Leica M 35mm F1.2 Noctilux Asph.

The lens is a 35mm f/1.2 ASPH, a manual focus lens, with a full frame design, specifically built for Leica’s rangefinder cameras that sport the Leica M mount. Launched in January 2026, this lens is the first 35mm focal length lens in the company’s highly respected Noctilux series, which till now has been available with 50mm and 75mm focal lengths only. The lens offers an ultra-fast maximum aperture of f/1.2, along with the highly versatile 35mm focal length, which is close to the natural field of view of the naked eye.

In terms of size, the lens is surprisingly compact and light, with dimensions of 65mm in diameter, 50.2mm in length, and a weight of 416g, or 0.92 pounds, making it highly portable, especially when used with the company’s M series cameras like the M11 or the M10, as it is not as heavy as ultra-fast primes tend to be.

The lens is built with metal, with the company’s premium finish, complete with engraving, a 0.5m to infinity helicoid, along with a built-in focus tab. It features a 49mm filter thread (compact for an f/1.2 lens), an aperture control ring with half-stop clicks from f/1.2 to f/16, and a traditional Leica hood mount (hood optional, included with some kits). There are no electronic contacts—purely manual with distance scales and depth of field markings.

Durability and tactile accuracy are hallmarks of the lens’s construction with a black anodized aluminum barrel, clearly engraved markings, and a floating elements system integrated into the lens’s optical design to maintain performance across all focusing distances. Like all M lenses, there is no autofocus—instead, relying on the rangefinder for precise manual focusing, though challenging at f/1.2 with a razor-thin depth of field, though rewarding for the skilled photographer. The lens retails for $9,650 USD (a hefty premium over the Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH), clearly targeting the dedicated Leica user who wants the signature Noctilux look of dreamy bokeh, pop, and low-light capability, though with a more everyday perspective than the classic 50mm Noctilux.

Purchase

Purchase the Leica Noctilux-M 35mm f/1.2 ASPH. Lens (Leica M)

Lens Construction and Optics

The lens boasts 10 elements in 5 groups, with three aspherical elements, one of them molded, and a floating group to reduce aberrations from close up to infinity. This complex construction reduces spherical aberration, coma, astigmatism, and distortion, producing high micro-contrast and resolution at f/1.2. The lens’s multilayer coating (Leica’s formula) reduces flare and ghosting under harsh lighting conditions, retaining details in the shadows and rendering colors accurately. The rounded diaphragm with 11 blades keeps the aperture close to circular even when stopped down several stops, resulting in smooth, creamy bokeh with minimal onion rings. The lens’s all-metal construction provides durability to the helicoid and floating mechanism, ensuring smooth performance across the focusing range. The vignetting and field curvature of this Noctilux lens are well-managed despite the wide aperture, with strong center sharpness wide open and good edge-to-edge performance from f/2.8 to f/4, blending the legendary Noctilux characteristics with the practicality of a 35mm lens.

Press Release

New: The Leica Noctilux-M 35 f/1.2 ASPH.

Leica Camera AG presents the first Noctilux M-Lens with a focal length of 35 mm

Teaneck, January 29th, 2026 – Since first being introduced in 1966, the name “Noctilux” has represented the pinnacle of optical craftsmanship at Leica. The name is made up of the Latin words “noctu” and “lux”, meaning “night” and “light”, and refers to the exceptional speed of this lens series. With a maximum aperture of up to f/0.95, Noctilux lenses are considered to be the epitome of optical development, opening up creative possibilities beyond the ordinary. They deliver images with an unrivaled visual aesthetic. With the new Noctilux-M 35 f/1.2 ASPH., Leica Camera AG is presenting the first Noctilux M-Lens in the company’s history to feature a 35 mm focal length.

Like all Noctilux lenses, the latest addition to the family impresses with its exceptional speed and superior imaging performance. The new, compact Noctilux-M 35 f/1.2 ASPH. produces clear, high-contrast images characterized by a distinctive look. The shallow depth of field at a wide aperture, precisely separates subject and space, creating a velvety soft bokeh and lending images tangible depth as well as a cinematic atmosphere. Stopping down the aperture allows you to selectively increase the depth of field. A floating element within the complex optical construction ensures consistent performance across the entire focusing range, from the close focus distance to infinity.

Up until now, the unique offering of Noctilux glass has been leveraged exclusively for 50 and 75 mm focal lengths. The new Noctilux-M 35 f/1.2 ASPH. now makes the revered Noctilux quality available for the versatile 35 mm focal length for the very first time. The perfect combination of a wide aperture and natural perspective makes it ideal for outstanding portrait, reportage, available-light, and street photography. Subjects are clearly in focus thanks to precise separation, while retaining their context thanks to harmonious transitions to the background.

This new lens is the first Noctilux to feature an extended close focus distance down to 50 cm. When used with the new Leica M EV1 and its high-resolution integrated electronic viewfinder, focusing is particularly convenient across the entire focusing range. M-Cameras with a rangefinder can focus to a distance of 70 cm via the optical viewfinder. In the close-up range of 70–50 cm, focusing is carried out via Live View on the rear LCD panel or the Visoflex viewfinder. The large focusing angle of the Noctilux-M 35 supports this, thereby enabling precise and sensitive work.

The new Leica Noctilux-M 35 f/1.2 ASPH. has been optimized for M-Cameras with high-resolution image sensors, in addition to having been completely redesigned and handcrafted in Wetzlar. Decades of experience and state-of-the-art production technologies have gone into its development, including processing of special glass materials and aspherical lens elements manufactured in Wetzlar using innovative Precision Glass Molding (PGM) technology, which shapes lenses in a highly precise process, achieving exceptional quality standards. The optical design comprises ten lenses in five groups, including three aspherical lenses. A floating element ensures consistent imaging performance over the entire focusing range. The integrated lens hood reduces glare and reflections, ensuring high contrast and brilliant color rendering, even with backlighting. Measuring just 1.9 inches in length, with a diameter of 2.5 inches, and weighing only 14.6 ounces, the new lens also impresses with its remarkably compact size.

The Leica Noctilux-M 35 f/1.2 ASPH. will be available worldwide as of January 29th, 2026, from Leica Stores, the Leica Online Store, and authorized dealers. The retail price is $9,650.00

Specifications