Thypoch Simera 21mm F1.4

The Thypoch Simera 21mm F1.4 is a manual-focus full-frame ultra-wide prime for Leica M mount. It was announced in July 2025 as the fifth lens in the Simera series and combines a 21mm field of view with an F1.4 maximum aperture. Thypoch positions it for landscape, documentary and street work, and for close-ups with a wide perspective.

Optical design

Thypoch specifies 13 elements in 11 groups, including 2 aspherical elements, 3 high-refractive-index elements and 3 ED elements, combined with a floating lens group. The company says this keeps chromatic aberration and distortion low even wide open. The minimum focusing distance is 0.23 m, and Thypoch says the bokeh at that distance is comparable to a 50mm F1.4 lens at 0.55 m. The aperture has 14 blades and closes to F16. The angle of view is 90 degrees diagonally, 80 degrees horizontally and 58 degrees vertically.

Focusing and handling

Focusing is manual. The aperture ring has click and declick positions, and the focus ring has a tactile resistance point at 0.7 m to mark the rangefinder coupling limit. A classic depth-of-field indicator helps visualize the zone in focus. Thypoch states that the lens is compatible with Sony E, Nikon Z, Canon RF, L and Fujifilm X, but the native mount is Leica M.

Build and size

The body is metal with a 66 mm front diameter and a 62 mm filter thread, and a square lens hood (LH-S21) is included. Weight is about 428 g and length is 69.4 mm without hood. The silver and black versions use the same optics.

Where it fits

In the database, other fast 21mm lenses for Leica M include the Leica Summilux-M 21mm f/1.4 ASPH at 580 g with a 70 cm minimum distance and the Voigtländer 21mm F1.8 Ultron at 412 g with 50 cm. The Simera is lighter than the Summilux and focuses much closer than both. Slower and smaller options are the Leica Super-Elmar-M 21mm f/3.4 ASPH at 279 g and the Voigtländer 21mm F4 Color Skopar Pancake II at 136 g.

Pros and cons

Pros

• F1.4 and 0.23 m close focus in a 21mm
• 428 g, lighter than the Summilux-M 21mm in the database
• 14-blade aperture and click/declick ring
• Floating lens group

Cons

• Manual focus only
• Leica M mount only natively
• 62 mm filters and a large front for a rangefinder lens
• Heavier than the slower Leica and Voigtländer 21mm lenses

Verdict

The Simera 21mm F1.4 is a fast, close-focusing ultra-wide for Leica M that weighs less than the Leica equivalent. It suits users who want that lens speed in a manual design.