Sound:

I love the satisfying sound of turning the aperture ring on my Leica Rigid lens. It’s a small, clean sound that reminds me of the snap of a flower stem. Unfortunately, this sound cannot be heard in later Leica lenses.

Beauty:

In my opinion, the Leica Rigid is the most beautiful 50mm lens in the world. Sadly, some things cannot be replicated in newer models.

On CMOS and CCD:

The Leica 50mm f/2 Summicron Rigid is an exceptional lens that performs well on both film and digital cameras. On CMOS and CCD sensors, it produces a gentler rendition and lower contrast.

Condition:

Finding a Leica 50mm f/2 Summicron Rigid in good optical condition is no easy task. It’s rare for a lens of this age to be free of damage.

Price:

I was fortunate to find a 50mm f/2 Rigid at a very reasonable price, but its value has doubled in the last 5 years. If you’re on a budget, the Summicron-M 50mm V4 is a viable alternative. However, the Rigid is still a good second choice.

Rigid vs V4:

The Rigid is said to be sharper than the collapsible versions, but I now exclusively use the Summicron-M 50mm V4 as my 50mm lens. The V4 has better coatings and may even be sharper.

Rigid DR:

The Rigid DR is an excellent lens, but it’s a bit heavy. I found it to be best suited for black and white photography, while the V4 is amazing for color photography. However, I don’t recommend the Rigid DR, as it won’t be compatible with a digital Leica camera.