Leica Unveils the Noctilux-M 35mm f1.2 ASPH
Leica has just expanded its most prestigious lens family with a historic announcement: the Leica Noctilux-M 35mm f1.2 ASPH. For the first time since the series' inception in 1966, the legendary "Noctilux" name is being applied to a wide-angle focal length, promising to bring its signature low-light magic to a broader field of view.
Leica M 35mm f1.2 Key Specs
- 35mm Focal Range
- F1.2 Max Aperture
- Filter Thread: 49mm
- Max Format: 35mm FF
- Leica M Mount
- 10 Elements in 5 Groups
- 3 aspherical element
- 11-blade Diaphragm
- Weight: 416g
- Diameter x Length: 65mm x 50
- Min Focus Distance: 0.5m
- Max Magnification: 0.09x
- Read the Review
- Check Price at: Amazon, B&H Photo
Historically, Noctilux lenses have been almost exclusively 50mm glass, with a 75mm addition in 2017. By moving to 35mm, Leica is offering photographers a way to capture environmental portraits and street scenes with the "velvety soft" bokeh and extreme subject separation previously reserved for tighter compositions. The name Noctilux, derived from the Latin "noctu" (night) and "lux" (light), remains fitting here, as the f/1.2 aperture is designed to excel when the sun goes down.
Leica Noctilux-M 35mm f1.2 ASPH features 3 Aspherical Lens Elements
The lens features 10 elements in five groups, including three aspherical elements. These are crafted using Leica’s "Precision Glass Molding" process, achieving surface tolerances as tight as three nanometers. This level of precision is what allows the lens to maintain high contrast and clarity despite its massive aperture.
Leica Noctilux-M 35mm f1.2 ASPH on M11 Camera
One of the most practical upgrades for modern shooters is the minimum focusing distance. The Noctilux-M 35mm f/1.2 can focus as close as 0.5m. While the traditional M-series rangefinder couples down to 0.7m, users of the Leica M11 or those using the Visoflex/EVF can take full advantage of that extra 20cm for intimate close-ups.
Leica Noctilux-M 35mm f1.2 ASPH Lifestyle
Despite the complex optics, the lens is surprisingly manageable. It measures 50mm in length and weighs 416g. It feels balanced on an M-body and features an integrated lens hood that extends with a simple twist. True to the Leica ethos, it is a manual-focus tool designed for tactile precision and longevity.
Price and Availability
The Leica Noctilux-M 35mm f/1.2 ASPH. is available starting today, January 29, 2026, at Leica Stores and authorized dealers. The retail price is set at $9,650.
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
