This new Leica M lens recreates the magic and beauty of a 1930s British classic

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DK-Optic has launched a rather beautiful new 50mm lens for Leica M-mount cameras, but rather than chasing the ultra-sharp, clinically perfect look we have come to expect from modern optics, the new Chiaro 50mm f/1.9 is looking firmly to the past. In fact, its inspiration comes from one of the most celebrated British lenses of the 1930s: the Dallmeyer Super Six 2-inch F1.9.

The Chiaro 50mm f/1.9 takes both its optical character and styling cues from that classic lens, while DK-Optic says it has rebuilt the concept using modern materials and contemporary manufacturing tolerances. The result is a manual-focus, full-frame Leica M-mount lens designed to deliver the softer tonal transitions, atmosphere, and natural sense of depth associated with vintage glass, rather than simply prioritizing outright resolution above everything else.

Things get particularly interesting when shooting wide open. DK-Optic says that around f/1.9 the lens produces a noticeably softer, more characterful rendering, before becoming progressively clearer and more defined as the aperture is stopped down. That gives photographers the ability to effectively change the personality of the lens depending on how it is used, which is exactly the sort of behavior that has made classic lenses so appealing to photographers in the first place.

There are also two versions to choose from, and they offer more than just a cosmetic difference. The Blue Coating model is designed to provide stronger color reproduction and contrast, while the uncoated version deliberately embraces the flare, glow, and light bleeding associated with much older optics. Both versions are limited to just 150 examples worldwide, making this a pretty exclusive proposition for Leica M shooters looking for something a little different from the usual modern 50mm. Each version is priced at $1,599.

Underneath that vintage-inspired exterior is a relatively simple six-element, four-group optical design, with an aperture range of f/1.9 to f/22 and a minimum focusing distance of 0.75m. Importantly for Leica users, the lens is coupled to the camera's rangefinder, while its compact 52mm-diameter, 46mm-long body weighs just 178g.

There are plenty of technically brilliant 50mm lenses available for the Leica M system, but the Chiaro 50mm f/1.9 is clearly trying to offer something different – a lens where imperfections, flare, softness, and character are not problems to be corrected, but part of the reason you would want to shoot it.

Check out our guide to the best Leica M lenses