Leica 28mm Elmarit M - Buyer's Checklist

Leica 28mm f2.8 Elmarit M - Buyer's Checklist - 5 minute video

I describe the essential checks to make if buying a secondhand Leica 28mm f2.8 Elmarit. These checks apply to all variants from the earliest lenses made in the 1960s to the latest available brand new today;

0:00 Introduction
0:39 Checking 28mm Elmarit cosmetics
1:55 Checking 28mm Elmarit mechanics
3:21 Checking 28mm Elmarit optics

I hope you find this useful.

Jonathan Harris

[Nerdzombiedisco]

Also: make sure it mounts cleanly, with a good snap and no play, in addition to pulling up the appropriate framelines. Cheers!

[bennettkrisno]

Hi Jonathan! First off I just wanted to thank you for your excellent video - very thorough and easy to understand. I recently acquired a 28mm Elmarit V3 like yours in the video but am wondering how "dampened" the lens should be? The lens' focusing ring doesn't have any tight or grinding spots. It's just that it feels heavier (or more "dampened") to turn the focusing ring than my other Leica lenses (like the 40mm Summicron-C, which I really like because it takes little resistance/effort to move the focusing ring). The focusing feels more like my old Voigtländer 35mm f1.4 Nokton. I'm wondering if your V3 is like this too? My V3 is the late production model (I think the second last year before they stopped producing it) and based on the serial number, it was made in Canada. Thanks again!

[stillben]

a shop has one near me, same year, haven't had the chance to check it out yet, thanks for the tips

[kevin.itruth]

Great video. Would you ever do a video explaining the different versions and their strengths? I have a buddy asking if id like to buy his Version 1 asph and I have no idea f its a good deal.

[magiccarpetrider]

I up’d an Elmarit to Summicron v1 asph, then v2, and now a Summilux.

[elidrljaca]

This is my first Leica lens. My aperture ring is nice and clicky all the way through from 2.8 to 22. When pushed all the way to 22 is it normal for it to go beyond 22 (but not click) just by a mm or so? I’m also wondering if it’s normal to have a little play at the end as well? Or when it’s selected on a number?

[MANILAFILMCAMERACLUB]

Is that the vers 3? Is it too long for the leica m cameras?