Leica Summaron 28mm f/5.6

Leica Summaron 28mm f/5.6

Few Leica wide-angles pack as much collector appeal into so little metal as the 28mm f/5.6 Summaron. Introduced in 1955, it replaced the older and slower 2.8cm f/6.3 Hektor and gave screw-mount users a properly corrected wide-angle just as the Leica IIIg arrived [1][2]. The modest f/5.6 maximum aperture was a deliberate trade: by keeping the lens slow, Leica could make it flat, light, and pocketable, qualities that still define the lens today [2]. A six-element, four-group optical design sits behind a 34mm filter thread, and the whole assembly weighs only around 150 to 162 grams, which makes for an unusually small and balanced setup on a screw-mount or M-mount body [1].

The lens is fully rangefinder coupled, and its short barrel and fine, closely spaced focusing and aperture rings reflect its mid-1950s origins [1]. Reviewers note that the compactness can make the controls a little fiddly to operate, particularly with the hood fitted [1]. Because neither the screw-mount cameras nor the M3 carried 28mm frame lines when the lens launched, an accessory viewfinder was required for accurate framing, an extra item that original-era users had to buy separately [2]. Minimum focus is one meter, in keeping with the wide-angle rangefinder lenses of its day.

The original f/5.6 Summaron was made in Leitz screw mount (LTM/M39) and was produced only until 1963, when the faster 28mm Elmarit superseded it [1]. Production was small, with figures often cited around 6,228 units, and this scarcity has pushed prices high in the collector and auction markets, where the matching crackle-finish SOOBK lens hood is itself rare and sought after [2]. In 2016 Leica revived the design as the Summaron-M 28mm f/5.6, an M-mount, six-bit coded lens that, according to Leica, retains the original optical formula and rendering [3]. Care should therefore be taken to distinguish the vintage LTM lens from the modern reissue when researching values and features.

Optical qualities

Rendering Documented impressions describe a compact wide-angle that performs better than its age might suggest. One long-term user shooting a 1958 example reported excellent color and sharpness even at higher film speeds [2]. The original lens is praised for a notably good coating that lends it a fairly modern look [2]. The slow aperture and simple design keep the lens small but limit it to brighter conditions; reviewers recommend it mainly for outdoor or well-lit use, or with flash, rather than dim interiors [1].

Distortion and vignetting Some vignetting is reported and was apparently known as a characteristic of the lens in its day; on digital bodies it is easily corrected in post-processing [2].

History

Development and Launch During the Leica screw-mount era the company had few wide-angle options, and the existing 2.8cm f/6.3 Hektor was limited by its slow aperture and simple design [1]. With the launch of the IIIg approaching, Leica introduced the Summaron 28mm f/5.6 in 1955 as a better-corrected replacement, built around a six-element, four-group layout [1][2].

Production Evolution The f/5.6 Summaron was produced in screw mount until 1963, when it was discontinued in favor of the faster 28mm Elmarit [1]. In 2016 Leica reissued the design as the M-mount Summaron-M 28mm f/5.6, a six-bit coded lens that Leica states keeps the original optical formula and intended rendering, offered in silver and black finishes with a brass hood [3].

Collector Notes Original f/5.6 Summarons are scarce, and the low production total has made clean examples expensive at auction [2]. The correct period accessory is the SOOBK hood, a crackle-finish piece that is itself rare and commands a premium, so its presence and originality are worth verifying before purchase [2]. Because the lens launched before 28mm frame lines existed on Leica bodies, buyers planning to use it on vintage cameras should account for an accessory finder [2]. Finally, the vintage LTM lens and the 2016 M-mount reissue share a name and formula but differ in mount and coding, so identification matters when buying [1][3].

Sources

• [1] Dan Kerin Photography. Leica 28mm F/5.6 Summaron LTM. https://dankerinphotography.com/leica-28mm-f56-summaron
• [2] Macfilos (William Fagan). Leica 28mm Summaron f/5.6 Review: Little old guy goes modern, perhaps. https://www.macfilos.com/2016/05/24/2016-5-20-leica-28mm-summaron-f56-little-old-guy-goes-modernperhaps/
• [3] Steve Huff Photo. The NEW Leica 28 Summaron f/5.6 Lens Review. https://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2016/12/09/the-new-leica-28-summaron-f5-6-lens-review/