Best Collapsible 50mm Lens for Leica
In this article I’ll try to help you decide what is the best collapsible 50mm lens for Leica cameras (for your needs and taste*). We will cover vintage Leica screw mount 50mm lenses (Elmar, Summar, Summitar, Summicron) through to the latest compact collapsible Thypoch Eureka 50mm f2 lens for Leica.
Compact 50mm Lenses vs Collapsible 50mm Lenses
To my knowledge the smallest rigid 50mm lenses for Leica cameras are the Voigtlander Color Skopar 50mm f2 LTM and the Light Lens Lab 50mm f2 Elcan replica. All others are collapsible 50mm lenses and we’ll look at those next.
Collapsible 50mm Lenses for Leica Cameras
- Leica Elmar 5cm f3.5 (1925-1961) – YouTube Review
- Leica Summar 5cm f2 (1932-1939) – YouTube Review
- Leica Summitar 5cm f2 (1939-1953) – YouTube Review
- Leica Summicron 5cm f2 (1950-1962) – Not yet reviewed*
- Leica Elmar 50mm f2.8 (1957-1974)
- Leica Elmar 50mm f2.8 (1994-2007) – Not yet reviewed*
- Voigtlander Heliar 50mm f3.5 (2001) – YouTube Review
- Voigtlander Heliar Classic 50mm f2 (2006) – Not yet reviewed*
- Thypoch Eureka 50mm f2 (2024) – YouTube Review
- Soviet Leica Elmar 5cm f3.5 clones – YouTube Review
Leica screw mount (LTM) and Leica M mount
Many of the lenses covered in this article are Leica screw mount so you can enjoy these lenses on the vintage Leica iii cameras. (If you are new to Leica, Leica iii “Barnack” cameras are an affordable route into the wonderful world of Leica. I love them!)
Overview, Example photos and YouTube videos
For the mentioned 50mm collapsible lenses for Leica that I own, below is a quick summary for each lens. Included are sample images and the related YouTube review where you can find full information (+ more images).
Note* Click images to view full res and to see the camera/ lens/ film information
Leica Elmar 50mm (5cm) f3.5 LTM
The original Leitz Elmar 5cm f3.5 collapsible lens is the smallest 50mm lens ever made for Leica cameras. It is commonly found with vintage Leica iii cameras. If you can cope with a maximum aperture of f3.5 it’s worth owning one as the image quality can be excellent for the size.
Lens specs of the Leitz Elmar 5cm f3.5
- Smallest 50mm lens for Leica
- Good image quality (from clean copies of the lens)
- 1m minimum focus distance
- A36 push on filter size
Example photos with the Leitz Elmar 5cm f3.5
YouTube: Leica Elmar 5cm f3.5 review
Leica Summar 50mm (5cm) f2 LTM
Next was a milestone in Leica lens design. The Leica Summar 5cm f2 lens was the first fast 50mm lens from Leica. As with the Leica Elmar lens above the Leitz Summar can be found in nickel or chrome finishes. The Summar is my most recent addition and I’ve been really happy with my eBay purchase.
Lens specs of the Leitz Summar 5cm f2 LTM
- Most copies are collapsible, all have 6 aperture blades
- Uncoated lens from factory but some copies later coated
- Smallest and lightest fast 50mm collapsible Leica lens
- Sharp results possible especially in the centre of the image
- 1m minimum focus distance
- NOOKY HESUM close focus adapter for Leica iii cameras
- A36 push on filter size
Example photos with the Leitz Summar 5cm f2 LTM
YouTube Review: Leica Summar 5cm f2 LTM
Leica Summitar 50mm (5cm) f2 LTM
Following the Leica Summar came the Leica Summitar 5cm f2 (which was later replaced with the Leica Summicron 5cm f2 collapsible lens). The Summitar is heavier and bigger than the previous mentioned Summar. Early 10-blade versions like I use give the nicest bokeh if stopping down a little.
Wide open, the bokeh is the same from both versions of the Summitar and is the same as the earlier Summar. You can attach standard 39mm screw in filters to the Summitar lens if you have the Leica SNHOO filter adapter.
Lens specs of the Leitz Summitar 5cm f2 LTM
- 2 versions, 10 blade earlier model, 6 blade later version
- Early versions uncoated, later copies single coated (blue tint)
- Sharp results possible especially in the centre of the image
- 1m minimum focus distance
- NOOKY HESUM close focus adapter for Leica iii cameras
- Not A36, requires special conical shaped filters or Leica SNHOO adapter
Example photos with the Leitz Summitar 5cm f2 LTM
Download MrLeica Presets
YouTube Review: Leica Summitar 5cm f2
Leica Elmar 50mm (5cm) f2.8
The Leica Elmar name was used for 3 variants of the lens. The aforementioned f3.5 small version, the 1950s new faster f2.8 model (as I use) and then the later 1990s remake of the same lens called the Elmar-M. Unlike the original f3.5 variant the f2.8 is bigger and heavier but does now come with a more modern aperture ring control. As with earlier lenses mentioned, you can focus closer than 1m with the special goggles attachment.
Lens specs of the Leica Elmar 50cm f2.8
- Available in LTM and M mount (I have owned both)
- 15 aperture blades (Elmar-M only has 6 blades*)
- 1m minimum focus distance (Elmar-M focuses to 0.7m*)
- SOOKY-M close focus goggles for Leica M cameras
- E39 standard filter size (39mm)
Example photos with the Leica Elmar 50mm f2.8
More Content?
YouTube Review: Leica Elmar 50mm f2.8
Voigtlander Heliar 50mm collapsible lenses
In the 2000s Voigtlander released two limited run collapsible 50mm Heliar lenses. The 50mm f3.5 101 anniversary lens (supplied with a Voigtlander Bessa T camera) and the Voigtlander Heliar 50mm f2 classic. Both of these lenses can be hard to find. Voigtlander still make a rigid Voigtlander Heliar 50mm f3.5 in M mount.
Example photos with the Voigtlander Heliar 50mm f3.5 LTM
YouTube Review: Voigtlander Heliar 50mm f3.5 lenses
Thypoch Eureka 50mm f2
New for 2024, finally, a brand new compact collapsible 50mm f2 lens from Thypoch. Called the Thypoch Eureka, this lens is exactly what we need for a lightweight yet capable EDC lens (Every Day Carry). (Companies have been making bigger and faster 50mm lenses for the last decade so it’s refreshing to finally see a manufacturer make a small 50mm to fill the gap in the market). Based on the vintage Taylor Hobson 50mm lens the Thypoch lens looks great and performs well too.
Lens specs of the Thypoch Eureka 50mm f2 M lens
- Ultra lightweight (Aluminium “Lite” version – 120g) (Heavier “Classic” also available*)
- Great image quality from f2 onwards (across the image, not just the centre)
- Multi-coated lens (very flare resistant)
- 0.9m minimum focus distance (No closeup adapter available for M mount*)
- A36 push on UV filter and A36 push on lens hood included
Example photos with the Thypoch Eureka 50mm f2
Leica+Model Workshops
Thypoch Eureka 50mm f2 discount code*
When I made the review for the Thypoch Eureka lens I asked if that could generate a money off discount code for my viewers. If you visit their site and enter the code “MRLEICA” you’ll get money off your lens purchase. (The offer is only limited for 30 days so grab one here if interested).
YouTube Review: Thypoch Eureka 50mm f2
Soviet Leica Elmar 5cm f3.5 clones
If you’ve ever been hunting for cheap lenses for your Leica camera late at night you’ve probably come across Soviet copies of Leica Elmar 5cm f3.5 lenses. Some examples are Industar lenses (Industar-10, Industar-22, Industar-50). These lenses can be great value for money. See more details in the YouTube video linked below.
Leica SL/CL users – Get closer with your vintage lenses
One limitation of the above mentioned vintage lenses is most only focus to 1m distance. This can be a pain for portraits especially. Thankfully for some lenses you can use the special Leica close up adapter for Leica iii cameras or Leica M cameras.
What about Leica SL series cameras (and the Leica CL)? Thankfully because these cameras are L mount we can make use of the fantastic close focus helicoid adapter from Light Lens Lab. The LLL M-L adapter will let you get closer with all mentioned lenses and it works to infinity (unlike the 7Artisans close focus adapter*).
The Light Lens Lab close focus L-M helicoid adapter is now glued to my SL!
Claim your free eBook
Do you prefer compact rigid lenses?
If you rather have a compact rigid 50mm lens with a modern lens tab and 0.7m minimum close focus distance check out the Light Lens Lab 50mm f2 ELCAN. I love this lens!
Leica Elmar alternative for Kiev 4/ Contax RF
If you love the idea of a super small Leica Elmar 5cm f3.5 lens but you use a Contax rangefinder camera (or Kiev clone) this is for you. The Zeiss Tessar 5cm f3.5 is the smallest lens for my Contax iia and Kiev 4a rangefinder cameras.