Leica Expands Its M-Lens Lineup with New Safari Editions and a Classic Glossy Black Variant
Leica’s latest announcement rolls in with that familiar mix of craftsmanship and quiet swagger the brand has earned over a century, and honestly, it’s hard not to pause over these new variants a little longer than planned. The company is adding four fresh takes on its iconic M-Lenses, three of them stepping confidently into the coveted olive-green Safari finish and one wrapped in that glossy black paint that Leica collectors treat almost like a living material. The lineup includes the Summilux-M 35 f/1.4 ASPH., Summilux-M 50 f/1.4 ASPH., and Summicron-M 28 f/2 ASPH. in the Safari look, along with a Summilux-M 50 f/1.4 from the Classic line dressed in high-shine black. It’s the sort of release that feels less like new gear and more like Leica nudging its own legacy forward.
The Safari lenses bring back a design tradition that dates all the way to Leica’s military-influenced M cameras of the 1960s. The matte olive-green finish gives them this blend of utilitarian durability and understated elegance—almost like they were meant to be thrown in a canvas bag and taken into the field, even though most will probably end up on collectors’ shelves. Little touches carry a lot of personality here: the silver-chrome brass tab, the crisp white-and-red markings, the rugged finish that pairs naturally with the M11-P Safari. And despite the special looks, these aren’t “collector compromises.” They offer the same optical performance as their standard counterparts, including Leica’s more recent extended close focus capabilities, making them practical lenses to actually shoot with rather than just admire.
Then comes the glossy black Summilux-M 50 f/1.4, which feels almost like Leica tipping its hat to its own mythology. The high-gloss paint is intentionally old-school, the kind that develops character with every year of real use—tiny scuffs, exposed brass, and that patina Leica people treasure because it’s so personal. The lens itself maintains its spot as the quintessential normal Summilux, known for its fluid bokeh and that unmistakable Leica rendering that floats between contrast and softness. The round hood in matching glossy black completes the look, making the whole setup feel like it stepped out of a perfectly preserved M3 era camera bag.
Pricing, unsurprisingly, lands in familiar Leica territory but remains consistent with past special editions. The Summilux-M 35 f/1.4 ASPH. Safari comes in at $6,795, the Summilux-M 50 f/1.4 ASPH. Safari at $5,495, and the glossy black Summilux-M 50 f/1.4 at $4,595. All three are already shipping through Leica Stores, the Leica Online Store, and authorized dealers. The Summicron-M 28 f/2 ASPH. Safari joins the lineup a bit later—February 12, 2026—priced at $5,995. By then, early adopters will probably already be showing off theirs on Instagram with the inevitable “Safari squad” tags.
These aren’t lenses meant to blend quietly into a kit. They’re objects with presence, equal parts photographic tools and design statements. Leica knows exactly what it’s doing with these variants, appealing to shooters who genuinely use their gear and collectors who treat the patina as part of the story. Either way, this small family of four feels destined to become future classics in their own right, the kind that people hunt down years later when the finish has aged beautifully and the brass starts showing through just enough to make each lens unmistakably unique.