KIPON Iberit (Elegant) 75mm f/2.4

KIPON Iberit (Elegant) 75mm f/2.4

The Iberit (Elegant) 75mm f/2.4 belongs to KIPON's family of compact manual-focus prime lenses built for rangefinder cameras. As a short telephoto in the Leica M mount, it sits in the classic portrait range, offering a slightly tighter field of view than a standard lens while staying small enough to suit a rangefinder body. Its modest f/2.4 maximum aperture, rather than a faster and bulkier f/2 or f/1.4 design, reflects a deliberate emphasis on a restrained physical footprint for a focal length that often produces larger optics.

The optical layout uses five elements arranged in five groups, a comparatively simple construction for a short telephoto. The lens is rangefinder coupled, so focusing through a compatible Leica M body's rangefinder patch is supported across its focusing range down to a minimum focus distance of 0.7 metres. Aperture is controlled by a five-blade iris. The barrel measures about 65 mm in length and 58 mm in diameter, accepts 49 mm screw-in filters, and weighs roughly 330 g, which keeps the package manageable on an M-mount camera. It is offered in a black finish and is not six-bit coded, so a digital M body cannot read its identity automatically and would require manual lens selection if profile-based corrections are desired.

Optical qualities

Rendering

Detailed, independently sourced rendering analysis was not available at the time of writing, so specific claims about sharpness, contrast, bokeh, flare, distortion, and vignetting are not made here. What can be stated from the design itself is that the simple five-element, five-group formula and the moderate f/2.4 aperture are consistent with a lens aimed at a compact, lightweight short telephoto rather than maximum speed. The five-blade aperture affects the shape of out-of-focus highlights when stopped down, which is a known consequence of a lower blade count rather than a measured performance trait.

Collector Notes

Buyers should confirm the lens is the M-mount version with working rangefinder coupling, since KIPON has offered its mirrorless and rangefinder lenses in several mounts. Because the lens is not six-bit coded, owners using digital Leica M bodies will need to set the lens manually in the camera menu if they want exposure metadata or lens-specific corrections. As with any compact manual lens, it is worth checking the focus ring and aperture ring for smooth, even operation and inspecting the front and rear elements for haze or fungus before purchase. The 49 mm filter thread is a useful detail for sourcing caps, filters, and a suitable hood.