Leica Leica Summitar 50mm f2 Heritage

Overview

The Leica Summitar 50mm f/2 was Ernst Leitz's highest-performance normal lens from its introduction in 1939 until it was replaced by the Summicron in 1952/1953. It was developed as the successor to the earlier Summar 50mm f/2 (1933-1939), which had been 'the hot, must-have LEICA lens' of its era. According to the reviews, the Summitar used much larger front optical components than the Summar to greatly reduce mechanical vignetting and light falloff, something Leica pitched as especially important for the emerging field of color photography, for which the Summitar was said to be particularly well suited. The front group was upgraded from the Summar's single front element to two cemented elements. Production ran roughly 1939-1953 (one reviewer notes copies made through 1955), with pre-war examples being uncoated and lenses from about 1946 (around serial nr. 601,001) receiving a single blue coating on the front element. No established nicknames or community jargon are evidenced in these reviews. It retains a following largely for being a compact, collapsible, character-rich vintage 50mm that is very sharp in the center yet renders with a gentler, lower-contrast quality than modern optics.

Verdict: The Leica Summitar 50mm f/2 is a compact, collapsible classic that rewards photographers who want a genuinely sharp yet characterful vintage normal lens. It offers strong central sharpness with a gentle, lower-contrast rendering that suits portraiture, plus improved light falloff over the Summar. It is best for character-seekers who accept vintage quirks: soft, scratch-prone front glass, potential haze, stiff old lubrication, and flare from early coatings. If you want clinical modern perfection, look to the later Summicron; if you want vintage rendering in a tiny package, the Summitar delivers.

Optical Character

Color

Considered particularly well suited to early color work due to reduced light falloff; specific palette unknown.

Sharpness wide open

Extremely sharp in the center, softer on the sides/corners compared to modern Leica lenses.

Flare resistance

Uncoated/early single-coated examples are prone to flare, especially in bright conditions; use of a hood advised.

Contrast

Lower overall contrast than modern lenses, yielding a gentle rendering rather than harsh high contrast.

Vignetting

Designed with larger front elements than the Summar to greatly reduce mechanical vignetting and light falloff.

Community Insights

What people love

Extremely sharp center performance while retaining a gentle, lower-contrast vintage look that flatters portraits
Compact collapsible design that makes for a very small, pocketable normal lens ideal on screw-mount bodies
Reduced light falloff/vignetting versus the earlier Summar thanks to larger front elements
Attractive vintage aesthetics, especially when collapsed, with patina (brass showing through worn chrome) that many find charming
Smooth, pleasant focusing action and an easy-to-use infinity lock that doubles as a focus tab
Screw-mount (L39) compatibility means it works on all screw-mount Leicas and on M bodies via a simple adapter

What people dislike

Soft front element glass that scratches very easily, even from over-vigorous cleaning of fingerprints, so many copies show marks
Scratches and haze begin to impact performance, especially in bright conditions
Old lubrication often degrades, leaving the aperture ring stiff or 'welded on' and hard to turn
The extended collapsible barrel is considered somewhat awkward or unattractive looking
Risk of the collapsing lens hitting internal elements on some modern Leica M bodies (e.g. M9), requiring caution

Pro Tips

Use a lens hood and consider stopping down to control flare, since uncoated/early-coated examples are flare-prone
Shoot wide open at f/2 for portraits to exploit the sharp-but-gentle center rendering with soft textures
Clean the soft front element with extreme care to avoid adding scratches
On Leica M3 the lens can be collapsed freely, but do not collapse it on some newer bodies like the M9 without checking clearance to avoid damage
Use the easy-to-release infinity lock as a de facto focus tab for quicker handling

Sources (1)

Web-grounded synthesissecondary

The Leica Summitar 50mm f/2 was Ernst Leitz's highest-performance normal lens from its introduction in 1939 until it was replaced by the Summicron in 1952/1953. It was developed as the successor to the earlier Summar 50mm f/2 (1933-1939), which had been 'the hot, must-have LEICA lens' of its era. According to the reviews, the Summitar used much larger front optical components than the Summar to greatly reduce mechanical vignetting and light falloff, something Leica pitched as especially important for the emerging field of color photography, for which the Summitar was said to be particularly well suited. The front group was upgraded from the Summar's single front element to two cemented elements. Production ran roughly 1939-1953 (one reviewer notes copies made through 1955), with pre-war examples being uncoated and lenses from about 1946 (around serial nr. 601,001) receiving a single blue coating on the front element. No established nicknames or community jargon are evidenced in these reviews. It retains a following largely for being a compact, collapsible, character-rich vintage 50mm that is very sharp in the center yet renders with a gentler, lower-contrast quality than modern optics.

https://www.35mmc.com/01/11/2014/leica-50mm-f-2-summar-lens-review/https://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/50mm-f2-summitar.htmhttps://50mmf2.com/writings/leica-summitar-50mm-f2-ltm-lens-review