The Leica TRI-ELMAR-M 16-18-21mm f/4 ASPH (11626) is a three-position wide-angle lens for Leica M-mount cameras that switches between 16mm, 18mm, and 21mm focal lengths at a constant f/4 aperture, making it one of the most versatile ultra-wide options ever made for the M system.
Key Specifications
- Mount: Leica M-mount
- Focal lengths: 16mm, 18mm, and 21mm (three discrete click-stop positions)
- Maximum aperture: f/4 (constant across all three focal lengths)
- Minimum aperture: f/22
- Optical design: Aspherical elements (ASPH designation)
- Focus type: Manual focus
- Lens article number: 11626
- Filter thread: E67 (67mm)
Who is the Leica TRI-ELMAR-M 16-18-21mm f/4 ASPH for?
If you shoot landscapes, architecture, or travel with a Leica M body, this lens solves a real problem: carrying three ultra-wide primes is heavy, expensive, and impractical. The TRI-ELMAR-M condenses 16mm, 18mm, and 21mm into a single compact lens body with a consistent maximum aperture across all positions. The 21mm setting is the classic Leica wide-angle focal length relied on by M photographers for decades, while 16mm pushes into genuine ultra-wide territory — useful for sweeping landscapes, tight interiors, and astrophotography where you want to capture as much sky as possible. The constant f/4 aperture means your exposure settings stay predictable when you click between focal lengths in the field, which matters when light is changing fast at golden hour or under a dark sky. The lens pairs naturally with any Leica M-mount body, including digital M cameras, and requires a separately sourced viewfinder (the optional MATE multi-focal viewfinder is purpose-built for this lens) since M cameras lack a built-in finder that covers all three frame lines simultaneously. At the shared 21mm focal length, the Leica 21mm Super-Elmar-M f/3.5 ASPH has a slight optical edge and offers a brighter maximum aperture, but the TRI-ELMAR-M's three-in-one flexibility makes it the more practical travel choice. Pre-owned examples of the TRI-ELMAR-M tend to hold their value well in the used market, which reflects how few lenses genuinely match its combination of compactness and focal-length range.
Buying a used Leica TRI-ELMAR-M 16-18-21mm f/4 ASPH
Picking up this lens second-hand is a smart move if you want Leica M ultra-wide performance without paying full new price. When buying pre-owned, check that all three focal-length click-stops engage cleanly and that the aperture blades are free of oil. Each item at Camera-tweedehands.nl is individually photographed and professionally inspected, with a minimum 12-month warranty.
