Leica 28mm F/2 ASPH Summicron-M II

The Leica 28mm f/2 ASPH Summicron-M II is a fast-aperture, moderately wide angle M-mount lens. Key features include:

• Great for landscape, street, and architectural photography

• High-contrast images with excellent color rendition

• Ten-blade iris for extra-smooth bokeh

• High-quality build

What’s New. It’s a little smaller and a little lighter than its predecessor, the , which makes it an even better street-photography partner with any of our Leica rangefinder cameras like the Leica M-P or .

Moderately Wide Angle. This full-frame lens provides a nice balance between wide angle and normal range. It straddles the line of being wide angle, yet has very little of the “wide-angle distortion” you’d see in the likes of a 24mm lens. The 28mm focal length is popular for landscape, street, documentary, and architectural shooting.

Optics. The 28mm f/2 Summicron-M’s aspherical element minimizes aberrations and distortion, regardless of focus distance. Its nine elements in six groups ensure accurate color reproduction and high-contrast images with great control over lens flare and ghosting. Images remain tack-sharp even when working at f/2. This lens’s ten-blade iris will help keep your bokeh extra smooth.

High-Quality Build. The 28mm Summicron-M II features a smooth all-manual focus system, a new all-metal screw-on hood, and a 46mm front thread for all your filtration needs.

Experience: Field use.

Take: This lens was due for an update with the advent of higher-resolution digital cameras that require higher-resolving lenses. It’s noticeably sharper in the corners and l…

Experience: Field use.

Take: This lens was due for an update with the advent of higher-resolution digital cameras that require higher-resolving lenses. It’s noticeably sharper in the corners and less smudgy. The Summicron got the same treatment as the in terms of ergonomics and design. The large plastic clip-on hood is a thing of the past, making way for a much smaller and more functional (and subjectively better-looking) metal screw-on hood. This lens isn’t significantly larger than its slower sibling, so if you’ve got the extra money to spend, the extra stop of light is well worth it. This lens seems to render colors and light in a more pleasing way due to the slightly reduced contrast compared to the Elmarit which is nicer for portraits.