Large aperture
Leica’s Summicron 50 f2 lens is already perfect, but its premium version, the Summilux 50 1.4, has a wider aperture that not only lets in more light, but also creates pleasing bokeh. If you want to take beautiful photos with a wide aperture, the Leica Summilux is undoubtedly a good choice. For many photographers, wide-aperture lenses offer many creative possibilities that narrow-aperture lenses cannot.
Old lens life
Old Leica lenses retain their value and don’t age. If you buy a Leica Summilux 50mm f/1.4 E46 lens and find that you don’t use it much, you can resell it and get most of your money back. Not only has the price of this lens not gone down in recent years, it has actually gone up.
street photography
The Leica Noctilux 50mm f/0.95 ASPH is a large and expensive lens that’s sure to attract attention and put a strain on your neck when you walk around with it. Although it is an excellent lens, I rarely use the Noctilux for street photography. I would rather use the Summilux 50 e46, which is too small, smaller than the Summilux 50 1.4 asph and close to the size of the Summicron 50 f2, which is very hidden in street photography and does not easily cause a feeling of oppression.
Version
The pre-ASPH E46 is the version between the early Summilux E43 and the current ASPH. The E43 and E46 share the same optical design by Walter Mandler. However, the minimum focusing distance of the E43 version is 1 meter, while that of the E46 is 0.7 meters. summilux 50 1.4 ASPH version designed by Peter Karbe.
In the end
When someone asks me to recommend a Leica lens, I usually start by asking about their budget. Some are buying their first Leica lens, some already have a Leica Summicron and want to upgrade. I usually don’t recommend this lens, because only someone who really knows Leica lenses can realize how good the E46 is, it’s the last non-apsh lens in the summilux lens line, it’s a premium version of the summilux E43, Leica gave it a Gorgeous exit.
Production period: 1962-2004 Code: 11114(black) bayonet, 11868 (black anodised), 11856(silver chrome), 11869(titanium) from 1995, 1 1621 V-Summilux, screw mount Serial#:1,844,001-n/a Total production: na Maximum aperture: 1: 1. 4 Focal length(nominal): 50mm Angle: 45 Minimum distance: 100cm. later 70cm Weight: 360-275/380 grams Filter: E43. later E46
