Leica Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.8 ASPH. - Review 2022

Leica quietly updated its most affordable 28mm lens, the Elmarit-Thou 28mm f/2.8 ASPH. ($2,295) in 2022, improving its optical design and making some minor cosmetic changes, notably in the design of the lens hood. The new Elmarit-K is a better lens than the ane that came before information technology, although the difference is not night and 24-hour interval. It doesn't have the sexy f/i.4 pattern of the larger, pricier Summilux-M 28mm f/1.4 ASPH., only it'southward an appealing option for Leica owners who value small, light lenses.

Not Quite Pancake

The Elmarit-M is 1 of the smaller lenses you tin get for a Leica Grand system. Information technology measures just i.2 by 2.0 inches (HD), weighs 6.2 ounces, and supports 39mm front end filters. When used without the included lens hood there is nigh no blockage to the 28mm frame equally seen through the viewfinder of the M10-D.

The hood is changed from the previous version of the lens. Instead of clipping on at the sides, it screws onto an exterior thread around the front element. If you prefer to use the lens without the hood, Leica includes a beauty band to cover and protect the threads used to mount it.

Equally with all M-mount lenses, the Elmarit is purely mechanical and manual in performance. The discontinuity control band is positioned just behind the front end element and tin be set from f/2.viii through f/22 in half-finish increments. Leica tends to stick to half-stops with its lenses—if you want more precise aperture control, consider the more affordable Zeiss Biogon T* ii,8/28 ZM, which offers third-stop adjustment.

Rangefinder coupling and focus are available to 2.3 anxiety (0.vii-meter). The 1000 organization of lenses is not well-suited or designed for macro photography. In that location are some that are capable of focusing closer—the Zeiss Biogon works to 1.6 feet (0.5-meter)—just you'll need to switch to an EVF or your camera'south rear LCD to confirm accurate focus. Modern rangefinder cameras can only confirm focus to 2.three feet when using the optical viewfinder.

Build quality is what you'd expect from Leica. The barrel is aluminum, with a blackness finish—Leica doesn't currently offering information technology in silver. The focus ring turns smoothly and comfortably, with a pocket-size, concave tab to aid yous amend find the focus ring by feel alone.

Optical Improvements

I tested the 28mm Elmarit-M using the 24MP M10-D. It's a dissimilar camera than the older M (Typ 240), but it does utilise the same resolution image sensor, and the 2 cameras are similar plenty to allow for a direct comparison.

The new version of the 28mm puts up improve resolution numbers at f/ii.8—ii,497 lines using Imatest's eye-weighted evaluation. This is an uptick versus the ii,311 lines the previous version of the lens delivered, although not i we consider to be significant. Where the comeback is apparent is at the edges of the frame. The newer Elmarit-M records i,552 lines at the periphery, while the older lens shows one,347 lines. Neither is a tack precipitous result—we want to encounter 1,800 lines at minimum from a 24MP sensor—but it's expert to see the improvements, even small ones.

Stopping down to f/4 nets results that are precipitous from heart to edge. The average score at f/4 is 3,060 lines, and while the periphery isn't as abrupt (2,382 lines), it still passes muster. Compare that with the older Elmarit ASPH., which shows a two,376-line average, but still lags backside at the edges (one,897 lines).

The advantages of the updated lens are lessened at narrower apertures. It shows 3,304 lines on average at f/v.vi, with edges that are strong at three,140 lines. The older lens shows around iii,100 lines on average, with 2,700-line edges. You're not going to detect a difference unless yous're taking a really shut look at large prints.

Resolution peaks at f/8 (three,350 lines) and holds up at f/eleven (3,167 lines). I'd recommend avoiding f/sixteen (2,725 lines) and f/22 (ane,147 lines), as diffraction cuts into paradigm quality quite a flake.

There's merely a little fleck of barrel distortion, 1.2 percent. It'due south barely worth noting for a wide lens. There is a vignette, which isn't surprising given the wide-bending coverage and svelte build. At f/ii.eight nosotros see a -2.6EV drib in illumination at the corners of the frame, equally compared with the center. The deficit drops to -2.1EV at f/4 and settles in a noticeable, but not farthermost, -1.5EV at f/v.6 and narrower f-stops.

Wide, Compact, and Affordable (For Leica)

The Leica Elmarit-M 28mm f/two.8 ASPH. isn't role of Leica's official upkeep-friendly Summarit series of f/two.4 lenses, but information technology might every bit well be. Its cost is reasonable—for a Leica. If you want a budget 28mm M lens, look at the Voigtlander Ultron 28mm f/2 ($599) or the Zeiss Biogon T* ii,viii/28 ZM instead.

If you already own the first version of the Elmarit-M, my advice is to stay put. Yes, the new version of the lens shows some improvements, but not ones that are pregnant enough to merit an upgrade.

Rangefinder photographers accept several modern 28mm options. It'southward an appealing focal length as it'southward the widest you can use with almost models without the need for an external viewfinder. The Elmarit-M is there for photographers who want a modern look, but don't want to deal with the size, weight, and cost that come up with the 28mm Summicron-M or Summilux-M.

It's not my personal favorite 28mm for the Leica organization. To me, the Summicron-1000 offers a amend balance of depth of field control and size. I've not used the current version, but was very happy with the previous Summicron, aside from its hood design, which was 1 of the things Leica changed when it received a like update to the Elmarit.

But personal preferences aside, the Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.eight ASPH. is no doubt the right 28mm for many photographers. Information technology delivers the image quality and shooting feel you expect from Leica, and despite being a "budget" option, it sacrifices zilch in build quality. It'southward an excellent match with almost whatever M, whether it be your grandfather's dusty M3 or the modern, digital M10.

Source: https://sea.pcmag.com/leica-elmarit-m-28mm-f28-asph-2016/30076/leica-elmarit-m-28mm-f28-asph

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