Voigtlander Nokton Classic 35mm f/1.4 II MC Lens
- Leica M-Mount Lens
- Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/16
- One Abnormal Partial Dispersion Element
- Multi-Coating
Voigtlander Color-Skopar 35mm f/3.5 Aspherical VM Lens (Leica M, Silver)
- Full-Frame | f/3.5 to f/22
- Compact and Lightweight Prime Lens
- Manual Focus
- All-Metal Lens Barrel
Voigtlander Nokton Classic 40mm f/1.4 MC Lens
- Leica M-Mount
- Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/16
- Multi-Coating
- Manual Focus Design
Voigtlander 28mm f/2.8 Color-Skopar Type II Aspherical Lens (Leica M, Black)
- Full-Frame | f/2.8 to f/22
- Compact and Lightweight Prime Lens
- Manual Focus
- All-Metal Lens Barrel
Voigtlander 28mm f/2.8 Color-Skopar Type II Aspherical Lens (Leica M, Silver)
- Full-Frame | f/2.8 to f/22
- Compact and Lightweight Prime Lens
- Manual Focus
- All-Metal Lens Barrel
Voigtlander Nokton Vintage Line 35mm f/1.5 Aspherical Type II VM Lens (Black)
- Leica M-Mount Lens
- Aperture Range: f/1.5 to f/16
- Compact and Retro Design
- Manual Focus with All-Metal Lens Barrel
Thypoch Simera 28mm f/1.4 Type II Lens (Leica M, Black)
- Full-Frame | f/1.4 to f/16
- Fast, Vintage-Inspired Prime
- Manual Focus Design
- De-Clickable Aperture Ring
Voigtlander Color-Skopar 35mm f/3.5 Aspherical VM Lens (Leica M, Black)
- Full-Frame | f/3.5 to f/22
- Compact and Lightweight Prime Lens
- Manual Focus
- All-Metal Lens Barrel
Venus Optics Laowa 15mm f/2 Zero-D Lens (Leica M)
- Full-Frame | f/2 to f/22
- Fast Ultra-Wide Prime
- Manual Focus Design
- Rectilinear Design, Low Distortion
Thypoch Simera 75mm f/1.4 ASPH Lens (Leica M, Black)
- Full-Frame | f/1.4 to f/16
- Fast, Vintage-Inspired Prime
- Manual Focus Design
- One Aspherical Element
Leica Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH Lens (Black)
- Leica M Mount Lens
- Aperture Range: f/2 to f/16
- One Aspherical Element
- Manual Focus Design
Voigtlander Color-Skopar 21mm f/3.5 Aspherical Lens for Leica M (Black)
- Leica M Mount Lens, Full-Frame Format
- Classical 1970s Styling
- Aperture Range: f/3.5 to f/22
- One Aspherical Element
Thypoch Simera 50mm f/1.4 Lens (Leica M, Silver)
- Full-Frame | f/1.4 to f/16
- Manual Focus Design
- Minimum Focus Distance: 17.7"
- One Aspherical Element
Voigtlander APO-LANTHAR 50mm f/2.0 Aspherical Lens
- Leica M-Mount / Full Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/2.0 to f/16
- Two Double-Sided Aspherical Elements
- Apochromat Design
Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. Lens (Leica M, Black, 2023 Version)
- Full-Frame | f/1.4 to f/16
- Fast Normal-Length Prime
- Improved Sharpness and Bokeh
- Manual Focus Design, 1.5' Min. Focus
Voigtlander Heliar 40mm f/2.8 Aspherical Lens (Silver)
- Leica M-Mount Lens
- Classic Heliar Optical Design
- All-Metal Lens Body
- Mechanical Operation with Manual Focus
Voigtlander Nokton Classic 35mm f/1.4 II SC Lens
- Leica M-Mount Lens
- Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/16
- One Abnormal Partial Dispersion Element
- Single Coating
Voigtlander Heliar Classic 50mm f/1.5 Lens
- Leica M-Mount Lens
- Aperture Range: f/1.5 to f/16
- Classic Heliar Optical Design
- Manual Focus Design
Thypoch Simera 50mm f/1.4 Lens (Leica M, Black)
- Full-Frame | f/1.4 to f/16
- Manual Focus Design
- Minimum Focus Distance: 17.7"
- One Aspherical Element
Voigtlander Nokton Vintage Line 35mm f/1.5 Aspherical Type I VM Lens (Matte Black)
- Leica M-Mount Lens
- Aperture Range: f/1.5 to f/16
- Compact and Retro Design
- Manual Focus with All-Metal Lens Barrel
Leica Summicron-M 50mm f/2 Lens
- Leica M-Mount Lens
- Aperture Range f/2 to f/16
- Manual Focus Design
- Minimum Focusing Distance: 2.3'
Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Lens
- Leica M-Mount Lens
- Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/16
- Manual Focus Design
- Stainless Steel Front Ring
Voigtlander Heliar 40mm f/2.8 Aspherical Lens (Black)
- Leica M-Mount Lens
- Classic Heliar Optical Design
- All-Metal Lens Body
- Mechanical Operation with Manual Focus
Venus Optics Laowa 85mm f/5.6 2x Ultra Macro APO Lens (Leica M)
- M-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/5.6 to f/22
- Apochromatic Design, Three ED Elements
- 2:1 Maximum Magnification
Voigtlander 28mm f/2.8 Color-Skopar Type L Aspherical Lens (Screw Mount, Silver)
- Full-Frame | f/2.8 to f/22
- Compact and Lightweight Prime Lens
- Manual Focus
- All-Metal Lens Barrel
Thypoch Eureka 50mm f/2 Lens (Leica M, Aluminum)
- Full Frame | f/2 to f/16
- Collapsible, Vintage-Inspired Prime
- Manual Focus Design
- 12-Blade Diaphragm
Voigtlander 50mm f/2.2 Color-Skopar VM Lens (Leica M, Silver)
- Full-Frame | f/2.2 to f/16
- Compact and Lightweight Prime Lens
- Manual Focus Design
- Minimum Focus Distance: 1.6'
Voigtlander 50mm f/2.2 Color-Skopar VM Lens (Leica M, Black)
- Full-Frame | f/2.2 to f/16
- Compact and Lightweight Prime Lens
- Manual Focus Design
- Minimum Focus Distance: 1.6'
Choosing Rangefinder Lenses for Leica M Cameras
The term rangefinder lenses primarily refers to those lenses designed to fit Leica's range of cameras with the M-type camera mount. Several manufacturers make these lenses, and besides Leica, there are some manufacturers making film and digital cameras using that mount.
What Are Leica M-Mount Lenses?
Leica introduced M-mount 35mm lenses in 1954 when it launched its first M-type camera, the M3. This type of mount has a quick-release bayonet fitting for Leica's range of 35mm and digital rangefinder cameras. Unlike other camera manufacturers that now use electronics to control their camera lenses, Leica has stayed with an all-mechanical construction. This means Leica lenses still have manual aperture rings and manual focusing, a characteristic shared only by digital cinema lenses. Virtually any M-mount lens will fit an M-mount camera, so it's possible to purchase new lenses for any old Leica cameras and vice versa.
Characteristics of M-Mount Lenses
Thanks to compact camera dimensions, the distance between the lens mount and the sensor is short. This means that rangefinder lenses are small and light, yet offer excellent optical qualities. Leica rangefinder cameras use a prism arrangement in the viewfinder to identify the correct focus point. A cam fitted to the lens activates this prism.
Leica's rangefinder lenses are made of metal and use high-quality glass, producing good results. While not as expensive, lenses from Zeiss and Voigtlander also work well. Several other manufacturers also supply compatible lenses as well as some special effects lenses for M-mounts.
Camera Compensation for Different Focal Lengths
Rangefinder cameras have separate optical viewfinders with fixed magnification. When attaching a lens with a different focal length, its field of view changes. The camera compensates for this so that it correctly frames photographs in one of three ways. First, digital rangefinder cameras have a series of LED lens frames that illuminate in the viewfinder when activated by a six-bit barcode on the lens. Alternatively, lens information may be manually entered. Because lens frames don't cover all possible focal-length combinations, separate optical and digital viewfinders matching specific focal lengths are available for attachment to the camera's hot shoe. Finally, if the camera has a live view screen, you can use the screen for focusing and composition.
Fitting Rangefinder Camera Lenses to Other Cameras
Because many mirrorless system lenses have a similar lens-flange-to-sensor distance, it's possible to use adapters to fit rangefinder lenses to mirrorless cameras with smaller cropped sensors. This includes cameras from Sony, Olympus, and Panasonic, as well as Sony full-frame E-mount cameras. There are also adapters for fitting M-mount lenses to L-mount cameras from Leica, Sigma, and Panasonic. Conversely, it's possible to use adapters to fit numerous other lenses to Leica M-mount cameras.
Extend the reach of your rangefinder camera with high-quality M-mount lenses from B&H Photo and Video.