7Artisans' ultra-fast manual-focus 50mm for Leica M — f/1.1 at Chinese budget pricing.
The 7Artisans 50mm f/1.1 is a manual-focus ultra-fast prime for Leica M-mount, providing an extraordinary f/1.1 maximum aperture at a fraction of the cost of Leica's own Noctilux. It targets photographers who want extreme low-light capability and bokeh without the Leica price.
Optically soft and dreamy at f/1.1 — dramatically improving by f/2. The lens is about creative effect rather than clinical sharpness. Significant vignetting and aberrations wide open create a distinctive vintage look. Manual focus with M-mount rangefinder coupling.
Leica M mount with 55mm filter thread. Approximately 500g — heavy for an M-mount 50mm. All-metal construction with brass internals. 13 aperture blades for smooth bokeh. Minimum focus distance 70cm. Rangefinder coupled.
Available used at budget to mid-range prices. The Leica Noctilux 50mm f/0.95 costs 50x more. This lens provides the ultra-fast experience at a tiny fraction of the cost. Focusing at f/1.1 with a rangefinder is extremely challenging. A fun creative lens for M-mount experimenters.