Leica 28mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M ASPH (2006–Present)
A compact wide-angle lens for Leica M-series rangefinders, introduced in 2006 with aspherical correction.
Overview
The Leica 28mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M ASPH is a lens designed for Leica’s M-series rangefinder cameras. It began shipping in October 2006 as the typ 11606 version, which was produced until 2016. A revised version, typ 11677, has been manufactured since January 2016 and features a metal lens hood instead of the earlier plastic one; optical and mechanical specifications remain unchanged between versions. The lens is noted for its use in street photography, offering a wider field of view than standard 35mm or 50mm lenses.
Specifications
| Focal length | 28mm (actual design focal length: 28.5mm) |
| Maximum aperture | f/2.8 |
| Optical formula | 8 elements in 6 groups, one aspheric surface |
| Diaphragm | 10 blades (straight at f/4, inwardly curved from f/5.6) |
| Filter size | E39 |
Reception & Use
The 28mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M ASPH is recommended for advanced street photographers using zone focusing at small apertures (f/8–f/16), a technique historically used by photographers like Garry Winogrand and Joel Meyerowitz. Due to its wide angle, it requires close proximity to subjects, which may be challenging for beginners. Users who wear glasses may find it difficult to see the full frame lines in rangefinders with 0.72x magnification; a 0.58x viewfinder (available only on film M models) is suggested for better visibility.
Market
The lens had an original U.S. price of $1,495 in February 2007, rising to $2,000 by October 2011. The newer typ 11677 version was priced at $2,297 in October 2017. Used models of the typ 11606 were estimated to sell for around $1,500, assuming savvy purchasing.
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