The Leica M can be used with a multitude of lenses far beyond those available from the current portfolio. Photographers frequently use lenses with a “vintage” signature to achieve particular effects that are otherwise difficult to reproduce, even with the most modern digital post-processing software. The Summaron wide-angle, now more than 50 years old, is a particularly popular and compact lens that has been recreated with an M-bayonet mount, 6-bit coding, and a slightly revised design.
Original, Not Retro
The Summaron-M is modelled on a screw mount lens produced at the Leitz factory in Wetzlar from 1955 to 1963. Its unmistakable signature is almost impossible to reproduce by digital means and makes the lens a true classic; reborn today in a revised edition with identical optical properties. The fact that this is no simple reconstruction is obvious at first glance: the design of the Summaron-M has been refined down to the essentials, without losing any of the character of its legendary ancestor.
Recognizable at First Sight
Through its combination of extreme depth of field, natural contrast, excellent rendition of details and visible vignetting, the lens gives images a unique character. Pictures made with the Summaron-M stand out from all others, with a look reminiscent of analogue photography.
Perfect for Street Photography
The Summaron-M is the smallest M-System lens. With an overall length of less than 2 cm it is incredibly discreet, making it perfect for street photography. The combination of a clearly laid out depth of field scale and long focus throw allows particularly precise pre-focusing. In addition, the enormous depth of field makes it ideal for taking advantage of hyperfocal distance focusing and shooting from the hip at a speed no autofocus system can match.
An Homage to the Fine Art of Engineering
The lens hood conjures up memories of the early days of rangefinder photography. Its design, and the meticulous manufacturing processes that went into its construction, have been recreated to match the historic ancestry of the Summaron-M. The lens hood is first machined from solid brass and then given its ultimate form by a turning and bending process. The specialized turning process also cuts the numerous grooves into the inner surface of the lens hood.
Technical details
The optical design of 6 elements in 4 groups arranged symmetrically around the iris of the Leica Summaron-M 28 mm f/5.6 is identical to that of its ancestor. In contrast to the legendary classic, the new model features an M-bayonet mount with 6-bit coding to enable identification of the lens by the camera.
