How Much Is a Used Leica Summilux-M 50mm Worth? (2026 Price Guide)

The ASPH is the technically superior choice: it is sharp wide open, controls flare and chromatic aberration well, and its floating element removes the focus shift that the pre-ASPH shows as you stop down past f/1.4. Many photographers still prefer the Mandler pre-ASPH for its smaller size, gentler wide open rendering, and bokeh character. If you shoot mostly at f/1.4 to f/2.8 and value drawing over clinical sharpness, the pre-ASPH is rewarding; if you want consistent performance across the aperture range, choose the ASPH.

They share the same optical design, so image quality is the same, but the E46 (1990s onward) focuses closer to 0.7m, has a built in telescoping hood, and a shorter focus throw, while the earlier E43 focuses only to 1m and takes a clip on hood. The E43's 43mm filter thread also has an unusual pitch that binds some modern filters. When shopping, ask for the filter size, minimum focus distance, and serial number rather than relying on a version label.

Test the rangefinder coupling by focusing wide open and confirming the image is sharp where the rangefinder patch aligns, since back focus and decentering are the most reported faults. Inspect the front and rear elements and internal glass for haze and any cleaning marks, work the aperture to check for oil on the blades, and confirm the focus ring turns smoothly without grinding. On E46 copies, extend and retract the built in hood to make sure it is not seized.

Every M-mount Summilux 50 mounts and functions fully on the digital M bodies; the aperture and focus are mechanical. Older copies lack the 6-bit flange code, so the camera cannot auto identify the lens, which leaves EXIF lens data blank and skips lens specific corrections. You can either select the lens manually in the body's lens menu or have a service center add 6-bit coding. The current ASPH and recent reissues ship coded from the factory.