The special lens behind our best photographs.
Why a Wailea Photo image holds its color and detail even when shot straight into the sun.
The ten thousand dollar reason your photos can look amazing.
Clients can choose their sessions to be photographed with the Leica APO-Summicron-M 50mm f/2 ASPH. Lens — an apochromatic glass engineered to correct color fringing and hold true, accurate color across every wavelength of light. In Maui's harsh midday sun, or the last deep-red minutes before sunset, that correction is the difference between a photo that just looks nice and one that looks like it belongs in a magazine.
We sat down with Leica's legendary lens designer at the company headquarters in Wetzlar, Germany to discuss what makes his lens different.
"Lens performance on a very high level means no color aberration."
— Peter Karbe, Senior Managing Expert Optics and Platform, Leica Camera AG
A few frames, shot straight into the Maui sun.
A small sample of images captured through the APO-Summicron lens — true color and clean detail, even backlit by a Maui sunset.
What clients ask about this optic.
What does "APO" mean in a camera lens?
APO stands for apochromatic — a lens design that corrects color fringing across the full spectrum of light, so images stay sharp and true-color even in high-contrast conditions.
Why does this matter for photography in Maui specifically?
Maui's midday sun and deep-red sunset light are exactly the conditions that cause ordinary lenses to show color fringing and softened detail. An apochromatic lens holds accurate skin tones and sky color even when shooting straight into the light.
Is the Leica APO lens used for every Wailea Photo session?
Clients can choose to have their session photographed with the Leica APO-Summicron lens. Mention your interest when you book so we can confirm it for your session.
Can I request the Leica APO lens for a specific session type?
Yes. It can be requested for sunrise, sunset, family, couples or wedding sessions — anywhere true color and clarity in bright or backlit light matter most.
Does requesting the Leica APO lens change the price of my session?
Lens selection is discussed as part of session planning. Let us know your interest when you book and we'll confirm the details for your specific session.