Leica Super-Elmar-M f/3.4 21mm ASPH

Leica has announced the new Leica Super-Elmar-M f/3.4 21mm ASPH lens, along with the announcement of the new Leica M9-P Digital RangeFinder, the new lens includes the 6 bit lens identification bar code for digital M models.

From Leica: With the LEICA SUPER-ELMAR 21 mm f/3.4 ASPH., Leica is extending the range of M lenses in the super wide angle range with a model that combines outstanding reproduction with a compact design.

It delivers uniformly excellent reproduction quality over the entire field of view, with only a very slight deterioration at the edges in the close-up range. This performance can only be improved slightly by stopping down, which means that you can take photographs with full stop with no concerns, unless your compositional ideas call for a greater extension of the depth of field that can only be achieved with smaller apertures.

The vignetting characteristic of every optical system is more pronounced on a super wide-angle lens than on normal lenses and those with long focal lengths. At full stop in 35mm format it is a maximum, i.e. in the corners of the image, of around 2,1 stops, around 1,2 stops on Leica M8 models wit h their slightly smaller format. Stopping down to f/5.6 reduces this light falloff at the edge of the image – to 1.6 and 1.0 stops respectively. Stopping down further does not result in any further reduction as essentially only the natural vignetting remains. The maximum distortion of the lens of around 1.5 % is hardly perceptible.

The retrofocus-like construction is made up of a total of eight lens elements, and the use of a lens element with two aspherical surfaces and four lens elements made of glass types with anomalous color dispersion (partial dispersion) make a crucial contribution towards restricting aberrations to an absolute minimum.

Summary: The LEICA SUPER-ELMAR-M 21 mm f/3.4 ASPH. combines optimum reproduction with compact dimensions, offering all M users a wide range of options in the spontaneous super wide-angle photography that is typical of the Leica M.

Technical Data

Angle of view (diagonal, horizontal, vertical)	for 35mm (24x36mm): 91°, 80°, 59° for M8 (18x27mm): 74°, 64°, 46° (Equivalent focal length : approx. 28mm)
Optical design
Number of lenses/groups:	8 / 7
Aspherical surface:	2
Position of entrance pupil:	15,6mm (related to the first lens surface in light direction)
Distance setting
Focus range:	0,7m - ∞
Scales:	Combined meter/feet graduation
Smallest object field:	706 mm x 1059 mm (35mm) / 530 mm x 795 mm (for M8)
Largest reproduction ratio:	1:29,4
Aperture
Setting/Function:	With click-stops, half values available, manual diaphragm
Lowest value:	16
Bayonet	Leica M quick-change bayonet with 6 bit lens identification bar code for digital M models
Filter mount/Lens hood	Non-rotating Female thread for screw-on filters size E46 Male thread with stop for lens hood (included in delivery)
Dimension and weight
Length:	ca. 43/55mm (with/without Lens hood)
Largest diameter:	approx. 53mm
Weight:	approx. 279g

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