Leica Summilux-M 28mm f/1.4 ASPH

Leica Summilux-M 28mm f/1.4 ASPH

When Leica added a 28mm to its Summilux family, it filled the last gap in the company's lineup of high-speed M wide angles, joining the existing 21mm, 24mm, 35mm and 50mm f/1.4 lenses [2]. It is the fastest 28mm Leica has ever built for the M system, pairing a popular reportage focal length with an aperture that, until its arrival, was simply not available at that angle of view. The combination was aimed squarely at available-light and documentary work, where the extra stop over the 28mm f/2 Summicron buys both shutter speed and a previously unattainable shallow depth of field for a lens this wide.

The optical design uses ten elements in seven groups, with one aspherical surface and seven elements made from glass with anomalous partial dispersion to keep colors focused in a common plane. A floating element positioned toward the rear of the system, behind the diaphragm, moves independently of the main focusing group to maintain performance down to the 0.7 m close-focus limit. The lens is rangefinder coupled and focuses smoothly, with reviewers describing a sample as effectively perfect out of the box and even smoother than many 35mm Summilux examples [4]. In size it sits between the 24mm and 35mm Summilux lenses, balancing well on an M body despite a noticeable weight increase over the 35mm, and it uses a screw-in metal lens hood similar to the 35mm Summilux design. Because the angle of view exceeds the standard M finder, there is some viewfinder blockage at the lower right, on the order of a fifth of the corner, which most rangefinder users learn to ignore; precise framing favors an electronic viewfinder [1].

The lens has been offered in black anodized finish, and a silver anodized version has also been produced. It first reached photographers in chrome as part of Leica's 100th-anniversary M Edition 100 set before entering regular production, which is one reason early black examples were the only standard-catalogue option at launch.

Optical qualities

Rendering The 28mm Summilux is documented as a high-contrast, high-resolution optic that performs strongly from maximum aperture. Reviewers report outstanding center and edge sharpness wide open, with crisp, well-detailed files even on the 60-megapixel M11 sensor, though near corners can soften when focus is set at infinity and may need stopping down for depth-of-field reasons. Color is neutral to rich and saturated, with contrast that carries a moderate S-curve yet keeps shadows open and files malleable in post.

Bokeh and transitions For a wide angle the out-of-focus rendering is smooth, comparable to the 28mm f/2 Summicron, but the f/1.4 aperture produces a more dramatic falloff from sharp to blurred that allows real subject isolation. At distances of about two meters and beyond the transition is gentle, while at minimum focus the drop-off becomes immediate and pronounced.

Distortion and vignetting Distortion is very low for a fast wide angle, rated at a maximum of about 1.1 percent and rarely noticeable in practice. Vignetting is more pronounced than on standard lenses, as is typical of a fast wide angle: Leica cites roughly 3.4 stops in the corners at full aperture on full-frame, falling to about 1.8 stops by f/5.6, beyond which mainly natural falloff remains. Several users regard the wide-open falloff as a pleasing part of the lens character.

Aberrations and flare The most commonly noted flaw is purple fringing in high-contrast situations, a trait shared with other fast Leica lenses and readily corrected in software. One long-term user otherwise treats chromatic aberration as a non-issue and reports flare resistance as another non-problem area.

History

Development and Launch Leica introduced the Summilux-M 28mm f/1.4 ASPH in 2015 as the first M lens to combine f/1.4 with the 28mm wide-angle focal length [3]. The company positioned it as the completion of its range of high-speed M wide angles and stated that it delivers the same recognized performance level as the 35mm f/1.4 Summilux, in some respects exceeding it. Its arrival coincided with Leica's wider emphasis on the 28mm focal length, also seen in the fixed-lens Leica Q introduced the same year.

Special editions The lens debuted in chrome within the Leica M Edition 100 anniversary set commemorating the centenary of Leica photography, before it became a standard production item, and a silver anodized version has also been offered alongside the regular black finish.

Collector Notes The lens carries the six-bit identification used by modern M lenses and is offered under model numbers 11668 and 11911. The screw-in metal hood is a recurring point of discussion among owners, since it must be removed and stored when changing filters and replacements are costly. Prospective buyers should confirm the hood and caps are present, and weigh the lens's substantial size and weight against more compact 28mm alternatives such as the f/2.8 Elmarit and f/2 Summicron before purchase.