Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH.

Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH.

Introduced as a smaller and less expensive 24mm option for the M system, the Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. trades the half-stop wider aperture of the 24mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M for a noticeably more compact and lighter package [1][3]. Leica positioned it as a practical wide-angle for reportage, travel, and landscape work, and the company stated that contrast and detail rendering are already strong from the initial aperture of f/3.8 [2]. It carries order number 11648 and was announced in 2008, remaining a current catalogue lens for many years.

Optically the lens uses 8 elements in 6 groups, including one aspherical surface, and covers a diagonal angle of view of about 84 degrees on full frame. The barrel is built from anodized aluminum and optical glass, with a manual diaphragm running from f/3.8 to f/16 in click stops that include half values, and a combined meter and feet focusing scale. Focusing is fully manual down to 0.7 m, and the lens is rangefinder coupled through the Leica M bayonet. The front is a non-rotating mount that takes E46 (46 mm) filters and a screw-on lens hood, with a separate male thread provided for the hood. Because the field of view of a 24mm exceeds the coverage of the built-in M frame lines, an accessory optical finder such as the 12019, 12026, or 12027 is intended for accurate framing.

The lens carries a six-bit bayonet bar code so that digital M bodies can identify it and apply the appropriate corrections. The barrel is engraved "LEICA ELMAR-M 1:3.8/24 ASPH. E46" followed by the serial number, and the matching screw-in hood is the 12465. It has been produced in black anodized finish. No widely documented factory special editions of this lens are recorded in the consulted sources.

Optical qualities

Rendering Documented information emphasizes high image quality across the frame with good contrast and detail rendering even at the maximum aperture of f/3.8, in line with the aspherical design and Leica's own description. As a modern aspherical wide-angle it is intended to deliver even, well-corrected results suitable for landscape, travel, and interior work. Detailed independent measurements are limited in the sources reviewed here, so beyond this general character claims about specific behavior are best treated cautiously.

History

Development and Launch The Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. was announced in 2008 and added a more compact and economical 24mm choice alongside the existing 24mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M. By giving up roughly half a stop of speed, it offered a smaller, lighter barrel while retaining an aspherical optical layout and full rangefinder coupling. It sits among the wide-angle primes of the M lineup and was sold with an accessory screw-on hood and intended for use with a dedicated 24mm optical viewfinder.

Collector Notes The lens is identified by its order number 11648 and the engraving "LEICA ELMAR-M 1:3.8/24 ASPH. E46" with the serial number. Buyers should confirm that the E46 filter thread and front cap match, that the original screw-on hood (12465) is present, and that the six-bit coding remains intact and correctly read by digital M bodies. An appropriate 24mm finder (12019, 12026, or 12027) is a useful accessory to verify, since the lens itself does not trigger dedicated frame lines for its full field of view.