Leica 90mm f/2 APO-Summicron-M ASPH (11884)

The Leica APO-Summicron-M 90mm f/2 ASPH (11884) is a manual-focus short telephoto prime for Leica M cameras, combining apochromatic correction and an aspherical element to deliver exceptionally low chromatic aberration at a fast f/2 maximum aperture.

Key Specifications

• Focal length: 90mm (prime)
• Maximum aperture: f/2 — useful in low light without sacrificing control
• Minimum aperture: f/16
• Aperture blades: 11 — supports a smooth, rounded bokeh
• Lens mount: Leica M — fits all M-mount rangefinders and adapters
• Minimum focus distance: 1 m
• Filter thread: 55 mm
• Weight: 660 g
• Autofocus: No — fully manual focus
• Image stabilisation: No

Who is the Leica 90mm f/2 APO-Summicron-M ASPH for?

This lens is built for photographers who refuse to compromise on optical quality and are happy to work with manual focus. Portrait shooters love it for the way the 11-blade aperture renders out-of-focus backgrounds — backgrounds dissolve rather than chop. At f/2, you have enough light-gathering to keep shooting into the evening at a wedding reception or on a dimly lit street without reaching for flash. The apochromatic design keeps colour fringing tightly controlled even when shooting wide open against high-contrast edges, which matters a lot when you're pixel-peeping a bride's veil or a subject's eyelashes. Street photographers working with mirrorless bodies via M-mount adapters will appreciate the compact rangefinder heritage of the mount, even if the lens itself is on the heavier side at 660 g. If you sometimes shoot close — tight environmental portraits, flower details — the 1 m minimum focus distance gives you enough working room to get personal without backing your subject into a wall. The Leica Summicron 90mm Pre-ASPH is a gentler, softer alternative if you prefer a more classic rendering, while the Leica Thambar 90mm f/2.2 goes even further toward a dreamy, soft-focus character. For those open to other mounts and slightly different focal lengths, a Zeiss 85mm f/4 is a calmer, more compact option — though you trade two stops of light and a tighter angle of view.

Buying a used Leica 90mm f/2 APO-Summicron-M ASPH

Picking up this lens second-hand through Leica-focused platforms makes strong financial sense: the optical formula remains unchanged, so a well-kept used copy performs identically to a new one. At Camera-tweedehands.nl, every lens is hand-inspected for optical and mechanical condition. We document any signs of use — such as oil on aperture blades or cleaning marks on elements — in our detailed inspection report. Each purchase comes with a minimum of 12 months warranty — check the variant listing for the exact term on your specific copy.