One thing that people overlook with this lens (I love this lens, its my only lens for my MP) is that a 28mm f2.8 is, in low light, equivalent to a 50mm f2. How? Because while you can get an extra stop of light on a 50mm f2, you also have to compensate with 1/60th second shutter speed instead of 1/30th of a second for the 28 without introducing hand shake. Which is why to me, the 28 Elmarit ASPH is the best lens money can buy in the Leica ecosystem. It's equivalently as "fast" _on camera_ as a 50 summicron.

Fully agree, this is the one lens I regret returning, it’s absolutely wonderful. Nice follow up review.

I used previous version of this lens on my M 240 and then sold it when I purchased SL2S and a SL 24-90mm. This lens is reportedly better then any M lenses, to this claim I have to agree. But for walk around setup I am using 2.8/28 Elmarit 12470, this lens is sharp, contrasty with virtually no distortion as you mentioning in your talk. Love 1.4/50 Summilux and to my eyes 2.0/75 APO Cron is the sharpest and ‘cleanest’ of them all. Great presentation Goughie.

Buy a (used) Leica lens and the value remains/increases, buy an ordinary lens and the value falls after a while - better investment after years - good choice and video Goughie!!!

I’ve been really enjoying that recipe you shared on your video.

Sweet little lens that provides the ultimate amount of quality. Great job bud I love the q for the same reason. Hope all is well much love and respect. ❤

Brilliant lens, indeed!! The 2.8 aperture isn’t necessarily a negative thing, especially for an ultra wide FF lens. You can always compensate for the slower aperture with a higher ISO. Speaking of sharpness, this looks even better than Leica Q2’s 28/1.7.

Great review and insight as always. I love that your reviews are usually very experienced-based and not all about fan boying 👏

this lens just jits the whole original concept of leica system

shot my first few rolls of trix and fp4+ with this lens and my beloved M7. they turned out great! will be using this quite a bit from now on even though i love the summaron as well, especially in sunny conditions wide open at 5.6 - beautiful vignette…

Yeah I have it and love it. The front lens element on mine is also a bit loose when the hood is on it. I have seen that this is an issue with these. I will send mine in to get it fixed when I can part with it for a couple of months. It is a fave.

Incredible. Very well done my friend. Favorite focal length 🙏🏼

For better price/quality ratio, I highly recommend the Leica 28/2.8 version IV pre-ASPH! Harder to find online these days, but well worth it without distortions. Works well on film and digital, too. Biggest competitor now is the nearly equivalent Voigtlander 28/2.0 vers. II for much better price and similar performance.

You’ve officially sold me on this lens. 💸

I like the f/2.8 for both this 28 mm and the vintage 35 mm 8E Summaron because of their sharpness, light weight, and small size on my M.

Thanks for this video! Loved it, actually would chose this lens if I was in the market for a leica m lens. Beautiful photos!

thanks for the video. I'm scratching my head here because mine produces a great image but very soft no matter which aperture I use. I bought the lens brand new. Trying to figure out what could be causing my copy not to be sharp. I mean I don't needed to be APO quality but this lens is very very soft.

If you are printing, you can tell the Elmarit negs from Ultron negs just sitting on the light table. If I were shooting digital only, the Ultron however is probably the way to go.

Fantastic video! Very timely as I am looking for a 28mm elmarit and struggling to decide between the 35 lux, steel rim or summicron. So your feedback has been super helpful! Love your vidoes and content Goughie!!

Wonderful review! Another great Leica masterpiece in one of the coolest lens collections! Cheers mate!

I really want this lens but I keep thinking it’s stupid not to buy the Voigtlander 28mm Ultron f/2 Typ II which is even better than the Summicron AND focuses down to 0.4

Hello, it's the ASPH version you have :) Did you try the non ASPH one?

Bought with the M8 in 07 for only €1350 when it came out. I’d like the fact it wasn’t blocking the view finder as much as the cron. I had no reference since it was my first. Then I bought A 50 cron, that sharpness is another level, €1500 Leica store in Hong Kong. Top combo on M8 and M9. Every one thinks there cheap lenses and all that but the reality is after using them for 15 years and bought other lenses over the years who have better reputation (21,24 Lux , 0.95) but I had to learn they got great character but for the money they don’t look any different @f4 other than colours and contrast differ if it comes to that typical micro contrast. Well my first two lenses appear better. I have always preferred a small lens on a M for me that’s the whole point

Yep. It's a gem, and I won't be lured by cheaper, wannabe alternatives.. Thanks for this review. 👌

I love this lens

Beautiful lens. I think I'd buy this first, and then save up for a body.

I have a 50 APO I picked up used and the ring is not as exact as my 35 Cron. It has a slight rattle and from what I've read is rather common for that lens. It moves more easily than my others, but I haven't lost a shot because of it either. Besides, the insane amount of sharpness it achieves far outweighs a slightly loose ring for what I paid.

Great!

Apparently the 28mm Summicron is supposed to be even sharper. If that even matters. I got the modern Elmarit, it's one lens I will never sell.

Absolutely loved this little lens. Ended up going back to the 28 Summicron because my copy of this Elmarit sort of fell apart in my hands. The screw-on lens hood ended up working to un-thread the whole front section of the lens and the thing wobbled itself loose and eventually almost in half. A fluke I'm sure, but still has made me cautious about this gen of lenses.

VC Ultron 28/2 II IS amazing too.

My 35lux FLE had a light aperture click and would inadvertently get changed straight out of the box. Sent it off to Don at DAG and he adjusted it and it's as clicky to suit my needs. Its easily adjusted by an experienced tech.

Can anyone explain what the differences are between the different versions? I'm new to Leica and I've got a chance at decent deal on a clean Version 1 ASPH but don't know if there are better versions or the differences between them.

I thought about this one. But since I own the 28 Ultron II it doesn’t make sense to spend money on this. I’m basically getting the same images as I would get with this one. So my choice is the Summaron.

I've the Q, so I don't need another 28 mm. For my M-P240, I bought by accident the Elmar-M 3.8/24 ASPH second hand at the Meister Camera Leica Store in Hamburg. I had 24/2.8 for my Minolta SRT 101, and it was not common for press photographers to go that wide. Did you enjoy Budapest?

Of which Version of the 28 are you talking? The last one?

Curious, were you using the mki or mkii of the 28 ultron ?

Is there a reason you didn’t consider the V1 ASPH?

Are you located in Budapest?

honestly the ultron 28mm renders better.

I want to get this lens for sure, mainly for the size-but 28mm 2.8 v3 is still king. Albeit a big, fat king 😅