Customer Reviews

Leica 35mm / f2.0 Summicron-M Aspherical Manual Focus Len (11882)

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The 35mm f2 Summicron-M ASPH lens is the latest, best version of the venerable line of Leica 35mm f2 Summicron lenses which many photographers have adopted as their primary lens for Leica M rangefinder photography, where it excels especially in unobtrusive street photography. Previous versions of the 35mm f2 Summicron have been quite good, but this lens is better than its predecessors especially wide open at f2 due to the usage of an aspherical lens element and some other special glasses made by Leica. Only the 35mm f1.4 ASPH Summilux M lens rivals this splendid optic wide open, but judging from reports I have read, the 35mm f2 ASPH Summicron performs much better at f2 than does the 35mm f1.4 at f1.4. At f2 both lenses are excellent, though I'd give the nod to the 35mm f2 ASPH for better contrast and resolution. Historically this lens was among the first of Leica's new superlative lens designs for its M rangefinder camera system; it is still among the best. This chrome version Leica 35mm f2 Summicron-M ASPH lens is noticeably heavier than the original black anodized version, due to the use of heavier metal components; those opting for a lighter M-mount rangefinder camera and lens combination should buy instead the original version.

I have owned the 35mm f2 Summicron-M ASPH lens and am quite impressed still with its splendid optical performance. However, I don't think it is markedly better than earlier versions of the 35mm Summicron when stopped down to f8 or f11 (I also own a third version Canadian-built 35mm Summicron lens with which I have taken superb street photography photos; some examples can be found under photo gallery at www.tamarkin.com.). Nor do I think that this lens is substantially superior than the relatively recently introduced Carl Zeiss Zeiss Ikon M-mount 35mm f2 Biogon - which is reportedly slightly better optically than the last, fourth version non-aspherical Leica 35mm Summicron lens - that is available from both official and grey market American dealers of Zeiss Ikon rangefinder cameras and lenses for at least half the current price of the 35mm f2 Summicron-M ASPH lens. It depends on you, the potential purchaser of this lens, whether one should pay the additional expense of acquiring a used or brand new Leica lens, or instead, consider seriously as a viable alternative, the much cheaper, but still optically superb, Zeiss lens. If your photography often requires using lenses at their widest - and thus fastest - apertures, then by all means, this lens ought to be your first choice.

It's a little bigger than the previous version, but it's still as amazing as ever. The 35mm Summicron is a lens you never get tired of. This is the one lens you can live with if you could only have one. To me, it is the "normal" lens for all 35mm rangefinders. How good is it? I think all the other reviews have said it all.

The only thing that flops with buying this lens is the square lens hood. It won't click into place. I mean, it will fit, but the four retractable tabs won't reach the groove that they're supposed to go into. So if you pull on the lens hood, it will just slide right off. The lens hood supplied with this 35mm Summicron is the same lens hood for the 28mm Elmarit. And this same lens hood will fit perfectly on the 4th version 35mm Summicron; but not this current version. I know, we're not buying a lens hood, we're buying the lens. So when you shop for a filter, pick up a lens hood while you're at it.

Possibly the sharpest 35mm wide-angle lens you can buy at this writing. Wide-open, stopped down, it doesn't matter - it's sparkling and snappy-sharp to the corners at every aperture.

I've also owned the earlier version one and three 35mm Summicrons. The third version is much lighter than the ASPH, but lacks the sharp clarity. If you have a Leica M3, the first version with the viewfinder 'goggles' is the only one that doesn't require a shoe-mounted viewfinder. But neither of them give the reach-into-it-real 'look' of the 35mm f/2 Summicron-M ASPH, and that's why it's the one I use.

It's a great lens for fireworks, on or off a tripod. The black-finished lens weighs less than the silver chrome.

Watch out for the red dot - it can fall off this or any Leica lens. Epoxy will reattach it, and Leica USA will send you new dots free if you ask politely.