Leica Super-APO-Summicron-SL 21mm f/2 ASPH Lens

Leica Super-APO-Summicron-SL 21mm f/2 ASPH Lens Summary

With a signature Black Anodised finish to complement Leica SL cameras and the world’s first 21mm apochromatic design, the Leica Super-APO-Summicron-SL 21mm f/2 ASPH Lens combines classic aesthetics with the latest optical technology from Leica. The ultra wide angle focal width is among the widest L-mount lenses and well suited to a range of subjects including landscapes, interiors, street and architectural photography.

The Super-APO-Summicron-SL 21 f/2 is characterised by a fast maximum aperture to gather light and enable the photographer to shoot handheld in dimly lit environments. It also boasts Leica’s dual Synchro drive for highly responsive and almost silent autofocusing, seen previously in the Leica APO-Summicron-SL 75mm F2 ASPH lens.

In this design, Leica’s apochromatic lens includes three aspherical elements, which help to virtually eliminate chromatic aberrations, control lateral aberrations, and render high sharpness with accurate colour across the frame. The results you can achieve are spectacular and well suited to ultra wide subjects where colour fringing can be problematic in non-APO lenses.

Its 0.21m minimum focus distance enhances the versatility when capturing dynamic compositions and close-up foregrounds, while the front 67mm filter thread provides the ability to screw-in widely available lens filters such as circular polarisers, ND filters and attach square filter systems.

Key Leica Super-APO-Summicron-SL 21 f/2 ASPH. Features

• Fast aperture ultra wide angle lens for L mount cameras
• World’s first 21mm APO lens (apochromatic colour correction)
• Renders high resolution with sharp details across the frame
• Capture accurate colours without colour fringing
• Dual Synchro Drive for responsive and near silent AF
• 0.21m minimum focus distance and high 1:5.3 magnification
• E67 lens filter thread
• Weighs 789g (without hood)

Leica Super-APO-Summicron-SL 21mm f/2 ASPH Lens in More Detail

Leica APO lens design

Leica APO lens designs are a testament to precision and optical excellence, offering numerous benefits that enhance the photographic experience. APO, which stands for apochromatic, represents a specific lens design that corrects chromatic aberrations more effectively than conventional lenses.

Chromatic aberrations are optical imperfections that cause colour fringing or distortion in images, particularly noticeable in high-contrast areas. Leica's APO lens technology aims to eliminate these imperfections, resulting in stunning image quality and greater clarity.

Lateral chromatic aberrations on the other hand, are responsible for colour shifts at the edges of an image. Leica APO lenses mitigate these aberrations through careful engineering of the lens elements to ensure that light rays hit the sensor uniformly across the frame, delivering consistent colour accuracy from the centre to the edges.

The benefits of APO Leica lenses to photographers are multifaceted. They offer exceptional image sharpness and contrast, producing photos that are true to life with minimal distortion. The precise colour rendition ensures that colours are faithfully reproduced, making APO lenses particularly favoured by professionals in fields like landscapes, and architectural photography.

Advanced optical system

In order to achieve an APO design for the SUPER-APO-Summicron-SL 21 f/2 ASPH., Leica has created an optical system with 14 elements in 11 groups, including three aspherical elements. The entry pupil sits just 22.9 mm away from the L mount bayonet, which is similar to the 21cm minimum focus distance.

High-speed AF with Dual Synchro Drive

Leica is able to incorporate their Dual Synchro Drive system into this lens due to the lightweight nature of the two separate lens elements, which are moved for setting the focusing distance. This system not only shifts the lenses to each focusing position extremely precisely, but also travels through the focusing range in the blink of an eye.

Compact and portable design

You can bring this ultra wide angle Leica Super-APO-Summicron-SL 21 f/2 lens to all of your adventures thanks to its maximum dimensions of 102mm x 73mm and a 789g weight without the lens hood. It comes with a screw-in lens hood and the 67mm front thread enables you to add filter systems such as the LEE filters landscape system in conjunction with the 100mm System 67mm Wide Angle Adaptor Ring.

What’s in the box

• Leica Super-APO-Summicron-SL 21 f/2 ASPH. Lens Black Anodised Finish
• Lens hood
• Lens caps
• Lens bag