At a time when most current lenses strive to capture as much light as possible, while maintaining extreme edge to edge sharpness, minimal vignetting, and zero distortion, something that is radically different is certain to turn heads. The Leica Summaron-M 28mm f/5.6 ($2,495) is the antithesis of the modern school of lens design. It has a very modest maximum aperture, and captures images with a strong vignette and edges that are on the soft side. But in doing so it draws scenes differently than a freshly designed 28mm like Leica's excellent Summicron-M 28mm f/2 ASPH. ($4,895.00 at Amazon) It's not a lens for everyone, but it is one that some rangefinder shooters will long for. Design There's nothing big about the Summaron-M. It is 0.7 by 2 inches (HD), weighs about 5.8 ounces, and supports tiny 34mm screw-in lens filters. A brass hood is included; it mounts on the outside of the barrel and is secured with a thumbscrew. By itself the design is very pancake in nature—it barely exten...
The Leica Summaron-M 28mm f/5.6 lens captures images with a vintage look, setting your photos apart from a crowded modern landscape.
Unique 1950s throwback optics; Strong center sharpness; Nominal distortion; Very compact; Wide-angle field of view; Excellent zone focus experience
Vintage look not for everyone; Expensive; Narrow maximum aperture; 1-meter minimum focus