Leica Elmarit-R 35mm f2.8

Inspector’s condition notes

Lens in good condition. This is an excellent lens for Street photography, well-suited for general landscape shots or for environmental portraits that show the background. It produces beautiful subject separation, and it is sharp wide open. It's another lens of very high quality that remains reasonably priced (compared to other Leica versions). The Elmarit-R 35mm f/2.8 comes in 3 versions in total, with version 3 being the most popular — it offers better sharpness and contrast. They're easy to tell apart: version 3 has a built-in lens hood, while versions 1 and 2 come with detachable lens hoods. This particular copy is the version 3, with a built-in lens hood that extends and retracts (as shown in picture 6). The lens is in good condition and suitable for use or collecting. The exterior shows typical surface scratches on the lens body, but no major impact marks — just paint loss consistent with normal use. The focus and aperture ring operate smoothly with no stiffness, and there is no oil on the aperture blades. The aperture clicks are very smooth, in true Leica-R fashion. The glass and lens coating are 100% intact, with no scratches on the front or rear elements, no fungus, and no internal haze. The glass is very clear — virtually no dust is visible to the naked eye.

How this lens renders

Compared to other wide angle lenses 35mm of the same spec from the same era, this Elmarit-R 35mm f/2.8 is a Mandler-era design celebrated for its exceptional sharpness, sir. Even wide open at f/2.8, it delivers genuinely sharp, usable detail, and when you stop down to the f/5.6–f/8 range, the sharpness becomes even more consistent across the entire frame—ideal for work that demands full detail. The bokeh is another standout that many people talk about—it renders background separation in a natural, non-distracting way. Paired with a minimum focus distance of 0.3m, you can get up close to your subject to capture fine detail and have fun playing with depth of field. It's a vintage lens for Leica R that delivers both that signature shapness and the unmistakable Leica dimensionality. Perfect for those who enjoy shooting wide angle with a smooth, refined feel, and well worth adding to a collection, sir.

In the box

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Honest disclosure