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Leica Summicron-R 50mm f/2

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  2. Expert ratingsExpert ratingsexperts ratings from editorial reviews
  3. Consumer ratingsConsumer ratingsratings from the biggest online stores worldwide
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4.5
based on all reviews
User ratings:
11
3.9 out of 5
11 user ratings
5 stars
27 %
4 stars
45 %
3 stars
18 %
2 stars
9 %
1 stars
0 %
Editorial reviews:
4
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4 editorial reviews
Best seen in a larger size over a dark background (just click image above). One of a series of test shots using the Sony NEX-5 as a camera back for Leica and Nikon lenses. This one was with the Leica 50mm f/2 Summicron-R lens modified to a Nikon F mount by Leitax, which then works with the Novoflex Nikon adapter for the E-mount on the Sony NEX-5 camera. A little convoluted, but it works beautifully! According to Ken Rockwell ( www.kenrockwell.com/leica/50mm-f2-m.htm ) , "There is no better 50mm lens on Earth than the LEICA SUMMICRON-M 50mm f/2", and "The SUMMICRON is the world's reference for a 50mm photographic lens." Even the more expensive Leica 50mm f/1.4 Summilux and the even more expensive Leica 50mm f/0.95 Noctilux lenses are inevitably compared to how they perform at f/2 onwards compared to the 50mm Summicron. With good reason, too. I have never seen a sharper 50mm lens than Leica 50mm Summicron. It is simply amazing how crisp the images are even with the lens wide open at f/2. However, as my flickr friend Norbert ( www.flickr.com/photos/tacheles/with/5438389520/ ) pointed out a couple of months ago, the Summicron is not the greatest bokeh lens. The lens is so sharp that even its bokeh is sharp. It is amazing how the lens actually renders out of focus point sources of light with borders! You can see them here. The bokeh is not as buttery as with the Leica Noctilux 50/0.95 or the Nikon NOCT Nikkor 58/1.2 or the Nikon 85/1.4G lenses. But the Summicron is interesting in its own way, rather like a cinema star who may not be beautiful by classic definition of beauty, but is very appealing, nevertheless. The little Sony works very nicely with the lens, letting the lens to its thing, and not getting in the way. Of course, on the Sony, the 50/2 lens is more like a 75/2. SONY Alpha NEX-5 + Novoflex Adapter + Leica Summicron-R 50mm f/2 DSC00237 Foto Roy PrasadRead more
Leica 50mm Summicron R f/2 (ROM) 35mm Primes user reviews : 4.8 out of 5 - 16 reviews - photographyreview.comRead more
Expert news, reviews and videos of the latest digital cameras, lenses, accessories, and phones. Get answers to your questions in our photography forums.Read more
Read editorial reviews

Pros

  • overall build quality is superb
  • a built-in hood and works great on my 5D
  • great ergonomics are more beautiful

Cons

  • you are limited to either fully manual and aperture priority modes
  • The performance wide open suffers a slightly bit from vignetting
  • having a built-in hood

Key specs

  • Fixed
  • no
  • Full-frame (35mm)
  • , 50 mm
  • no
  • Normal

Leica Summicron-R 50mm f/2 - Pros & Cons

Leica Summicron-R 50mm f/2

Pros

  • overall build quality is superb
  • a built-in hood and works great on my 5D
  • great ergonomics are more beautiful
  • it works beautifully
  • solid and well-built
  • make it easy to shoot compelling lifestyle images
  • good and decently priced Leica lens is great
  • very clean
  • sharp images
  • Solid
  • quality feel

Cons

  • you are limited to either fully manual and aperture priority modes
  • The performance wide open suffers a slightly bit from vignetting
  • having a built-in hood
  • cannot paste images directly
  • veiling glare with the sun near the borders of the frame
  • R + adapter is significantly larger than than the M + adapter
  • The bokeh is not as buttery as with the Leica Noctilux
  • Summicron is not the greatest bokeh lens
  • A little convoluted
  • Leica saw little to improce on the design
  • has no value as an adapted lens on a mirrorless body

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Leica Summicron-R 50mm f/2 - Full Specifications

Icon
General
Lens typeNormal
Lens mountLeica R
Icon
Aperture
Aperture max2
Icon
Optics
ConstructionFixed
Icon
Image properties
Max Format size
Full-frame
Focal length< 50
Image stabilisationno
Icon
Focus
Autofocusno

Leica Summicron-R 50mm f/2 - Q&A

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Leica Summicron-R 50mm f/2 Leica - Editorial Reviews (4)

5.0
Based on 4 reviews
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
Leica Summicron-R 50mm f/2 Leica Summicron R 50mm F/2.0
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Flickr
Leica Summicron R 50mm F/2.0

Best seen in a larger size over a dark background (just click image above). One of a series of test shots using the Sony NEX-5 as a camera back for Leica and Nikon lenses. This one was with the Leica 50mm f/2 Summicron-R lens modified to a Nikon F mount by Leitax, which then works with the Novoflex Nikon adapter for the E-mount on the Sony NEX-5 camera. A little convoluted, but it works beautifully! According to Ken Rockwell ( www.kenrockwell.com/leica/50mm-f2-m.htm ) , "There is no better 50mm lens on Earth than the LEICA SUMMICRON-M 50mm f/2", and "The SUMMICRON is the world's reference for a 50mm photographic lens." Even the more expensive Leica 50mm f/1.4 Summilux and the even more expensive Leica 50mm f/0.95 Noctilux lenses are inevitably compared to how they perform at f/2 onwards compared to the 50mm Summicron. With good reason, too. I have never seen a sharper 50mm lens than Leica 50mm Summicron. It is simply amazing how crisp the images are even with the lens wide open at f/2. However, as my flickr friend Norbert ( www.flickr.com/photos/tacheles/with/5438389520/ ) pointed out a couple of months ago, the Summicron is not the greatest bokeh lens. The lens is so sharp that even its bokeh is sharp. It is amazing how the lens actually renders out of focus point sources of light with borders! You can see them here. The bokeh is not as buttery as with the Leica Noctilux 50/0.95 or the Nikon NOCT Nikkor 58/1.2 or the Nikon 85/1.4G lenses. But the Summicron is interesting in its own way, rather like a cinema star who may not be beautiful by classic definition of beauty, but is very appealing, nevertheless. The little Sony works very nicely with the lens, letting the lens to its thing, and not getting in the way. Of course, on the Sony, the 50/2 lens is more like a 75/2. SONY Alpha NEX-5 + Novoflex Adapter + Leica Summicron-R 50mm f/2 DSC00237 Foto Roy Prasad

Leica Summicron-R 50mm f/2 Leica 50mm Summicron R f/2 (ROM) 35mm Primes user reviews : 4.8 out of 5 - 16 reviews - photographyreview.com
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Camera News and Reviews
Published: 18.11.2021
Leica 50mm Summicron R f/2 (ROM) 35mm Primes user reviews : 4.8 out of 5 - 16 reviews - photographyreview.com
5.0

Leica 50mm Summicron R f/2 (ROM) 35mm Primes user reviews : 4.8 out of 5 - 16 reviews - photographyreview.com

Leica Summicron-R 50mm f/2 Which Leica Summicron R 50mm F2 for Sony A7II: Adapted Lens Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review
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Which Leica Summicron R 50mm F2 for Sony A7II: Adapted Lens Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

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Leica Summicron-R 50mm f/2 Leica Summicron-R 50mm f/2 review posted
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