Omnar CX38-28 Satin Black Special Edition

Omnar CX38-28 Satin Black Special Edition

The CX38-28 is a notably compact rangefinder lens, measuring only 17 mm in length and 51 mm in diameter and weighing 120 g. Its 38 mm focal length sits between the more common 35 mm and 40 mm classes, giving a slightly tighter field of view than a standard 35 mm while remaining wider than a normal lens. The Satin Black Special Edition refers to a particular finish variant of the design, distinguished by its understated matte black barrel.

Optically the lens uses a simple arrangement of five elements in three groups, a layout consistent with its small size and moderate f/2.8 maximum aperture. The diaphragm is built from seven blades. Focusing extends to a minimum distance of 0.45 m. The lens is rangefinder coupled and made for the Leica M mount, so it drives the camera rangefinder mechanism directly for focusing. It accepts 40.5 mm screw-in filters. It does not carry six-bit coding, so on bodies that read that coding the lens will not be identified automatically and any profile must be selected manually.

Production of this version is recorded as beginning in 2024, with the end of production not established. As a recent special edition rather than a long-running catalogue item, documented variants beyond the satin black finish are limited.

Optical qualities

Rendering Detailed, independently verified rendering data for this specific finish variant is limited. What can be stated follows from the design itself: a five element, three group formula with a moderate f/2.8 aperture and a 38 mm focal length is a compact, relatively simple configuration. The seven-blade diaphragm shapes the aperture opening when the lens is stopped down. Beyond these design-level observations, claims about sharpness, contrast, bokeh, flare, distortion, or vignetting are not made here because they are not supported by confirmed sources.

History

The CX38-28 is a current production lens, with this Satin Black Special Edition listed from 2024 onward. Comprehensive, independently confirmed historical and production documentation was not available for this specific edition at the time of writing, so further detail on its development, evolution, and variant history is left out rather than stated without support.