Leica Elmarit 28mm f2.8 v3

This lovely Leica lens is often overlooked, but it’s definitely worth a second look! The first-generation Leica Elmarit 28mm f2.8 was a real favorite among collectors and photographers thanks to its stylish design, solid construction, and limited production run. More photographers are recommending the current version of the Leica Elmarit 28mm ASPH because of its compact size, which is great! That’s why the third generation is rarely recommended, and why it’s so reasonably priced. In fact, the third generation still has that Leica style and excellent optical performance, which is fantastic!

I absolutely love using this lens for close-up street photography! I’m really happy with how well this lens performs up close, with such great sharpness! I love the high color contrast! It makes me think it was designed for digital cameras. Oh, you know what? It is a lens from 1980!

I just love the v3 version! It’s so much better than the ASPH version. The colors in v3 are so warm and in line with that classic Leica look we all know and love. Another great thing about the v3 is that it has a better depth of field, which makes it really easy to take clear photos, especially up close! I think this is because the classic Leica bokeh blur is a lovely, gradual pattern from clear to blurry. The ASPH version doesn’t have this gradual blurring process, which is a shame! So, if you take a picture with the ASPH version at close range (about one meter), it’ll be a little blurry because the camera makes a slight mistake.

If there’s one thing to watch out for with the V3, it’s that it’s on the larger side, especially with the lens hood attached. The V3 is a little more visible in street shots than the ASPH version, which is a bit of a bummer. Overall, I’m absolutely thrilled with it! I think the V3 is probably the cheapest Leica lens with the best optical quality, which is pretty impressive!

I’ve always thought that good photos can be taken with any lens, and I’ve found that good weather and a good mood are often just as important as the lens you use! I’m in a great mood because the price of this lens is so reasonable!

The next photo was taken using the Leica M9 camera’s built-in JPEG standard mode.