A look at the Leica Summicron Rigid

Ladies and gentlemen, allow us to introduce you to a very special lens even by Leica’s standards - the Summicron Rigid.

The Rigid comes from a time where the world was transforming. The Beatles had erupted into rockstars, psychedelics were legal (until their outlaw in 1966 in the UK), and Muhammad Ali boxed himself into the spotlight after giving Sonny Liston a hiding at the 1960s Rome Olympics. 

The version we’re reviewing is the second version, which is depicted by the wider scallops on the barrel and more modernised coatings. Consequentially the V2 is a smidge punchier with slightly reduced flare, though both are renowned for their beautiful characterful optics.

Technical Specs

7 elements in 4 groups

10 Aperture blades

Min. Focus 1 Meter

Filter size: 39mm

Weight: 250G

Aperture Range: F2 - F16

The name is somewhat genius. For those of you that aren’t Einstein, the 50mm Summicron V1 came with a collapsible barrel design, and the V2 came with a permanent, or ‘Rigid’ barrel... You’re welcome! 

In terms of the aesthetics and build quality, you get the usual tank-like build from Leica, with all components precision-made from brass. I’m yet to place it on an M body where it doesn’t look at home, in fact i’d go out on a limb and say this is the best looking 50mm ‘cron Leica have produced. 

Build quality is excellent, and usability is very high which directly relates to, at least for me, how frequently I reach for a lens. With a decent focus tab you can be confident you’re nailing focus for every exposure, though there is still a focus lock which is somewhat confusing. From my understanding the focus lock was designed so that screw mount lenses can be unmounted from screw mount camera bodies without putting pressure on the lens focus mechanism. With the M mounting system, this is redundant, yet the rigid still has a focus lock which is odd. That said, the button is easy enough to push out and becomes instinctual with use.

Aperture clicks are distinct and in full stops which is pleasant, making the rigid a lens that is  easier to shoot ‘by feel’. 

The weight of the lens is pretty perfect for an M body; resting on a table the camera isn’t pulled over by the lens’s heft as is the case with some beefier Leica lenses. 

Image Quality

Let's be truthful, this is the real reason you’re here. No one buys a classic Leica lens infatuated with the technicalities, they want to see the special sauce it can add to your photos. 

This lens has very interesting, slightly swirly bokeh, rich tonal gradation, and some glow around the highlights when shot wide open. The falloff is really quite delicate, almost buttery to the eye making for an excellent portraiture lens if you can live with the 1M close focus. 

Sharpness at F2 is enough in the centre but quickly drops around the edges which is very pleasing. The word I would gravitate towards is ethereal. When stopped down the lens sharpens right up like a modern equivalent, with the most bite around the F8 mark. 

Sample photos -

Leica M8, Rigid @ F2

More sample images to follow -

Buying advice

These lenses are difficult to find in good condition, and finding one without some sort of haze/fungus/cleaning marks is becoming increasingly rare, especially when you consider how soft the coatings were back in the 60s, so if you find one in good condition, be quick!

Something to consider is that they are mechanical things so can be stripped down and serviced, so if you do find your rigid needing a service then please do get in touch with us so that we can have it up and running as intended.

Who is this lens for?

This is not a tack-sharp, high contrast lens, but what it can offer you is nostalgia. The pictures made with it feel a little more personal than professional, they feel gentle, almost meaningful, and if you’re a 50mm shooter looking for a characterful lens for your Leica M body then I can’t recommend the rigid highly enough!