Used Leica M 28mm Lenses Price Guide

On most M bodies, no. Cameras like the M2 in some configurations, the M4-P, M6, M7, MP, and the digital M bodies project 28mm frame lines in the built-in finder, so no accessory finder is required. The exception is the M3, whose finder only goes down to 50mm, where a 28mm lens needs an external viewfinder. On bodies with 0.85x magnification the 28mm lines sit at the very edge and can be hard to see with glasses.

The Elmarit-M f/2.8 is the smallest and most affordable, and is plenty for daylight, street, and travel. The Summicron-M f/2 ASPH adds a stop and excellent performance in a compact body, a popular all-round choice. The Summilux-M f/1.4 ASPH is the fastest and best for low light and shallow depth of field, but it is the largest and most expensive of the three.

The earlier pre-ASPH Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.8 versions are the most affordable native 28s and still deliver strong results. The current Elmarit-M ASPH costs more but is very compact. The Summaron-M 28mm f/5.6 is a specialty compact reissue and tends to be priced as a niche item rather than a budget pick.

The first-version Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.8, the 9-element Red Scale from 1965, is a collector favorite for its distinctive classic rendering and styling. Its rear element protrudes deeply, so it does not fit some bodies such as the M5 and the original CL, and it is not ideal on digital M sensors. Buy it for character and collecting rather than for clinical sharpness.