Lenses
Born in 1972, the Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 II Pre-ASPH is a lens that defies modern optics’ obsession with perfection. This 245g aluminum relic—discontinued in 1993—doesn’t just capture light; it interprets it through a veil of chromatic whispers and mechanical poetry. At 2,500–2,500–4,000 (used), it’s not a tool, but a collaborator in crafting visual sonnets.
Born in 1933 as Leica’s first 28mm offering, the Hektor f/6.3 predates the Summicron, Elmarit, and even World War II. This 85g brass relic—discontinued by 1960—whispers tales of analog austerity. With no modern equivalent, it’s photography’s answer to a typewriter: slow, deliberate, and stubbornly poetic. At 300–300–500 (well-loved), it’s the cheapest ticket to Leica’s pre-war optical legacy.
Born in 1959 as Leica’s answer to postwar optimism, the Summilux 50mm f/1.4 v1 (E43) straddles eras like Berlin’s fractured Wall. Its 7-element design—an evolution of the Summarit f/1.5’s dreamy haze—offers photographers a foot in two worlds: the romantic swirl of 1950s optics and the crisp demands of modern film stocks. At 1,200–1,200–1,800 (well-loved), it whispers, “Character over clinical perfection.”
In the pantheon of Leica optics, the Summarit 40mm f/2.4 occupies a heretical throne—a lens born in the Minilux/CM compacts, now reborn as an M-mount rogue. While purists decry “camera murder,” this 400Frankenstein(bodybutchery+400Frankenstein(bodybutchery+200 adaption fee) delivers 90% of a Summicron’s soul at 30% the cost. Your moral dilemma? Let’s call it creative recycling.
1. Heritage DNA
2. Size Matters
Born in 1984, the Leica M6 was the brand’s first “everyman” rangefinder. Gone were the brass top plates of the M3/M4; in came zinc alloy, plastic counters, and TTL metering. Purists howled, but photographers voted with their wallets – 20 years of production (1984-2003) cemented its status as Leica’s best-selling M. The genius of the M6? It made the unattainable attainable by wrapping professional-grade optics in a blue-collar shell.
The Voigtlander 15mm F4.5 Super Wide-Heliar, a lens born in the age of analog photography, carries a timeless spirit. Paired with the Leica M8, it transforms black-and-white captures into something profoundly film-like—evoking the texture of nostalgia in every frame. Its brilliance lies not only in its sharpness and clarity but also in its compact form, making it a perfect companion for the streets.
Its ultra-wide embrace invites you to step closer, narrowing the distance between you and the scene, quietly erasing barriers. The closer you approach, the more invisible you seem to become. Freed from the need to compose with precision or raise the camera to my eye, I trust in instinct. With the focus set to 1.5 meters, I wait for the right moment and let the shutter whisper its story.
If Leica’s lens lineup were the Oscars, the Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH would be Meryl Streep—beloved, flawless, and eternally relevant. Priced between 4,500–4,500–7,000 (2025 USD), this 340g aluminum-and-glass virtuoso is the Rolex Daytona of optics: precise, luxurious, and engineered to outlive trends. Mount it on an M10-P, and you’re not just shooting—you’re directing a cinematic masterpiece.
| Aspect | Summilux 35mm ASPH | Zeiss Distagon 35mm f/1.4 |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpness | Samurai sword at f/1.4 | Chainsaw at f/2.8 |
| Bokeh | Monet’s water lilies | Polyester bedsheets |
| Contrast | Ansel Adams’ zone system | Instagram filter |
| Soul | 🎻🎻🎻🎻🎻 | 🎧 |
✓ Portrait Poets: Who believe eyes > autofocus motors
✓ Film Noir Addicts: Chasing shadows in dim alleys
✓ Contrarians: Who’d choose a Leica over a Tesla
Avoid If: You pixel-peep for flaws or think “vintage” means “cheap.”
Leica’s 1990s Double ASPH version (11873) is the Holy Grail—hand-polished elements, mythical rarity, and a price tag rivaling a small yacht. But beware: its quirks (focus shift, collector premiums) make it the James Dean of lenses—iconic, flawed, and gone too soon.
The Summilux 35mm ASPH isn’t just a lens—it’s a lifelong companion. For the price of a week in Bora Bora, you gain:
Rating:
🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️ (film alchemists) | 📱📱🤍🤍🤍 (zoombies)
“A lens that whispers: ‘Perfection isn’t a destination—it’s the journey.’”
Pro Tips:
Epilogue: The Lens of No Regrets
Leica’s Summilux 35mm f/1.4 ASPH scoffs at shortcuts, whispering: “Greatness isn’t found in specs—it’s felt in the heart.” Like a Tang dynasty poem, its beauty lies in balance, not brute force. Now go frame your story—one click at a time. 📸
In an age of gargantuan mirrorless zooms, the Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.8 ASPH (2006–present) whispers its manifesto. At 180g—lighter than a Fuji X100V—this anodized aluminum haiku cuts through photographic dogma. Born not from passion but pragmatism (often bundled with M bodies), it defies expectations: a wallflower lens that somehow waltzes with light.
| Aspect | Elmarit 28mm f/2.8 ASPH | Summicron 28mm f/2 ASPH |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 180g (6.3oz) | 330g (11.6oz) |
| Price (2023) | 2,300–2,300–2,800 | 4,500–4,500–5,200 |
| Bokeh | Watercolor whispers | Oil painting strokes |
| Soul | Woolf’s depth | Hemingway’s precision |
| Street Cred | Phantom agility | Knightly valor |
Leica Q’s shadow looms large—why buy this modest f/2.8 when Q2 offers f/1.7? The answer whispers through back alleys:
✓ Urban Haiku Masters: Crafting visual poetry in tight spaces
✓ M System Minimalists: Building lean, mean travel kits
✓ Q Curious: Testing 28mm waters before full commitment
Avoid If: You romanticize focus shift or need f/1.4 bragging rights.
The Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.8 ASPH is Leica’s Black Widow lens—seen only when it wants to be. For $2,500, you get:
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 (for pragmatists) | ⭐⭐✨/5 (for character fetishists)
“A lens that murmurs: ‘The best camera is the one that’s actually in your bag.’”
In the shadow of its ASPH successor and the cult-favorite v1, the Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.8 v3 (1980-1993) lurks—a 230g brass-bound paradox. Too young to be “vintage,” too old to be “relevant,” this lens is photography’s equivalent of a Weimar-era cabaret singer: overlooked, undervalued, and dripping with more character than modern optics dare allow.
| Aspect | Elmarit v3 | ASPH (Current) |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 35mm film sweet spot | Digital perfection |
| Color Rendering | Honeyed tungsten warmth | Clinical accuracy |
| Bokeh Transition | Gradual as Brahms lullaby | Abrupt as text alert |
| Soul | Wim Wenders’ gaze | CAD algorithm |
Leica engineers’ cruel joke: The ASPH version out-resolves v3 by 30% yet loses the je ne sais quoi. Test charts crown ASPH; human eyes crave v3’s:
✓ Bargain Hunters: Sniffing Leica soul under $1.5k
✓ Film Purists: Building M6 kits without selling kidneys
Avoid If: You need corner-to-corner sharpness or AF.
The v3 Elmarit embodies optical perfection, blending vintage allure with modern performance. This $1,000 lens rivals today’s digital counterparts, offering superb clarity and character. For the price of an iPhone, you gain:
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 (for poets) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 (for pixel peepers)
A lens that whispers: ‘Affordable magic, Leica-style—proof that excellence doesn’t always come at a high price.
