This new high-speed lens is the most compact of Leica M lenses. By using an aspherical element it was possible to attain top imaging performance with a weight of only 180 grams. This lens is practically distortion-free down to the close focus range of 0.7 m and only protrudes slightly into the viewfinder field of M cameras. Used on the digital M8, it produces the effect of a 35mm lens which makes it ideal for reportage. Due to its attractive price it can be particularly recommended as an introduction to the high-quality range of Leica M lenses.
This new high-speed lens is the most compact of Leica M lenses. By using an aspherical element it was possible to attain top imaging performance with a weight of only 180 grams. This lens is practically distortion-free down to the close focus range of 0.7 m and only protrudes slightly into the viewfinder field of M cameras. Used on the digital M8, it produces the effect of a 35mm lens which makes it ideal for reportage. Due to its attractive price it can be particularly recommended as an introduction to the high-quality range of Leica M lenses.
This new high-speed lens is the most compact of Leica M lenses. By using an aspherical element it was possible to attain top imaging performance with a weight of only 180 grams. This lens is practically distortion-free down to the close focus range of 0.7 m and only protrudes slightly into the viewfinder field of M cameras. Used on the digital M8, it produces the effect of a 35mm lens which makes it ideal for reportage. Due to its attractive price it can be particularly recommended as an introduction to the high-quality range of Leica M lenses.
This new high-speed lens is the most compact of Leica M lenses. By using an aspherical element it was possible to attain top imaging performance with a weight of only 180 grams. This lens is practically distortion-free down to the close focus range of 0.7 m and only protrudes slightly into the viewfinder field of M cameras. Used on the digital M8, it produces the effect of a 35mm lens which makes it ideal for reportage. Due to its attractive price it can be particularly recommended as an introduction to the high-quality range of Leica M lenses.
Last updated at 06/26/2026 20:26:32
Leica Leitz Elmarit-r 28mm F/2.8 Lens 3cam Ver.1 Germany
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Leica Elmarit-m 28mm F2.8
Delivery $4.28
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Leica Elmarit-m 28mm F2.8 Ver.3 Wide Angle Lens M Mount From Japan
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Leica Elmarit-m 28mm F2.8 Lens
Delivery $4.28
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Leica Elmarit M 28mm F2.8 2nd Gen M Mount Full Frame Mf Lens From
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Leica Elmarit M 2.8/28 Asph Lens 11606
Delivery $4.28
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Leica Elmarit M 28mm F/2.8 Asph Black Lens
Delivery $4.28
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Leica Elmarit-m 28mm F2.8 Asph Black 11677 Lens For M Mount From Japan
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Leica Elmarit-M 28mm/F2.8 E46 Ver.IV Lens Yr.1994 Germany 11809 #11907
Delivery $110.88
LEITZ Leica Elmarit M 28mm/F2.8 Ver.II Lens Yr.1972 Canada 11802 #10925
Delivery $110.88
originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
I am using this lens with film--I cant comment on how it goes with digital cameras. Very sharp, consistent lens at all apertures and across the field of view. Quite smooth continuum between in-focus and OOF areas--if youre obsessed with bokeh this might not be the lens you want, though its there on a relatively subtle level. I dont generally splurge on Leica lenses but I do think this one is significantly better than any cheaper options at this focal length. The attached was taken on TMax 100 on a gloomy day with the aperture wide open.
originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
This little beauty is my 7th Leica lens, and has lived up to the reputation of its relatives. Extremely sharp corner to corner, and all points in between. I originally decided to avoid this focal length, since my Q covered it beautifully with the Summilux. However, I think I made a good decision this time around. It fills the gap between my 21 mm SEM and 35 mm Summicron when I only want to haul around one camera. I am very happy with my purchase.
originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
So I left a very positive review for the Elmarit. Well deserved because the lens priced well, very small, and is ultra sharp. BUT, I returned the Elmarit because I just wasn't getting the tones I loved out of this lens as I was with my 35 Summicron on my M10 Monochrom. I purchased the 28 Summicron instead and could not be happier. They are VERY different lenses. If you want ultra sharp and a clinical look, go with the Elmarit. If you want better micro contrast (especially for b&w) go with the Summicron. The Summicron has a dreamy cinematic quality that the Elmarit does not possess.
| Aperture Range | f/2.8 to f/22 |
| Aperture | f/2.8 to f/22 |
| Camera Mount | Leica M |
| Camera Mount Type | Leica M |
| Angle of View | 75 |
Leica Leitz Elmarit-r 28mm F/2.8 Lens 3cam Ver.1 Germany
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Leica Elmarit-m 28mm F2.8
Delivery $4.28
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Leica Elmarit-m 28mm F2.8 Ver.3 Wide Angle Lens M Mount From Japan
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Leica Elmarit-m 28mm F2.8 Lens
Delivery $4.28
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Leica Elmarit M 28mm F2.8 2nd Gen M Mount Full Frame Mf Lens From
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
I am using this lens with film--I cant comment on how it goes with digital cameras. Very sharp, consistent lens at all apertures and across the field of view. Quite smooth continuum between in-focus and OOF areas--if youre obsessed with bokeh this might not be the lens you want, though its there on a relatively subtle level. I dont generally splurge on Leica lenses but I do think this one is significantly better than any cheaper options at this focal length. The attached was taken on TMax 100 on a gloomy day with the aperture wide open.
This little beauty is my 7th Leica lens, and has lived up to the reputation of its relatives. Extremely sharp corner to corner, and all points in between. I originally decided to avoid this focal length, since my Q covered it beautifully with the Summilux. However, I think I made a good decision this time around. It fills the gap between my 21 mm SEM and 35 mm Summicron when I only want to haul around one camera. I am very happy with my purchase.
So I left a very positive review for the Elmarit. Well deserved because the lens priced well, very small, and is ultra sharp. BUT, I returned the Elmarit because I just wasn't getting the tones I loved out of this lens as I was with my 35 Summicron on my M10 Monochrom. I purchased the 28 Summicron instead and could not be happier. They are VERY different lenses. If you want ultra sharp and a clinical look, go with the Elmarit. If you want better micro contrast (especially for b&w) go with the Summicron. The Summicron has a dreamy cinematic quality that the Elmarit does not possess.
It was a keeper! Sharp corner-to-corner. Just as sharp wide-open as stopped down. No distortion. No lens aberrations. Smooth manual focusing. Beautiful micro-contrast. It has the "Leica Look". Beats all other 28mm. f/2.8 lenses. It is as close to perfect as any lens I've ever used. Expensive, but worth every penny of the cost.
I added this based on positive reviews as much as anything. Other reviewers are right! Been using for a few weeks now, and this has become a favorite lens. Takes incredibly sharp images edge-to-edge. Superb for architectural photography. Lightweight, unobtrusive. Nothing negative about this lens. I was waiting for the Portuguese make, which of course came out a week after I sprang for this! No matter -- a bargain at any price.
Rangefinder lenses are not good on your Sony sensors. I've researched quite a lot before purchasing this one you. The price from BNH using their card is almost the same as buying it used with tax. The lens is sharp, light, very wonderful rendition. Happy with the purchase
I took this lens on a few trips and it never left my M7. I love my 50 summicron but this is just the perfect lens for being on the road. It's tiny. When the hood is removed, my M7 + this lens can easily fit in a coat pocket. With the hood there is very little finder blockage at 0.72. Without the hood there is no finder blockage at all. The glass is absurdly sharp and has beautiful rendering.At 2.8, there if sufficient background separation. You don't get crazy bokeh or anything since it's 28mm but the separation is exceptional. I considered upgrading to the Summicron for the extra stop of light, I decided against it after trying it out. It's twice the size and twice the price, i can handhold at 1/15th just fine with this lens and i don't feel I need the extra stop ... MoreI took this lens on a few trips and it never left my M7. I love my 50 summicron but this is just the perfect lens for being on the road. It's tiny. When the hood is removed, my M7 + this lens can easily fit in a coat pocket. With the hood there is very little finder blockage at 0.72. Without the hood there is no finder blockage at all. The glass is absurdly sharp and has beautiful rendering.At 2.8, there if sufficient background separation. You don't get crazy bokeh or anything since it's 28mm but the separation is exceptional. I considered upgrading to the Summicron for the extra stop of light, I decided against it after trying it out. It's twice the size and twice the price, i can handhold at 1/15th just fine with this lens and i don't feel I need the extra stop very often. This is a wonderful lens.
I've had this lens for about two years now and I absolutely love it! I mount it on my SL2 for a very cool look and a lightweight rig. 28 mm is a darling of a focal length with almost no wide-angle distortion. With my SL2, cropping later is a very viable option if I was not quite close enough when making the shot. If you think this lens is right for you, buy it soon, it's not getting any cheaper.
Great build quality, and light as a feather ( less than a 1 lb). Short of "needing anything faster or closer focusing, within the M lens line, I am happy with this choice and would buy it all over again if something happened. For my hands, the location of the aperture ring on the barrel of the Summicron F2 wasn't as comfortable... felt too cramped. I use the lens on an SL2 using Multishot, which generates a file size of about 1GB performance is excellent, with NO optical barrel distortion ( in fact, far less than the 35mm 1.4 FLE Summilux I own). I would suggest the one from Wetzler if you can afford it.The idea of a short focal length is to use it as a visual vacuum cleaner, so speed is not an object of concern. For street work set the hyperfocal distance, stop ... MoreGreat build quality, and light as a feather ( less than a 1 lb). Short of "needing anything faster or closer focusing, within the M lens line, I am happy with this choice and would buy it all over again if something happened. For my hands, the location of the aperture ring on the barrel of the Summicron F2 wasn't as comfortable... felt too cramped. I use the lens on an SL2 using Multishot, which generates a file size of about 1GB performance is excellent, with NO optical barrel distortion ( in fact, far less than the 35mm 1.4 FLE Summilux I own). I would suggest the one from Wetzler if you can afford it.The idea of a short focal length is to use it as a visual vacuum cleaner, so speed is not an object of concern. For street work set the hyperfocal distance, stop down to 16/22 and just run with it with zone focusing.Recently purchased a Q2, a different animal, intent and capability. Why the Q2 John? The close focusing macro capability and a manageable overall light weight purpose built all in one. I have owned the Sony RX1, made thousands of images w/ up to 6 foot prints and this Q2 is far more of a camera with manual overrides, twice the sensor MP's and no way mysterious performance. The Sony is fine, materially inferior... black paint fell on sensor. The Q2, works better, has better weather sealing and performance wise is hands down a better tool.Back to the 2.8 M, if you use primes exclusively, this should be part of your kit.
I've always been more of a Summaron-Summilux , 35mm-50mm kind of photographer. I decided I wanted a 28mm, but I definitely did not want to shell out 7300 for a 28mm summilux. I was hesitant about getting just an Elmarit..... until I read the reviews. The reviews were spot on. This lens is built with superb quality and the optics are just phenomenal. The lens is extremely sharp, smaller in size, and in my opinion a bargain among M lenses. This just may be my go to lens from now on.
| Aperture Range | f/2.8 to f/22 |
| Aperture | f/2.8 to f/22 |
| Camera Mount | Leica M |
| Camera Mount Type | Leica M |
| Angle of View | 75 |