Leica has just done what it does best: it took something technically perfect, painted it the color of mud, and charged the price of a solid used family station wagon for it. And you know what? We still want it. The new Leica Safari and Glossy Black lens series is not just optics; it's a statement that you love mechanics, history, and that you don't mind your expensive gear shining like a brass candlestick as it wears down over time.
Let's be honest. Most of these lenses will never see a real safari, let alone the front, for which the original olive-green color was developed in the 1960s. Original models Leica M3 and M4s in this color were survival tools. Today these new lenses – Leica Safari – Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH., Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. and the Summicron-M 28mm f/2 ASPH. – the ultimate fashion accessory for the photographer who wants to stand out in the urban jungle precisely by "hiding".
But if we put aside the cynicism around Leica Safari, the thing under the hood is fascinating. Leica didn't just stop at painting the aluminum. No, that would be too simple and too cheap. These lenses are made from solid brass, machined to tolerances that would embarrass even the engineers at NASAThe olive-green finish is resistant to scratches, solvents, and chemicals, meaning the lens will survive you, your kids, and probably the next ice age.
The key innovation in the Safari “trio” series is not just the color. The engineers in Wetzlar have finally listened to complaints and upgraded the focusing mechanics. These lenses have an extended close-focusing distance. While classic M lenses stop at 70 centimeters, these new models can get much closer to the subject. It’s the equivalent of adding a turbocharger to a naturally aspirated engine – suddenly you have room to maneuver that you didn’t have before.
Glossy Black: The Art of Decay
If the series Leica Safari Designed for those who pretend to be invisible, the Glossy Black Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 Classic is for those who understand wabi-sabi – the Japanese aesthetic of transience. Or simply those who are wealthy enough to find wearing it sexy.
This is the “black” that collectors dream of. It’s not anodized aluminum that stays a dull black forever. It’s a shiny polish on brass. Why is this important? Because that polish will wear off with use. At the edges where your fingers turn the focus ring and where the lens rubs against the bag, the golden brass will start to shine through the black.
“With Leica, you don’t just buy a lens. You buy a canvas that you will slowly reveal through your use over the next thirty years.”
This is a phenomenon known as “brassing”. With other brands, this would be a complaint. With Leica, it’s a feature you pay a premium for. And to be honest – it works. A lens with this patina looks like a war veteran with a thousand stories behind him, even if the only “battle” he’s seen is the fight for the last croissant in the bakery.
Technical perfection under a retro dress
Don't let the mid-century look fool you. Optically, these are beasts. We're talking about the Summilux and Summicron lines, which in Leica parlance means f/1.4 and f/2.0 apertures. These are "fast" lenses.
- Luminous intensity: With f/1.4 you can shoot in a windowless basement and still get bright images. The bokeh is so creamy you could spread it on bread.
- Production: The focus rings have that characteristic Leica damping. Not too hard, not too soft. It's exactly how it should be. Like the steering wheel in an old but fully restored Jaguar E-Type.
- Details: The red and white engravings on the scales are hand-cast. Yes, someone in Germany sits and applies paint to those grooves with microscopic precision.
All models are, of course, optimized for the latest high-resolution sensors, like those found in the M11-P. This means you get sharp contrast and edge-to-edge resolution, without the chromatic aberrations that plague cheaper optics.
Conclusion: Irrational love
Let's be real and honest. The prices are absurd. The Summilux-M 35mm Safari costs 6,795 $ (approx. €6,300). For that money you can get a used car, three top-of-the-line Japanese lenses, or a bathroom renovation. The glossy black 50mm costs “only” 4,595 $, which seems like a special offer in this universe.
But to measure Leica Safari Through the prism of price-performance ratio, it's like complaining that a 10,000-euro mechanical watch keeps less accurate time than your phone. You're missing the point.
You buy these lenses for the feel. For the weight of the brass in your hand. For that quiet click when the aperture moves. And yes, also for that special feeling when you pull it out of the bag and know you're holding the pinnacle of optical engineering, wrapped in the most beautiful packaging in the world. Is that snobbery? Maybe. Is it the best photographic experience in the world? Without a doubt.
If you have the money and are looking for something that will retain its analog soul (and value) in a digital world, this is it. Just don't be surprised if you find yourself looking after the lens more than you would your own children.
What do you think? Is the "patina" and brass worth thousands more, or is modern plastic and carbon quite enough? Write your opinion in the comments!
