This New 28mm f/2.8 Lens for Leica Rangefinders is Comically Thin
Funleader’s latest lens is the Brightin Star XSLIM-M 28mm f/2.8 for Leica M-mount and it brings a distinctly vintage look to an optic that is just 9.9 millimeters thick.
Funleader has been producing ultra-thin lenses for a variety of formats for several years now. It launched an 18mm f/8 cap lens for full-frame cameras in 2020 and followed it with an M-mount version in 2021. It upgraded the design later that year by giving photographers a few more control options.
Its latest isn’t billed as a cap lens like Funleader’s previous offerings but is no less impressively thin. Additionally, while the previous cap lenses from Funleader have been wide, they’ve also been slow — the 18mm cap lens only offered a fixed f/8 aperture.
This time, the Brightin Star XSLIM-M goes a bit tighter with a 28mm focal length but makes up for it with significantly more light gathering capability at f/2.8. Additionally, that aperture is adjustable down to f/16 via a 10-bladed diaphragm.
The Brightin Star is also designed to go with Leica rangefinders, so a certain “look” and quality expectation follows that target demographic. To that end, the 28mm f/2.8 lens is constructed of brass and then is painted black. Funleader says each is finished individually by “crasftsmen” and, gratefully, it is coupled with Leica M rangefinders which the company says is uncommon among pancake lenses.
The lens features a design of six elements arranged into five groups, is multi-coated (no specifics on the coatings was provided), and features a minimum focusing distance of 2.3 feet (0.7 meters). As mentioned, the Brightin Star XSLIM-M 28mm f/2.8 is very thin, measures 51.4 by 21.5mm (2.02 x 0.85 in) and weighs just 125 grams (4.4 ounces).
Below are a few example photos taken with the lens, via Funleader:
Funleader says the camera is compatible with a range of M-mount bodies including the M10 and M11 (and as far back as the M2) and the M262, M240, and M240P. While it is native M-mount, the company says it is compatible with other mounts via an adapter, including Sony E, Fujifilm X and GFX (select medium format cameras), Nikon Z, Canon RF, L-mount, and Hasselblad mirrorless.
The Brightin Star XSLIM-M 28mm f/2.8 is available directly from Funleader’s website for just shy of $360.
Update: The original article stated 0.99 mm thick, which was incorrect. It is 9.9mm thick. We apologize for the error.
