Leica 28mm Summicron-M f/2.0 ASPH

Review Date
June 6, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Reviewed by
Joel , Expert

Price Paid
$0.00

Photography Experience
21+ years , Fine Art

Summary
Having had and sold the M8 along with 35 summicron, 50 lux, and 90 elmarit, I have found the weight:quality tradeoff with a DSLR dissappointing and have returned to the upgraded M8.2 with the 28 elmarit asph. It reminds me so much of the compactness and friendliness of the 35 summicron which was my workhorse in the past, but I always wanted more angle of view. Now I'm a one body, one lens shooter which suits me just fine for my needs. And the small compact size of this kit is unbeatable for the results one gets. This review just confirms my choice over the the much more expensive 28 summicron, a beautiful lens indeed, but IMHO, not worth another $2500.

Strengths
size and weight
sharpness and contrast

Weaknesses
none

Review Date
April 1, 2008

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 2 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by
Blane , Professional

Price Paid
$0.00

Photography Experience
21+ years , People

Summary
I bought the f2 28mm Summicron Aspeherical to replace a 28mm 4th version Elmarit. The Elmarit was already excellent for my work, but, given the reviews of the 28mm f2 Summicron, I assumed I would see at least a degree of improvement in results.

The Summicron is, without doubt, a high resolution optic. However, I was unprepared for the marked reduction in available depth of field, even at smaller apertures, compared to that of the Elmarit. I happily use the latter at 2.8, and seldom miss a shot due to focusing error. I even use the 35 f2 Aspherical in the same way, and have never experienced this limitation with the lens.

With a rangefinder camera, I always work at wide apertures and very close in, using the 28mm as a 'standard' lens, more than as a wide-angle. With the Summicron, the reduced depth of field proves very difficult for this sort of working, even when stopping-down to f4. I have good technique, but this 28mm Summicron challenges it. I found myself using higher ISO settings to gain a stop or two in aperture. This is not what I was hoping for. I'd bought the 28mm Summicron for the extra stop - suddenly, I was working at least a stop down from my usual working aperture.

Even when stopped well down, it has not been my experience with the 28mm Summicron that it renders fine detail as realistically as my sample of the 28mm Elmarit. Even though there is an apparent sharpness, and this is held to the edges of an image, as promised, there is a strange quality to the drawing of the scene that appears as might a vibration of the image before the eye. It's very hard to describe, sensibly. It is not a characteristic I have noticed with other aspherical designs I use. Used in the traditional manner of a wide angle - not close in, and stopped down, the lens does produce a convincing wide view. I note that it will produce an impressive townscape, room shot, or still life. I do a lot of so-called "lifestyle" shots, and have found that the 28mm Summicron works well with close up table-top shots in rooms. It has a modern, "busy" bokeh, that can work well in these circumstances.

If you are considering the Summicron 28mm, say, as a 'standard' lens replacement on an M8 or RD-1, be sure that the shallower depth of field of this aspherical design isn't something that will burden your working style. You may well find that you are better off with a pre-aspherical 28mm Elmarit. Certainly, the version 4 sample I use is everything one would expect from a Leica lens. And, for me, at least, the Elmarit is much easier to use in confidence within my working style. If your experience of the Summicron proves similar to my own, you can save yourself a lot of money by buying the older, slower, and in my view, superior Elmarit.

With the 28mm Elmarit, I'm a photographer. With the 28mm f2 Summicron Aspherical, I have to perform as something of a technician. This is too-much of a restraint for me. The Elmarit remains my general purpose tool, while the expensive Summicron 28m has the role of a specialist lens for those shots where I need its aggressive, apparent sharpness, it's flatness of field, et al. I am not sure I can justify keeping it in my kit, for all the use it receives.

Strengths
"Sharp".
Eveness of apparent sharpness.
Flatness of field / Minimal distortion.
Relative compactness.

Weaknesses
Expensive.

Notably shallower depth of field compared to spherical wide-angle lens designs,
may prove limiting to close, handheld work.

My sample does not render fine detail as realistically as my 4th version 28mm Elmarit, nor as well as the 35mm f2 Aspherical Summicron I also use.

Ergonomics favour compactness rather than ease of operation, compared to older body designs.

Enormous, intrusive lens hood.

Modern 'drawing' characteristics of the aspherical design, including bokeh, may not suit the individual more used to the results from earlier Leica lenses.

Similar Products Used
CV f1.9 28mm (Lovely lens - cheap, and I found it easier to use than the Summicron, even wide open - though focusing was stiff.)

CV f2.5 35mm

35mm f2 Summicron Aspherical.

28mm f2.8 Elmarit Version 4.

Customer Service
None required

Review Date
April 14, 2004

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by
vpeabody , Expert

Price Paid
$1800.00 at popflashphoto

Photography Experience
21+ years , Fine Art

Summary
The 28mm/2 ASPH is far and away the best lens in the 24-28mm range that I have used. It is extremely sharp and relatively smooth in out of focus areas, producing excellent results in photojournalistic crowd shots of people at f/5.6 and f/8. I am blown away by how lifelike recent pictures I took of protests by the Massachusetts Statehouse looked. The wide open performance is also really good for isolating subjects, and it is far easier to focus a rangefinder fast wide angle than an SLR fast wide lens like the Nikkor 24mm/2 I used to own. Fast SLR wideangles have the disadvantage of not being able to show differences in focus point well since everything looks in focus in the veiwfinder, whether it really is or isn't actually on the negative. With a rangefinder the focusing accuracy is dependent on the rangefinder baseline and magnification, and even the Leica 0.58x finder is more than adequate to fcus this lens.

Strengths
Sharpness, low light and isolating capabilities, convenient focusing tab. Excellent construction.

Weaknesses
Sometimes large flare patches occur if a bright object is just outside the frame. Hood is bulky and cuts into viewfinder frame.

Similar Products Used
Nikkor 24mm/2 AIs, AF Nikkor 24mm/2.8, Nikon 28mm/2.8 Series E, Nikkor 28mm/2.8 AIs, AF Nikkor 24mm/2.8

Review Date
August 18, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by
Steven Fierberg , Professional , from Los Angeles, CA United States

Price Paid
$1800.00 at Samy's Camera

Photography Experience
21+ years , People

Summary
The lens is excellent, I use it wide open, or one stop down all the time. It has NO flare, even in dimly lit interiors with bright sunlit windows in the bg. Otherwise excellent lenses (Canon, Nikon) would fail in these circumstances. At 5.6 there is breathtaking sharpness and contrast. No distortion, makes it great for people in their environment.

Strengths
Speed, exceptional contrast, no distortion, and most of all, remarkable resistance to flare.

Weaknesses
Like all rangefinder lenses, close focusing is limited, but better than competing brands, such as Voightlander. Lens hood must occasionally be removed to clear lower right area in finder.

Similar Products Used
Nikon, Canon, Sigma 28mm lenses, Leica Reflex 28mm.

Customer Service
Excellent.

Review Date
July 4, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
2.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by
Terrence Glass , Intermediate , from Leawood, Kansas

Price Paid
$1550.00 at KB Camera

Photography Experience
6-10 years , People

Summary
This lens is extremely sharp with excellent contrast, and is a pleasure to use.

Strengths
Resolving power, contrast and ease of use.

Weaknesses
None

Similar Products Used
Leica Tri-Elmar

Customer Service
None needed for this product.