Leica 28mm Summilux-M f/1.4 ASPH. review

The Leica 28mm Summilux-M f/1.4 ASPH. lives up to its legendary status, with a price tag to match!

28mm Summilux-M f/1.4 ASPH
(Image: © Sebastian Oakley / Digital Camera World)

Digital Camera World Verdict

If you’ve been looking for the ultimate 28mm lens to fix onto your Leica for street, reportage, or even landscapes then this Summilux is the one to get, but be prepared to pay handsomely for it. The Leica 28mm Summilux-M f/1.4 ASPH. is built like a tank with only the best materials used, and functions as expected from the renowned German manufacturer. But it will cost you a small fortune to own such a legend of a lens; however, if you’re looking for this to be your one lens to use on every occasion and be strapped to your camera for the end of time, it is a wise investment- a lens like this carries a lot of prestige with photographers around the world and if they own one they hold on to it, or if they find it, it's never in stock for long, so if you find one in stock then go for it!

Pros

  • +

    Outstanding build quality

  • +

    Great form-factor

Cons

  • -

    No filter thread

  • -

    Very expensive

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The Leica Summilux-M 28mm f/1.4 ASPH. is a rather heavy lens, weighing in at a hefty 15.5oz / 440g, it features 10 elements in 7 groups and 1 aspherical surface, the first surface in the last group. Fortunately, the Leica Summilux-M 28mm f/1.4 ASPH. does not share the same fate as the Leica Summilux-M 24mm f/1.4 ASPH in only having one colorway option - Black.  On the 28mm, you will also find the popular silver finish to match your new Leica M11

Leica states in its sales material that this Leica Summilux-M 28mm f/1.4 ASPH. is “A new milestone in the world of high-speed wide-angle lenses” and while it might be the first Leica lens to have such a high aperture to the 28mm focal length, it has actually been in production since 2015 (with it first being announced back in 2008) but this 8-year-old lens has gathered quite a following with fellow Leica photographers around the world due to its fast aperture, build quality and excellent image rendition. 

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Sebastian Oakley
Ecommerce Editor

For nearly two decades Sebastian's work has been published internationally. Originally specializing in Equestrianism, his visuals have been used by the leading names in the equestrian industry such as The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), The Jockey Club, Horse & Hound, and many more for various advertising campaigns, books, and pre/post-event highlights.

He is a Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts, holds a Foundation Degree in Equitation Science, and is a Master of Arts in Publishing.  He is a member of Nikon NPS and has been a Nikon user since the film days using a Nikon F5 and saw the digital transition with Nikon's D series cameras and is still to this day the youngest member to be elected into BEWA, The British Equestrian Writers' Association. 

He is familiar with and shows great interest in street, medium, and large format photography with products by Leica, Phase One, Hasselblad, Alpa, and Sinar. Sebastian has also used many cinema cameras from the likes of Sony, RED, ARRI, and everything in between. He now spends his spare time using his trusted Leica M-E or Leica M2 shooting Street photography or general life as he sees it, usually in Black and White.