The Leica M system is legendary, but it’s no secret that many Leica lenses come with a premium price tag.
The good news? You don’t need to spend a fortune to get stellar image quality and character. In fact, there are several excellent vintage and third-party M-mount lenses that deliver fantastic performance at a fraction of the cost.
Start by choosing your ideal focal length. Not sure where to begin? A 35mm or 50mm lens is a classic, do-it-all choice.
Here’s a curated guide to some of the best bang-for-your-buck M-mount lenses available today. All prices in US dollars.
Used Leica M-mount lenses can range from $200 vintage gems to $4,000+ for the latest ASPH glass. This guide focuses on options under ~$1,200, where quality and value intersect.
21 to 28mm (Wide)
| Lens | Summary | Price |
|---|---|---|
| TTArtisan 21mm f/1.5 | A modern ultra-fast wide with classic rendering and great build. Sharp in the center, dreamy edges wide open—perfect for creative use on digital. | 400 (new) |
| Voigtlander 28mm f/2 Ultron Type II | Sharp, compact, and modern. Excellent flare resistance and contrast, especially for the price. Great for street or reportage. Great alternative to the Summicron. | 650 (new) |
| Zeiss 28mm f/2.8 ZM Biogon T* | Stellar sharpness and microcontrast with minimal distortion. Slight field curvature, but optically excellent across the frame. | 600 (used) |
35mm (Classic!)
| Lens | Summary | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 II MC Nokton | A compact, fast lens with improved optical design over the v1. Classic rendering with modern polish. Small, fast, and full of character. | 650 (new) |
| Voigtlander 35mm f/1.7 Ultron Aspherical | Sharp, contrasty, and a hidden gem among Voigtlander lenses. Slightly larger than other 35s, but one of the best values optically. | 350 (used) |
| Zeiss Biogon T* 35mm f/2 ZM | Crisp, clinical sharpness with beautiful Zeiss microcontrast. Slightly large, but optically top-tier. Watch for focus shift. | 700 (used) |
| Leica 35mm f/2 Summicron-M ASPH (model #11673) |
The gold standard for 35mm. Razor-sharp, compact, and durable—but priced accordingly. Used copies in good shape are worth it. | 2300 (used) |
| Voigtlander 35mm f/2.5 Color-Skopar P II | Tiny and lightweight with surprisingly good image quality. Perfect for travel or minimal kits. | 410 (new) |
| Zeiss 35mm f/2.8 ZM C Biogon T | Ultra-sharp, compact, and contrasty. Ideal for digital or film with minimal distortion. | 650 (used) |
Honorable mention: 7Artisans 35mm f/2 Mark II ($300 new). Not optically perfect, but ultra-budget friendly with fun rendering.
40mm (Sweet spot)
| Lens | Summary | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Leitz Wetzlar 40mm f/2 Summicron-C | A compact, characterful lens made for the Leica CL. Sharp in the center and beautifully vintage rendering. | 750 (used) |
| Minolta 40mm f/2 M-Rokkor | Optically nearly identical to the Summicron-C, but often cheaper. An incredible value with excellent sharpness and bokeh. | 450 (used) |
50mm (All-purpose)
| Lens | Summary | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Voigtlander 50mm f/1.5 Nokton v1 Aspherical | Fast, characterful, and sharp when stopped down. A bargain for an f/1.5 lens with classic rendering.
Note: version II often goes on sale for just $700 (new) |
400 (used) |
| Canon 50mm f/1.8 LTM | A true budget gem. Sharp stopped down, with vintage glow wide open. Great if you want a compact lens with character. | 100 (used) |
| Zeiss 50mm f/2 ZM Planar T | Arguably the sharpest 50mm for M-mount at this price point. Clinical rendering and excellent contrast. Underrated. | 600 (used) |
| Voigtlander 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar | One of the sharpest M-mount lenses ever made. APO correction, modern build, and stunning resolution. | 1000 (new) |
| Leitz Wetzlar Summicron-M 50mm f/2 | The classic “cron” formula. Beautiful balance of contrast, bokeh, and size. Look for clean copies from the 70s–80s. | 1000 (used) |
| Voigtlander 50mm f/2.5 Color Skopar | Compact and sharp with excellent ergonomics. Slightly underrated among Voigtlander offerings. | 500 (used) |
| Leica 50mm f/2.5 Summarit-M | A sleeper lens in the Leica lineup. Sharp, clean rendering in a compact package. Often overlooked, making it a bargain in Leica terms. | 1100 (used) |
Honorable mentions:
- Zeiss 50mm f/1.5 ZM Sonnar ($750 used) – character-rich and fast, great bang-for-buck, if you can tolerate focus shift.
- Jupiter-8 50mm f/2 LTM ($75) – very inexpensive with dreamy bokeh, though QC and mount quirks exist. Soviet lens.
75mm+ (Telephoto)
| Lens | Summary | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Voigtlander 75mm f/1.5 Nokton | Insanely fast and sharp, with creamy bokeh. Perfect for portraiture with Leica or mirrorless. Watch out for focus accuracy wide open. | 1000 (new) |
| Voigtlander 75mm f/2.5 Color Heliar MC | Tiny, lightweight, and sharp. Great budget portrait lens for travel or casual shooting. | 300 (used) |
| Leitz Wetzlar 90mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M | Classic Leica telephoto. Smooth rendering and good sharpness. Perfect for film or adapted digital use. | 300 (used) |
| Leitz Wetzlar 90mm f/4 Elmar-C | Surprisingly sharp and compact. Often overlooked but perfect for casual telephoto shooting. | 200 (used) |
Honorable mention: 7Artisans 75mm f/1.25 ($470 new). A bit soft (and low contrast) wide open, but sharpens up nicely by f/4.
Rational Lens Kits
Here are three different lens kits assembled from the lenses above.
🔹 1. Budget Travel + Everyday Kit
Compact, lightweight setup ideal for travel, street photography, or daily carry—without breaking the bank. Total: ~$950
- Voigtlander 28mm f/2 Ultron II: Modern, sharp, and compact—ideal for street. $650 (new)
- Canon 50mm f/1.8 LTM: Inexpensive vintage lens with charm. $100 (used)
- Leitz Wetzlar 90mm f/4 Elmar-C: Lightweight telephoto for occasional reach, $200 (used)
Optional: Upgrade to Zeiss 50mm f/2 ZM Planar ($600 used) and drop the 90mm if you prefer a tighter 2-lens kit.
🔸 2. The “Classic Leica Look” Kit
Balanced, high-quality kit with timeless rendering, suitable for both film and digital M shooters. Total: ~$3,600
- Leica 35mm f/2 Summicron-M ASPH (#11673). Legendary all-rounder, contrasty and sharp. $2,300 used.
- Leitz Wetzlar Summicron-M 50mm f/2. Vintage Summicron with beautiful balance. $1,000 used.
- Leitz Wetzlar 90mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M. Smooth, classic rendering for portraits. $300 used.
Alternate: Drop the 90mm or swap in Voigtlander 75mm f/2.5 ($300 used) to keep things lighter.
🎨 3. Creative Character Kit
For shooters who love bokeh, glow, or dreamy rendering—ideal for portraits, artistic work, and adapting to mirrorless. Total: $2,450
- TTArtisan 21mm f/1.5: Fast, dreamy wide-angle with character. $400 (new).
- Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 II MC Nokton: Classic rendering with speed and charm. $650 (new).
- Voigtlander 50mm f/1.5 Nokton v1 Asph: Fast, glowy, and expressive. $400 (used).
- Voigtlander 75mm f/1.5 Nokton: Stunning bokeh, razor-thin DOF. $1,000 (new).
Optional: Stick to 35mm + 50mm only for ~$1,050 and still get plenty of character!
Tips: Choosing an M-Mount Lens
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Set your priorities: Are you after character, sharpness, size, or build quality? Some older lenses offer vintage rendering and glow wide open, while others—like Zeiss and Voigtlander lenses—are clinically sharp.
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Don’t fear LTM (L39) lenses: Many high-quality vintage lenses were made in Leica Thread Mount. With a simple adapter (Rayqual for high-quality, Fotodiox for budget), you can use these seamlessly on M-mount bodies.
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Avoid rangefinder incompatibilities: Fast lenses (f/1.1–f/1.2) or long telephotos may require precise calibration and can be tricky to focus accurately on film or digital Leica bodies. They’re easier to use when adapted to mirrorless.
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Used is often the sweet spot: Many lenses in this list shine when bought used. You’ll get better value, and many of these lenses were built to last a lifetime.
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Watch for sample variation: Especially with older or cheaper lenses (e.g. Canon LTM lenses), optical quality can vary. Buy from sellers with return policies when possible.
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