Leica Tri-Elmar-M 28-35-50mm f/4 ASPH. Type 1

Leica Tri-Elmar-M 28-35-50mm f/4 ASPH. Type 1

Few Leica M lenses break the system's one-lens, one-focal-length convention, and the Tri-Elmar-M 28-35-50mm is the more famous of the two that did. Known among collectors as the MATE, for Medium Angle Tri-Elmar, it packs the three most popular reportage focal lengths into a single barrel and was Leica's first multi-focal-length M lens for the public, introduced in 1998 [1][2]. The Type 1 is the original version, identifiable by its 55mm (E55) filter thread, which the two later iterations replaced with a smaller E49 mount [2]. Its appeal is partly practical and partly historical: it offers zoom-like flexibility on a rangefinder, and it occupies a distinctive niche in the M lens family that has kept it sought after on the used market [3].

The design uses eight elements in six groups with an aspherical surface, and the lens is fully rangefinder coupled, focusing to one metre at all three settings [2][3]. A separate focal-length selector ring sits close to the focusing ring, and on the camera a mechanical linkage raises the matching 28, 35 or 50mm frame lines as the setting is changed, so framing, focusing and metering can be done in one motion on suitable bodies [3]. Because of this frame-line mechanism the MATE works best with 0.72-magnification finders and with later metered and digital M bodies that carry 28mm frame lines; on bodies lacking them, or with 0.85 finders, it makes little sense [3]. The maximum aperture is a modest f/4 across the range, so it is not a low-light lens, and the barrel and hood obstruct the viewfinder noticeably, most at the 28mm setting [3]. Build quality is regarded as exceptional, with the three-ring mechanics often cited as a small engineering showpiece [3].

Across its short run the MATE appeared in three iterations while the optical formula stayed the same; the changes were cosmetic and mechanical, including barrel coatings, internal blackening to control flare, and reliability of the focal-length switching [1][3]. The Type 1 carries the E55 thread and uses a hood shared with the 24mm f/2.8 ASPH., whereas the later E49 versions saw a mechanical redesign that many users consider an improvement [3]. None of the early lenses left the factory with six-bit coding, which arrived only later or by retrofit, so an uncoded Type 1 is normal for its date [3].

Optical qualities

Rendering Reviewers describe the MATE as a well-corrected lens that performs strongly at all three settings even wide open, with little to gain from stopping down in central sharpness [4]. The late optical reviewer Erwin Puts tested it against contemporary and older primes and rated it as better than the earlier 28, 35 and 50mm M lenses and broadly competitive with then-current designs [4][3]. Later commentary notes that more recent Leica primes have moved ahead in resolution and micro-contrast, so by current standards the MATE is very good rather than class-leading [3].

Distortion and vignetting Without electronic correction the lens shows noticeable vignetting, reported as most pronounced at the 35mm setting, which is why six-bit coding or a manually selected lens profile is commonly recommended on digital M bodies [3].

Flare resistance Flare control is considered good but not flawless, with the 50mm setting most prone to veiling under difficult light; the deeply recessed front element helps, and the shallow shared hood is a practical limit because it must avoid vignetting at 28mm and blocking the rangefinder windows [3][5].

History

Development and Launch Leica released the Tri-Elmar-M 28-35-50mm in 1998 as a single lens covering three classic focal lengths, aimed at photographers who wanted to travel light without changing lenses [1][2]. It remains one of only two variable-angle-of-view lenses Leica ever sold to the public, alongside the later 16-18-21mm WATE of 2006 [1].

Production Evolution The MATE was produced for roughly nine years, until about 2007, and went through three versions in that time [1][2]. The optical design was unchanged throughout; the revisions covered the move from the E55 filter thread of the Type 1 to E49 on the later two, along with barrel and internal coating changes intended to improve flare control and the durability of the focal-length switching mechanism [1][3]. It is widely reported that production ended because the lens was expensive to manufacture rather than because of any optical shortcoming [1].

Special editions No widely documented factory special editions, military variants or unusual finishes of the Type 1 are recorded in the consulted sources; the lens is distinguished mainly by its three production versions and filter-thread change rather than by limited runs [1][3].

Collector Notes The clearest identifier of a Type 1 is its E55 filter thread, as opposed to the E49 of the later versions [2][3]. Because the correct hood and caps can be hard to find and the original hood is shared with the 24mm f/2.8 ASPH., buyers are advised to seek a lens that still includes its matching hood [3]. Six-bit coding is desirable for digital use and can be added by Leica service if absent, since the lens automatically applies the correct profile per focal length once coded [3]. Note that LeicaLensList records this Type 1 in silver finish; some dealer listings also describe black examples under model number 11890, so finish should be verified against the individual lens.

Sources

• [1] Macfilos (Joerg-Peter Rau). Leica Tri-Elmar lenses and the cancelled M Vario: All good things come in... twos. https://www.macfilos.com/2023/01/06/leica-tri-elmar-lenses-and-the-cancelled-m-vario-all-good-things-come-in-twos/
• [2] Steve Huff Photo (Ashwin Rao). The Leica MATE Lens Review (Medium Angle Tri-Elmar). https://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2010/11/11/the-leica-mate-lens-review-medium-angle-tri-elmar-by-ashwin-rao/
• [3] Macfilos (Joerg-Peter Rau). Leica Tri-Elmar lenses and the cancelled M Vario: All good things come in... twos. https://www.macfilos.com/2023/01/06/leica-tri-elmar-lenses-and-the-cancelled-m-vario-all-good-things-come-in-twos/
• [4] imx.nl (Erwin Puts). TriElmar 4/28-35-50mm asph. http://www.imx.nl/photo/leica/lenses/page84.html
• [5] Pebble Place. REVIEW | Leica 28-35-50mm F4 Tri-Elmar-M ASPH E49. https://www.pebbleplace.com/reviews/rangefinder/leica_28_35_50_mate/index.html