The Leica Elmarit R 35mm f/2.8 is one of the oldest lenses in the wide-angle SLR category from Leica. Like all Leica SLR lenses, the Elmarit R 35mm f/2.8 is a fully manual lens with manual focus and manual aperture control. The optical construction of the lens consists of 7 elements in 6 groups. The build quality of the lens is simply superb, as you would expect from a Leica product. Barrel, diaphragms and focus rings, lens mount and built-in lens hood are all metal. For this reason, the lens seems quite sturdy. There is no wobbling or shaking in and out, and the focus ring is very smooth. Despite its all-metal structure, the lens is quite light and compact, measuring 66 x 41.5 mm and weighing 305 g. The internal cam of the lens extends about a centimeter when focusing towards the foreground, making it slightly longer. The minimum focusing distance is 30cm and the minimum aperture is f/22, and the aperture ring clicks well, moving in half-stop increments. The filter size is 55mm, the lens has a built-in metal cap that opens from the outer barrel. the lens is designed for full-frame cameras, so if you use it on an APS-C type body with 1.6x crop factor, its field of view will be equivalent to that of a 56mm lens on a full-frame, losing thus its wide angle of attraction, becoming more than a standard lens. the Leica Elmarit R 35mm f/2.8 lens is ideal for close-ups, portraits and short-distance subjects.