MS-Optics Perar 28mm f/4

The MS-Optics Perar 28mm f/4 is a M-mount lens for Leica rangefinder cameras. Leica price index ↗

Reference maintained by Thomas Boots

Focal Length: 28mm

Aperture: 𝑓/4

Release Year (from): 2012

Diameter: 50 mm

Length: 10 mm

Minimum Focus Distance: 0.8m

Elements in Groups: 3/3

Aperture Blades: 10

Mount: M

Material Weight: Metal, 38g

Colors: Black

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MS-Optics Perar 28mm f/4

When it appeared in 2012, the Perar 28mm f/4 Super Triplet drew attention less for raw performance than for its extreme miniaturization: contemporary coverage described it as likely the smallest 28mm lens, and among the smallest of any kind, made for the Leica M mount [1][2]. It is the work of Sadayasu Miyazaki, the one-man maker behind MS-Optics in Japan, who is known among rangefinder enthusiasts for lens conversions and a small line of original Perar optics [2][3]. The 28mm extended a family that already included a 35mm Perar, and Miyazaki has said the wider design followed roughly a year of work to address problems encountered in the earlier lenses [3].

The optical layout is a classic triplet, three elements in three groups, which is what allows the barrel to be so shallow [1][3]. The aperture is unusual in being placed in front of the glass rather than between elements, an arrangement that helps keep the lens thin; it uses a ten-blade diaphragm reported as German-made, and the elements are multicoated [1][2]. As a native M-mount lens it mounts directly without an adapter [3]. It is not rangefinder coupled, so focusing is done by scale and distance estimation rather than through the camera's rangefinder patch, and one practical approach is to set a small aperture and a fixed distance for snapshot-style shooting [4]. The filter thread is very small at 19mm, taken on the supplied hood [3]. With a metal body weighing only a few tens of grams and a depth of around a centimeter, it functions almost as a body cap with optics, and several users describe it as feeling more like a discreet accessory than a conventional lens.

Each example is hand assembled in small batches, so build and finish vary slightly between units [2]. The first run was limited to 180 lenses and is identifiable by an engraving error: the word meant to read TRIPLET was rendered as TPIRLET, a mistake Miyazaki acknowledged and corrected on later batches [1]. Later production carries the corrected engraving. The lens has been offered in black finish, and the model is sometimes listed with the MC (multicoated) designation [2][3].

Optical qualities

Rendering As a three-element triplet, the Perar 28mm trades clinical correction for character. Reviewers consistently report strong color and clarity in the central field, with image quality that is impressive given only three elements, while the extreme corners soften noticeably [5][6]. The limited number of elements means there is less scope for aberration correction than in a modern multi-element wide-angle, so flaws are part of the look rather than the exception [4].

Contrast and color Users describe vivid, saturated color and a distinctive, almost liquid drawing style that owners associate with simple low-element designs [5].

Digital use On the Leica M (Typ 240), one reviewer noted little of the magenta corner color shift, sometimes called the Italian-flag effect, that often troubles third-party wide-angle lenses on digital M bodies, making it practical for digital use, though extreme corners remain soft [5]. On smaller-format mirrorless cameras the effective angle of view narrows and the weaker outer field can be cropped away, leaving the stronger central portion [4].

History

Development and Launch The 28mm Perar Super Triplet was announced in early 2012 as the newest original design from MS-Optics, following the maker's reputation for conversions and the earlier 35mm Perar [2][3]. It was sold through specialist dealers including Japan Camera Hunter and Japan Exposures, with the first batch priced at 55,000 yen [1][2].

Production Evolution The lens has been produced in successive small, hand-assembled batches rather than as a continuous industrial run [2][3]. The most clearly documented change is the engraving correction after the first 180-unit batch, which replaced the TPIRLET misspelling with the intended TRIPLET wording [1].

Special editions No widely documented military, export, or special factory variants of this lens are recorded beyond the standard black, multicoated production; the principal collector distinction is between the misspelled first batch and the corrected later examples [1].

Collector Notes Because the lens is hand-built in limited numbers, the misspelled first-batch engraving is a recognized identification point for early examples [1]. Prospective buyers should confirm that small, easily lost accessories are present, in particular the dedicated hood, which carries the 19mm filter thread, and the focus tab, both of which owners report can go missing [7]. The unusual front-mounted aperture and very compact mechanism mean operation should be checked carefully, and as with any small-element vintage-style optic the glass should be inspected for haze or coating issues before purchase.