The Leica 75 Summicron ASPH Lens Review

The Leica 75 Summicron ASPH Lens Review

By Steve Huff

Geez, what a rough job I have 🙂 Here I am again with a beautiful Leica lens. I really do not know how they do it, but Leica can sure make a MEAN piece of glass (as in KICK ASS). The Leica 75 Summicron ASPH F2 on the full-frame M9 is one hell of a performer and yet another lens I would own if I had the funds to do so. *BUT* it’s a 75… A focal length that I admit is not my favorite on the M9. I kind of prefer the 90mm focal length, but this 75 Summicron does have one cool thing going for it and that is the close focusing abilities in comparison to other M lenses.

The Leica 75 Summicron focuses down to .7 meters, the same as the 50 Summilux ASPH and closer than the 0.9 of the 90 Summicron. What is cool about this is that you can focus closer than the 90 and fill your frame more with the 75 when shooting close-up subjects. This makes me think that this 75 is probably a better lens to own than the 90 Elmarit I currently own, but at $2,000 more, I cannot justify it for my needs. Also, I happen to absolutely ADORE my 90 Elmarit.

The 75 Summicron was sort of designed in the same way as the magical, already legendary 50 Summilux ASPH with a floating element design with Aspherical glass. The 75 Summicron APO is a masterpiece, according to many, and for a few years now I have heard the praises of this lens in the Leica circles. I wanted to see for myself what all of the fuss was about and as luck would have it, Leica dealer Ken Hansen offered to send me one to try out. Of course, I had to say Yeeeessssss!

The 75mm Choices for your M camera

I am not a complete stranger to the 75mm focal length. I used to own the Leica 75 Summarit, which is also a FANTASTIC little lens. It’s small, light, and for Leica, kind of affordable at only $1,695! I shot that 75 summicron like crazy on the M8 and was able to achieve some pretty stellar results. I always wondered how the Summicron could be any better. Faster, yes…but is it $1700 better? There are quite a few choices when it comes to buying a 75mm for the Leica M series, but which one is for you?

  • The classic Leica 75 Summilux 1.4 – This lens is a monster, but a beautiful one. It gives you a fast 1.4 aperture and the look that reminds me quite a bit of the original Noctilux F1 lens. This lens is no longer made new by Leica. So, if you want one, be prepared to pay a dear price for a used copy.
  • The 75 Summarit – This lens is the latest 75mm design by Leica and is also the most affordable. Coming in $1,695.00, this is a stellar lens and a less painful way to come into the Leica world. It does not come with a lens hood or leather case. Instead, it comes with a fabric pouch and the lens hood is an extra accessory. This lens has a maximum aperture of 2.5. My review of this lens is at my old site here.
  • The 75 Summicron – The one I am writing about in this review. The 75 Cron comes in at $3395.00 and is not cheap, but it is pretty much a perfect 75. No distortion that I have seen, superb color, ASPHERICAL lens elements, a floating element for accurate close focusing ability, and the build and feel that will last a lifetime.
  • Voigtlander 75 Heliar 2.5 – This is a budget 75, but many swear by this lens. It has a 2.5 maximum aperture much like the Leica 75 Summarit and its price is a low $339! But you will need this ADAPTER to use it on your M. Many say this is pretty close to the Summarit in performance but I find that hard to believe as the Summarit is pretty impressive.

The 75 Summicron Arrives

As already stated, the 75 Summicron ASPH F2 is a lens that comes in at $3,395.00, so I was curious to see how it stood up to the little Summarit. When the lens arrived, I tested it out on my Leica M9 and my first thoughts were, “Hmmm, this kind of has that 50 Summilux ASPH look.” It was obvious that Leica used what they learned from the 50 into this 75. It had a different feel (image quality wise) than the Summarit and had smoother Bokeh as well. The build of the 75 Summicron is top-notch Leica and a little bit better than the Summarit. As far as size goes, think of a longer and wider 50 Summilux ASPH.

Leica M9 and 75 Summicron at F2 – B&W Conversion with Silver Efex Pro

I couldnt wait to get out of my house and shoot this lens, but the weather was NOT cooperating with me. It was grey, cold, snowy, and on some days, just plain NASTY! I used to live in Arizona and this winter has really got me missing my old house in sunny Phoenix. I kept waiting and waiting for some sunshine or better weather and eventually I had to ask Ken if I could hold on to the lens for a while longer because before I reviewed it, I wanted to really shoot with it for a few weeks. Ken was cool and said, “Take your time! I have plenty here in stock.” What a great guy, huh?

So while I waited for the weather to improve, I decided to see how much the lens weighs on the handy-dandy HUFF-O-MATIC scale. The lens comes in at a nice 16 ounces.

Also, quite a few of you asked me to show how much of the viewfinder is blocked by the lens. Ask and you shall receive! Here is an image through the M9 RF and is what you will see if you have this lens attached. It doesn’t really even protrude into the 75mm frame lines (the inner dashes are the frame lines for a 75mm lens).

Yep, more snow…Leica M9 and 75 Summicron at F2 – straight from camera, no PP

As the days went on, I realized that I was not really going to get any decent weather, so I said, “SCREW IT!” I just headed out every day to see what I could find with the 75. As I shot with this lens, the one thing that really struck me was it’s quality wide open. It has a way of really making your subject pop, if that is what you want. For example, if you want to shoot a portrait at F2, your subject will stand out from a creamy, smooth background. This is one of the many strengths of the 75 Summicron. Since it is a longer focal length than the 50, you will get more shallow depth of field when wide open at F2.

This was shot at F2 and shows the smooth background rendering of this lens. It was cold and grey so the lighting was not ideal. Leica M9 at F2, No PP.

The rendering of this lens is modern, meaning it can be razor sharp at your focus point and the background blur, or “bokeh” is usually velvety smooth. The color is also superb like most modern Leica designs (when you have good light) but I guess it should be for $3300! The more I shot with the lens, the more it was growing on me, but I must admit that I still preferred my 90 Elmarit, as the 75 focal length seemed a little odd to me. It is sort of in an oddball area. A bit longer than a 50 and a bit shorter than a 90, but it was growing on me due to its color, sharpness, and out-of-focus rendering. So I continued to bring it out with me wherever I went.

The Bird House – Leica 75 Summicron at F2.8 – ISO 80

The Video

As usual, I made a youtube video of the lens so be sure to watch it if you have 5 minutes and 30 seconds to spare 🙂

Sharpness and Detail

When I owned the 75 Summarit, I thought that it was one of the sharpest lenses I have ever shot with. The 75 Summicron is right up there with the Summarit, but seems to draw in a bit of a different way. The images have a “rounder” feel compared to a “harder” feel from the summarit, if you know what I mean. So, how sharp is the Summicron wide open? Let’s take a look at an untouched out of camera image followed by a 100% crop. Remember, this image was shot at F2 and has no sharpening applied.

This is at F2, so the lens is wide open! This is what I just love about Leica glass. The performance is SECOND TO NONE. With a modern (and even a few classics) Leica lens, you can shoot wide open with no worries or concerns. The only thing you have to worry about is depth of field, so pick your aperture and shoot! The 75 Summicron is a contrasty lens, but not super contrasty. I found the Summarit to be a bit more on the contrasty side than the cron and this is a good thing. Sometimes a lens can have too much contrast, but this lens delivered the images in a way that felt “just right”.

Comnpared to the Zeiss 85 Sonnar

I have been lucky enough to have a Zeiss ZM 85 Sonnar F2 on hand for the last 3 weeks and it is also a gorgeous lens. I would say that if portraits are your thing, then the Zeiss 85 would be my preferred choice over this 75 Summicron. Why? Mainly due to the much gentler rendering of the Zeiss, as well as the color. For people shots, the Zeiss is magic IMO. Here is a quick comparison:

Leica M9 and 75 Summicron at F2 – No PP here. Colors are straight from camera.

and now the Zeiss 85 Sonnar at F2, straight from camera color

To my eyes, the Zeiss renders in a more forgiving way and also seems to produce the typical Zeiss warm color tone and 3D pop. The 75 Cron seems like it is a bit flatter here. Both of these lenses come in at the same price point and both are made in Germany. I think the Summicron is a little bit better built, but both are excellent in this area. So for people shots, I prefer the Zeiss. For everything else, I prefer the Summicron.

Bokeh

The bokeh of the 75 Summicron is fine in my book. It is somewhat smoother than the Leica 50 Summicron in most cases, and is closer to that of the 50 Summilux. Here are some examples:

All three images below are with the Leica M9  &  75 Summicron at F2 – No PP but #3 was converted to B&W.

As you can see, my wife participated in quite a few of these test shots. She had a few days off, so she went out with me to shoot. I thought it was great because it gave me a chance to shoot some portraits with the 75.

The 75 Summicron on the Olympus E-P2 with Adapter

I also took a few shots on the Olympus E-P2 with the 75 Summicron and adapter and found it to do very well. The only issue with me is the lens becomes a 150mm equivalent in focal length, and for me that is a bit on the long end for what I shoot. Still, I had to test it 🙂 The title image at the top of the review was shot with this lens and the E-P2, with the “Grainy Film” filter enabled. Here are a couple more…

Olympus E-P2 with the 75 Summicron at F2. I had some decent light on this day 🙂

Olympus E-P2 with 75 Summicron at F2. Just testing focus, bokeh, etc.

It seemed to perform well on the little E-P2, but again, it is just a bit on the long side for my tastes. I could see where this may come in handy when you need some tele, though. A 150mm “equivalent” focal length with an F2 aperture can make for a pretty nice setup in some situations. I still say the E-P2 sensor is not up to the task of fully taking advantage of the Leica glass though.

Pros and Cons

PROS:

  • The nicest 75mm lens I have ever shot with. It’s an APO ASPH lens, about as good as it gets 🙂
  • The slide out hood is nice to have. Just lift up and twist to lock.
  • The build is pure Leica.
  • Nice bokeh at F2.
  • The lens has excellent vibrant color.
  • Floating element for superb up close performance.
  • Compact size for a fast 75.
  • Focuses to .7 meters making it the closest focusing fast lens in the Leica lineup with more magnification than the 90 cron up close.
  • Nice leather pouch included.

CONS:

  • Price is steep at $3300, but in the Leica neighborhood that is average.
  • Slide out hood can be a bit stiff to pull out at times.

I really can not think of any “real” cons. Damn. Besides the price, there really are no faults with this lens. It was pretty much flawless in its performance, it is sharp starting at F2 with only minimal improvement at 2.8, has no noticeable distortion, and the color is very nice. This is a fantastic lens. Think of it as a longer F2 version of the 50 Lux. That is what it reminds me of.

The Bottom Line Conclusion

I had this lens for a few weeks and really enjoyed seeing what the lens could do on a Leica M9. It’s compact, it’s built to last, it has some of the best glass that you can pack into a lens barrel, it is sharp, contrasty, and delivers great all-around performance. You can shoot this lens wide open without any worries and it will always deliver with pure performance. The question you have to ask yourself is the same one I asked myself, “Do I like the 75mm focal length?” If yes, then the 75 summicron may be the best 75mm available new for any 35mm format.

The 75 Summicron is versatile. It does great for just about any application and while I liked the Zeiss 85 Sonnar better for portraits/people, I preferred the Summicron for just about everything else. I decided to stick with my 90 Elmarit for my long end and since I love my 50 Summicron so much, I realized that I did not need a 75. If I did, I would no doubt choose the 75 Summicron. I found ZERO faults with it. None. Nada. Zip. If I had loads of cash I would buy one just to have one. It is of the same pedigree as the 50 Lux ASPH, just in a longer focal length and somewhat slower F2. This is an easy recommend if you are in the market for a 75, but if you are not to keen on spending this kind of cash, the 75 Summarit is also a FANTASTIC little lens and just a tad slower at F2.5.

Either way, you really cannot lose, no matter what 75 you pick… A used 75 Summilux, a new 75 Summicron, a new 75 Summarit, or even a new Voigtlander 75 Heliar. But, if you want the best and are prepared to pay for it, then the 75 Summicron is technically the best there is in the 75mm arena for Leica.

Buying The Lens

If you want to buy one for yourself I can recommend a few places to get one. You can buy one from the guy that loaned me this one for the review, Mr. Ken Hansen. Ken is a great Leica dealer who has been around for MANY years. Great guy with old-school customer service (this is a good thing).

You can also shop at B&H Photo or Amazon for your 75 Cron. If you do decide to buy one, let me know how you like it and feel free to submit your images to my Daily Inspiration or if you have an M9, the Leica M9 Image Database! Thanks for reading. I hope you have enjoyed this real-world use report/review! Here are a few more images from my time with the Leica 75 Summicron and most these have all had some slight PP in one way or another. Usually it is vignette, color tweaks, and dodge/burn. The same tools used in the old, wet darkrooms. Enjoy 🙂

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36 Comments

  1. Steve, thanks for the review of the 75mm Cron. I’ve got this lens and have had great results on my M8. However I’ve had very disappointing results on my Leica M4-P, in other words, with film. Is the lens resolving more than the film? Kind regards, Des.

  2. Well, here I am ordering the 75 cron now. Your review tipped my decision in favor of the Leica. I’m going to shoot exclusively the next 2 weeks with only the 75. Your reviews are always enlightening!

  3. I agree especially when you say, “then why pay extra for it on a lens?”. In fact, the difference is often the wallet. If you have similar performance and subjectively pleasing, better spenders and have less what they like.
    The comparison to this need. This is my opinion.
    Kind regards

  4. Steve Huff says: “…. the Zeiss 85 are giving me better skin tones, color, 3D effect…”, but he forget to say that the 75 Summicron is an APO glass reference. The Zeiss it’s not APO, so the color, warm, are because optical correction less than Summicron 75. Then the personal choice are all rights, but the data optical lens of either talking enough, about the excellence of Summicron 75.
    Cheers.

    • That is because I do not and never have nor never will go over “data” of a lens. It is useless for real work photography. I show how each lens renders by using them for PHOTOGRAPHY. APO or not, it renders cooler, much cooler than the Zeiss and is less pleasing. If that is what APO brings to the table (according to you it does, I disagree) then why pay extra for it on a lens?

  5. Regarding the 75 Summarit vs. 75 Voigtländer issue, from what I have seen the results are close. The Voigtländer is so much more affordable that the slightest edge the Summarit perhaps has should not be much of an issue to anyone on a budget. If budget is no issue, might as well go for the best. And never let an LTM-to-M adapter hold you back. Srew it on once, be done with it.

  6. Hey Steve:
    I have thoroughly enjoyed your web posts and your cite. I started out on rangefinder 30 years ago–film, of course, Yashika–and they were the best images i every produced. In the last 10 years, I’ve done the Nikon think, first with the D1x then the D2x, and recently, the very expensive D2x shot craps. I was totally happy with the SLR, great images with almost no effort, but really need to get back to basics. The DSL has made me lazy as an amateur photog! I’m a lawyer with 4 kids (3 girls–so you know what that means re $$$) I’ve sold most of my Nikon lenses, and have invested in Leica RF. The M9 arrives on Friday, and I’m so freaking excited I can’t believe it!! Leaving for France in a few days, and I need to tune up before I go. I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your amazing energy, skill, experience and your insights, and your wife is really beautiful (and totally hot) too.
    Regards,
    Tim trichards@nrw-law.com

    • Thanks Timothy, glad you enjoyed the review and happy to hear you are getting an M9 Friday! I know the feeling…and its awesome. Enjoy it! As for the wife comment, she is now my EX wife. Looks aren’t everything, especially if you are lacking in just about every other area. 🙂 Im much happier these days anyway. Thanks and enjoy that M9!

  7. Steve, thank you for an excellent review of the 75/F2.0. I have an M9 and a 35/F2.0 and was seriously considering a 75/f2.0 or the 90/2.0 and now I’m even more confused as I have to consider the Zeiss as well. Portraits with that focal length will be my subject matter I think so I have to consider the latter. Can you tell me if the Zeiss is 6 bit encoded and also is it as sharp as the Leica?

    Keep up the good work

    Neil

  8. Hi Steve,

    First of all thanks for your great reviews – you and they were one of the reasons I now shoot Leica as well as Nikon and I must admit the focus is now tending toward Leica more and more.

    There has to be a “but” though!

    I bought the 75mm Cron around March with a Leica UV filter. The first time I removed the filter for cleaning the threaded holder came away with it. This screws into the front of the lens body and also holds the lens hood in place. It is only secured to the body by a drop of glue!

    Both my dealer in Germany and Leica were great and I got a replacement lens within a week – as it turns out the last one in stock. All would have been O.K. except that last week exactly the same thing happened with the replacement lens. This time I was not a happy bunny at all. My dealer is sending me a 50mm Cron to Scotland on loan and we will be going to the photokina in Cologne next week to drop the lens on Leica’s table.

    Long story, short question. Have you heard about this problem from anyone else? I accept that even at the premium end of the market things can go wrong – but twice? Seems more like a design and/or manufacturing fault to me.

    Look forward to hearing from you and best regards from the Highlands,

    Bill

    • Yes, I have had the same problem with the 2/75 Apo and Leitz fixed it, but it took more than a mounth net, without the transport.

      I like the lens very much, and I think it is much sharper than the Summarit I tested, so Stve may not be right that in terms of sharpness they are close to each other. And the Apo has no chromatic aberration.

      Steve’s assumption is right, the CV 75 is poorer than the Summarit. The CV is fine for its weight and price, but incomparable to the Leicas.

      Rudolf

  9. Hey Steve,

    You’re an amazing asset to photographers. I really appreciate all your research and commentary.

    Is the 75mm Cron asph comparable to the 90mm Cron asph in terms of bokeh, glow, and image quality? Are there any noticeable artistic differences aside from focal length and near-distance focusing?

    Keep up the great work. don’t know what we’d do without ya.

    Gene

  10. Thanks Steve for these wonderful reviews. As a new M9 body owner, I think the best combination for me wil be 28 cron and 75 cron. Just two lens solution as Ashwin said. Also easy to carry.

  11. Steve, and another one to the list of your daily readers. Wonderful site.

    I shoot with a 75 cron on the m8, and it’s a fantastic combination. When I switch to the m9, I might need to consider if I stay with it or go with the 90.

  12. Hi Steve

    I have the same lens and illy cup (by Rufus Willis)…
    ..and I love them both.

    Nice review

  13. I have this lens since december and it is one of my favorites for portraits. Best companion in a 3 lens combo together with a 35CRON and 50LUX in my point of view. Moreover, for a Rangefinder beginner, 75 is still usable in terms of scene selecting, 90 gets more difficult, and over 90…well

  14. Thanks for this review and nice to see some commentary about the 75mm focal length on the M8 too, that’s just what I’ve been pondering about.

  15. WOW!!! A picture HEAVY review – I LOVE IT!!

    As usual, fantastic work Steve. It never ceases to amaze me how you manage to post the exact pics I’d like to see (when considering equipment).

    The first image of your wife with the 75 ‘cron in her red jacket against the snow is just awesome – those colors blow me away.

    I also like the old home in and amongst the trees – a great image and one that horror authors would love on their book jackets I’m sure. Spectacular.

    Cheers
    Adam

  16. Hi Steve
    FANTASTIC site, reviews, image…everything. I became addicted to your site and plan to contribute somehow as soon as my job will let me.
    I am waiting for a brand new kit M9+35 Summicron ASPH, which is the crowning of an entire life of amateur photoghraphy with (D)SLR and compact cameras.
    Decided, for a number of reasons, that my 2nd M-lens shall be a 75 (and the 3rd will be for sure a Zeiss Biogon 25 ZM) and wandering which of the two summ’s…I am still in the middle after your review, and this is great and exciting because you did a so excellent job in assessing their characters that I want them all!!!! Unluckily I’m afraid my wallet will act as a decision maker… 🙁
    I’keep you informed. Thanks again from Italy.

  17. Thanks for the review Steve.

    I really want to see your opinion on 75lux. My kit now is 35cron ASPH/ 50 Noct 1.0/ and 75 Lux.

    I plan to change my 75Lux with 75 cron AA

    or I might want to buy 90 Summarit.

    I prefer compact lenses, and 75 lux is just too big for me.

  18. Thanks guys!

    Ashwin, it’s all personal pref really. I have been shooting both the 75 and 85 non stop the last three days and I keep seeing that the portraits I take with the 85 are giving me better skin tones, color, 3D effect, and are rendered in a more “rounder” way. The bokeh of the 75 may be smoother in some situations though. I love both of the lenses and each are quite different. I just posted a Zeiss 85 portrait in my M9 database. Thanks!

    Steve

  19. Excellent review. Just picked this lens up a few months ago….it is one of my new favs, and “pairs” really well with the 35 (lux, rit, cron, CV or Zeiss) very well for a versatile 2 lens combo. Something to think about….

    Agreed that this is a wonderful lens. Maybe it’s me, but in your comparison shots with the 85 mm Zeiss, the background blur of the Zeiss seems harsher, more geometric, to my eyes. I was wondering about that…maybe it was a focal lengh or subject distance/foreground/background thing, but to me, the summicron outperformed the zeiss on those 2 images…

    • Ashwin,

      You are right about the bokeh on those zeiss vs leica shots.. I found it a bit harsh and distracting.. Though honestly, if you focus on the lady, look at her pants, look at her jacket and look at her, you’ll notice a beauty in the Zeiss glass, that the Leica glass just isn’t capturing.

      So if you were to say shoot both lenses with the same girl against a solid wall, you would think the Zeiss superior. However, since that’s not the case in most real life circumstances, you have two options.

      1) Learn the Zeiss lenses weaknesses when it comes to bokeh and work around them. Shoot the subject against more simple, less backlit backdrops etc.
      2) Use the Leica lens and PP the subject to give him/her a bit more pop.

      For me, I think the Zeiss lens wins, but I really would need to learn the ins and outs of that lens really well before I was happy with the results. Find a way to manipulate the angle of my subject to set the background to my liking etc.

  20. Thanks Steve! That would be awesome to see the 75 cron and 85 sonnar compared for close focusing.

    John

  21. Nice review Steve!
    I’m one of those guys who swear by the Voigtlander Heliar 75/f2.5.
    Use it with a Milich adapter that comes with the recesses necessary for coding.

  22. Hi Steve,
    Thanks for the review and email!
    If you knew I came up with the question about the 75mm cron 🙂

    Bye.

  23. awesome, I’m astouned by the sharpness and 3D effect it produces

    BTW : Is there some other lens (not necessary for M mount) that give similar or even slightly similar 3D effect; however in a lower/ more reasonable price ?

  24. Hey John,

    No, the shot of my wife was not at the closest focus. I can do a quick side by side today between the 75 cron and 85 sonnar but I do not own the 75 summarit. I uses to but sold it a while ago. I’ll try to do a closest focus compare today and add it to this review. Thanks!

    Steve

  25. Hi Steve, Another great review. Some interesting points about the lens hood being a bit stiff. I find I like this as the hood is set firm and there is a no danger of it coming loose whilst shooting. So I see this as a Pro. For M8 shooters the 75mm focal length is ideal due to the crop factor = 100mm and pretty much close to the 90mm if you were using the m9 FF. I have had my 75mm Cron for a couple of weeks now and love the way it works for my Dog portraits. So far I have found my 75 Cron far easier to use than my Canon 85L 1.2 and so will now sell this and put it towards my M9 fund. Regards Steve.

  26. Hi Steve! I love your reviews, site, and last but not least your photography. I follow it all the time. I recently just received my M9 and am curious about the 75 cron’s closest focusing as you mentioned it is 0.7m. I was wondering if you could show a sample of how close you can get in comparison to the Zeiss 85 Sonnar and the 75 Summarit? Or is the last shot in this review of your wife as close as you can get for portrait work? Thanks John

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