APO-VARIO-ELAMR-TL 55-135
This is a record of using the APO-VARIO-ELAMR-TL 55-135 zoom lens with a Leica T digital camera.
Table of contents
Gallery
LEICA APO-VARIO-ELAMR-TL 55-135 Photo Example by LEICA T
Impression
The longest focal length lens in the Leica APS-C line.
The f/3.5 at the wide-angle end (55mm) is barely acceptable, but the f/4.5 at the telephoto end (135mm) is so dark that the lens suffered from camera shake when using slow shutter speeds.
When I took it out to photograph the autumn leaves at Kuhoyama Shrine in Kyoto, Japan, I had to fight against camera shake and subject blur when shooting in the dark and at night.
Especially with the Leica T, which is not equipped with an EVF, I had to shoot while looking at the rear LCD, so there was a high possibility of producing blurred pictures if I only held the camera with my arms. In addition, although the results looked fine on the rear LCD, when viewed on a PC monitor, some of the photos were weak and blurry.
An APS-C body with in-body image stabilization is desirable, but the TL series itself has already been discontinued, so the future outlook is bleak.
Although there are some problems with the camera body, the AF speed was slow and the focusing accuracy was not that good when used with the LEICA T. The APO-MACROSS lens is a good choice for the LEICA T, but it is not the best lens for the TL series. I think this lens was a good match for the APO-MACRO ELMARIT 60mm.
My personal experience of AF speed is as follows
ELMARIT-TL 18mm =SUMMILUX-TL 23mm >SUMMILUX-TL 35mm >APO MACRO ELMARIT 60mm= APO-VARIO-ELAMR-TL 55-135
The APO-VARIO-ELAMR-TL 55-135 is a zoom lens with good resolution, and the 135mm lens can produce a reasonable amount of bokeh.
The APO lens is well known as an APO lens, and I think it is worth the price, for example, because of its low false coloration of leaves and other objects.
This is a large aperture standard lens for TL. It is rumored to be made in Japan by KM, a company that has already withdrawn from consumer cameras.

Product images are taken from the official page.
Specification
This zoom lens covers a focal length range of 80mm-200mm on a 35mm film equivalent.
The lens is shortest at 55mm at the wide-angle end, and extends about 43mm at 135mm at the telephoto end.
Item | Value | note |
focal length(mm) | 55-135 | |
Maximum aperture | 3.5-4.5 | |
Minimum aperture | 16 | |
Lens configuration | 10groups 12elements | |
Minimum distance(m) | 1.0 | |
Lens length(mm) | 110〜153 | Distance from mount flange |
Lens max diameter(mm) | 68 | |
Filter diameter(mm) | E60 | |
Weight(g) | 500 | |
Release Year | March 1.2015 |
LEICA T/TL Zoom lens Variations
Lens name | SUPER VARIO ELMAR | VARIO ELMAR | APO VARIO ELMAR |
Focal length(mm) | 11-23 | 18-56 | 55-135 |
35mm版換算焦点距離 | 16.5-34.5 | 27-84 | 82.5-202.5 |
Max aperture | 3.5-4.5 | 3.5-5.6 | 3.5-4.5 |
Min aperture | 16 | 16 | 16 |
Lens Construction | 14elements 10group | 10elements 7group | 12elements 10group |
Min distance(m) | 0.2〜 (11〜23) | 0.3〜0.45 (18〜56) | 1.0〜 (55〜135) |
Lens length(mm) | 77〜92 | 60〜80 | 110〜153 |
Lens diameter(mm) | 73 | 63 | 68 |
Filter Size(mm) | E67(67mm) | E52(52mm) | E60(60mm) |
Weight(g) | 386 (Lens only) | 256 (Lens only) | 500 (Lens only) |
Release date | 2015.3.1 | 2014.4 | 2015.3.1 |
List Price(Yen) | 230,000- | 200,000− | 230,000- |
Reference links