28mm lens to shoot with film

[Gionnired]

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Hi everyone,

I'm looking for a used 28mm lens to use with my Leica M6. 

I'd like to hear from people that still shoot film, which 28mm lens they prefer. Most of the reviews about lenses for Leica M, are made with digital cameras, so I'm not sure if they would have the same performance when used with Leica M film cameras.

I'm not crazy about having the sharpest possible lens, neither having a super wide aperture, I prefer a compact lens with a bit of character, but still quite contrasty. To be used with both color and black&white film.

I'm currently considering these lenses:

_ Leica Elmarit-M 28mm f2.8 (not sure about which version, any suggestions?)

_ Voigtlander Ultron 28mm f2 Type II (quite cheap in the used market)

_ Thypoch Simera 28mm ASPH f1.4 (interesting for the price, and apparently good reviews)

I like to take photos of architectures, street photography, and landscapes. Rarely portraits.

Thanks in advance to anyone keen to help me with suggestions.

Cheers

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[pedaes]

17 minutes ago, Gionnired said:

I'm looking for a used 28mm lens to use with my Leica M6. 

This was made just for you

 

[farnz]

Since you're looking for a contrasty lens that can be used with either b&w or colour film then my advice would be the 28/2.8 Elmarit asph v1 that appeared in 2006 and is tiny. 

If you want a little more character then the 28/2 Summicron v1 would be my choice; it is not as contrasty as the Elmarit but has exceptional micro-contrast and excellent flare-resistance and is a little larger to accommodate the extra stop (f/2).

I've owned both and moved from the Elmarit to the Summicron because of its exceptional micro-contrast and the Elmarit was a little too contrasty for my taste.

For more character you might consider one of the pre-asph 28 Elmarits and there is plenty of opinion and advice on the forum about those.

Pete.

[sdk]

2 hours ago, farnz said:

Since you're looking for a contrasty lens that can be used with either b&w or colour film then my advice would be the 28/2.8 Elmarit asph v1 that appeared in 2006 and is tiny. - snip -

Pete.

I second this. It's hard to beat the 28mm/2.8 Elmarit ASPH version I. The lens is beautifully compact, very high contrast and fidelity. It's sharp into the corners on film. The only problem with it is the lens hood cap that it shares with the version I of the 35mm/2 Summicron ASPH, which is easy to lose. It pops off with little provocation. But that's true of the later versions' hoods too even though they are a different design. 

The version I of the Summicron 28mm/2 is also good but has much busier background out of focus character, and the original plastic lens hood is gigantic and awkward, and blocks a lot of the finder. Leica made a nice small metal round hood for the lens but it's hard to find and a collector's item, so it tends to be expensive when you can find one. 

I have not used earlier pre APSH 28mm Leica lenses. 

The Zeiss 28mm/2.8 Biogon ZM is a great alternative on film. It's comparable to the 28mm/2.8 Elmarit ASPH version I, and has terrific clarity and color contrast. 

Just got the Voigtländer 28mm/2 Apo Lanthar, which is fantastic on my M11-P digital, slightly better than the latest 28mm/2 Leica Summicron ASPH, but I have no idea how it performs on film. Probably very good, even if it was designed primarily for digital.

[spydrxx]

My film go-to 28mm lens isn't a Leica lens at all, but rather a Canon 28/3.5 in a Leica screw mount. I use it both on film as well as digital, on M bodies (with an LTM->M adapter ring) and older Leica screw-mount bodies. It is tiny, but very precise and well engineered.

[Stuart Richardson]

As above, I think if you are interested in a compact, contrasty and sharp lens, the 28mm Elmarit ASPH is really the one. It is exactly what you describe. If for some reason you want to keep looking, the best alternatives are all bigger. One is the 28mm Biogon ZM, the 28mm M Hexanon, or any of the previous 28mm Elmarits. They are all good, but also bigger. If you don't want to spend that much, then any of the Voigtlander Ultrons (even v1) would fit the bill, though they are also a bit bigger. The 28mm Summicron is another great candidate, but again, it's bigger, especially with the hood. I would give the 28mm Elmarit a go. I think you will be very pleased with it. 

[Tessar.]

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On film how about the 28mm f/3.5 LTM Minolta G-Rokkor?  Fantastic contrast/resolution and tiny.  Not so expensive to pick up from Japan now too as it doesn't perform well in the corners on digital sensors.

[hasenvater]

My favorite is the very compact M-Elmarit 28mm/2.8 Asph.

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M6, Elmarit-M 2.8/28 Asph. wide open, Ilford Pan F+

[JaSko]

Summicron M 28/2 Asph Version 1 is my choice for film.  As previous posters said, unbelievable micro contrast and very nice rendering, not too contrasty. I use it on Leica M4-P.

[costa43]

I own the 28mm Voigtlander Color Skopar ii. Initially i found it too perfect but I’m now starting to really enjoy it. I’ve used it on film and digital and have been pleased with the results. It’s tiny and relatively cheap in the M mount world. 

[IkarusJohn]

28/5.6 Summaron-M is my alternative to my 28 Summilux-M ASPH

Not quite sure that using film makes a difference, but for character the Summaron is rather nice.

[patrickcolpron]

The Elmarit 28 ASPH is one of my favorite lens for film, plus it is small, take the hood off and use the thread protector, males for a compact set up. 
 

It is great on both color and black and white film stock. 

[jakontil]

3 hours ago, IkarusJohn said:

28/5.6 Summaron-M is my alternative to my 28 Summilux-M ASPH

Not quite sure that using film makes a difference, but for character the Summaron is rather nice.

My go to 28mm on film definitely summaron 

i found myself shooting stopped down and i think f5.6 is close to a sweet spot, besides, its size is too teasingly wild

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[Stein K S]

Hi

Initially I bought the 28 Elmarit asph. And really loved the size… but found it just too ¨ sharp¨  or harsh. So sold it and bought the 28 Summicron asph v1. Well, not as harsh, but still veeery ¨ modern in my eyes. Then bought a cheap 28 Elmarit v3, which had much of what I was looking for (that laidback ¨soft sharpness¨). Condition of the lens, however, was really bad, so sold it. Then I came by a very nice copy of the 28 Elmarit v4… and there it was! Just the right blend of everything according to my taste… this ¨soft¨ kind of sharpness which I also love with some of my other not so new Leica lenses. The 28 cron asph was just sold (a silver 2008 version by the way 😉).

So, 28 Elmarit v4… check it out! Believe it would also be very nice on film 😊

Edited August 6 by Stein K S

[Gionnired]

Thanks a lot for your opinions!

I'm leaning toward the 28mm Elmarit-M. I can find the v3 and v4 on the used market around my place. The new ASPH is a bit out of my budget.
 

[sdk]

5 hours ago, Gionnired said:

Thanks a lot for your opinions!

I'm leaning toward the 28mm Elmarit-M. I can find the v3 and v4 on the used market around my place. The new ASPH is a bit out of my budget.
 

The version III 28mm Elmarit is quite large, FYI, long and with a 49mm filter thread and a gigantic hood. The version IV is very compact by comparison, though not as small as the two versions of the 28mm/2.8 ASPH. The Zeiss Biogon 28mm/2.8 ZM is relatively compact too, about the same size as the 28mm Elmarit v.IV. The Zeiss lenses go for about US $500-600 used, a bargain, in my opinion.

[MAFORLIFE]

On 8/6/2025 at 8:55 AM, Stein K S said:

Hi

Initially I bought the 28 Elmarit asph. And really loved the size… but found it just too ¨ sharp¨  or harsh. So sold it and bought the 28 Summicron asph v1. Well, not as harsh, but still veeery ¨ modern in my eyes. Then bought a cheap 28 Elmarit v3, which had much of what I was looking for (that laidback ¨soft sharpness¨). Condition of the lens, however, was really bad, so sold it. Then I came by a very nice copy of the 28 Elmarit v4… and there it was! Just the right blend of everything according to my taste… this ¨soft¨ kind of sharpness which I also love with some of my other not so new Leica lenses. The 28 cron asph was just sold (a silver 2008 version by the way 😉).

So, 28 Elmarit v4… check it out! Believe it would also be very nice on film 😊

I like that lens too. And I believe it matches well with your favorite leica lens, which if I recall is the 35mm F2 V4? Or have you moved on to 28... 

[Stein K S]

17 hours ago, MAFORLIFE said:

I like that lens too. And I believe it matches well with your favorite leica lens, which if I recall is the 35mm F2 V4? Or have you moved on to 28... 

Hi

And you recall correctly. I own quite a few Leica which I all like for different reasons (currently have 8 ¨keepers¨… at least for the time being 😉). But the 35 cron v4 keeps a special place partially because I am still a 35mm guy, second it was my first Leica lens and finally because the way it draws has really grown on me.

regards

Edited August 8 by Stein K S

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[MAFORLIFE]

4 hours ago, Stein K S said:

Hi

And you recall correctly. I own quite a few Leica which I all like for different reasons (currently have 8 ¨keepers¨… at least for the time being 😉). But the 35 cron v4 keeps a special place partially because I am still a 35mm guy, second it was my first Leica lens and finally because the way it draws has really grown on me.

regards

I also have some very beautiful lenses, but somehow I'm always overwhelmed by the colors and rendering that is delivered by my V4.