Lens Heritage/Leica

Leica Summicron-M 35mm f/2

Leica M-mount

No photo available for this lens

Production

1996

Country

Germany

Optical

Complex layout with aspherical elements, replacing the earlier double Gauss design.

Updated

Feb 15, 2026

Overview

The Leica Summicron-M 35mm f/2 is the wide-angle counterpart to the legendary 50mm Summicron. Street photographers' favorite — 35mm on Leica M is the classic documentary focal length. Multiple versions across 60+ years, all excellent.

Verdict: The street photographer's Leica. The Summicron 35mm f/2 delivers that legendary Leica look at the perfect documentary focal length. Every version is excellent — pick based on character preference and budget.

Optical Character

Sharpness wide open

The lens delivers excellent sharpness, contrast, and clarity, with high MTF performance across the frame.

Flare resistance

Requires care - the wide front element can be prone to flare, so a hood is essential.

Contrast

Medium-high contrast, good for landscapes.

Vignetting

Noticeable wide open, common for an ultra-wide lens.

Community Insights

What people love

THE street photography lens
Classic Leica rendering
Compact (especially older versions)
Perfect 35mm perspective
Multiple versions to choose from

What people dislike

Leica prices
Vignetting on digital (older versions)
ASPH vs non-ASPH debates
Many versions = confusing

Pro Tips

8-element version = character, ASPH = perfection
Check coded versions for digital M
35mm + Leica M = street perfection
Vignetting correction in post for digital

Sources (4)

unknown-

https://gear.vogelius.se/-reviews/leica-summicron-35-asph/index.html

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https://www.photoreview.com.au/reviews/mirrorless-lenses/mirrorless-lenses-full-frame/leica-summicron-m-35mm-f-2-asph-lens/

unknown-

https://www.macfilos.com/2021/03/05/review-leica-apo-summicron-m-35-f2/

Lens Heritage 2nd JSONsecondary

Community consensus