LEICA APO VARIO ELMARIT SL 90-280
Review and Photo example of the Leica APO VARIO ELMARIT 90-280.
Table of contents
Gallery
- Sample photos taken with the LEICA SL typ601.
Review
The Apo Vario Elmarito 90-280mm is an ambitious lens that uses a Leica L-mount telephoto zoom lens, optical image stabilization, and a double motor. Although the F value is variable, it is F4 at 280mm at the telephoto end, so the brightness is sufficient.
The AF focusing speed is determined by the strength of the motor on the lens side and the movable lens, but I felt that the speed was satisfactory. AF focusing accuracy depends on the elements on the body side, but when using the Leica SL typ601, subjects that are not difficult to focus can be focused smoothly and comfortably, but subjects that are easy to focus on, such as a cat behind a fence, were generally difficult.
The inner zoom does not change the overall length of the lens, which is an advantage when shooting, but it is difficult to fit into a camera bag, and if it is attached to the body, it can only be stored in a bag with a certain amount of horizontal length.
It had a tripod mount, but I only used it handheld, so I removed the tip of the tripod mount. Even if the tip of the tripod mount was removed, the base remained on the lens barrel, which was not aesthetically pleasing in terms of design. Fortunately, I was able to use the rotating mechanism of the tripod mount to move the base out of the way when taking pictures.
The lens is quite heavy at 1.7kg, but when attached to the Leica SL typ601, the weight balance of the camera system was not bad and I had no trouble shooting.
Personally, I find it difficult to extend the focal length because teleconverters have not been released, and when teleconverters were released by Sigma and Panasonic, I thought it might be possible to extend the focal length, but even though the mount is common, there are no accessories. Each company has its own specifications, and Panasonic has increased the number of teleconverter terminals on its cameras and teleconverters, making it completely unusable for anything other than a dedicated lens. The lack of compatibility with accessories makes me feel like the L-mount alliance is half-hearted, but Nikon, Canon, and Sony all offer third-party accessories that are not guaranteed to work even if they work, so I have no choice but to give up. Probably not. In the case of Leica, a genuine teleconverter will cost over 100,000 yen, so if you want a long focal length, I think it would be a good idea to buy a Sigma zoom.
The image stabilization of this lens cannot be used with the Leica T. I think I could use the CL a little more effectively, but I’ve already sold the lens.
Specification
| Lens name | SUPER VARIO ELMAR | VARIO ELMARIT | APO VARIO ELMARIT | SUMMILUX |
| Focal length(mm) | 16-35 | 24-90 | 90-280 | 50 |
| Max aperture | 3.5-4.5 | 2.8-4.0 | 2.8-4.0 | 1.4 |
| Min aperture | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| Lens Construction | 18elements in 12groups | 18elements in 15groups | 23elements in 17groups | 11elements in 9groups |
| Min distance(m) | 0.25- | 0.3-0.45 | 0.6-1.4 | 0.6- |
| Lens length(mm) | 123 | 138 | 238 | 124 |
| Lens diameter(mm) | 88 | 88 | 88 | 88 |
| Filter Size(mm) | 82 | 82 | 82 | 82 |
| Weight(g) | 990 | 1,140 | 1,710 | 1,065 |
| Image stabilizer | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Release date | 2018.05.10 | 2015.11.28 | 2016.04.29 | 2016.12.28 |
| Price(Yen/No-tax) | ¥760,000- | ¥650,000- | ¥820,000- | ¥770,000- |
Reference links
Update history
- 2024.03.10
- 2023.08.31
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