The Leica SL system has earned a place among professionals and serious enthusiasts alike. With excellent image quality and legendary Leica optics, SL shooters have it all. What might have been an exaggeration has now become a reality. Leica has completed its trinity of fast zooms with the Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 70-200 f/2.8 ASPH. Designed for edge-to-edge sharpness, durability, and versatility to shoot in any lighting condition, this 70-200mm is what SL shooters have been waiting for.
Key Specifications of the Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 70-200 f/2.8 ASPH
- Aperture f/2.8: Maintains consistently high speed throughout the entire zoom range
- Robust and solid: All-metal housing made of aluminum, dust and splash-proof
- Blur-free images: Thanks to excellent optical stabilization
- 20 lenses in 15 groups and three aspherical lenses.
- AquaDura coating protects from water, dust, and dirt
- Quiet focus is excellent for video
- Optical Image Stabilization up to 3.5 stops
Biggest Features of the Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 70-200 f/2.8 ASPH
The Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 70-200 f/2.8 features a fast 2.8 aperture throughout the zoom range. AquaDura Coating protects the lens, making it perfect for use on location. Internal focusing and quiet auto-focus also make this lens ideal for video shooters.
Completes the Trinity of 2.8 Zooms
The Vario-Elmarit-SL, with its 70-200mm range, completes what people in the industry often call the “trinity of zooms.” Essentially, three zoom lenses that cover 90% of what most photographers encounter. From wide to telephoto, a photographer can confidently approach almost any situation with these three lenses. We already have the Leica Super-Vario-Elmarit-SL 14–24 f/2.8 ASPH and the Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24–70 f/2.8 ASPH in the SL system. These excellent lenses cover wide (14mm) to just past normal(70mm) focal lengths. Completing the trio, the Leica 70-200mm f/2.8 ASPH extends the range out to true telephoto at 200mm. Add to this the new Extender L 2.0x, and you have a reach of 400mm! More on the Extender L 2.0x below.
Tack Sharp Images
It seems almost redundant to say the name Lecia and then talk about fantastic image quality. Lecia has been the king of that realm for a long time. This lens earns its place amongst the long list of crispy-sharp Leica lenses. Assembled with 20 elements arranged in 15 groups, including three lenses with aspherical surfaces, the Vario-Elmarit-SL 70-200 f/2.8 ASPH construction ensures razor-sharp, detailed images. We are not talking center sharpness here; this lens delivers razor sharpness across the field, in the corners, and at all focal lengths. The Leica 70-200 f/2.8 ASPH maintains its size throughout the zoom range, employing internal focusing.
Ideal For Portraits and Much More
As noted, the Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 70-200 f/2.8 ASPH completes the SL line’s trinity of 2.8 zooms. This is so exciting because many photographers find the range of 70-200mm the sweet spot for portraits. That’s not to say this lens is not perfect for sports, nature, and other applications. Still, I can see portrait photographers lining up to get their hands on this beautiful jewel of a lens. Of course, it is not just the focal length that makes this zoom appeal to portrait shooters, but the wide 2.8 aperture. A consistent aperture throughout the range gives the photographer maximum creative control and freedom.
Leica Extender L 2.0x
Leica has also released the Leica Extender L 2.0x, compatible with the Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 70-200 f/2.8 ASPH. The 2.0x Extender is an excellent option for those who need a little more reach than the current Leica Extender L 1.4x.
Key Features
- 2x Magnification
- Designed for Leica L Mount, complete with a contact strip to support lens metadata transfer to the camera.
- AquaDura coating protects from water, dust, and dirt
- Compatible with the Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 70– 200 f/2.8 ASPH. & Leica Vario-Elmar-SL 100– 400 f/5–6.3
- Leica Extender L 2.0x extends the focal length of the SL system up to 800 mm or up to 1200mm when using the APS-C setting of a full-frame sensor.
Who Should Use the Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 70-200 f/2.8 ASPH
The 70-200mm focal length makes this lens perfect for portrait, sports, nature, and travel photographers. Portrait shooters will appreciate the shallow depth of field 2.8 gives you. Nature photographers will enjoy the reach of 200mm and the ability to extend that reach to 400mm. Sports shooters and travel photographers will appreciate the build quality and resistance to dust and dirt.
| Specifications | |
| View angle (diagonal/horizontal/vertical) Full-frame (24 x 36 mm) | 70 mm: 33.4°/28.0°/18.9° 200 mm: 12.7°/10.6°/7.1° |
| Lens system Number of lenses/assemblies Position of the entrance pupil before the bayonet Focus range | 20/15 70 mm: 121.3 mm | 200 mm: -11.5 mm 70 mm: 0.65 m to ∞ | 200 mm: 1.00 m to ∞ |
| Focusing | Choose automatic (Autofocus) or manual mode on the camera |
| Aperture | Electronically controlled aperture, setting on the camera, half or third values can also be set |
Bayonet | Leica L bayonet fitting with contact strip |
| Firmware | Lens firmware can be updated via the camera |
| Coating | Hydrophobe Aqua-Dura® coating on external lenses |
| Material | Magnesium and aluminum full-metal housing, black anodized, dust and splash water protected |
| Housing | The lens comes equipped with a tripod clamp and detachable tripod shoe. Only this specific tripod clamp must be used for shoots with tripod to avoid damage to the bayonet of the camera. |
| Filter thread | E82 |
| Dimensions Length Diameter Weight | Approx. 207 mm/259 mm* Approx. 89 mm/97 mm* Approx. 1540 g/1670 g* *Without/with lens hood |
Conclusion
If you are using the Leica SL system, you will almost certainly want this lens. The 70-200mm zoom has become a staple for photographers of all levels. Lightweight enough to hand-hold, sharp edge to edge, and built to be used in demanding environments, the Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 70-200 f/2.8 ASPH lives up to the Leica name. Add this lens to your kit to complete your trinity, or pick it up for the fantastic portrait potential.
