Leica 21mm F/3.4 ASPH Super-Elmar-M

The Leica 21mm f/3.4 ASPH Super-Elmar-M is a compact wide-angle lens for M-mount cameras. Key features include:

• Great for architecture and landscape photography

• Extremely low distortion

• Excellent corner-to-corner sharpness at all apertures

• In-camera vignette correction w/compatible Leica M cameras

Low Distortion and Field Curvature. This lens offers the least amount of distortion of any of the Leica 21mm options, and is arguably the best wide angle M-mount lens made. While its f/3.4 aperture doesn’t give you the most flexible low-light shooting options, its lack of distortion and field curvature make it ideal for architectural and landscape shooters.

Advanced Optical Design. Its metal screw-mount hood provides phenomenal flare resistance, and its combination of aspherical and anomalous partial-dispersion elements gives corner-to-corner sharpness at all apertures. It features Leica’s 6-bit coding for in-camera vignette correction with compatible Leica M-series digital cameras.

Built-In Finder Lines. Many people shoot with the 21mm estimating from the widest set of built-in finder lines, but others prefer an externally mounted viewfinder.

Experience: Field use.

Take: I’m a big fan of the Leica M-mount slower, wider lenses than 28mm. When I shoot wide, I tend to be around f/4 or lower and use zone focusing. I really like how much mo…

Experience: Field use.

Take: I’m a big fan of the Leica M-mount slower, wider lenses than 28mm. When I shoot wide, I tend to be around f/4 or lower and use zone focusing. I really like how much more compact they are compared to their larger, faster siblings of the same focal length. This 21mm is absolutely perfect. It’s compact, has amazing contrast, renders color well, and is sharp everywhere in the frame. You won’t have any resolution issues with this gem of a lens. If you like to shoot with wider apertures and want more depth-of-field fall-off in your images or need the low-light capability, you’ll be better-suited with the or, for a more budget oriented option with outstanding quality, the .