New: Leica Summicron-M 28 f/2 ASPH.

[setuporg]

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Leica lenses are not the ones that are individually calibrated for rangefinder.  So it’s either all will be unsharp or none (within expected sharpness), right?

[hmzimelka]

18 hours ago, setuporg said:

Leica lenses are not the ones that are individually calibrated for rangefinder.  So it’s either all will be unsharp or none (within expected sharpness), right?

The lenses are calibrated to a standard. The cameras are calibrated to a standard. The two should be accurate when paired together. This is the theory. Reality is a little different.

Not all lenses can be the same. Focus calibration is one thing, optical assembly and alignment of individual lens elements contributes to variation between lenses. This is why one lens can have more field curvature than another, or one can show more aberrations, etc. Usually, building tolerances are small enough for variations to be indiscernible by end users. However, many of us know that Leica's production can vary greatly.... to this date I haven't used a Summilux 50mm ASPH that didn't vary in some form or other to the next Summilux 50mm ASPH. I've tried three now, and not one of them was the same. Still not a big sample size, but I have experienced less variation with 300-1000 USD Nikon lenses than with 4000+ USD Leica lenses.  In fact, most new Leica lenses I've tried to buy over the last two years had to be returned or were rejected since there was either a problem with optical asymmetry, blatantly obvious focus calibration issues, or some other issue like uneven focus resistance, missing paint in the engraved lettering, etc

Of the several M11 cameras I've used to end up with one that works properly, all of them had surprisingly good and consistent focus calibration. Enough to get sharp images with a 50mm f/1.4 or 75mm f/1.5 lens. This was not my experience with the M9M series of cameras, where focus calibration was all over the place. 

 

[Jewl]

vor 2 Stunden schrieb hmzimelka:

The lenses are calibrated to a standard. The cameras are calibrated to a standard. The two should be accurate when paired together. This is the theory. Reality is a little different.

Not all lenses can be the same. Focus calibration is one thing, optical assembly and alignment of individual lens elements contributes to variation between lenses. This is why one lens can have more field curvature than another, or one can show more aberrations, etc. Usually, building tolerances are small enough for variations to be indiscernible by end users. However, many of us know that Leica's production can vary greatly.... to this date I haven't used a Summilux 50mm ASPH that didn't vary in some form or other to the next Summilux 50mm ASPH. I've tried three now, and not one of them was the same. Still not a big sample size, but I have experienced less variation with 300-1000 USD Nikon lenses than with 4000+ USD Leica lenses.  In fact, most new Leica lenses I've tried to buy over the last two years had to be returned or were rejected since there was either a problem with optical asymmetry, blatantly obvious focus calibration issues, or some other issue like uneven focus resistance, missing paint in the engraved lettering, etc

Of the several M11 cameras I've used to end up with one that works properly, all of them had surprisingly good and consistent focus calibration. Enough to get sharp images with a 50mm f/1.4 or 75mm f/1.5 lens. This was not my experience with the M9M series of cameras, where focus calibration was all over the place. 

 

But thats the problem. I do not want to pay 4k+ for sth not working perfectly…

or handing in a new lens for calibration. For my M11 I needed to hand in both body and lens for calibration which was quite cumbersome. If I need to go through this again for another lens…

[mmradman]

On 12/3/2023 at 4:34 AM, hdmesa said:

I'm concerned about these sharpness comments. The previous 28 Cron II is insanely sharp at f/2, sharper than the 35 Lux FLE II and 28 Lux. I wonder if there is a rangefinder calibration issue with those reporting it as less sharp than expected.

Rangefinder calibration strikes again. Unless shooter have perfect vision (younger person) or brackets focus getting sharp image with fast lens is going to be problematic.

I have Summilux 28, I can vouch for the lens being sharp at f1.4 not so much for my eyesight when using RF, diopter/magnifier helps but than I loose framelines.

[ColdShower]

I own the 35 and 50 Summilux New Version and while the idea of close focus is amazing the reality is that the only way to accomplish that on an M body is with a Visoflex. Either Leicas has some amazing plans for the m12 (hybrid range finder cough cough) or they really think that using the screen or visoflex is cutting edge technology as they are claiming with this new designs. 
 

Other than the close focus I did not see any difference in image quality vs the older formula of the Summilux.

My go to 28mm is the prior 28 summicron. And Elmarit. Manageable lenses for the small M bodies. 
 

 

[nussbusch]

With every new lens I do a quick test on stars to check for decentering, infinity focus and so on... Here is my equal exposure sequence (untracked, visible on the last f/5.6 pic already) with 2.0, 2.8, 4 and 5.6 f-stops on my M11M. No positive surprises for me with vignetting and corner performance. Centre to mid great from the beginning. No corrections applied!

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/udactosmng2piaqwb8994/m11m_cron28.zip?rlkey=ooylt1h353kr9h8x0v99y43wp&dl=0

 

[la1402]

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On 12/5/2023 at 7:14 AM, ColdShower said:

I own the 35 and 50 Summilux New Version and while the idea of close focus is amazing the reality is that the only way to accomplish that on an M body is with a Visoflex. Either Leicas has some amazing plans for the m12 (hybrid range finder cough cough) or they really think that using the screen or visoflex is cutting edge technology as they are claiming with this new designs. 
 

Other than the close focus I did not see any difference in image quality vs the older formula of the Summilux.

My go to 28mm is the prior 28 summicron. And Elmarit. Manageable lenses for the small M bodies. 
 

 

I also have both Summiluxes and find that it also works using the EVF, which i often find more practicable than the Visoflex as getting so close to the subject with your head is not always convenient anyway. Of course you need to pay even more attention to camera shake, if you don't have a tripod.

[sdk]

On 12/8/2023 at 6:42 AM, nussbusch said:

With every new lens I do a quick test on stars to check for decentering, infinity focus and so on... Here is my equal exposure sequence (untracked, visible on the last f/5.6 pic already) with 2.0, 2.8, 4 and 5.6 f-stops on my M11M. No positive surprises for me with vignetting and corner performance. Centre to mid great from the beginning. No corrections applied!

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/udactosmng2piaqwb8994/m11m_cron28.zip?rlkey=ooylt1h353kr9h8x0v99y43wp&dl=0

 

Looks good. Very minor coma wide open, getting better with each stop down. I think I may sell off my previous version 28mm Summicron and my 28mm Summilux for this one. The Summilux is a disappointment for me with its huge field curvature, and poorly controlled secondary color. The 2016 redesign of the Summicron is very good, but I would love the close focus capability of the new version.

[nussbusch]

 

Yes, the much improved minimum focus distance is a real game changer as it allows for great environmental portraits with nice background blur! 28 f/8, M11M

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[sdk]

I just got my new Summicron 28mm, and it's every bit as sharp on my M11 at 0.7M as the 2016 version I have, per some boring tabletop testing I did. Here's a snapshot of a frozen puddle from a hike in Maine today, on Flickr, shot at below the 0.7M FR limit focused with the EVF on my M11.

Icy Puddle, Tunk Mountain, T10 SD, Maine, 2023

[Steadimann]

I went to local Leica store to test the new 28 Summicron and Summilux. Spent couple of hours doing side by side pictures in various situations and in the end I decided to go with Summilux. I do not mind extra 100gr of weight, overall it does not make much difference and what's most important - Summilux felt more natural while Summicron was flawless. Summicron was so sharp at 2.0 that it felt like image had way more sharpening  Yes, Summilux suffers from aberations alot, but not that really a problem for me.

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[nussbusch]

Barcelona with M11M and the new cron 28mm

 

 

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[Jewl]

What I really find strange is that there is not a single video/review on this new lens out there! Would have loved to see the typical Leica YT/influencer guys talking about it and comparing to the existing ones. Seems not a very interesting update for most of the photogs!

[Smudgerer]

Ok, heresy I know and maybe I will burn because of it........But I tried out the new Summicron 28/f2 last week and sort of side by side compared it with my new VM Color Skopar 28/2.8 and to be honest the differences between the two lenses were not very noticeable at all, even compared with the 28mm Elmarit that I also own there was no real-world difference for me...............I love the small footprint of the VM Skopar, lack of any VF blockage if used without it's supplied stubby hood and ok there is the f2-f2.8 difference but in real-world usage that's not a big deal, maybe the "bokeh" set will see a difference but mostly that's pretty much meaningless with a 28mm unless you are talking Summilux apertures. On the camera the new 28mm Skopar takes the biscuit for me.

[nussbusch]

vor 6 Stunden schrieb Jewl:

What I really find strange is that there is not a single video/review on this new lens out there! Would have loved to see the typical Leica YT/influencer guys talking about it and comparing to the existing ones. Seems not a very interesting update for most of the photogs!

Its simple. optics are more or less the same, the much closer MFD makes the big difference and allows for quite different applications. The integrated sunshade is also nice. No YT videos needed.  I love it on the M11M.

[Jewl]

vor 7 Stunden schrieb nussbusch:

Its simple. optics are more or less the same, the much closer MFD makes the big difference and allows for quite different applications. The integrated sunshade is also nice. No YT videos needed.  I love it on the M11M.

But why is still everyone making videos of „my M10 - a long term review“? No one cares and there are still tons 😉 

therefore, no big changes does not mean that the people who love to talk, would not talk about it!

but yes anyways, for me it is clear whats new but still…

[tappan]

Hello.
So has anybody else (other than the other posters on this thread) used this lens? Maybe comparing it with the newer elmarit 28 and/or the previous summicron?

thx.

Mark

[lecycliste]

On 10/26/2023 at 3:14 PM, overexposed said:

i dont think this means that a EVF M is coming, simply alot more people use the visoflex now.

 

and i wouldnt think this brings down the prices of the 0.7 lenses. this makes them even more antique

i would really wish leica would release a 21mm summilux with CF soon the bokeh wide open at 0.7cm is fine but there is so much more potential

It’s not a Summilux, but I recently picked up a 21/2.8 Elmarit-M (I) that gives me close focus to 40cm. (Not all of them do - after approximately S/N 3000000 they went only as close as 70cm.) It has the classic Mandler rendering - centrally sharp wide open but not bitingly ASPH with smooth background blur, a rendering I like very much. And there’s that 40cm minimum focus, something I like a lot for travel - restaurant food, wildflower groupings, interiors, and automobile details among other things. It’s a small lens compared to the 21/2.8 Elmarit-M ASPH and any of the wide Summilixes. 

[Tseg]

It is interesting revisiting this thread over a year after launch that many have found the 28mm Summicron ASPH III (close focus) a bit of a yawn.  I'm relatively new to Leica, getting the Q3 43 at launch early in 4Q24, then soon after got the M11-D at launch.   At the time I was debating whether to add a Q3 (28) or get an M and make a 28mm my first M lens.   I opted for the latter, and got the 28mm Summicron close focus.   It is interesting there seems to be less love than I expected around Leica 28mm M lenses... and maybe because those disciples already moved to the Q/2/3 (?), where there is a lot of passion for that camera.   This thread appears to be the 28mm Summicron launch thread, but about 50% of the comments seem to be focused on something other than the new Summicron.  Once again, the updated Summicron seems a bit of a non-event.

For me, I got it for street photography, so wanted it relatively small, and appreciated the wide focal length.   Doing a lot of range focusing, I was not looking for a Summilux shallow DoF (and large size).   The Summarit was definitely a consideration, but figured f2 and close focus would give me more options long term.  I've been very happy with my decision to get it.  I know a number of M users were initially drawn to Leica with the purchase of the Q and based on the passion around a 28mm Q I figured it emanated from the M, but maybe not?  Certainly content creators would have you thinking that Leica and street shooting are all about the 28mm focal length.  In looking at threads identified by focal length it seems 28mm picture threads get about 1/6 (~17%) the posts as either the 35mm or 50mm focal lengths, or about 8% of the 3 focal lengths.  It surprised me as I dug into things.   Maybe a 28mm APO could spice things up?   Or maybe this is why there is NOT as 28mm APO?

 

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Vanillasludge]

On 6/1/2025 at 9:53 AM, Tseg said:

It is interesting revisiting this thread over a year after launch that many have found the 28mm Summicron ASPH III (close focus) a bit of a yawn.  I'm relatively new to Leica, getting the Q3 43 at launch early in 4Q24, then soon after got the M11-D at launch.   At the time I was debating whether to add a Q3 (28) or get an M and make a 28mm my first M lens.   I opted for the latter, and got the 28mm Summicron close focus.   It is interesting there seems to be less love than I expected around Leica 28mm M lenses... and maybe because those disciples already moved to the Q/2/3 (?), where there is a lot of passion for that camera.   This thread appears to be the 28mm Summicron launch thread, but about 50% of the comments seem to be focused on something other than the new Summicron.  Once again, the updated Summicron seems a bit of a non-event.

For me, I got it for street photography, so wanted it relatively small, and appreciated the wide focal length.   Doing a lot of range focusing, I was not looking for a Summilux shallow DoF (and large size).   The Summarit was definitely a consideration, but figured f2 and close focus would give me more options long term.  I've been very happy with my decision to get it.  I know a number of M users were initially drawn to Leica with the purchase of the Q and based on the passion around a 28mm Q I figured it emanated from the M, but maybe not?  Certainly content creators would have you thinking that Leica and street shooting are all about the 28mm focal length.  In looking at threads identified by focal length it seems 28mm picture threads get about 1/6 (~17%) the posts as either the 35mm or 50mm focal lengths, or about 8% of the 3 focal lengths.  It surprised me as I dug into things.   Maybe a 28mm APO could spice things up?   Or maybe this is why there is NOT as 28mm APO?

 

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I’ve always been surprised at the popularity of 28mm on the M.  The optical viewfinder doesn’t do the focal length full justice as you need Peter Lorre eyes to see the entire frame at once.   
 

The Summicron may be stuck in influencer limbo by its combination of high price and, in today’s world, slow maximum aperture.   Everyone wants the “bokeh”. (The non dementia type)