Compare lenses

Leica Elmar-M 50mm f/2.8 vs Leica Summicron-M 50mm f/2

The Leica Elmar-M 50mm f/2.8 and the Leica Summicron-M 50mm f/2 side by side, computed from this guide's catalogue.

Which to pick

Pick the Leica Summicron-M 50mm f/2 if you want a brighter f/2 (1.0 stops more light), for dim light and softer backgrounds. On these specs the Leica Elmar-M 50mm f/2.8 has no clear advantage: choose it if the price, the handling or a lens you own decides it.

Still torn? Ask the guide about the Leica Elmar-M 50mm f/2.8 and the Leica Summicron-M 50mm f/2

Specs side by side

Rows that differ are in full colour; the better value is marked where one is better by any measure.
Spec	Leica Elmar-M 50mm f/2.8	Leica Summicron-M 50mm f/2
Maker	Leica	Leica
Focal length	50mm (prime)	50mm (prime)
Full-frame equivalent	50mm	50mm
Maximum aperture	f/2.8	f/2brighter
Made for	Full frame	Full frame
Mounts	Leica M	Leica M
Stabilised	no	no
Autofocus	no, manual focus	no, manual focus
Cameras it fits	20 in this guide	20 in this guide

Focal range, in full-frame terms

Leica Elmar-M 50mm f/2.8: 50mm.

Leica Summicron-M 50mm f/2: 50mm.

Aperture

Leica Elmar-M 50mm f/2.8: f/2.8 wide open.

Leica Summicron-M 50mm f/2: f/2 wide open.

Each opening drawn to scale against f/1.4: a smaller f-number lets in more light and blurs the background more.

Field of view

How wide each sees, at each end, on the sensor it was made for.

Cameras they fit

20 cameras in this guide take both, so either works on the same body.