Solms, Germany (October 27, 2011) - Leica Camera AG expands the range of lenses for the Leica S-System with the new Leica Elmarit-S 30mm f/2.8 ASPH wide angle lens. With this latest addition, the portfolio of lenses for the professional S-System is now comprised of five focal lengths. The fastest medium format lens in this focal length, the Leica Elmarit-S 30mm f/2.8 ASPH will be available beginning December 2011.
The field of view of this new S-Lens corresponds to a 24mm lens in 35mm format and this wide angle of view opens up a multitude of new opportunities in creative composition, particularly in the fields of interior, architectural and landscape photography. Additionally, a fast maximum aperture of f/2.8 makes the Leica Elmarit-S 30mm f/2.8 ASPH ideal for available-light photography and the conscious use of selective planes of focus. Thanks to outstanding imaging performance from close focus to infinity at all apertures and brilliant color rendition, the Leica Elmarit-S 30mm f/2.8 ASPH guarantees perfect results in a wide range of photographic situations.
The highest priority in the development of all Leica S-Lenses is the dedication to creating tools that fulfill the stringent demands that professional photographers place on a camera system in their everyday work. Even wide open, the Leica Elmarit-S 30mm f/2.8 ASPH fulfills these demands and offers high resolution and extremely low distortion throughout its entire focusing range. Software-driven image optimization is unnecessary with this lens, allowing photographers to concentrate purely on the creative side of their work. A further highlight of the Leica Elmarit-S 30mm f/2.8 ASPH is its excellent control of flare to ensure high-contrast images, even when shooting a backlit subject.
The design and construction of the Leica Elmarit-S 30mm f/2.8 ASPH is tough, reliable and built to last a lifetime, a characteristic found in all Leica S-System products. The lens features an extremely robust bayonet mount and is fully sealed against dust and spray, ensuring absolute dependability even under the harshest shooting conditions.
The Leica Elmarit-S 30mm f/2.8 ASPH will be available from authorized Leica dealers beginning December 2011. The lens is supplied complete with a rectangular hood designed for optimum suppression of extraneous light. For further product information please consult the Leica Homepage at www.leica-camera.com and www.S-League.net.
| Technical Data | Leica Elmarit-S 30mm f/2.8 ASPH |
| Lens Type: | High-speed wide-angle lens with two aspherical lens surfaces to ensure superior imaging performance |
| Compatible Cameras: | All Leica S-Models |
| Image View: | Approx. 84°, 74°, 53° (diagonal, horizontal, vertical), corresponding to approx. 24mm in 35mm format |
| Optical Design: | Number of elements/groups: 13/9; aspherical surfaces: 2; position of the entrance pupil: 33.3mm (from 1st lens element) |
| Distance Settings: | Distance range: 0.5m to ∞, combined scale meter/feet, Smallest object field/largest repro ratio: approx. 330 x 495mm/1:11 |
| Aperture: | Electronically controlled diaphragm, selection dial on camera, including half values, Lowest value 22 |
| Bayonet: | Leica S quick-change bayonet with contact strip for Leica S-Models |
| Filter Mount: | internal thread for E82 filter; filter mount does not rotate |
| Lens Hood: | Lens hood (included), adjustable by bayonet |
| Surface Finish: | Black anodized |
| Dimensions:Length to bayonet mount: | approx.128/156mm (approx. 5.04 /6.14in) (without/with lens hood) |
| Largest diameter: | approx. 88/132mm (approx. 3.46 / 5.20in) (without/with lens hood) |
| Weight: | approx. 1060g (approx. 37.39oz) |
Popflash is currently taking pre-orders.
Related posts:
- Leica 21mm f/2.8 Elmarit M Aspherical lens also discontinued?
- Leica 35mm Summilux-M f/1.4 ASPH lens listed as new (updated)
- The new LEICA SUMMILUX-M 35 mm f/1.4 ASPH is now official (press release)
- Leica 24mm f/2.8 Elmarit M Aspherical lens is now discontinued
- Leica is rumored to announce a new 21mm ASPH f/3.8 lens
23 Comments
September, 2008 Leica announces the S system at Photokina – 2008.
It’s October 27, 2011. The S ‘system’ will have it’s fifth lens. Three years later.
The body costs $22K ish, and it’s taken 3 years to build it’s first w i d e angle? I wonder how many S users are bothered to have had to wait so long? Kind of like some other Leica product? Wonder what it will cost?
and where are the leaf shutter lenses announced for ages, without them for me as a people , fashion, fine art photographer shooting outside a lot not interesting a lot actually. Perhaps next year?
I considered the S system for digital – though the cost is a joke to me – I still appreciate it’s merits. But having used Leicas’ for years and being quite familiar with ‘the Leica business way’ I decided to keep with MF Hasselblad and 67 Pentax.
I would have been completely p—-d off by now if I had to wait this long for a ‘landscape’ lens. Too, when enlargements from MF film and digital are viewed from a ‘viewers distance’ as in a gallery, the compared quaility is still exceptable with film.
Leica still has a history of not delivering on promises, and when you’re talking $22K for a camera body, the lenses better be available to use on it.
Its an amazing camera, it would be more amazing at half the price….also now that i think about it if it were a 35mm full frame camera it would be amazing too….
Agreed. Or, if they gave you half off on a trade-in for an S3!!!!!
But what about spending $22K every 5 or 6 years? If that would be an S body lifecycle – that would be insane.
I looked at the S2, and decided to spend that money, I’d get a good trade in value on my H3Dii-39ms towards a IQ180, for the same money 80mp will last me longer, more lenses, can be used on other types of cameras, better choice.
I’d love the S2 as a walk around camera but the price is stupid compared to other things in the price range.
leica S is even more lol then leica it self
it is for hippsters who need to beat M9 hipsters
Couldn’t have put it better myself!
I would love an S….. but not at the price of a car.
7500$ i would have to sell all my canon euqipment just to get this lens, danke aber nicht danke sehr teuer fur mich
and sell both my cars to buy a body
Seriously guys, if you’re complaining about anything is too expensive and so on, Leica or not, then it’s obviously not for you!
YES, it is expensive, but only as expensive as anything Digital Medium Format.
Although they’re mentioning the price, are actually complaining about the value.
exactly. it is expensive not upgradeable system, which even have not full sized MF sensor. Lenses are too late, mediocre and expensive. MF lenses dont need to be that expensive. All i have, and some are as 20 years old, are sharp as hell even wide open. No CA. Can be had from few hundreds euros upwards.
Wide angles? Dont let me start. This POS is just 24mm equivalent. Thats not wide. This is wide: schneider 28mm f4.5 (equivalent to ca 17mm), mamiya 645 mount, price 390Eur used, no distortion or CA.
I haven’t seen a Leica S lens that doesn’t show CA on the S2. That’s really bad consider (1) they’re slow and (2) they’re really expensive. According to Leica, their S system is the best of the best (better than M or R).
In comparison, Schneider’s APO Digitars are jaw-dropping when combined with a good back like a P65+. And most of the time there’s an image circle large enough to do movements too.
Horses for courses. Anyone buying into MF, know what he or she is buying into, it the same with photogs buying into 35mm. The same about spending at a budget level you are comfortable with.
Sure, I can shout 0ut brand names too, Rodenstock, Schneider, Apla, Sinar… so what? It is of value to the user. Values, if you are happy with what you have, there’s no point arguing for arguing sake, if indeed Leica makes terrible lenses relative to MF, I think they will sell few of these. I think Leica going into MF is a huge deal and very positive for the photography world.
PhaseOne, Mamiya, Hasselblad, Pentax and Leica all have a place in this niche market. Also closed systems have their benefits as well. Competition is great and so is choice here, but why slag of a company who puts in a huge effort into a complete system and I must add is still in its infancy. About Leica being slow to release products, yes, this has been true forever, if it bothers you then I am sure you won’t spend a dime, here. There is no hidden agenda with what Leica has released, you guys are simply pointing out the obvious with Leica releasing a crop MF sensor, but fail to acknowledge its benefits to people who is it. Also no one doubts a good Rodenstock or Shneider lens on the P65+, but saying that doesn’t suddenly mean Leica or any of it’s S2 products is of no value, but simply a different product. Leica is daring enough to bring out a NEW and complete range of Lenses, kudos to them.
As good or bad as the S glass may be, or it’s value against other glass will be known with time. But it’s still a weird way to bring out a low volume, high $$$ product while eliminating an exisiting loyal product base.
That doesn’t seem daring to me – unless taking chances and not following up with stated promises is considered daring. Respecting existing customers is just as important as finding new ones.
For years, I quietly complained/communicated to Leica about dragging their feet for changes that were just simple upgrades; improved eyepiece/finder for the M, improved quality control, a better R body – why not AF compatible, and watched them crawl into the digital era.
It’s not ‘whiney’ to complain about Leica when justified, and the S is one of them. The S over a digital R? How is selling small numbers of a non-upgradeable body a way of pulling your company out of the gutter? WHILE dumping a whole user base at the SAME TIME that will never be made up with the S?
This is Leica at it’s strangest ever marketing strategy – and further proof can be shown at last Photokinas’ M9T ‘event’, and NEVER saying anything to the R base who was waiting on their PROMISES of an R solution – there is something really odd about what has been happening the last 5 years or so at Leica.
It’s even more bizarre than being short on $$$ as was the case in the past. It’s not ‘beating a dead horse’ to keep these realities close to the surface – it’s keeping their feet to the fire. For a company to move forward they need to listen to the negatives.
leica turned into Apple of photography years ago. with m9 they at least have a point as there are no full frame competitors in pseudo-rangefinder market, but it is clear that they just discovered that only way to stay afloat is not to compete with japan for photographers market and go more for style over anything market. So if you are 7 figures incomer and your friend got M9 to show on your golf party, you show up with S2 on yacht meeting.
Which is exactly how Leica/Kaufmann ‘justifies’ the S over the R and pretends to be a relevant company.
At least Apple brings out new, updated goods, and new ideas to the market. Not like the M with it’s antiquated finder system that needs external finders for it’s wide angle lenses, or hard to see through finder for eyeglass wearers, and on and on. The S is just a bigger DSLR but not really a new idea. But as you say, it does allow $$$$ happy types to one-up each other.
As much as I dislike Apple products, at least they deliver what they claim to do most of the time, unlike Leica products. Still i don’t think anyone would complain about leicas this much if we they were realistically priced. A M9′s worth $1500. A S2 should be like a Pentax 645D.
Nobody Special & genotypewriter’s comments hit the nail on the head. +1
You are absolutely correct. The M technology is YEARS ancient and the production techniques to build parts for it has paid for itself a thousand times over. So where’s the need for such a high price? The sensor? The processor? The software?
Assembly is done by hand, but how much more can that cost today? Leica hasn’t improved that?
The S is newer of course, but $22K? If Kaufmann wants his money back quickly it makes sense – but even if he wants tech $$$$, maybe he should have dumped the S tech $$$ into something many more would buy.