Deciding which 28mm Leica m-mount or LTM/M39 lens to buy for your Leica rangefinder or mirrorless camera can be daunting if you don’t have a starting point for your research..
This guide is intended to be a starting point for your research and a roadmap for my testing for the foreseeable future.
In the 28mm focal length, there aren’t an overwhelming number of options but there are certainly enough choices that you should be able to find something in your price range and will give your image the look and feel you desire whether you are looking for a modern or vintage a style lens. As of 2022-2023 this is how things were shaking out.
Modern style lenses
- Zeiss Biogon ZM 28mm f/2.8
- Voigtlander Ultron 28mm f/2
- Leica Elmarit 28mm f/2.8
- Voigtlander 28mm f/3.5 color Skopar
- Minolta M-Rokkor 28mm f/2.8
- Ricoh GR 28mm f/2.8
- Kobalux (Bower, Avenon, etc.) 28 f/3.5 LTM. I probably won’t be reviewing this one because I find it uninspiring. I just can’t get myself there. I don’t want to own it. There is no rational reason for this, I just find nothing interesting about this lens.
- 7Artisans Photoelectric 28mm f/1.4: I won’t be reviewing this lens. It is too large for my taste
- Minolta 28mm f/3.5 G-rokkor: the 28mm focal length is so culty isn’t it?
Vintage style lenses
- Orion 15 28mm f/6 LTM. I probably wont be reviewing this one unless I can find one shimmed for the Leica M-mount. My luck with Russian lenses has been less than satisfactory. I am loathe to return to the well of despair and frustration.
- Canon 28mm f/2.8 LTM
- Canon 28mm f/3.5 LTM
- Nikkor 28mm f/3.5 LTM. It is unlikely that I will be reviewing this one. The legacy Nikon lenses have really run up in price and I cannot justify the cost for a vintage lens since I don’t get as much use out of them as my modern lenses.
Misc:
13. MS-Optical 28mm f/2 Apoqualia: I want this lens more than you know. I am not, however, 100% certain I can justify the purchase. I am also not sure if this is on the short list for normal people given that it is always described as “quirky.” Nonetheless, I am on the fence. This might be the time I finally go ahead and enter Miyazaki’s world. Status update soon.
Other:
As a general rule, I am looking for lenses that are small, portable, and less expensive than $1500. If you are looking for ultra-fast lenses or lenses that are best collected and left on the shelf, you are in the wrong place. Lenses outside of the LLFNP parameters (including anything called Summilux, Noctilux, and many lenses with the letters ASPH, likely won’t be reviewed.