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This is as close as Leica gets to a zoom lens for the M system and is a most convenient lens for day time walk-about use.
The Leica 28-35-50mm f/4 Tri-Elmar-M ASPH is a unique rangefinder lens, in that it offers three popular focal lengths in one package. There is a rotating ring which has a click-stop for each of the three focal lengths. They are selected in a strange sequence, namely, 35mm - 50mm - 28mm and this is done to match the mechanical sequence in which the viewfinder framelines have been arranged in the Leica M cameras for which it was developed. Leica had to do some clever design work to achieve this.
The correct framelines in the camera are selected automatically for each focal length. There have been two versions of the Tri-Elmar. The current version (which I own) is available only in black whereas the first version was available in black or silver chrome finish. The current version is also slightly narrower, has a convex tab instead of a milled surface on the focusing collar, has more positive click-stops on the focal length selector and has depth of field scales painted on the barrel for each focal length. These DoF scales are a little confusing at first but, after gaining some experience in using the lens, it does become quite straightforward.
Some users have reported that the selection of framelines is a bit touchy, even with the current version, and it is sometimes necessary to give the selector ring an extra nudge to cause the correct framelines to pop into position. In my particular ex&le, the 28mm position is sometimes like that but it's no big deal and I have found it easy to adapt to using this lens.
The Tri-Elmar is actually constructed like a zoom lens but, in practice, it cannot be used that way. It is designed only to be used at the three click-stop settings and Leica warns that trying intermediate settings of focal length will cause out of focus images. The optical formula consists of eight lens elements in six groups. Two of the elements have aspheric surfaces, which, Leica explains, help to correct aberrations and distortion and enable the size of the lens to be kept small.
As with most Leica optics, performance is excellent at the maximum aperture of f/4, with superb contrast and rendering of colors. Only marginal improvement can be achieved by stopping down to f/5.6 or f/8; the smallest aperture is f/22. Optimum performance, in terms of resolution, is obtained at the 50mm focal length but is still very good at the 35mm focal length. At 28mm, there is some slight barrel distortion, loss of detail and slight vignetting, which in most circumstances goes unnoticed and, in any case, can be overcome by stopping down to f/8.
Focusing is adjusted by the collar closest to the lens mount, which, thanks to its added tab, is now easier to operate and less likely to be confused with the adjacent focal length selector collar than with the old version. Focusing is internal, so the length of the lens doesn’t change as focus is adjusted. Minimum focus distance is 1 meter.
Considering what it is, the current version Tri-Elmar is quite compact, with a length of 67.8mm and width of 55mm and weighing 340 grams. The filter size is 49mm (previous version was 55mm). If filters are not used, there is no need to fit a lens hood and the Tri-Elmar is not supplied with one. This is because the front element is slightly recessed into the barrel, depending on the focal length selected. A circular lens hood can be purchased separately but it is rather expensive and, since I don’t use filters, I haven't bothered to buy one. I have noticed flare only a couple of times and that was with the sun just outside the field of view on a clear day. Other than that, I have found the Tri-Elmar to be free from flare and ghost images.
It is probably true to say that most Leica M users have considered buying the Tri-Elmar and that many have decided against it. The two most common objections raised are its slow speed and the suspicion that it can't possibly be as good as the equivalent prime lenses. To be honest, with its maximum aperture of f/4 it is really too slow for low available light photography and, for that reason, I acquired a 50/1.4 Summilux for such use. However, for daytime walk-about use, the Tri-Elmar has no rival. Being able to select between three very useful focal lengths, with just a twist of the selector ring, is so much faster and more convenient than changing lenses and it can make the difference between grabbing a shot and missing it. Also, in the range of apertures it offers, the Tri-Elmar is as good as any Leica prime lenses except for some of the most recent versions.
The Leica 28-35-50mm f/4 Tri-Elmar-M ASPH is a unique rangefinder lens, in that it offers three popular focal lengths in one package. There is a rotating ring which has a click-stop for each of the three focal lengths. They are selected in a strange sequence, namely, 35mm - 50mm - 28mm and this is done to match the mechanical sequence in which the viewfinder framelines have been arranged in the Leica M cameras for which it was developed. Leica had to do some clever design work to achieve this.
The correct framelines in the camera are selected automatically for each focal length. There have been two versions of the Tri-Elmar. The current version (which I own) is available only in black whereas the first version was available in black or silver chrome finish. The current version is also slightly narrower, has a convex tab instead of a milled surface on the focusing collar, has more positive click-stops on the focal length selector and has depth of field scales painted on the barrel for each focal length. These DoF scales are a little confusing at first but, after gaining some experience in using the lens, it does become quite straightforward.
Some users have reported that the selection of framelines is a bit touchy, even with the current version, and it is sometimes necessary to give the selector ring an extra nudge to cause the correct framelines to pop into position. In my particular ex&le, the 28mm position is sometimes like that but it's no big deal and I have found it easy to adapt to using this lens.
The Tri-Elmar is actually constructed like a zoom lens but, in practice, it cannot be used that way. It is designed only to be used at the three click-stop settings and Leica warns that trying intermediate settings of focal length will cause out of focus images. The optical formula consists of eight lens elements in six groups. Two of the elements have aspheric surfaces, which, Leica explains, help to correct aberrations and distortion and enable the size of the lens to be kept small.
As with most Leica optics, performance is excellent at the maximum aperture of f/4, with superb contrast and rendering of colors. Only marginal improvement can be achieved by stopping down to f/5.6 or f/8; the smallest aperture is f/22. Optimum performance, in terms of resolution, is obtained at the 50mm focal length but is still very good at the 35mm focal length. At 28mm, there is some slight barrel distortion, loss of detail and slight vignetting, which in most circumstances goes unnoticed and, in any case, can be overcome by stopping down to f/8.
Focusing is adjusted by the collar closest to the lens mount, which, thanks to its added tab, is now easier to operate and less likely to be confused with the adjacent focal length selector collar than with the old version. Focusing is internal, so the length of the lens doesn’t change as focus is adjusted. Minimum focus distance is 1 meter.
Considering what it is, the current version Tri-Elmar is quite compact, with a length of 67.8mm and width of 55mm and weighing 340 grams. The filter size is 49mm (previous version was 55mm). If filters are not used, there is no need to fit a lens hood and the Tri-Elmar is not supplied with one. This is because the front element is slightly recessed into the barrel, depending on the focal length selected. A circular lens hood can be purchased separately but it is rather expensive and, since I don’t use filters, I haven't bothered to buy one. I have noticed flare only a couple of times and that was with the sun just outside the field of view on a clear day. Other than that, I have found the Tri-Elmar to be free from flare and ghost images.
It is probably true to say that most Leica M users have considered buying the Tri-Elmar and that many have decided against it. The two most common objections raised are its slow speed and the suspicion that it can't possibly be as good as the equivalent prime lenses. To be honest, with its maximum aperture of f/4 it is really too slow for low available light photography and, for that reason, I acquired a 50/1.4 Summilux for such use. However, for daytime walk-about use, the Tri-Elmar has no rival. Being able to select between three very useful focal lengths, with just a twist of the selector ring, is so much faster and more convenient than changing lenses and it can make the difference between grabbing a shot and missing it. Also, in the range of apertures it offers, the Tri-Elmar is as good as any Leica prime lenses except for some of the most recent versions.
