Leica and Zeiss Lens Nomenclature

Last updated January 12, 2010 - Send Feedback

Leica uses a nomenclature to describe the lenses. It seems superfluous to me, given that the aperture number serves the same purposes, but such it the historical situation.

Lens speed nomenclature

Noctilux — f/0.95: There is one of these, the 50mm f/0.95 Noctilux (and older f/1.0 models). What does it cost?
Summilux — f/1.4: Summilux means an f/1.4 lens. These lenses are the most expensive, largest and heaviest, and often the most highly corrected, but might have compromises (eg distortion) that makes the Summicron a better choice for some uses.
Summicron — f/2: One stop slower, but significantly lighter and smaller, the Summicrons are an outstanding choice for their more moderate cost and good balance of size and weight.
Summarit — f/2.5: At 2/3 stop slower than the Summicrons, but significantly lighter and smaller, the Summarits are Leica’s most recent offering. They are a good choice for the lowest cost and minimal size and weight.
Elmarit — f/2.8: The Elmarits are a stop slower than the Summicrons, but very compact, and thus an outstanding choice for a compact kit.
Elmar — f/3.8 - f/4: The Elmars are the slowest lenses, but also very compact.
APO Telyt — f/3.4: There is one of these, the 135mm f/3.4 APO-Telyt-M.

Suffixes

ASPH: This means that one or more aspheric element are used.
APO: This means that the lens is correct for apochromatic behavior and should be free of color fringing.

Zeiss lens terminology

Biogon, Distagon, Planar, Sonnar, Superachromat, Tessar: please see this page.

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