Leica 28mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M ASPH. M-Mount Lens, Germany, Black, 6-Bit {E39} 11606

Leica's proven 28mm rangefinder wide-angle, made compact.

At 30mm long and 180g, the Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.8 ASPH disappears into a coat pocket without sacrificing the optical formula that made it a staple of serious M-system shooters. The 8-element, 6-group design incorporates one aspherical element to control the field curvature and coma that plague simpler wide-angle constructions at this focal length. Ten aperture blades with half-stop click-stops give you meaningful control over the transition between f/2.8 and f/22, and the all-metal barrel and mount are built to the tolerances you expect from a Germany-made Leica.

The 6-bit coding is the detail that separates this version from earlier Elmarit iterations. On any M digital body, the camera reads the lens ID automatically, applying the correct vignetting correction and storing lens data in EXIF. Pair it with an SL or SL2 via L-Mount adapter and the coding still functions. The 39mm filter thread keeps filter costs down relative to larger M lenses.

At 0.70m minimum focus distance, you're working close enough for environmental portraiture and tight architectural details without switching glass. Street photographers who rely on zone focusing will appreciate the engraved distance and depth-of-field scales, which let you shoot without lifting the camera to your eye.

Who It's For

Street and documentary photographers get a compact, fast-focusing-by-scale wide-angle that fits any M body without adding bulk to a day's carry. Travel photographers working with M10 or M11 bodies benefit directly from the 6-bit coding, which feeds automatic lens correction data to the camera. Landscape shooters on Sony E or Nikon Z mirrorless systems can adapt the lens and work with a proven German-made wide-angle prime at a fraction of the cost of native alternatives. Rangefinder film shooters gain a well-corrected 28mm with a depth-of-field scale calibrated for deliberate, measured work.

Key Features

• 28mm f/2.8 prime with one aspherical element for field curvature control
• 10-blade diaphragm with half-stop click-stops and f/22 minimum aperture
• 6-bit coding auto-detected on M digital and L-Mount systems
• 0.70m minimum focus distance for environmental work
• Engraved distance and DOF scales for zone focusing
• Metal barrel and mount, 39mm filter thread
• 30mm length and 180g weight, pocket-friendly design

FAQ

Does the 6-bit coding work on digital M bodies?

Yes. On M digital cameras, the 6-bit coding reads automatically, applying vignetting correction and embedding lens data in EXIF. It also functions via L-Mount adapter on SL and SL2 bodies.

What's the minimum focus distance?

0.70m (27.56"), close enough for environmental portraiture and tight architectural details without a supplementary lens.

Can you zone focus with this lens?

Yes. Engraved distance and depth-of-field scales let you pre-set focus zones and shoot without raising the camera to your eye.

How many aperture blades does it have?

10 blades with half-stop click-stops, giving you precise control from f/2.8 to f/22 in half-stop increments.

What filter size does it use?

39mm, which keeps filter costs lower than larger M-mount lenses. A hood is supplied.

Is the barrel all metal?

Yes. Metal barrel and metal mount built to Germany-made Leica tolerances.

How much does it weigh?

180g (0.40 lb) at 30mm long, compact enough for coat-pocket carry.