Leica launched the new LEICA VARIO-ELMARIT-SL 1:2.8 /70-200mm ASPH. & Leica Extender L 2x

[Leon_B.]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Today Leica Camera AG presented a new lens for L-Mount: The LEICA VARIO-ELMARIT-SL 1:2.8 /70-200mm.

With the Leica Extender L 2x, which was introduced at the same time, the maximum focal length can even be extended to 400mm.

• Lens construction: 20 elements in 15 groups, with three aspherical lenses
• Internal focussing and zoom

The LEICA VARIO-ELMARIT-SL 1:2.8 /70-200mm ASPH. will cost $3,295, the Leica Extender L 2x will be available for $995. The products are available now!

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Here is the full press release:

Leica completes trinity series for the SL-System

A new telephoto zoom lens with a focal length of 70–200 mm and new 2.0x Extender expand the L-Mount portfolio.

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 14 mm ultra wide-angle to 200 mm telephoto. 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 lenses in 15 groups, including three lenses 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 canbe extended from 70–200 mm to 140–400 mm. It's unintrusive size makes it very easy to carry allowing you plenty of scope to realise your own creative visions.

The retail price for the new Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 70–200 f/2.8 ASPH. will be £2,780.00 including VAT. The retail price for the Leica Extender L 2.0x will be £800.00 including VAT. Both products will be available globally at all Leica Stores, the Leica Online Store and authorised dealers starting now.

[Stuart Richardson]

I guess this is based on a Sigma 70-200? I could not find the country of manufacture on the datasheet. The MTF looks great, and it is nice to have the more detailed measurements that Leica provides. It looks even better than the 90-280mm, though without the reach on the long end. But the TC makes up for that. Pretty interesting option in either version. Will be interesting to see how it compares to the 90-280mm out in the world.

[Ning Ning]

vor 13 Minuten schrieb Stuart Richardson:

I guess this is based on a Sigma 70-200? 

At least the drawings of the lens cross-sections look the same on the respective websites.

[frame-it]

 

[jcraf]

I have always been pleased with the 2 copies of the  (Sigma-based) 24-70 VE I’ve owned. I have found it much more portable than the 24-90, and of course cheaper .

I guess it will be the same story here; again it seems to have the hand of Sigma on it. No bad thing.

 

[Camaro5]

I love the 24-90.  It's a little bulky, but it's great on my SL2.  I also have the Sigma 100-400 that is also a beast, but I don't have a problem handholding it.  

If i had to do it all over again I might go with the 24-70 and 70-200 with the extender, but I'd have to see how good the images looked.  I have a hard time believing they would match (or be better) than what I have now.  

[Stuart Richardson]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

1 hour ago, frame-it said:

 

Interesting to see that, but the sharpening seems to be using so much deconvolution sharpening that everything looks really grainy so it is a bit harder to judge the native sharpness. Or is the SL3 just that noisy even at base ISO? The sharpness seems good but it is hard to judge (for me at least) because of the processing. I know this is just personal taste in sharpening, but I wish I could get my hands on some DNG's that were taken on a tripod and at base ISO.

[hdmesa]

53 minutes ago, Stuart Richardson said:

Interesting to see that, but the sharpening seems to be using so much deconvolution sharpening that everything looks really grainy so it is a bit harder to judge the native sharpness. Or is the SL3 just that noisy even at base ISO? The sharpness seems good but it is hard to judge (for me at least) because of the processing. I know this is just personal taste in sharpening, but I wish I could get my hands on some DNG's that were taken on a tripod and at base ISO.

SL3 is not noisy at base ISO unless as with any camera you're shooting well after sunset when there aren't enough photons hitting the sensor. If you see an ISO 100 shot from the SL3 taken in good light looking noisy, it's likely been overcooked in post.

[erudolph]

With which lenses can the 2X Extender be used?

[jaapv]

10 hours ago, Ning Ning said:

At least the drawings of the lens cross-sections look the same on the respective websites.

Everything - the lens design - the layout  - the AF - the quality of the images: It is the Sigma, and that is certainly a good thing, it is a fantastic lens. The only thing that Leica sadly does not offer is the dual IS, i.e. the lens provides the OIS at longer focal lengths, but the camera adds rotational stabilization. Anyway, my heart would tell me to get the Leica, but my head dictates the Sigma  

I do wonder, with the extenders, where that leaves the 90-280 in the lineup  it is a bit of the odd man out  

Next up to be Leicafied may well be the Signa 500. 

[FlashGordonPhotography]

The 90-280 is APO. A giant and slowish AF but the best IQ of the bunch. IMHO the best IQ of all the SL zooms.

I got the Leica 100-400 for the weather sealing, but I won't be getting the 70-200 (or a 500) as the Sigma's are both weather sealed anyway.

Gordon

[KenTanaka]

It's absolutely the Sigma lens design formula. I personally prefer the Sigma version because it has the external switches for OIS and focus modes.  That is costs less than half of Leica's brand prompted me to buy the Sigma today.  I frankly see absolutely no justifiable value in the Leica 70-200 f/2.8.

[SrMi]

I know Sigma can make good looking lenses (contemporary i series). Why they make so many ugly looking lenses like the 70-200 is beyond me. I want a lens that performs well, and preferably, looks good. 
Therefore Sigma 70-200 is not an option but Leica 70-200 is. The only problem is that I do not need f/2.8 and the Leica 100-400 seems more useful.

[helged]

3 hours ago, jaapv said:

Everything - the lens design - the layout  - the AF - the quality of the images: It is the Sigma, and that is certainly a good thing, it is a fantastic lens. The only thing that Leica sadly does not offer is the dual IS, i.e. the lens provides the OIS at longer focal lengths, but the camera adds rotational stabilization. Anyway, my heart would tell me to get the Leica, but my head dictates the Sigma  

I do wonder, with the extenders, where that leaves the 90-280 in the lineup  it is a bit of the odd man out  

Next up to be Leicafied may well be the Signa 500. 

I guess the next lens is Leica 100 or 105mm macro, building on the (super-compact, low-weight, optically very fine, fast focusing) Panasonic S 100mm f2.8 macro or the optically superb but slow focusing Sigma DG DN 105mm f2.8 macro. Personally, I am happy with both. I am also happy with Sigma 70-200 and Sigma 500. But it is good to see Leica expanding on their L-mount lens offerings.

[Leica Filmmatic]

I got the lens in today… the image and build quality is what you would expect from a Leica lens.  I have the sigma in e-mount and I just got the L mount version in today but it is going back handling wise it cannot compare with Leica.  The in lens stabilization works really well and the AF is snappy and pretty accurate on the sl3.  I will report back with more as I dig deeper into the files. 

[Ning Ning]

vor 4 Stunden schrieb jaapv:

 

Ich frage mich, mit den Extendern, wo das die 90-280 in der Aufstellung lässt, ist es ein bisschen seltsam, 

I briefly had the Sigma together with the 2x converter from Sigma. But the quality was rather poor. I can't say anything about the 1.4 converter. But the 2x was more of a bad buy.

However, I have also given the 70-200 away again as I have noticed that I have left the telephoto zooms at home more and more often in recent years. I got the Sigma 1.8 135 mm instead and am simply delighted with the results.

[jaapv]

4 hours ago, KenTanaka said:

It's absolutely the Sigma lens design formula. I personally prefer the Sigma version because it has the external switches for OIS and focus modes.  That is costs less than half of Leica's brand prompted me to buy the Sigma today.  I frankly see absolutely no justifiable value in the Leica 70-200 f/2.8.

I find the switches quite practical. Another omission that sways me to Sigma is the missing aperture ring. 

[helged]

2 hours ago, Ning Ning said:

I briefly had the Sigma together with the 2x converter from Sigma. But the quality was rather poor. I can't say anything about the 1.4 converter. But the 2x was more of a bad buy.

However, I have also given the 70-200 away again as I have noticed that I have left the telephoto zooms at home more and more often in recent years. I got the Sigma 1.8 135 mm instead and am simply delighted with the results.

Personally I use the Leica 1.4x extender on the longer Sigma lenses (70-200 and 500). Almost no drop in optical quality, and certainly nothing to worry about.

[tom0511]

Personally I prefer the 2490 over the (Leica) 24-70. I cant prove but I feel that the 24-90 has that little extra "deeper/smoother look" while the 2470 might draw super sharp but maybe with a little less depth and my feeling is there can also be a slight difference in color.

So the 2490 is my midrange zoom of choice while the 2470 sits in the shelve most of the time.

Everytime I use the 90280 I also have the same feeling, that it just deliver exceptional IQ, 3D look, bokeh etc.

So even if I would get the 70200/2.8 ( I would probably rather buy the Sigma because of some factors), I would not want to sell my 90280.

I would wish for more native Leica lenses and not just Sigma rebadged lenses from Leica.

 

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[tom0511]

Sigma vs Leica, besides price...

Sigma is 200g lighter, has aparture ring, very usefull buttons for focus limit (I use this with the 500/5.6 all the time), probably the more robust housing/coating.

Leica housing looks nicer, but I doubt the surface is more robust than the Sigma.

The Leica has filter 82, the Sigma 77,...wonder if that has influence on vignetting behaviour (could be advantage for Leica)??