The Leica Summilux-M 28mm f/1.4 ASPH lens which was first introduced as a part of a limited edition set is now officially listed at Leica’s website.
The Leica Summilux-M 28mm f/1.4 ASPH. offers maximum image performance with a focal length / speed combination previously unavailable in the M system.
With its exceptional contrast, the lens delivers the same recognized high performance level as the Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH., and in some respects actually outperforms it.
The price of the Leica Summilux-M 28mm f/1.4 ASPH lens is $5,950/£3,975/€5,500. Shipping will start in June. 2015.
Leica Summilux-M 28mm f/1.4 ASPH Lens Becomes Official
Leica Summilux-M 28mm f/1.4 ASPH technical specifications
- Angle of view (diagonal, horizontal, vertical): 75°/65°/46° (M8: 60°/51°/35°)
- Optical design Number of lenses/groups: 10 / 7
- Position of entrance pupil (from bayonet flange): 31,9 mm
- Focus range: 0.7 m to ∞
- Distance setting Scales: Combined meter / graduation
- Smallest object field: 526 mm x 789 mm (M8: 395 mm x 592 mm)
- Largest reproduction ratio: 1 : 21,9
- Aperture Setting / Function: prefix with click-stops, half steps
- Lowest value: 16
- Bayonet Leica M quick-change bayonet
- Lens hood External thread with stop for screw on lens hood (included)
- Filter mount E49
- Dimensions and weight Length: approx. 81 mm
- Largest diameter: approx. 61 mm
- Weight: approx. 440g
Sample images taken with the new Leica Summilux-M 28mm f/1.4 ASPH lens can be found here.
Product description
The Leica Summilux-M 28mm f/1.4 ASPH. rounds off the range of high-speed M wide angle focal lengths. It offers exce lent image performance over the entire image field even at full aperture and in the close-up range thanks to a „floating element“. With its exceptional contrast, the lens delivers the same recognized high performance level as the Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH., and in some respects actually outperforms it. The vignetting that is typical of every optical system is naturally more defined on a wide angle lens, particularly a high speed one like this, than on standard lenses or those with a long focal length. At full aperture in 35mm format it is a maximum, i.e. in the corners of the image, of around 3.4 stops, around 2 stops on Leica M8 models with their slightly smaller format.
Stopping down to 5.6 visibly reduces this light falloff – to 1.8 and 0.8 stops respectively. Stopping down further does not bring about any notable reduction as essentially only the natural vignetting remains. Distortion is extremely low for a wide angle lens at a maximum of 1.1% (pulvinate), which is rarely noticeable in practice. A total of ten lens elements are used to achieve this exceptional performance. To correct color defects, seven of these are made of glass types with anomalous color dispersion (partial dispersion), while one has an aspherical surface. To maintain performance in the close-up range, one element towards the rear of the optical system is a “floating element” that moves independently of the rest of the mechanism.
Summary: The Leica Summilux-M 28mm f/1.4 ASPH. offers maximum image performance with a focal length / speed combination previously unavailable in the M system. This extends the composition options of M photography, particularly for available light shots, but also thanks to a previously unattainable reduction in the depth of field combined with large field angles.
via Leica Camera
