The Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH, particularly in its latest Floating Lens Element (FLE) iteration, represents the pinnacle of M-mount wide-aperture lens design. This lens, officially known by model numbers such as the 11726 (2022 version), is not merely an incremental update but a complete re-engineering focused on resolving the optical limitations that plagued high-speed lenses of the past. It embodies a philosophy where optical perfection is prioritized across the entire focusing range, a critical requirement for modern high-resolution digital sensors.
The retail price for the current black version sits approximately at $6,495 USD, though this figure is subject to regional taxes and market volatility, making the secondary market a complex but sometimes rewarding hunting ground for enthusiasts. This cost places it firmly in the category of specialized equipment, demanding justification not only through raw image quality but through its unique workflow integration and long-term value retention.
The Ingenuity of Floating Lens Element Design
The core technological leap of this lens is embedded directly in its name: the Floating Lens Element (FLE). This mechanism, put simply, is an optical group that moves independently of the main focusing group as the lens is focused closer. In traditional lens designs, optical aberrations, such as field curvature and spherical aberration, tend to become pronounced when moving from infinity to minimum focus distance, especially at wide apertures like f/1.4.
The FLE system actively compensates for these errors. By ensuring optimal element spacing and alignment at every focus position, the lens maintains high resolution and contrast from 0.7 meters to infinity. This is crucial because it effectively eliminates the problematic focus shift—the phenomenon where the plane of sharpest focus moves slightly backward or forward when the lens is stopped down. For M-system users relying on the rangefinder mechanism to focus wide open, the FLE ensures that the chosen focus point remains sharp, regardless of the shooting aperture.
What this translates to in the field is unparalleled performance consistency. When shooting wide open at f/1.4, which is when spherical aberration is typically at its peak, the lens delivers images where the micro-contrast (the subtle contrast used to define fine details) remains exceptionally high. This allows digital M bodies, especially those with high megapixel counts, to deliver a three-dimensional effect, often called "3D pop," that separates subjects cleanly from the background, even when the background is not excessively far away.
The 0.4-Meter Shift: A New Rangefinder Workflow
The 2022 update to the Summilux-M 35mm FLE introduced one of the most significant practical changes in M-lens history: a minimum focusing distance of 0.4 meters, down from the standard 0.7 meters common to all rangefinder-coupled M-lenses. This mechanical innovation allows for much tighter framing and increased subject magnification (reproduction ratio of 1:8.9), opening up new possibilities for portraiture and close-up street vignettes.
Crucially, however, the rangefinder mechanism itself remains coupled only down to 0.7 meters. This means that to focus between 0.7 meters and the new 0.4-meter minimum, the photographer must switch from the optical rangefinder to Live View focusing, utilizing the camera's rear display or an electronic viewfinder (EVF). This forces a conscious change in the signature M-system workflow, moving from the purely tactile and predictive rangefinder experience to a slower, more deliberate, and precise electronic focusing method.
The required shift to Live View for close focus effectively changes how photographers approach intimate distance shooting. It is no longer an instantaneous snapshot process but a considered, deliberate composition that uses focus peaking or magnification to nail critical focus. This hybrid workflow is an essential adaptation for the modern M photographer who desires the optical quality of the Summilux but must accept the digital tether for its ultimate close-up potential.
Defining the Modern Summilux Rendering
The optical rendering of the 35mm FLE is distinctly modern, representing a clear break from the classic, pre-ASPH Summilux lenses, which were celebrated for their soft, dreamy, and slightly glowing look wide open. The FLE, by contrast, is known for its clarity and sharpness even at f/1.4, delivering an image characterized by its high resolution and neutral color reproduction.
The "modern Summilux look" is best defined by the quality of its transition between the in-focus and out-of-focus areas, known as bokeh. Thanks to the improved 11-blade aperture in the latest version, the out-of-focus highlights remain circular when stopped down slightly, and the transition from sharp to blurred is characteristically abrupt. This sudden drop-off contributes heavily to the aforementioned 3D-pop effect, isolating the subject with clinical precision while still providing a smooth, non-distracting background blur, provided the background is not overly busy with fine detail.
This unique rendering, combining technical precision with a pleasing separation, is what differentiates it from hyper-sharp but optically flat lenses. While some enthusiasts might prefer the vintage rendering of the older Summilux versions for portraiture, the FLE offers maximum flexibility: ultra-high performance stopped down for landscapes and street scenes, and a distinct, sharp cinematic signature wide open.
Ergonomics and The Silent Conversation with the M-Body
A significant ergonomic improvement in the FLE II is the incorporation of a seamlessly integrated, slide-out lens hood. Unlike the large, separate, screw-in rectangular hoods of earlier versions, this compact solution drastically streamlines the lens's profile. This matters immensely on a rangefinder camera, where a large hood can severely obstruct the view of the framelines in the optical viewfinder (OVF).
The revised size and the built-in hood minimize OVF blockage, allowing the photographer to maintain a clearer view of the scene outside the frame, which is critical for anticipating action. Furthermore, the lens features the classic integrated focusing finger-tab, a hallmark of M-lens design. This tab allows for quick, instinctual focusing based on tactile memory rather than visual confirmation, promoting a fast, unobtrusive shooting style essential for reportage.
While the lens is physically larger than its predecessor, the 35mm Summicron, it remains remarkably compact for an f/1.4 lens in the full-frame format, weighing approximately 320 grams. The balance on a digital M body, such as the M11, is superb, making it a comfortable all-day street companion. The flow of adjusting the aperture ring and focusing tab becomes a fluid, non-verbal conversation between the photographer and the camera, allowing for quick adjustments without breaking visual contact with the subject—a feature that continues to justify the rangefinder's existence in the age of mirrorless cameras.
The Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 FLE II is more than a lens; it is a meticulously refined photographic instrument. Its unique FLE technology, improved close-focus capability, and defining modern optical character make it a definitive choice for any photographer seeking the highest technical and artistic output from the 35mm focal length on the M-system. For those who value consistency, sharpness, and that unmistakable three-dimensional image signature, this lens proves its pedigree with every frame.
If you are considering adding this masterwork to your collection, exploring the latest firmware updates for your specific M-body is highly recommended to ensure maximum compatibility with the 0.4-meter close-focus feature.