Leica 21mm f/2 Super-APO-Summicron-SL ASPH. Full-Frame Autofocus Lens for L-Mount, Black Anodized {E67} 11181

Leica's 21mm APO prime: the first of its kind.

Apochromatic correction at 21mm is something no lens manufacturer had pulled off before this one. Leica's Super-APO-Summicron-SL 21mm f/2 ASPH. corrects chromatic aberration across the full 91.7° field of view, meaning the color fringing and contrast degradation that typically punish wide-angle lenses at f/2 simply don't show up here. The 14-element, 11-group construction includes three aspherical surfaces working alongside full APO correction, and the result is a wide-angle prime that holds its optical integrity from the center all the way into the corners.

At f/2, you get genuine subject separation at a focal length that usually lives stopped down. The minimum focus distance of 0.21 m opens up environmental detail work and close architectural elements that most 21mm lenses can't reach. Dual Synchro Drive autofocus handles the focusing duties internally, keeping the 102mm barrel length constant and making the 67mm filter thread actually usable with a polarizer or ND. At 789 g, this is a serious piece of glass, sized and weighted appropriately for what it delivers.

Who It's For

Architectural and interior photographers gain the most from the APO correction here: at f/2 in mixed or artificial light, color fringing along high-contrast edges is a real problem with most wide primes, and this lens eliminates it. Landscape shooters who work near dawn or dusk at full aperture will find the 91.7° field paired with edge-to-edge optical control gives them something most fast wide-angles can't sustain. Photojournalists on L-mount systems benefit from the Dual Synchro Drive autofocus and 0.21 m minimum focus distance for tight environmental portraits. Studio photographers shooting interiors or products with controlled lighting will notice the clean contrast and natural transitions the APO formula preserves even wide open.

Key Features

• World's first APO lens at 21mm focal length
• f/2 maximum aperture across 91.7° field of view
• 14-element, 11-group construction with three aspherical surfaces
• Dual Synchro Drive internal autofocus with no rotating front element
• Minimum focus distance of 0.21 m for environmental detail work
• 67mm filter thread usable with polarizers and ND filters
• 789 g weight with 102 mm constant barrel length

FAQ

Is this really the first APO lens at 21mm?

Yes. No other manufacturer had corrected chromatic aberration across a full ultra-wide field of view at this focal length before Leica released this one in 2023. The APO correction holds from center to corners at f/2.

What's the minimum focus distance, and does it actually matter at 21mm?

0.21 m (8.3 inches). At this focal length most lenses focus around 0.3-0.5 m, so the closer distance lets you work environmental detail and architectural elements you'd otherwise need to step back from.

Will a polarizer or ND filter fit the 67mm thread without vignetting?

Yes. The 102mm constant barrel length and internal focus mechanism keep the front element from rotating or extending, so standard 67mm filters work without optical penalty.

How does the f/2 aperture perform wide open at 21mm?

Without the color fringing typical of fast wide-angle lenses. The APO and aspherical correction handles the optical demands, giving you usable subject separation and corner clarity that most 21mm primes can't match at f/2.

Does this lens have an aperture ring or focus ring?

No aperture ring-it's electronic control only. The internal focus system from Dual Synchro Drive means no rotating front element or distance scale, keeping weight down at 789 g.

What kind of autofocus system does it use?

Dual Synchro Drive, Leica's internal autofocus motor built into the lens. It's fast and silent, with no mechanical focus ring turning.

Is image stabilization built in?

No. At 21mm you rarely need it for handheld work, and the optical design already delivers corner-to-corner sharpness that compensates for the lack of IS.