The perfect 50mm - Leica Summilux on Sony A7S
Classic 50mm lenses were valued by the greatest contemporary photographers. The 50 mm focal length was a favourite of, among others, Henri Cartier-Bresson. Shooting with a 50mm requires compromises and tight framing. We often cannot show the whole scene and are forced to choose what is most essential. On the other hand, a 50mm can be used for almost anything: portraits, wide shots. If I had to choose a single lens to shoot an entire film with, my choice would fall on the 50 mm focal length. I have worked with many 50mm lenses, including the Canon 50mm 1.2L and the Sigma 50mm 1.4 EX DG HSM. All of them were truly excellent. However, the lens that is my favourite in the 50 mm class is the Leica Summilux 50 mm 1.4 ASPH.
The Leica Summilux 50 mm 1.4 ASPH stands out from the competition with its genuinely compact dimensions. On the A7S body it looks unassuming — a big advantage for filming and photography, especially while travelling. I have often found myself in situations where professional-looking equipment was not allowed in certain places, and photographers with Canon cameras were asked to leave by museum staff, for example. With a Sony A7S and Summilux nobody paid any attention.
For me, the Summilux is first and foremost about the unique and unmistakable character of the images it produces, especially at the maximum aperture of 1.4. There are sharper lenses than the Summilux — the Sigma 50mm 1.4 ART, for instance — but perhaps those very imperfections are what make it special. The centre of the frame is very sharp. The lens renders flares beautifully; I often enjoy shooting into the light with it. The bokeh is stunning, and so are the colours.
Below is a video shot on Sony A6500 + Summilux, along with a few stills taken with the A7S + Summilux combo. Readers can judge for themselves whether it is truly worth paying a premium for shooting with a Summilux. The lens is available to rent at our location for 199 PLN gross/day.
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