Leica M: Which is the Highest Performing 35mm lens?

2013-06-06 • SEND FEEDBACK |
Related: aperture series, Leica, Leica M, Leica M lenses, Leica M9, Leica medium format, Leica S 35mm f/2.5 Summarit-S ASPH, Leica S Typ 006, Leica Summarit, rangefinder, Zeiss, Zeiss ZM

At about $5150, the Leica 35mm f/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH gives pause to even Leica fans, and the about $3200 Leica 35mm f/2 Summicron-M ASPH hardly yields relief. But what about the ~$1100 Zeiss ZM 35mm f/2 Biogon? Can it compete with lenses costing near 3X and 5X as much?

In Guide to Leica, this particular comparison of the Leica 35mm f/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH to Summicron-M ASPH to Zeiss ZM Biogon is perhaps the most useful one I’ve yet done for the 35mm focal length with Leica M, because it shows the differences in performance without any ambiguity.

The comparison is on the Leica M9, but should apply to the new Leica M Typ 240 also.

Get Leica M and Zeiss ZM lenes at B&H Photo.

35/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH
35/2 Summicron-M ASPH
Zeiss ZM 35/2 Biogon