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24 I LEICA APO-SUMMICRON-M
LEICA APO-SUMMICRON-M 50 mm f/2 ASPH.
Sharp from corner to corner.
LEICA MONOCHROM PRINTS
Digital has never been so ‘analogue’ before.
As is the case with all Leica lenses, the Leica APO-Summicron-M 50 mm f/ 2 ASPH. was designed and constructed with the
ambition of maximising not only image contrast, but also detail resolution at maximum aperture. An objective that it fulfils like
no other lens: this new milestone in the history of the M-System is no less than spectacular in all its performance parameters.
For instance, even at maximum aperture, the MTF curves that describe image sharpness remain consistently high. This shows
that even the finest details are resolved with more than 50 % contrast: a previously unheard-of performance that confirms the
exceptional properties of this lens. This enables extremely sharp images with superb corner-to-corner detail rendition in all
photographic situations.
At the same time, Leica’s engineers attached particular importance to ensuring an especially soft and harmonious rendition of
objects outside the plane of focus. And this is revealed in the wonderfully attractive bokeh of the new standard lens. The APO-
Summicron also impressively demonstrates high resistance to stray light and its detrimental effects on contrast, and masterly
handling of frontal light sources. In addition, it is also distinguished by minimal distortion, minor vignetting and maximum image
field flatness. In short: the Leica APO-Summicron-M 50 mm f/2 ASPH. is an exclusive, high-performance lens for photographers
seeking unrivalled quality. Never before has a lens for 35 mm photography been designed and constructed with so few com-
promises. It provides new stimuli for photography with the Leica M rangefinder system, and once again confirms its reputation
as one of the best collections of photographic instruments the world has ever seen.
LEICA
MONOCHROM
BARYTE PRINTS
EXCLUSIVE
PRINT SERVICE
Dedicated black-and-white photographers who don’t want to miss out on the brilliance and quality of their images in
print form can take advantage of a unique service offered exclusively by Leica. The Leica Monochrom Print Service,
a cooperative venture with the photo finisher WhiteWall, offers M Monochrom customers the opportunity to have their
images reproduced as exclusive black-and-white prints. With this service, digital images from the Leica M Monochrom
are printed on premium-quality baryte photographic papers. Thanks to development using the classic wet-chemical
silver halide process, the prints are indistinguishable from their analogue counterparts printed from negatives. After
registering the purchase of their Leica M Monochrom online, customers wishing to use this exclusive service can order
their prints directly from WhiteWall by means of a personal link.
Photographers who prefer their prints to look as if they are straight out of the darkroom simply cannot ignore baryte
prints. This meticulous process provides far richer blacks and excellent tonal gradation in all parts of the print, com-
pared to conventional processes. Where other methods and their various surface finishes tend to reflect light in many
different ways, the familiar contrast and surface finish of baryte prints are far superior. Instead of being derived from
the pixel pattern, all details are reproduced by real silver in the same way as printing from negatives. Connoisseurs also
appreciate the extreme archival quality of baryte prints, proven time and time again by prints made up to 100 years ago.
The MTF curves of the Leica APO-Summicron-M 50 mm f/2 ASPH. clearly show that
the lens achieves outstanding values for both contrast and resolution of details.
MTF CURVES FOR APERTURE f/2, INFINITY
20
0
30 6 9 12 15 18 21
40
60
80
100
%
Sharp
Centre Corner
Detail
contrast
Detail
sharpness
Distance to
centre of
image [mm]
Unsharp
Leica M Monochrom prints have the same features as analogue baryte prints.
LEICA MONOCHROM PRINTS I 25