Light Lens Lab Announces 35mm f/2 “Apochromatic” for Leica M-Mount

Light Lens Lab Announces 35mm f/2 “Apochromatic” for Leica M-Mount

Light Lens Lab has announced the forthcoming 35mm f/2 “Apochromatic” for Leica M-mount.

And this is a different kind of Light Lens Lab release.

Not because it is another classic-inspired 35mm lens, but because this one marks the start of the company’s new High Performance Series. It is also the first lens developed under Light Lens Lab’s new High-Performance Optical Research Project.

That makes it interesting.

Light Lens Lab is known mostly for lenses that reference historical optical designs, classic Leica-era rendering, and mechanical reproduction. This new 35mm f/2 “Apochromatic” appears to move in another direction: a modern, independently developed optical design with a stronger focus on correction, close-focus performance, and technical consistency.

At a glance

Item	Details
Lens	Light Lens Lab 35mm f/2 “Apochromatic”
Mount	Leica M-Mount
Series	Light Lens Lab High Performance Series
Optical design	11 elements in 6 groups
Aspherical elements	4
Focus system	Floating optical system
Close focus	0.3m
Filter thread	E39
Aperture blades	11
Tested by LeicaLensList	Not yet

A new direction for Light Lens Lab

The 35mm f/2 “Apochromatic” is described as Light Lens Lab’s first step into apochromatic photography.

That is a big statement.

Apochromatic correction is not just a marketing word in this space. For Leica M users, it usually suggests stronger control of colour fringing, better correction of longitudinal and lateral chromatic aberrations, and cleaner performance in difficult light. Especially with high-resolution digital M bodies, purple fringing and colour edges can quickly become visible.

Light Lens Lab says the new lens uses ultra-low-dispersion and anomalous partial-dispersion glass to suppress chromatic aberrations. It also uses a new high-transmission multilayer coating to reduce purple fringing, flare and contrast loss in backlit or otherwise challenging lighting.

That sounds like a very different goal from the company’s more nostalgic releases.

This is not just about recreating an older look. It is about building a modern 35mm lens with stronger correction while still keeping a compact M-mount form.

Optical design and close-focus performance

The lens uses an 11 element, 6 group optical design with four aspherical elements.

It also includes a newly developed floating optical system, designed to maintain more consistent performance throughout the focusing range.

That matters because this lens focuses down to 0.3 metres.

For a Leica M-mount lens, that close-focus distance is useful. It makes the lens more flexible for details, still-life work, environmental portraits and tighter everyday compositions. On rangefinder bodies, focusing below the normal rangefinder-coupled limit may depend on camera and live-view use, but the optical capability still makes the lens more versatile.

The floating system is probably one of the most important technical details here. A close-focusing 35mm lens can look good at distance but fall apart closer up if the optical design is not corrected for that range. Light Lens Lab appears to be addressing that directly.

Rendering expectations

Light Lens Lab describes the lens as delivering strong sharpness, good distortion control, and edge-to-edge performance at f/2, while still retaining smooth out-of-focus rendering and natural transitions.

That combination is exactly where this lens will need to prove itself.

A 35mm f/2 APO-style M-mount lens cannot only be sharp. Many modern lenses are already sharp. What makes this announcement interesting is whether Light Lens Lab can combine correction, compactness and a pleasant rendering style without making the lens feel too clinical.

The company describes the image character as having fine tonal gradation, delicate detail, and warm, natural colour.

That sounds promising, but I have not tested the lens yet. So for now, I would treat these as production-announcement claims rather than real-world conclusions.

Two barrel configurations

The 35mm f/2 “Apochromatic” will be offered in two external focusing-barrel styles.

The first version uses a smooth barrel, giving the lens a cleaner and more minimal appearance.

The second version uses close-focus knurling, adding an extra textured focusing surface for better grip and tactile control when operating the lens at closer distances.

Importantly, both versions use the same optical design. The difference is the external focusing-barrel treatment, not the lens formula.

That is a nice detail, because it lets buyers choose between a cleaner visual design and a more tactile focusing experience.

Available finishes

Light Lens Lab lists three finishes for the 35mm f/2 “Apochromatic”:

Finish	Construction
Titanium Gray Limited Edition	Titanium-alloy construction
Black Paint	Aerospace-grade aluminum construction
Silver Chrome	Aerospace-grade aluminum construction

The aluminum versions are listed at approximately 327g with hood, while the titanium version is listed at approximately 360g with hood.

That is not ultra-light for a 35mm f/2, but considering the 11-element optical design, four aspherical elements, floating system and 0.3m close focus, it still sounds relatively compact for what it is trying to do.

Key specifications

Specification	Detail
Focal length	35mm
Maximum aperture	f/2
Minimum aperture	f/16
Optical design	11 elements in 6 groups
Aspherical elements	4
Frame coverage	135 full frame, 36 × 24mm
Focusing system	Floating lens-element optical system
Focus range	0.3m to infinity
Aperture blades	11
Mount	Leica M-Mount quick-change bayonet
Filter thread	E39
Lens hood	E39 screw-on hood
Length	Approx. 40.9mm without hood, 49.3mm with hood
Diameter	Approx. 53mm
Weight	Approx. 327g aluminum with hood, 360g titanium with hood

My first impression

This is one of the more important Light Lens Lab announcements so far.

Not because every Leica M shooter needs an APO-style 35mm lens, but because it shows Light Lens Lab moving beyond historical reproduction and into its own high-performance optical direction.

That is a meaningful shift.

The 35mm focal length also makes sense as the starting point. A 35mm f/2 is one of the core Leica M lenses. It is useful for street photography, travel, documentary work, portraits in context, and general everyday shooting. If Light Lens Lab wants to introduce a new High Performance Series, starting with a 35mm f/2 is probably the most logical choice.

The big question is how it will render.

If it is sharp, controlled and close-focusing, but still has a pleasant tonal character, it could become a very interesting alternative in the modern M-mount 35mm space.

But for now, this remains an announcement.

I have not tested the lens yet, and real-world performance still needs to be checked with sample images, handling, focusing feel, flare behaviour and actual Leica M use.

Lens page

The lens has been added to LeicaLensList here:

Light Lens Lab 35mm f/2 “Apochromatic”

More information will be added when final public details, real-world samples and hands-on impressions become available.

For now, this looks like the start of a new chapter for Light Lens Lab.

And honestly, that makes this announcement more interesting than just another 35mm lens.

FAQ

Is the Light Lens Lab 35mm f/2 “Apochromatic” a Leica M-mount lens?

Yes. The lens is announced for Leica M-mount.

Is this a remake of a classic Leica lens?

No. Light Lens Lab describes it as an independently developed optical design and the first lens in its new High Performance Series.

Has LeicaLensList tested the lens?

Not yet. This article is based on the production announcement, not a hands-on review.

Does the lens focus closer than normal Leica M rangefinder distance?

The lens is specified with a 0.3m close-focus capability. On traditional rangefinder bodies, use below the rangefinder-coupled limit may depend on live view or camera compatibility.