Leica Camera AG has added a new telephoto lens to the portfolio of extremely fast prime lenses for the Leica M-System. The Summilux-M 90 mm f/1.5 ASPH provides photographers with a whole range of creative opportunities such as portraits with extremely shallow planes of focus – either as precisely isolated subjects or as transitions from perfect sharpness into wonderfully soft, out of focus backgrounds.
The optical design of the lens sets new standards and already delivers exceptional performance with the aperture wide open. In addition to the moderate telephoto length for portraiture, the high speed of the lens makes it idea for available light photography and, thanks to its short close focusing distance, also for uniquely detailed close-up compositions.
The optical design of the Summilux-M 90 mm f/1.5 ASPH is extremely complex and features eight elements arranged in six groups, two elements of which are asphericals made from special glasses. A floating element – only achievable with enormous effort in such compact lenses – ensures that the outstanding optical performance of the lens is maintained at all focusing distances.
The almost unavoidable effects such as vignetting and distortion generally encountered in such fast lenses play practically no role at all. The integrated lens hood of the Summilux-M 90 mm f/1.5 ASPH can be quickly and easily pulled out and locked with a twist to provide optimum protection against stray light and reflections.
A closest focusing distance of one metre and a reproduction ratio of 1:8:8 make the Summilux-M 90 mm f/1.5 ASPH an ideal lens for portrait photography. Its high speed for this focal length fully exploits the potentials of the M-Bayonet mount. It is a close relation of the Noctilux-M 75mm f/1.25 ASPH in terms of optical design and constriction and offers a similar, extremely shallow, depth of field that is only around half the depth of that of the Leica Noctilux-M 50 mm f/0.95 ASPH.