The Leica Summaron-M 1:5.6/28mm lens is probably the Leica lens that fits least into the camera bag from the perspective of the typical Leica photographer. It is super small and light. But in the Karbe mantra of "don't stop down", an aperture of 5.6 means a waste of possibilities.
I also debated for a long time whether I should pack another 28mm lens in my camera bag. To be honest, I only found very few pictures online that were taken with this lens and I liked. The only person who told me nothing but good things about this lens and showed me great pictures was my buddy Josh. Since I wanted a small, always-on lens for my M10 Monochrom, I thought about this lens for several weeks and then one day I found mine Favorite dealer in Hamburg. He offered me to test the lens over the weekend. After 5 minutes, however, it was clear to me that I would keep the Summaron-M 1:5.6/28mm lens...
The Leica Summaron-M 1:5.6/28mm is a replica. The original version was only available with a screw thread and was built from 1955 to 1963. The current version has adopted the optical calculation from back then and changed the bayonet. The 28mm lens is less than 2cm long and barely weighs 170g. It's unbelievable that you can take photos with it - but then it's just a typical Leica lens. Because it has great contrast behavior and wonderful drawing. The latter conveys an analogue impression. It's a mystery to me how Leica always manages to do this with this form factor for the M optics.
The lens also offers sharpness, even with the 40 megapixels of an M10 Monochrom. The resolution only decreases at the outer edge. However, I claim that you only see this at 1:1 magnification. In the largest area of the sensor, the resolution is on a par with modern optics.
Show some example pictures...
Of course, the Summaron doesn't have the indescribable look of the Summiluxe and Noctiluxe. But even with the relatively small open aperture of 5.6, the lens creates beautiful image effects. First I'll show you a picture of Park Fiction in the usual bad Hamburg weather. You can see the very typical look here. After all, you shouldn't forget that the picture almost comes out of the camera! So it's not an OOC JPEG, but I have a 1-click preset in Capture One. All of my monochrome images get this preset and in most cases all I have to do is move the exposure control.
I'm not sure if you can create this image effect so easily with other optics. Of course there are alternatives. Until now, the Elmarit-M 28mm was the smallest lens for the Leica M. This is actually barely 10g heavier and only a centimeter larger. Neither are values that become deal breakers. Especially not because the Elmarit-M has an open aperture of 2.8. I owned the Elmarit-M 28mm a few years ago and had good experiences with it. However, I now own the Summilux-M 28mm and therefore one of the cream lenses from Leica. So I don't need a good lens with 2.8, but I wanted one with character. And the Summaron-M is clearly ahead of the Elmarit-M. Since I shoot monochrome with an M10, two aperture stops are no problem - even in poor lighting conditions.
What I like and what I don’t like about the Leica Summaron-M 1:5.6/28mm…
The Leica Summaron-M 1:5.6/28mm is a fantastic and lovely lens, especially with my Leica M10 Monochrom. There are three things I particularly like about it. The aperture of 5.6 and the angle of view of the 28mm lens are very close to human visual habits. Despite the short design, the typical Leica quality in imaging performance is present. The 3D effect is also present despite the "only" 5.6 aperture being open.
What I don't like is the inaccuracy of the depth of field scale on the lens. I tried several times to adjust the focus to the right to 5.6 to improve the bokeh. All images became blurry. In my opinion, the scaling should be drawn a little tighter.
The lens has a detent to lock the focus control at infinity. Maybe it was designed that way for transport - I don't know the background to what Leica was thinking with it. In principle, this is also practical, but I would have liked this adjustment to be in a different place - or even better, to be usable variably.
As you can see in the photo above, the optics use a 34mm filter. I only have as a source of supply Photo Impex in Berlin found. Not a bad place, but even there the black and white filters with this small filter diameter are rarely in stock. Ordering is of course possible and takes a few days. The photos on this page were all taken without a filter because I ordered the wrong one on the first try.
Another tip when using the lens: I always adjust the distance lever a little too far into the close range. So let's say I want to focus on something that is 2m away from me. Then I set the distance to 1,5m. Thanks to the open aperture of 5.6, the desired object is still within the focus range of the lens, but I increase the chance of a little more bokeh.
Finally, the question remains: couldn't I have simply used my Summilux-M 28mm at aperture of 5.6 and saved so much money? Sure, but weight and size aside, the small Summaron-M lens is a lot of fun in the daily hunt for light and shadow.
written class. Thank you for your pictures and assessments.
Thank you!
Thanks for the contribution!
I have similar experiences with my Elmar 2.8/50 mm. Just fun to take photos with the small lens.
By the way, with your posts you also encouraged me to buy my current M10P - I'm very satisfied - including a studio with a flash system!
Greetings from Erlangen
Wolfgang
Thank you for your kind words and have fun with your M!
Hi Stefan,
Are you also interested in the M lenses from TT Artisan?
Kind regards
Oliver Haji
Hi Stefan,
Thank you for your detailed report and the fantastic photos of the Summaron 28 mm, but I think I'll stay loyal to my Summilux.
Many greetings from the Fichtelgebirge Thomas
I have both too 😉
A very nice post. I myself am also interested in purchasing the Summaron. A few years ago I had the opportunity to test the lens at an M Monochrom workshop. Everyone was surprised that I chose this optic, but I really wanted to test the exotic one. I was also impressed by the Summaron's unique character.
Hello and thank you for the detailed test!!!
I would also like to buy this lens, but I shoot 95% analogue.
Do you think that would make sense for analog?
LG from Istanbul
Murat Hurmen
Hello, the lens comes from the analogue era - so I answer your question in the affirmative. However, you don't necessarily have to buy the new lens; you can perhaps get a bargain on the used market (at Leica prices).
Thanks for the report, even if it's only relevant now 😉 I'm thinking about using 28 more in the future - the 35 is almost "normal"... and that raises the question of 5.6 or 2.8 and regardless of appearance... I'm afraid that the Elmarit 2.8 might be the one that's "always on" and not sure if that's the case with the Summaron 5.6. Although... Have you ever taken a direct comparison? Are the differences in the image that clearly visible? Goal: e.g. a weekend trip with just one lens... what do you take with you... and to paraphrase Chuck Norris: EVERYTHING!!!! and so the question of which one to buy isn't an issue - you need both and the 1.4 too 😉
In fact, I have already shot with Lux, Cron, Elmarit and Summaron in 28mm. I had the Elmarit for a while and it is a very nice, small, clean lens. The Summaron is rather special. That's why I would opt for the Elmarit on vacation. However, the Summicron isn't particularly big either. The 3D pop from the Lux is sensational, but of course it's quite big. Ultimately, as is often the case, it's all a matter of taste.