LEICA SUMMICRON TL 23mm
A review and sample photos of the LEICA SUMMICRON TL 23mm F2 used with the LEICA SL Typ601 and LEICA T Typ701.
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Table of contents
Gallery
The sample photos were taken with the LEICA SL Typ601 and LEICA T Typ701.
Review
1．Overview
The Summicron TL 23mm is a prime lens released for the LEICA T series.
Because it is a lens for APS-C sensor size, the focal length converted to 35mm is equivalent to 35mm in 35mm format.
When used with the LEICA SL Typ601, a camera with a 35mm full-frame sensor, the Summicron TL 23mm is automatically detected by the camera and the image recorded is cropped to the APS-C sensor. This means that the focal length of the captured image in 35mm format is 35mm, just like the LEICA T series.
Cropping the 24-megapixel LEICA SL Typ601 to the APS-C sensor leaves 10 megapixels remaining. This is more than enough pixels for use on blogs and social media.
A camera with a higher pixel count, the 40-megapixel LEICA SL2, will have 16 megapixels when cropped to an APS-C size, while a 60-megapixel LEICA SL3 will have 25 megapixels when cropped to an APS-C size. Obviously, the more pixels a camera has, the more pixels will remain after cropping.
- Aperture: 2
- Lens construction: 9 elements in 6 groups
- 1 aspherical lens with 2 surfaces
- Aperture blades: 9
- Minimum focusing distance: 0.35m
- Hood: LEICA Lens Hood 12426
- Lens color variations: Black
2．Usability
The Summicron TL 23mm is compact and lightweight, made of aluminum, making it a perfect match for the slim bodies of the Leica T and TL series. It comes with a reversible bayonet hood (12426). The original hood was too large for such a compact lens, making it a nuisance, so I used a barnacle-shaped screw-on hood.
This lens is designed for the Leica TL/SL, and its simple design features only a focus ring, allowing aperture and other settings to be controlled on the camera.
The 52mm filter diameter is unusual for Leica, and while general-purpose manufacturers offer a wide variety of filters in the mainstream range, it’s rare to see a genuine Leica 52mm filter. Among Leica TL lenses, the VARIO ELMAR 18-56 zoom lens uses the same E52 filter.
The image quality is smooth and stable even at wide apertures, and its equivalent 35mm focal length and compact lens barrel make it ideal for snapshot photography. The AF speed is decent when used with the contrast AF of a LEICA T series lens (T/TL/TL2). Among TL lenses, the focusing speed is faster than the Summicron 35mm and, as I recall, about the same as the Vario Elmar 18-56mm.
As mentioned in the overview, when the Summicron TL 23mm is attached to a camera with a 35mm full-frame sensor, such as the Leica SL, the recorded image is automatically cropped to the APS-C size sensor, so you cannot capture images using the entire 35mm sensor.
While the Leica SL series cameras are slightly larger, the Summicron TL 23mm is not as small as the Elmarit TL 18mm, so it balances well with the camera and can be used as a compact Summicron 35mm f/2.
While it is a compact and easy-to-use lens, it is significantly more expensive than Japanese-made lenses with similar specifications.
3．Summary
In conclusion, to sum up the Summicron TL 23mm, it was released at the same time as the Leica T, and is a lens with a size that is a perfect fit for the LEICA T, and the image quality is satisfactory for normal use. However, it is a shame that there are no longer any Leica L-mount APS-C size sensor cameras.
It is possible to use it with cameras equipped with 35mm full-frame sensors, but the recorded image will be cropped to the range of the APS-C size sensor.
Specifications, considerations, etc.
The lens is made in Japan, but the design was done in Germany.
The patent number for this lens, 2015-191237, has the following information:
- [Applicant] LEICA CAMERA AG
- [Inventor] KARBE PETER
Leica APS single focal length lens
| Lens name | ELMARIT | SUMMICRON | SUMMILUX | APO MACRO ELMARIT |
| Focal length(mm) | 18 | 27 | 35 | 60 |
| 35mm equivalent focal length | 27 | 35 | 50 | 90 |
| Max aperture | 2.8 | 2 | 1.4 | 2.8 |
| Min aperture | 16 | 16 | 16 | 32 |
| Aperture blade | – | 9 | – | – |
| Lens Construction | 8elements 6groups | 9elements 6groups | 12elements 8groups | 10elements 9groups |
| Min distance(m) | 0.3 | 0.35 | 0.4 | 0.16 |
| Lens length(mm) | 21 | 37 | 77 | 134 |
| Lens diameter(mm) | 62 | 63 | 70 | 70 |
| Filter Size(mm) | E39 | E52 | E60 | E60 |
| Weight(g) | 80 | 154 | 428 | 320 |
| Release date | 2017.12 | 2014.5.26 | 2016.3.31 | 2016.9.24 |
| List Price | ¥142,500 | ¥230,000 | ¥310,000 | ¥320,000 |
Reference links
- LEICA official page
- Camera wiki lens pantent
- LEICA lumors 「Leica 23mm f/2 ASPH lens patent」
- ライカ Leica 12426 [ライカT用 レンズフード T23]
- SUMMICRON TL23mm Aperture blade
- ELMARIT TL 18mm ・Shige’s hobby
- SUMMICRON TL 23mm・Shige’s hobby
- SUMMILUX TL 35mm・Shige’s hobby
- APO MACRO ELMARIT TL 60mm・Shige’s hobby
Affiliate links
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Update history
- 2025.9.6
- 2024.03.06
- 2023.07.23
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