Leica has announced the Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 70-200 f/2.8 ASPH zoom to complete its trinity of f/2.8 fixed-aperture optics which now cover the entire range from 14mm ultra-wide to 200m telephoto. And the new L 2.0 x extender, also announced today, extends that range to 400mm. According to Leica, the Vario-Elmarit-SL 70-200 is ideal for impressive portrait shots and for event, sports, and nature photography.
PRESS RELEASE
Wetzlar, 5th September 2024. Leica lenses are valued worldwide for their outstanding quality. Their legendary imaging performance is based on more than 150 years of expertise in the manufacturing of optical instruments. The same applies to the new Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 70–200 f/2.8 ASPH.
The new Vario-Elmarit-SL 70–200 f/2.8 ASPH is the third zoom lens with an aperture of 2.8, and so forms a powerful trinity series for the SL-System alongside the Super-Vario-Elmarit-SL 14–24 f/2.8 ASPH, and the Vario-Elmarit-SL 24–70 f/2.8 ASPH. This series makes it possible to photograph and film with a continuous aperture over the entire focal length range, from 14mm ultra-wide-angle to 200 mm telephoto.
x2 Extender
At the same time, Leica Camera introduces another extender for the telephoto Varios with L-Mount. The Extender L 2.0x extends the new SL-Lens to a focal length of up to 400 mm. With a classic telephoto zoom focal length, it is predestined for impressive portrait shots. The high aperture ratio over the entire zoom range and the excellent image stabilisation allows the Vario lens to meet every challenge of event, sports, and nature photography.
Inside the lens, 20 elements in 15 groups, including three elements with aspherical surfaces, ensure razor-sharp, detailed images right into the corners across all focal lengths. In addition, convenient handling is made possible by the internal focusing and the resulting constant overall length at any focal distance.
With the new Extender L 2.0x, available separately, the focal length of the telephoto Vario can be extended from 70–200 mm to 140–400 mm. Its unobtrusive size makes it very easy to carry, allowing you plenty of scope to realise your own creative visions.
Price and availability
The retail price for the new Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 70–200 f/2.8 ASPH will be £2,780 including VAT. The retail price for the Leica Extender L 2.0x will be £800 including VAT. Both products will be available globally at all Leica Stores, the Leica Online Store and authorised dealers starting now.
Review of Leica Super-Vario-Elmarit-SL 14-24 f/2.8
Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70mm f/2,8 ASPH reviewed
Signing up for the Macfilos newsletter
The SUBSCRIBE button (below) is now working again. If you have recently been unable to register for the Macfilos newsletter, please try again now. We apologise for the error which crept in during the recent site redesign. If you have any other queries or wish to contact us, use the CONTACT button.
The Panny 20-60 is wildly underestimated, terrific little lens. If you get the urge to go wider the Panny 14-28 is similarly brilliant. Small, cheap. Sharp all over, just slow, but who cares these days…
For knocking the background out of focus or in very low light I just use other lenses. For an event or just wandering around a town, the 20-60 and 14-28 are more than good enough, they feel almost weightless on my SL.
Thanks for the tip on the 14-28, Mark. I agree fully with you on the 20-60. Apart from being a brilliant little lens, that range is my ideal. I will try the 14-28 on your recommendation.
I got a fantastic deal on a new SL2-S and Leica 24-70 fully intending to sell the lens, but it’s actually bloody good, so I’m keeping my Panny 24-105 for my CL and keeping the 24-70.
It’s such a good lens I’m now thinking of adding the Leica 14-24 and this 70-200 even if they are based on the Sigma lenses. It reflects so well on Sigma that this can happen but I must admit to preferring the Leica body shells and aesthetics. Sigma has been very good for the L-system.
I also like the Linux 24-105, largely because of the extended range and the relative low weight. I can trade that for the slower aperture. The Leica versions of the Sigma lenses do look more pleasing and they are definitely built to higher standards, with the revised bodies. They are a bit heavier and a quite a bit more expensive, but the cost is probably minimised because they will always have a higher resale value.
The 24-70 is superbly built and feels every inch a Leica lens in practice. For me it compliments my M lenses perfectly giving me wide angle (my widest M is 35), close up, AF and weather proofing. If the 70-200 is made to the same standard it will be well worth the money. 24-70 and 70 -200 makes for a capable two lens set. The only puzzle is..which lens do you put on the camera for your 70mm shot if you have both and does it matter?
Stephen,
That’s the perennial problem, and It’s why slightly longer “standard” zooms are becoming popular, I suspect. For instance, the 24-105 from Panasonic, which is also an excellent lens, removes most of the range angst. However, with modern high-resolution sensors and the excellence of these lenses, the gap can be bridged effectively by a bit of “crop to zoom” which would work well with the 24-70. Getting 75, 90 or even 100mm is possible without serious loss of quality. Or maybe you disagree?
Mike
I actually think that sounds like a good solution Mike. The single most versatile do-it-all lens I ever owned ( I won it in a competition in Japan ) was a Tamron 28 – 200. I don’t remember the aperture range but it was back in the days of film cameras. These days for digital we are spoilt for choice. The Panasonics seem amazing value.
I find the wide end of these so-all zooms more intriguing than the long end. Even five years ago, 28mm was the most common start point. Now it is 24mm and I find that extremely useful. In fact, I find 28mm more restrictive than the loss of 10mm at the long end.
And one of my all-time favourite small zooms is the LUMIX 20-60. I often say I’m happy to trade 70mm for 20mm and, indeed, I probably make more use of 20mm than 60mm. And, of course, even at 60mm there is room for modest digital cropping without too much penalty.