35mm Leica Summilux-M (pre-ASPH) Review - The True King of Bokeh

Hello and welcome to Analog Insights.In today's episode, I review the 35mm f/1.4 Leica Summilux Pre-ASPH introduced in 1960 and produced until 1995. The Leica Store in the Briennerstr. in Munich was kind enough to loan me this lens for a short trip to Marrakech. I used the opportunity to take the lens through its paces in a special environment shooting some Kodak Gold 200 and Ilford Delta 100. 

Leica calls it “The True King of Bokeh” in reference to the 35mm Leica Summicron street name “King of Bokeh” which the community assigned to that lens. Knowing that and how important the selected f-stops would be for this review, I diligently took notes after each shot to make sure that I am able to list the correct f-stop per image. 

Please note that I am reviewing the second version of the original vintage lens here and not the reissue with “steel rim” released in 2022. This vintage lens is another rather expensive investment piece that typically costs between 2.700-3.500 Euro these days – depending on its condition and the source from which you are buying. Due to the long production time, there are plenty of lenses out there but not necessarily in perfect condition and it might be worth paying a premium for quality and condition. 
Let's now take a closer look at the history, build quality, optical design and performance of this lens.

Gear used:
Leica M6 with
Leitz 35mm f/1.4 Summilux-M (pre-ASPH)

Films used:
Kodak Gold 200
Ilford Delta 100

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