Leica Tri-Elmar-M 28-35-50mm f/4 ASPH. Type 2

Leica Tri-Elmar-M 28-35-50mm f/4 ASPH. Type 2

Among Leica M lenses, the Tri-Elmar-M 28-35-50mm f/4 ASPH stands out as a rare attempt to fold three popular focal lengths into a single compact rangefinder barrel, and it is widely known by the nickname MATE, for Medium Angle Tri-Elmar, to distinguish it from the wide-angle 16-18-21mm WATE [1]. The Type 2 is part of the later, slimmer evolution of the design that uses a 49mm filter thread, and it carries model number 11625. Rather than a continuously variable zoom, the lens offers three discrete settings at 28, 35 and 50mm, with the rangefinder coupling and the camera's frame lines following the chosen focal length. The constant f/4 maximum aperture keeps the barrel small at 67mm long and 55mm in diameter, with a weight of about 340g.

The optical layout uses eight elements in six groups, including aspherical surfaces, and the diaphragm is built from eight blades. Handling is defined by three rotating controls, one each for aperture, distance and focal length, and the focal-length and distance rings sit close together, which takes a short period of familiarisation. Focusing is conventional rangefinder coupling down to a one metre minimum, and the lens mounts on any Leica M body. It is not factory six-bit coded, although the 101010 code can be applied for bodies that read lens identification for in-camera corrections; one user account noted that adding the correct coding to a digital M removed the corner light falloff that had otherwise been visible. The 28-50mm span effectively makes the lens Leica's take on a normal zoom, and its character changed with the 1.3x crop of the M8, which shifted the effective angles of view before full-frame digital bodies restored the native framing.

Across its production the MATE was made in three versions. The first used an E55 filter thread, while the two later versions, including this Type 2, moved to a 49mm thread, and over those iterations the optical formula was left unchanged while cosmetics, barrel coatings and mechanical function were refined. Some of the later changes are reported to have been aimed at reducing the flare that the earliest version could show at the 50mm setting.

Optical qualities

Rendering Contemporary review describes the MATE as competing closely with Leica's prime lenses, producing a sharply rendered image with pleasing out-of-focus areas wide open and reaching its best performance stopped down to roughly f/5.6 to f/8.

Contrast and color The lens is reported to hold fine detail and microcontrast well, with contrast described as medium to high in keeping with its aspherical design, and colour reproduction characterised as accurate though not at the level of Leica's APO designs.

Flare resistance Flare was a noted weakness of the original E55 version at the 50mm setting, and later revisions are said to have addressed it, although the inherently shallow hood required to clear the rangefinder windows limits how much shading is possible.

History

Development and Launch The Tri-Elmar-M 28-35-50mm was conceived as a versatile travel and general-purpose optic that gave M photographers three focal lengths in one body, and it was regarded during its run as a statement of Leica's engineering capability, evidenced by the complexity visible in its cross-section.

Production Evolution The MATE was produced for roughly nine years from 1998 through 2007, a short span by M-lens standards, and ran through three versions. The progression moved from the E55 first version to the E49 later versions, of which the Type 2 is one, while the optical formula stayed the same and the barrel coatings, cosmetics and functionality were improved.

Collector Notes The lens is uncommon on the used market and is sought after as much for its novelty and engineering as for everyday use. Its discontinuation is generally attributed to the cost and scarcity of the front element, reported to have been supplied by Hoya, which made continued production hard to justify. Buyers should confirm which version they are handling, since the early E55 lens and the later E49 lenses share the same optics but differ in filter size, coatings and mechanical detail, and the 49mm Type 2 is identifiable by its filter thread and depth-of-field scale. Smooth, accurate movement of all three control rings, particularly the focal-length selector, is worth checking before purchase.