REVIEWS - Leica 28mm F1.4 Summilux-M ASPH

OVERVIEW

The Leica 28mm Summilux had a long and somewhat public development cycle. In 2012 the 28mm Summilux appeared in the Leica M9 firmware. Then in 2014 the 100th Anniversary M Sets with a stainless steel 28mm Summilux were produced to celebrate the 100 years since the first 35mm prototype developed by Oskar Barnack. And then finally in 2015 the 28mm Summilux entered regular production.

In 2018 I bought a 28mm Summilux because I was totally frustrated with the second generation Leica 28mm F2 Summicron-M ASPH (II) and its focus shift issues. The 28mm Summilux was an impulse purchase where I was throwing money at a problem and hoping for a quick fix to the situation.

BUILD QUALITY

As shown in the header picture, I have a weakness for silver lenses. Leica's original chrome lenses look lovely, but being brass underneath, they are about 2X heavier than their black counterparts (made in aluminum). Leica reintroduced silver lenses with same aluminum build as the black lenses, but with a silver anodized finish instead.

The result is silver finished lenses weighing the same as their black counterparts. I am smitten with this new(ish) silver anodized finish. The silver finish is more radiant or silvery than the original silver chrome finish - which has a pewter-like undertone in its sheen and color. When Leica announced a limited production run of 300 silver 28mm Summilux's in 2019, I exchanged my 28mm Summilux for one in the silver.

Part of the Leica experience is the feel of the premium materials and the precision fit and finish. The 28mm Summilux certainly lives up to my expectations. The only niggle is when removing the lens hood, Leica does not make an a beauty ring to hideaway the threads for the lens hood (the source of much consternation on Leica user forums). Given the price for the lens, Leica should have included such a ring.

HANDLING

The 28mm Summilux is a substantial lens. If accustom to the heft of Noctilux's and large Summilux's such as the Leica 21mm F1.4 Summilux-M ASPH (recently discontinued), then the 28mm Summilux is comparatively compact. For those who value small, lightweight lenses above all else, the 28mm Summilux is likely less than ideal.

I like the aesthetic styling of Leica's metal screw-in lens hoods; however, with filters the screw-in lens hoods can be irksome. The hoods have to be unscrewed and stowed safely (replacement hoods are quite pricey). Since I change filters often with Leica M10 Monochrom, this hood & filter dance it tedious.

There is some viewfinder blockage - probably around 20% of the lower, righthand corner. Having used rangefinders for years, I see the blockage but somehow do not notice it. If needing precise framing, the Leica M11's EVF is the way to go.

After 5 years with the 28mm Summilux, nothing stands out as being annoying, troublesome or unusual. Weight is probably the most tangible consideration. A slide-out style hood would be easier when it comes to filters.

PERFORMANCE

The following bullet points are based on my experience and observations with the 28mm Summilux during the last 5 years or so. These are anecdotal observations, and as such, they should be regarded as just one person's opinions. Much of this is written with the Leica 35mm F1.4 Summilux-M ASPH (FLE) and Leica 28mm F2 Summicron-M ASPH (1st version) as loose points of comparison.

• Sharpness:  Sharpness is outstanding. Center and edge to edge sharpness are surprisingly good at F1.4. Corner sharpness will be influenced by where the focus plane is placed - if focusing at infinity, near corners may be soft. For depth of reasons, F8 or F11 may be needed.
• Resolution:  Having used the 28 Summilux on the M10-P, M-246, M10-R, M10-M and M11, the 28mm Summilux images are very crisp and well detailed on the Leica M11's 60 MP sensor.
• Diffraction:  If shooting at F11 or F16, the 35mm Summilux FLE stands up a bit better. Compared to the 35mm Summilux (FLE), the 28mm Summilux performance feels more biased towards the wider apertures.
• Contrast:  The 28mm Summilux's contrast is outstanding - whether street, landscapes or portraits - good stuff all around. Contrast has a moderate S curve, so it packs a punch, but the shadows are open and not blocked up. The files are very malleable in post. Colors are very rich and saturated.
• Distortion:  The 28mm Summilux is rated as having a low distortion 1.1%. All I can say about this is that in post, barrel / pincushion distortion is a non-issue.
• Rectilinear Projection:  Corner stretch / smear are a non issue. The Leica 21mm F3.4 Super-Elmar-M ASPH is mind-blowing good. The 28mm Summilux is not quite at the level, but it is impressive.
• Vignetting:  I like light fall off, so the 28mm Summilux character fits my style well. The lens has moderate illumination fall off wide apertures. Vignetting with filters can be of concern (more on this beloew).
• Chromatic Aberrations:  The only issue i have observed is some M11 sensor blooming (purple fringing on blown out / bright edges) when shooting on backlight overcast days. Frankly, I have no given chromatic aberrations any thought until writing this review, suggesting it has been a non-issue in my post / editing processes.
• Flare:  Another non-issue area. I have not noticed in central veiling (like that of the Leica 75mm Summicron-M APO). The 28mm Summilux handles itself quite nicely if shooting into the sun, such as a sunset.
• Bokeh:  For a wider angle lens, bokeh is excellent. Smoother than the 35mm Summilux FLE; though, 28mm has more depth of field vs 35mm, so while the bokeh is smooth, there is not alot of blurring or abstraction.
• Sun Stars:  Outstanding. With 11 aperture blades, the sun stars have been excellent. Very impressed.

Leica has found an excellent balance of sharpness, modern contrast, smooth bokeh and overall draw or character. The 28mm Summilux is definitely a "modern" lens with high levels of sharpness and contrast. However, the 28mm Summilux is not one-note lens like the Leica 50mm F2 Summicron-M APO; the 50mm APO does one thing - sharp.

I respect and appreciate the 50mm APO's sharpness, but when looking at the rear screen on the M's and gauging shots in the field, there is no emotional "wow" to how it draws a scene. Whereas with the 28mm Summilux, my eyes widen and there is a "holy crap!" moment. I find the 28mm Summilux to be very gratifying.

LENS FILTERS

When using filters, light fall-off and mechanical vignetting can be of concern in certain cases:

• Single Filter:  Single filters generally work fine. The 28mm Summilux has moderate light fall at wide apertures, adding a filter may accentuate corner shading, but mechanical vignetting has been a non-issue.
• Leica Universal Polarizer:  The Universal Polarizer works fine; however, I suspect there is mechanical vignetting. The vignetting may be focus distance dependent (Leica Universal Polarizer review).
• Stacking Filters:  If stacking 2 or more filters, there will be mechanical vignetting. With the Monochrom I often stack a red filter + polarizer, so I use B+W 49-67mm step-up ring with 67mm filters.

CONCLUSION

The 28mm Summilux is the running for being my favorite Leica M lens. Whatever it is that makes up the 28mm Summilux's mojo, the 28mm Summilux has it. Being an impulse purchase, the lens was a lucky roll of the dice.

Having used the 28mm Summilux more or else equally on color and monochrome Leica M's, I prefer the 28mm Summilux on a color camera. Forgive me for stating the obvious - in black and white the color is lost. I feel part of the 28mm Summilux's character (or mojo if you prefer) is its color rendering.

The 28mm Summilux's detractors are size and price. In the header image on this page, the 28mm Summilux is the largest lens in the picture. There is no changing that, so it is what it is. Nor can I argue or defend the 28mm Summilux's price. At the risk of being dismissive of its price tag, I use 28mm Summilux often and love the results, so I do not fret over what the lens cost.

If either the size or price is a show-stopper, my second choice would for a 28mm Leica M-mount lens would be the first generation 28mm Summicron. The 28mm Summicron is not same league as the 28mm Summilux, but a first generation 28mm Summicron in nice condition costs much, much less than the 28mm Summilux.