A new Leica lens is always something to get excited about. The German company might be having some trouble taking its rangefinder cameras into the digital age, but when it comes to glass, Leica is pretty much at the top of the game.
The latest lens is an 18mm ƒ3.8 ASPH made for the M series rangefinder cameras, both digital and film. On a film body like the M6, you’ll have an ultra-wide view. Probably too wide for most, and the maximum aperture of ƒ3.8 is pretty slow. That combo of angle and hole means you’ll not be getting much of that famous Leica bokeh, the sweet way the Leica lenses render out of focus highlights.
On the M8 digicam, however, things look up. You’re still stuck with a slow lens, but the lens becomes a 24mm equivalent. The depth of field is huge whatever you do, and will stretch from 3.93 feet all the way to infinity even when the lens is wide open.
To make proper use of this new lens, you’ll also need to buy a new viewfinder which will clip onto the top of the camera. You can use the built-in finder, but the lack of bright lines for the 18mm focal length means you’ll have no idea of what you are framing.
Prices are not yet disclosed, but you can be sure they’ll be high. Available in March.
Press release [DP Review]
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