Leica 35mm f/2 Summicron-M ASPH. Lens with Protection Ring for M-Mount, Germany, Black, 6-Bit {E39} 11673

Leica's 35mm Summicron-M ASPH: the definitive M-mount standard lens.

At 53mm long and 340g, the Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH fits in a jacket pocket alongside whatever M-body you're shooting. That compactness isn't a compromise. The 7-element, 5-group design with an aspherical element delivers sharp, high-contrast images with minimal distortion across the full f/2 to f/16 aperture range, including wide open. The 63-degree angle of view maps closely to natural human sight, which is why street photographers and documentary workers have long treated 35mm as a default focal length on rangefinder systems.

The 11-blade iris produces a circular aperture at any setting, giving out-of-focus areas a smooth, continuous quality than the polygonal edges common to lenses with fewer blades. The 6-bit encoding communicates lens data directly to Leica M digital bodies, enabling automatic EXIF tagging and vignetting correction in-camera. A rectangular full-metal hood and screw-in filter thread protector are included. Made in Germany from metal throughout, this lens is built to outlast the photographers who use it. At this level of optical and mechanical refinement, the Summicron-M 35mm ASPH remains one of the few lenses that genuinely rewards decades of use.

Who It's For

Street photographers working close and fast will appreciate the 63-degree field of view and f/2 maximum aperture for low-light work without bulk. Photojournalists and documentary shooters benefit from the 6-bit encoding keeping EXIF data clean across M digital bodies. Travel photographers who want a single lens carried for weeks will find 340g and 53mm length genuinely pocketable on any M-mount body. Portrait shooters who prefer the intimacy of a slight working distance over longer telephoto compression can pair the 70cm minimum focus distance with the 11-blade circular aperture for smooth subject separation.

Key Features

• Leica M-mount 35mm f/2 with aspherical element for edge-to-edge sharpness
• 7-element, 5-group optical design with minimal distortion at all apertures
• 11-blade circular iris for smooth, continuous bokeh at any f-stop
• 6-bit encoding communicates lens data to Leica M digital bodies
• Full-metal construction, 53mm length and 340g weight for pocket portability
• 39mm filter thread with included rectangular full-metal hood and protection ring
• 63-degree angle of view matches natural human sight for rangefinder framing
• Manual focus with 70cm minimum focusing distance

FAQ

What's the angle of view on the Summicron-M 35mm, and why does it matter for rangefinder work?

63 degrees, which matches natural human sight-this is why 35mm became the default focal length for street and documentary photographers on M-bodies. You frame intuitively without the artificial framing feel of wider or longer lenses.

How sharp is this lens wide open at f/2?

Pin-sharp with rich contrast across the frame. The aspherical element and 7-element design eliminate the softness or chromatic aberration you'd expect from an f/2 35mm, even at close focus distances.

Does the 11-blade iris make a visible difference in bokeh?

Yes. Eleven blades produce a circular aperture at any stop, so out-of-focus areas stay smooth and continuous instead of showing the polygonal bokeh common to lenses with fewer blades.

Will this lens work with my digital M-body's exposure metering and EXIF data?

The 6-bit encoding communicates lens information to Leica M digital bodies for automatic EXIF tagging and in-camera vignetting correction. Manual focus rangefinders won't use the encoding, but the lens performs identically.

How compact is it really, and what's included in the box?

53mm long and 340g-pocket-sized. You get a rectangular full-metal hood with screw mount and a screw-in filter thread protector ring to shield the 39mm thread when the hood's off.

Is there significant distortion at wider apertures?

No. Leica engineered the aspherical element to deliver almost complete freedom from distortion across the entire f/2 to f/16 range and at all focusing distances.

What's the minimum focusing distance, and how close can you focus for detail work?

70cm (2.3 feet). At a 1:17.5 reproduction ratio, it's not a macro lens, but it's close enough for tight environmental portraiture or document copying.