Leica Super-Angulon-M 21mm f/3.4

Leica Super-Angulon-M 21mm f/3.4

Built for Leica by Schneider-Kreuznach, the Super-Angulon-M 21mm f/3.4 is a wide-angle rangefinder lens defined by its near-symmetrical optical layout, in which a substantial rear group projects deep into the camera body [1][2]. That construction keeps the external barrel compact for its angle of view, but it is also the source of the lens's best-known quirk: the rear glass sits so far inside the body that it interferes with the reflected-light metering of certain film Leicas, and it blocks the swing-out meter arms of the M5 and CL unless a special cut-out version is fitted [1][2]. The design is credited to Werner Wagner of Schneider-Kreuznach, and the lens reached the market in 1963 as a faster, optically revised successor to the earlier 21mm f/4 Super-Angulon [2].

Optically the lens uses an eight-element, four-group formula and covers a diagonal angle of view of about 92 degrees [2]. It is fully rangefinder-coupled and carries Leica order number 11103 [2]. The barrel is all-metal with a click-stopped diaphragm, and reviewers single out the infinity-lock focusing tab as one of the more pleasant to operate [1]. A notable departure from the earlier f/4 lens is the diaphragm: the f/3.4 uses only four aperture blades, where the f/4 had nine, a change that produces four-pointed flare patterns around bright point sources and remains a point of debate among users [1]. Filters attach via a Series VII / E48 fitting, and a 52.5 mm slip-on size is also referenced for the front [2]. Because of the deep rear element, the lens can be mounted on digital M bodies such as the M8 and M9 but without metering, and it shows colour shift and softening toward the edges on a sensor [1][2].

Two main variants are documented. Early examples were finished in chrome, with production moving to all-black from around 1967, and from a later serial-number point Schneider produced the cut-out rear barrel that clears the M5 and CL meter arms [2]. The standard inscription reads LEITZ WETZLAR SUPER-ANGULON 1:3.4/21 [2]. Reported total production is modest, on the order of fewer than six thousand units, which contributes to the lens's collector standing [2].

Optical qualities

Rendering Contemporary accounts describe the lens as comparatively low in contrast by modern standards while still resolving fine detail well, so apparent sharpness can be raised in post-processing without revealing a lack of underlying resolution [1]. As a near-symmetrical wide angle it shows very low rectilinear distortion, a trait reviewers value and contrast with the more complex retrofocus designs that replaced it [1].

Distortion and vignetting Distortion is low, consistent with the symmetrical layout [1]. The lens vignettes when used wide open, and corner performance softens somewhat, effects that become more pronounced on digital sensors than on film [1].

Flare resistance The four-blade diaphragm generates distinct four-pointed flare around bright point light sources, an identifiable signature of this version rather than the earlier nine-blade f/4 [1].

Digital use On digital M cameras the steep angle of the exiting light produces edge colour shift and reduced corner sharpness; some of the colour cast can be mitigated with localized adjustments in software, though the lens is generally considered better suited to film [1].

History

Development and Launch Schneider-Kreuznach designed and manufactured the Super-Angulon line for Leica, and the 21mm f/3.4 arrived in 1963 as the second 21mm wide angle in the M system, following the 21mm f/4 Super-Angulon [1][2]. It offered roughly half a stop more speed than the f/4 along with a revised optical formula, and the design is attributed to Werner Wagner with a 1963 date [1][2].

Production Evolution Manufacture ran from 1963 into 1980, with reported output below about 5,970 lenses [2]. The finish changed from chrome to all-black around 1967, and from a later serial number Schneider introduced a cut-out rear barrel so the lens would clear the meter mechanisms of the M5 and CL [2].

Special editions No widely documented factory special editions, military versions, or rare regional variants are recorded for this lens beyond the chrome, black, and cut-out production variants noted above [2].

Collector Notes Buyers should confirm whether a given example is the standard or the cut-out rear version if it is intended for use on an M5 or CL, since the early form is not safe to mount on those bodies [1][2]. The four-blade diaphragm and the LEITZ WETZLAR SUPER-ANGULON 1:3.4/21 inscription distinguish it from the earlier nine-blade f/4 [1][2]. Period-correct accessories that add to a complete set include the 12501 hood and the matching 21mm accessory finder (SBKOO and later types), and given the lens's age it is worth checking the deep rear element for haze, cleaning marks, or fungus [2]. The verified close-focus figure recorded by LeicaLensList is 0.7 m; some collector and dealer references cite a 0.4 m minimum focusing distance, a discrepancy worth noting when comparing listings [2].

Sources

• [1] 35mmc. Leica 21mm f/3.4 Super-Angulon Review / Shooting an elderly symmetrical wide angle on a digital rangefinder. https://www.35mmc.com/24/06/2019/leica-21mm-f-3-4-super-angulon-review/
• [2] Leica Wiki (English). 21mm f3.4 Super-Angulon. https://wiki.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/21mm_f3.4_Super-Angulon