered how these less expensive lenses would compare to their more expensive brothers, but so far I have found the lens to feel and act just like their faster relatives. Images are sharp & crisp, the feel of focusing is silky, the aperture leaves work smoothly, and the lens is compact and easy to carry. I only wish it came with a lens shade as a standard--not because of flare problems (I haven't noticed any yet), but because it helps to protect the lens from getting banged up.

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                  (10 of 10 customers found this review helpful)

                   
                  4.0

                  Slick and useful

                  By martha

                  from Maine

                  About Me Professional

                  Verified Buyer

                  Pros

                  • Easily Interchangeable
                  • Lightweight
                  • Sharp Focus
                  • Strong Construction

                  Cons

                    Best Uses

                    • Landscape Photography
                    • Wildlife

                    Comments about Leica 90mm f/2.5 Summarit-M Manual Focus Lens (Black):

                    Just returned from a test trip to U.K. with 90mm f2.5 Summarit-M and my M6 using TMax. All photos crisp and sharp--love the Boka (sp?) at 2.5! It's light and easy to handle, as I would expect from Leica glass(except, of course, the 75mm Summilux!)

                    Would have appreciated either a built-in or complementary lens shade and resent that I have to lay out more $$$ for a shade, however. Also, do not like the fact that the designed lens shade screws in so that filter removal and placement require taking the shade off. Poor design in that respect.

                    For the (relatively low) Leica price, I'm happy.

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                    What's in the Box

                    Leica 90mm f/2.5 Summarit-M Manual Focus Lens (Black)
                    • Metal Front Cap
                    • Rear Cap
                    • Soft Lens Case
                    • 2-Year Limited Warranty
                     
                     
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