Leica 35mm f/2 APO-Summicron-M ASPH: My Initial 'Take'

2021-03-04 • SEND FEEDBACK |
Related: apochromatic, Leica, Leica 35mm f/2 APO-Summicron-M ASPH, Leica APO-Summicron, Leica APO-Summicron-M, Leica Lenses, Leica M, Leica M lenses, Leica Summicron, Leica Summicron-M, Voigtlander, Voigtlander M, Voigtlander M APO-Lanthar 35mm f/2 Aspherical

re:Voigtlander M 35mm f/2 APO-Lanthar Aspherical
re: World’s Best 35mm Lens? Voigtlander FE 35mm f/2 APO-Lanthar for Sony Mirrorless and Leica M Coming in April

Leica 35mm f/2 APO-Summicron-M ASPH

In diglloyd Leica, I offer some insights into the new Leica 35mm f/2 APO-Summicron-M ASPH, including:

• What I conclude from the Leica sample DNG files;
• Expectations vs Voigtlander M 35mm f/2 APO-Lanthar Aspherical and Zeiss ZM 35mm f/1.4 Distagon.
• Overview and general impressions.

Overview of Leica 35mm f/2 APO-Summicron-M ASPH

Leica 35mm f/2 APO-Summicron-M ASPH: MTF

Leica 35mm f/2 APO-Summicron-M ASPH: Distortion

Leica 35mm f/2 APO-Summicron-M ASPH: Vignetting

At a wallet-busting price of nearly 7X the Voigtlande 35/2 APO, the new Leica 35/2 APO doesn’t look any better based on MTF charts. So it will come down to actual field performance.

For landscape, I’ll go out on a limb just a little and suggest that the Voigtlander looks like a more consistent performer across the frame, even if the Leica has a tad more micro contrast in a very small central area at f/2.

But the main thing (if you can afford it), is that the two lenses likely will 'draw' differently. The smart move if you can afford the Leica 35/2 APO: get it, but also get the Voigtlander 35/2 APO, and shoot them side-by-side to see which is most pleasing to your own type of photography*.

Or course I want to review both lenses (and the Zeiss ZM 35/1.4 Distagon) on the Leica M10-R and Leica M10-M, but the sky-high prices exceed my equipment loaner budget, so I don’t know to make it happen just yet. Maybe some reader will loan me an M10-R or M10-M and the lens for a few weeks.

* You might need to 6-bit code the Voigtlander 35/2 APO if it has color shading issues. At least one of the 35mm Leica M lens codes should work well for the Voigtlander.

Top 35mm Lenses for Leica M

Leica M wish list • Deals on Leica

$2390 ZEISS 35mm f/1.4 Distagon T* ZM IN STOCK in Lenses: Rangefinder

$8295 Leica 35mm f/2 APO-Summicron-M ASPH. OUT OF STOCK in Lenses: Rangefinder

$949 SAVE $200 = 17.0% Voigtlander 35mm f/2 APO-LANTHAR .0 Aspherical IN STOCK in Lenses: Rangefinder

MTF for Leica 35mm f/2 APO-Summicron-M ASPH

Distortion for Leica 35mm f/2 APO-Summicron-M ASPH

Vignetting for Leica 35mm f/2 APO-Summicron-M ASPH