Smallest Leica lenses?

<p>Hi guys,</p>

<p>Due to a business venture, I am trying to put together a list of lenses that measure less than 6cm x 5.2cm (2.36 x 2 inches). My first thought was Micro 4/3rds lenses and Leica lenses.<br>

<br>

Any ideas?<br>

</p>

<p>The 35mm f2 pre-ASPH Summicron and 28mm f2.8 Elmarit come to mind right off the top from the Leica line. The current 50mm f2 Summicron, hood not extended, would also be very close.</p>

<p>I also would imagine the Olympus 17mm f1.8, Panasonic 20mm f1.8 and Olympus 45mm f1.8 all come in under those numbers from the Micro Four-Thirds line. The Olympus 17mm f2.8 too, but that's not one of my more favorite lenses and definitely the worst of this bunch.</p>

<p>In all the above cases, used without their hoods.</p>

Even the Olympus kit zoom fits within those

measures.

<p>Smallest Leica lenses would be the 35/3.5 Elmar, 28/6.3 Hektor, etc.</p>

<p>Quite a few M-mount Voigtlander lenses are rather small too: <a href="https://www.cameraquest.com/voigtlen.htm">https://www.cameraquest.com/voigtlen.htm</a></p>

<p>Loxia 35/2 and 50/2 lenses for Sony A7 cameras fall inside that size range, without the attached hoods. Also the Sony 28/2 and 35/2.8 AF lenses. Loxia hoods are reversible for storage. Leica and Zeiss ZM lenses 28mm to 50mm fit that template as well (the Zeiss 35/1.4 ZM is a little long).</p>

<p>Lenses with focal lengths greater than 50mm are generally longer than 2-1/2", with a possible exception of the collapsible versions. Even so, my v2 Summicron 90/2 is less than 4", about the same as my Tele-Elmar 135/4. However the Sony 70-200 f/4 is nearly the same size as the Nikon 70-200/2.8 (but half the weight). Everything fits in a Think Tank backpack only 7" thick with padding and room for a laptop, small enough to fit under an airline seat.</p>

<p>Most Nikon 1 lenses are really tiny - they fit your size requirement (but being for a camera with a relatively small sensor, no idea if they do otherwise).</p>

<p> I agree with John Shriver.</p>

<p>The older or more modern collapsible Leica rangefinder 50mm f2.8 lenses also fit the bill, my preference there going to the light black finish Elmar-M. The classic Voigtlander 35mm f2.5 screw mount lens is also really compact, with or without its lens hood. Both of these lenses, like the aforementioned 35 mm Summicron pre-aspherical and 28mm f2.8 aspherical optics round out the choices for relatively modern fixed focal length small lenses.</p>

40mm Summicron / Rokkor

<p>Thank you all so much for all your suggestions. I hadn't thought about the Nikon 1 lenses, good call Wouter!</p>

 

the pre-war 35mm Elmar must be one of the smallest. An excellent lens.

The Nikon 1 is made for a 1inch sensor. The Pentax Q camera and lenses will be even smaller.<p>

 

If you want a lens that covers a 35mm frame, the Nikkor lenses in Leica Thread Mount are hard-coated and small.<p>

 

<img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3860/14777202367_d060b17c34_c.jpg"> <p>

 

The Nikkor 3.5cm F2.5 runs ~$300 as shown here. It is the same optical formula as the Leica 35/2.8 Summaron.<p>

<img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3849/15115777258_565e3bdaf2_c.jpg">

 

<p>

 

The 2.8cm F3.5- even smaller, ~$400. This one cost me $300.

<p>Thank you again. I am not looking to buy a lens, I just need to know some common lenses in this size range. Your information has been very helpful.</p>

<p>A 40mm Rokkor and pre-war anything would hardly qualify as "common." A thoroughly modern Lomo LC-A lens, also 40mm, is barely 1/4" thick and probably "uncommon."</p>

<p>http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2015/07/03/the-lomography-lc-a-art-lens-1st-look-by-brad-husick/</p>

There are some modern day low-production lenses that fit this category-

 

http://www.japanexposures.com/2012/02/03/ms-optical-super-triplet-perar-428/

 

http://www.japanexposures.com/2011/05/25/ms-optical-super-triplet-perar-3-535-mark-ii/

 

There have also been conversions of optics made for P&S cameras converted to Leica mount. The Nikkor 35/2.8 in the old

Nikon AF had a special barrel/lens made for it. Some of these cameras had fine optics in them, same with the little 28/3.8

in the Nikon Lite-Touch. That would be a good lens for a conversion to M-Mount.

<p>Actually, the Elmar 35/3.5 is pretty common, although the prices are somewhat dictated by "collector-itis." The Summaron 35/3.5 is more common, and thus cheaper, and the earlier "A-36" version is almost as small.<br>

The Summaron 35/2.8 gets somewhat larger, and runs expensive because it's "sharp."<br>

The Hektor 28/6.3 and Summaron 28/5.6 are uncommon and pricey.</p>

<p>The 40mm and 35mm Voigtlander lenses in a screw or M mount are very small and pretty good (if somewhat slow). </p>