Summicron 50mm APO f2

The Leica 50mm APO-Summicron-M ASPH f/2.0 has been labeled “The best 50mm lens in the world”. I asked myself "how is it the best?" and when I came up short, I interviewed the designer of the lens himself, Mr. Peter Karbe. The story of the ridiculously normal looking $8,250 Leica 50mm APO-Summicron-M ASPH f/2.0 lens for the Leica M cameras is the vision of a perfect lens, dreamt of for years by the master lens designer Peter Karbe. He knew it was possible to make it, but unfortunately at the same time he also knew it would be impossible to demand from customers what it would cost. In this article I will try to define what is so wonderful about it, and I will also give the backstory as to how this lens became reality.