Leica's 28mm for the R system came in two quite different versions. The first, from 1970, is an 8-element Wetzlar design that weighs under 300 g. Erwin Puts found it soft toward the corners wide open, flare-prone and with about two stops of vignetting, so it's best at middle apertures. In 1994 Leica replaced it with a new 8-element, 7-group design with a floating element for close range, E55 filters and a built-in rectangular hood. Puts rated the new one almost two stops better wide open, and close to the M 28mm of its time. Both focus to 0.3 m. On a full-frame mirrorless body it's a compact wide with Leica's all-metal build, set by hand on the aperture ring, and on APS-C it frames like a 42mm. The version decides what you're getting, so check the filter size and hood in the photos.
On a mirrorless camera
It’s a Leica R lens, and its mount sits 47 mm from the film. Every mirrorless mount below sits closer than that, so a plain adapter ring fills the gap and the lens still focuses to infinity. On a smaller sensor it frames tighter, like a longer lens.
Versions
Version I (1970–1994) is an 8-element, 8-group Wetzlar design with 48mm filters and about 275 g, codes 11204 and 11247. Version II (1994–2009) is an 8-element, 7-group design with a floating element, E55 filters and a built-in rectangular hood, code 11259 or 11333 for the ROM lens. Sources disagree on version II's weight, but it's the heavier of the two.
Haze, fungus, oily aperture blades and dried focus grease are the usual age faults. Check the front element closely for scratches and cleaning marks.
New to old glass? How to check a used vintage lens covers haze, fungus and the rest in detail.
Buying guide
We'd buy a 3-cam version I from a Japan dealer, like the one graded EXC+3 with its hood at $599 delivered, under the $700–1,375 band, or the Italian shop's copy at $458 that comes with a 1-year warranty. There are at least 46 for sale, mostly from Japan and European dealers, and the 1970 version I with 48mm filters sets most of the band, while the 1994 version II with E55 filters and a built-in rectangular hood asks about $1,875–3,200. Erwin Puts found version I soft toward the corners and flare-prone wide open, so it's best at middle apertures. Ask for a flashlight photo through the back, a close look at the front glass for scratches and a photo of the blades at f/8, and skip the $915 copy whose photo is another shop's, with its watermark. It needs a Leica R adapter, and the model page lists the adapters by camera.
$458.04est. delivered
The lowest delivered copy here at $458, from an Italian shop that titles it with a 1-year warranty, with both caps in the photo. The title doesn't name the version, so ask whether it takes 48mm or 55mm filters.
LEICA Elmarit-R 28mm f 2.8 Germany 1 year warranty
$599.00est. delivered
A Leitz Wetzlar 3-cam version I graded EXC+3 by the Japan dealer, with its hood, at $599 delivered, $100 under the band. Ask for a flashlight photo through the back and a close look at the front glass.
3Cam 【EXC+3 w/ Hood】 Leica Elmarit R 28mm f/2.8 Leitz Wetzlar MF Lens From Japan
$805.00est. delivered
A version I, code 11204, in its red Leicaflex box with hood and caps, titled mint, at $805 delivered from Poland, under the $915 median. Bare version I copies here ask $599–953, so the box comes at little extra.
Leica 28mm F2.8 Elmarit-R Leitz Prime Lens 11204 Mint Red Box
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 14, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 14, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$458.04est. delivered
$390.85 + $67.19 shipping
Buy It Now$390.85
Good buy
Titled with a 1-year warranty from an Italian shop. Caps in the photo.
Seller: maniaz_it
99.7% positive
Used$599.00est. delivered
$499.00 + $100.00 shipping
Buy It Now$499.00
Good buy
Version I, 3-cam, with hood. EXC+3 is the Japan dealer's grade.
Seller: cjmk-77
100% positive
Used$805.00est. delivered
$750.00 + $55.00 shipping
Buy It Now$750.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Code 11204 in the red Leicaflex box, with hood and caps. Titled mint.
Seller: foto-hobby
99.7% positive
![[Almost MINT+++] Leica Leitz Wetzlar Elmarit R 28mm f/2.8 3 Cam Lens From JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/alsAAeSwaRxqn29t/s-l500.jpg)
Used$619.99est. delivered
$539.99 + $80.00 shipping
Buy It Now$539.99
Our take
3-cam. Almost MINT+++ is the Japan dealer's grade.
Seller: yt_camera.japan
100% positive
Used$873.40est. delivered
$783.92 + $89.48 shipping
Buy It Now$783.92
Our take
Titled the last E48 version, engraved Leica. Hood in the photo.
Seller: foto-fina
100% positive
Used$953.05est. delivered
$908.00 + $45.05 shipping
Buy It Now$908.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Code 11247, a version I with E48 filters. Hood and pouch in the photo.
Seller: eu-tradefactor
100% positive
Used$914.98est. delivered
$755.78 + $159.20 shipping
Buy It Now$755.78
Check the seller
Feedback is 98.4%, and the photo is another Japan shop's, with its watermark.
Seller: riversideworks_japan
98.4% positive
Used$3,200.00delivered
$3,200.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$3,200.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Priced high
Version II ROM with box, at about 3.5 times the median. Another ROM copy asks $2,160.
Seller: schouten-select-cameras
100% positive
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