Leica Summilux-M 28mm f/1.4 ASPH review: Verdict
Leica has clearly prioritised curvilinear distortion as the wideangle photographer’s number one enemy. A lot of effort has gone into creating very low levels of distortion. It’s an honourable cause, but I wonder if everyone will feel the cost in chromatic aberration is worth it. I struggle to live with coloured margins on my edges – they add colour to monochromatic areas and they reduce sharpness.
The lens is a pleasure to use though, and the excitement created in combining differential focus with a wide view is enough to make pictures stand out on its own. At f/4 through to f/8 the lens is about as sharp as you’ll need, but those hoping to stop down further for more front-to-back sharpness will see some blurring of fine detail.
So, not for everyone, but those who like working in dim conditions, those looking for visual excitement and architects will be mostly happy. Those looking for technical accuracy and maximum sharpness at every aperture will be less so.
