Leica Camera pushes forward to new heights of imaging excellence with the launch of the APO-Summicron-M 35 f/2 ASPH. Like its legendary sibling, the APO-Summicron-M 50 f/2 ASPH., this new 35 mm achieves maximum imaging performance without compromise in one of the most popular focal lengths for photographers throughout history. The result is a lens whose detail rendition will maximize the fullest potential of today’s imaging sensors while poised, future-proof, and ready for the technology and resolving power of future sensors. The APO-Summicron-M 35 f/2 ASPH. is the only M-lens with a close-focus distance of just 30 centimeters, unlocking new possibilities.

The 35 mm focal length has always been a staple of the Leica M-System, and now this longstanding lineage of Summicron-M lenses has its new flagship offering the highest possible image performance, an extremely close focus, and diminutively compact housing.

The exceptional performance of this lens is made possible by its elaborate optical design combined with its high-precision manufacturing at the Leica factory in Wetzlar. This state-of-the-art engineering earns the Made in Germany quality stamp of approval it bears, yielding an optical instrument that can stand the test of time to deliver decades of use and infinite possibilities. The ten lens elements are divided into five groups. Three elements feature aspherical surfaces (one of them on both sides) for minimizing distortion, while six elements are made of glasses with anomalous partial dispersion, which not only reduces distracting chromatic aberrations to almost zero but also provides apochromatic correction – a quality rarely found in lenses of this focal length. The resulting images exhibit crisp corner-to-corner sharpness and accurate color fidelity at all apertures and focus distances, both near and far.

The APO-Summicron-M 35 f/2 ASPH. also delivers outstanding results close up, closer than any 35 mm M lens of the past and present, thanks to a floating lens element that ensures consistency at all distances; all the way down to its newly achieved minimum focus of 30 cm. The focus ring turns a full 300°, for precisely accurate and smooth focusing throughout the entire range from its close-focus distance all the way out to infinity. Via the rangefinder, the lens can be focused as close as 70 cm – at which point a slight haptic resistance can be felt in the focus ring, clearly communicating its position to the user. This touch of engineering is key to maintaining a similar feel and usage like all other modern M lenses, so users can still be familiar and comfortable with longstanding street photography techniques such as hyperfocal distance and “shooting from the hip.” At distances between 70 and 30 cm, when the focus ring is rotated beyond that noticeable detent, the photographer can choose to focus via the camera’s rear LCD in Live View mode, the Visoflex electronic viewfinder, or the Leica FOTOS app.

The construction of the lens hood in combination with highly effective anti-reflective glass coatings makes the APO-Summicron-M 35 f/2 ASPH. extremely resistant to any type of stray light – allowing the photographer to shoot into the sun or other sources of light without fear of flare or ghosting. Common optical flaws such as chromatic aberration and distortion are corrected to the point of barely being noticeable. This imaging prowess and edge-to-edge contrast rendition create an especially pronounced and lovely bokeh at open aperture. Seeing as the aperture is almost perfectly circular, owing to its eleven blades, this effect is also retained when the lens is stopped down for maximum depth-of-field.

Even more than any other M-lens, the APO-Summicron-M 35 f/2 ASPH. only has to be stopped down for creative purposes. The rendition quality at the center and edges of the image is of such fidelity that there is no scope for further improvement by stopping down. Though many lenses of the world today augment their performance by being larger and heavier by design, the top-performing APO-Summicron-M 35 f/2 ASPH. is both compact and lightweight. With its classic reportage focal length, this is a lens for every photographic situation that can be used on any current and future model of the M series, as well as the Leica SL2 and SL2-S.

British photographer Huw John found the APO-Summicron-M 35 f/2 ASPH. equally suited to capturing portraits. “It’s amazing how thin the depth of focus is. You get insane focus on the eyelashes, then it drops off. Looking at this 100% crop, I would swear that it could have been taken with a focal length of 85 or even 105 mm!”
Huw John is a full-time photographer based in Cardiff, Wales. He has three decades of experience working for leading brands and organizations in the fields of film & TV, editorial, and corporate PR.

“Portraiture with the APO-Summicron-M 35 f/2 ASPH. takes on a new dimension with stylish bokeh. Add the new close focus capability and this lens becomes a real all-rounder, with beautiful color rendition and stunning sharpness and definition. This could well be the only lens you need,” says the photographer. Follow some sample pictures:

The APO-Summicron-M 35 f/2 ASPH. is available to order today at Leica Stores, Boutiques and Dealers for $8,195.00

More info on Leica’s website.