Boasting the title of the world’s first aspherical f/0.95 prime lens is the Leica 50mm f/0.95 Noctilux-M ASPH.

‘Breaking the optical sound barrier of lens speed, 1.1 has been the Holy Grail of lens design for many years,’ said Leica in a statement. ?Notably, the Canon 0.95 ‘dream lens’ was a bold attempt. However this was prior to modern aspherical lens technology.’

Leica bills the lens as the fastest (35mm camera system) aspherical lens.

The firm claims its new star delivers less distortion and vignetting compared to Leica?s 50mm f/1 optic.

Leica trumpets benefits including ‘a depth of field so shallow as to allow the most aesthetic portraits or detailed studies… low light becomes even less of a barrier’.

Hand assembled in Solms, Germany, it doesn’t come cheap, priced £6,290.