21MM BAYONET MOUNT LENSES
21mm f/4 Super-Angulon
The 21mm f/4 Super-Angulon, code-named SUMOM184, was introduced in 1958184 and had the catalogue number 11102361. This lens featured a rotating chrome mount with dual focusing scales, marked with red and black numerals184.
The first version of the Super-Angulon had nine elements and required a special rear lens cap (IROOW/14042) for bayonet mount lenses to protect its protruding rear elements184. The deeply protruding rear elements caused incorrect exposure, prompting users to meter with another lens beforehand235. The metering cell for flash exposure control on the M6 TTL was obscured235. In this case, users should have switched the flash unit to "A" mode instead of "TTL" to utilize the independent metering cell of the flashgun235. Also, due to these protruding elements, the 21mm f/4 Super-Angulon could not be used on the Leica M5 without modification184. Even after the necessary modifications, the through-the-lens metering of the Leica M5 remained unusable184. James L. Lager believed that the modification was not required for Leica M6542.
The lens hood to be used with this lens was IWKOO/12502542. Early lens hood IWKOO was engraved "IWKOO 1:4/21", while the later version, the 12502, was engraved with "Super-Angulon 21mm"542.
The viewfinder to be used with this lens was SBKOO/12002 21mm brightline viewfinder542. Some 12002 had 4 screws on the mounting feet542.
Some bayonet mount 21mm f/4 Super-Angulon lenses had a small screw holding the bayonet flange542. The screw was located under letter "E" of the "LENS MADE IN GERMANY" engraving542.
A prototype lens number 000005 made in 1959 was auctioned off at the 48th Leitz Photographica Auction on June 13, 2026585. In the lot description it was described as "Very interesting and extremely rare prototype of the later 4/21mm Super-Angulon, wearing the special number '000005', in near-mint condition, note the straight barrels, the different infinity lock lever, unique design quite different to the Summaron/Summicron 35mm type, light Aluminium construction, note the unusual front ring with '2.1cm' and 'Ernst Leitz GmbH' engraved, the inner barrel is engraved with no.5888851, this lens was issued in 1959 by Schneider-Kreuznach, with matching plastic keeper."585.
Leitz manufactured only 5292 bayonet-mount 21mm f/4 Super-Angulon lenses184. Overall, there were 58800 screw mount, as well as bayonet mount 21mm f/4 Super Angulon lenses produced between 1958 and 1959, with serial numbers ranging from 1583001 through 1716100439.
21mm f/3.4 Super-Angulon
Prototype
Prototype of this lens, numbered 0001019, was illustrated in Mr. Lars Netopil's "Museum Leica" book in 2018596. The lens was engraved "1:3.4/21 C224 0001019"596.
Prototype of this lens, numbered 0001164, was illustrated in Mr. Lars Netopil's "Rare Leica" book in 2014594.
Serial Production
Introduced in 1963, the 21mm f/3.4 Super-Angulon lens underwent significant improvements following the lackluster performance of its predecessor, the 21mm f/4 Super-Angulon184. This new version was produced exclusively in bayonet mount had the catalog number 11103184.
The redesigned 21mm f/3.4 Super-Angulon consisted of eight elements arranged in a non-rotating mount, equipped with dual scales184. There were two variants.
Variant 1 was:
- earlier (from 1963184)
- had chrome finish
- had dual scales in red (for feet) and black (for meters) lettering
- had an infinity focusing lock184
Variant 2 was:
- later (around 1968184)
- recomputed
- finished in black
- with dual scales in yellow (for feet) and white (for meters) lettering
- no infinity lock184
It was worth noting that only 21mm f/3.4 Super-Angulon lenses with a serial number above 2473251, as well as those that had been specially modified, could have been used with the Leica CL and Leica M5 models360.
The 21mm f/3.4 Super-Angulon featured a larger front element than its predecessor 21mm f/4 Super-Angulon, necessitating either E48 screw-in or Series VII filters184. Additionally, these lenses required the 21mm Brightline finder (12002/SBKOO), which was initially produced in a silver finish and later in black to match the black lenses184. Leitz supplied each lens with its own lens hood (12501)184.
The rear elements of 21mm f/3.4 Super-Angulon protruded far into the camera body235. This protrusion could partially obstruct the metering cell, leading to inaccurate readings of the white spot on the shutter curtain235. This in turn was prompting users to meter with another lens beforehand235. The metering cell for flash exposure control on the Leica M6 TTL was also obscured235. In this case, users should have switched the flash unit to "A" mode instead of "TTL" to utilize the flashgun’s independent metering cell235.
Production of the 21mm f/3.4 Super-Angulon lenses ended in 197995 with the introduction of the 21mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M184. Overall, there were 23100 lenses produced between 1963 and 1979, with serial numbers ranging from 1967101 through 2993700439.
21mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M (Version 1)
Prototypes
- A prototype number 2993703, dated 1979, with close focusing capability down to 0.4 meters, E49 filter size and lens hood (catalog number 12537), was auctioned off at the 43rd Leitz Photographica Auction.
- A prototype number 2993742, with close focusing capability down to 0.4 meters, E49 filter size and lens hood (catalog number 12537), was illustrated in Mr. Lars Netopil's "Museum Leica" book in 2018596.
Serial Production
The version 1 of 21mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M (catalog number 1113495) was announced360 at Photokina 1980493. The shipping began at the end of 1981493. This lens was the fastest yet produced at the time and was exceptionally quick for such a short focal length360. Later, it was referred to as the "pre-ASPH" version.
Like its predecessor, the 21mm f/3.4 Super Angulon, the version 1 of 21mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M lens featured an eight-element construction360 in 6 groups95. The lens had a completely new formula95. The lens had angle of view of 92 degrees95. The filter size was E4995. The lens featured a smallest aperture of f/16 and included both full and half click stop apertures95. Its focusing range allowed for manual focus from 16 inches to 28 inches to infinity)95. The lens was finished in black and came with a lens hood (catalog number 12537)95. Its dimensions were 46mm in length and 53mm in diameter, with a weight of 0.290 kg95. The accessory viewfinder had catalog number 1201295. The minimum focusing distance was 70cm361.
The first retro-focus lens design from Leitz with a 21mm focal length originated from Midland, Ontario, Canada360 and bore a family resemblance to the Elmarit-R 1:2.8/19mm, which was also a Midland design361. The gradual shift from symmetrical to retro-focus designs for the M-camera became necessary after the introduction of the Leica M5361. Additionally, a less obvious reason for this change was the greater potential for optical corrections that retro-focus designs offered361. One of the prototypes of this design was the 25mm f/2.8 lens, numbered 00001023360. This prototype served as a stepping stone from the 28mm f/2.8 lens to the 21mm f/2.8 lens360.
Approximately 14000 units were manufactured, with an average sales volume of about 1000 per year361.
The serial numbers ranged from 2993701 through 3363299361.
21mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M (Version 2)
The version 2 of 21mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M (catalog number 1113495) was announced in 1985361. This lens was the fastest yet produced at the time and was exceptionally quick for such a short focal length360. It was later referred to as "pre-ASPH version 2".
The filter size was E60361 and the lens accepted 12543 lens hood542. Minimum focusing distance was 70cm361.
The serial numbers ranged from 3363299 through 3719102361.
Approximately 10000 units were manufactured between 1985 and 1995439.
21mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M ASPH
The Leica 21mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M ASPH was introduced in 1997285 in black finish (catalogue number 11135361). The serial numbers started at 3780530361. Leica 21mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M ASPH lens was available in silver chrome finish (product code 11897361) from 1998215.
The Leica 21mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M ASPH lens was compatible with all cameras in the Leica M series209. The lens was ideal for photojournalism, landscape, and architectural photography209. It was smaller, easier to handle, and optically more advanced than its predecessor, the 21mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M (catalogue number 11134) lens209.
The 21mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M ASPH featured a sophisticated optical design that included nine elements arranged in seven groups209. Among these elements were three made with high refraction glass, two with anomalous partial dispersion, and one with an aspherical glass surface209. This design significantly enhanced optical performance while drastically reducing the size of the lens209.
As a result, the lens offered a fast f/2.8 aperture, excellent flatness of field, and virtually no distortion, even at full aperture209. Its convenient portability made it perfect for capturing decisive moments, especially outdoors209. Additionally, with a 92-degree angle of view, it allowed photographers to shoot wide scenes or large objects from close distances209. The minimum focus distance of the lens was 70cm361.
In 1997, the Leica 21mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M ASPH lens was available in the U.S. with a suggested retail price of 2395 USD209.
Leica 21mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M ASPH lens in silver chrome finish was priced at 2495 USD215. The weight of the chrome finish version was 415 grams361.
The Leica 21mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M ASPH lens remained in the catalogue until 2012361. Overall, there were 16200 lenses produced between 1997 and approximately 2012361, with serial numbers ranging from 3780501 through 3947900439.
21mm f/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH
The Leica 21mm f/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH was introduced at Photokina 2008283.
Leica 21mm f/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH had aspherical surfaces, floating elements, and special optical glass361. The mechanical complexity of the new lenses with floating element technology reached a new level with this lens: the minimal movements of the floating element must have been extremely precise and consistent over many years of use to effectively enhance lens performance361. This need for precision was the reason why the lens did not feature a smallest aperture of f/22361.
The maximum aperture of f/1.4 not only enabled the capture of extreme wide-angle images in low-light conditions, but also addressed the common issue with wide-angle designs: the extensive depth of field, which made selective focus difficult to achieve361.
The lens had a catalog number 11647361. It consisted of 10 elements arranged in 8 groups, including two elements with one aspherical surface each, along with a floating group361. The lens offered an angle of view of 92° and a minimum focusing distance of 70 cm361. Weighing 580 grams in black finish, it used a Series VIII filter and included a 6-bit lens identification361. Additionally, it came with a separate, screw-on lens hood361.
21mm f/3.4 Super-Elmar-M ASPH
The Leica 21mm f/3.4 Super-Elmar-M ASPH, introduced in 2011 (but production started in 2012439), had catalog number 11145361. It consisted of 8 elements arranged in 7 groups, including one element with two aspherical surfaces, providing an angle of 92º361. The minimum focusing distance was 70 cm, and it weighted 260 grams361. It was designed with an E46 female thread for filters and included a male thread with a stop for a separate lens hood361. Additionally, it had a 6-bit lens identification system361.
The Leica 21mm f/3.4 Super-Elmar-M ASPH was compact and had impeccable mechanical quality361.
The optical prescription ensured extremely high image quality across all apertures, covering the full distance range from 70 cm to infinity and from center to corner361. The Leica 21mm f/3.4 Super-Elmar-M ASPH was technically closely related to the 18mm f/3.8 Super-Elmar-M ASPH; the behind-the-aperture group was nearly identical and included a lens element with two aspherical surfaces361.
Following its introduction, the lens mount was slightly modified, featuring a larger diameter in the section between the bayonet and the focus ring361.
Price at the introduction was 2995 USD293.