Leica Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.8 IV

Leica Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.8 IV

The fourth version of the Elmarit-M 28mm marks the end of an era for Leica's wide-angle line: it is the last non-aspherical 28mm Elmarit and the first 28mm Leica lens to adopt the now-standard E46 filter size [1][2]. Introduced in the early 1990s, it carries order number 11809 and bridges the older designs of the 1970s and 1980s with the aspherical Elmarit-M that replaced it in 2000. Within the M lineup it sat as the compact, moderate-speed wide-angle option below the later f/2 Summicron-M 28mm ASPH that arrived around the turn of the century.

Optically the lens uses an eight-element, seven-group design and focuses to 0.7 m, with rangefinder coupling through the Leica M quick-change bayonet. The eight-blade diaphragm runs from f/2.8 to f/22 with click stops including half values, operated manually. The barrel is built from black anodized aluminum and is engraved "LEICA ELMARIT-M 1:2.8/28 E46" with the serial number, and the lens takes a separate clip-on, lockable hood (code 12451) shared with the early f/2 Summicron-M. The body measures about 41 mm to the bayonet flange, roughly 53 mm in diameter, and weighs around 260 g.

Production ran from 1992 into the mid-2000s, with the Leica Wiki recording assigned serial numbers totaling just over 10,000 lenses through 2006. The lens was manufactured in both Canada and Germany over its run [3]. Late examples can be found with or without six-bit coding for digital M bodies, so two otherwise similar barrels exist; this version's six-bit code, where applied, is 011011.

Optical qualities

Rendering As the last of the non-aspherical 28mm Elmarit designs, the IV is generally regarded as a competent, contrasty wide-angle rather than a corrective showpiece. Users report good central sharpness from wide open and useful field coverage for landscape, travel, and documentary work, with corner performance that firms up on stopping down [4]. Detailed, comparative optical data for this version is limited in independent testing, and much of the available commentary concerns the later aspherical lens, so claims specific to the IV should be treated with that caveat. Reported flare control under direct light is reasonable for the era.

History

Development and Launch The IV continued Leica's long-running 28mm Elmarit family while modernizing its handling. Its most significant practical change was the move to the E46 filter thread, making it the first 28mm Leica to use that size and aligning it with later wide-angle lenses. It served as the standard moderate-speed 28mm in the M range until Leica introduced the aspherical Elmarit-M and the faster Summicron-M 28mm ASPH.

Production Evolution The lens was produced from 1992 to 2006 according to factory serial-number records, in batches that add up to a little over 10,000 units. Manufacture took place in both Canada and Germany. Toward the end of production and for service, examples appeared with the six-bit coding system used by digital M cameras, alongside earlier uncoded barrels.

Collector Notes Because the IV is visually similar to the early f/2 Summicron-M 28mm ASPH and shares the same large clip-on hood, the engraving and aperture should be checked to confirm identity. Buyers should verify whether a given example carries six-bit coding if intended for use on digital bodies, since both coded and uncoded versions exist. As with any older M lens, inspect for haze and coating condition, and confirm the hood (12451), caps, and E46 filters are present and correct. Published dimensions and weights vary slightly between sources, but the figures cited here follow the factory technical data.