LEICA VARIO ELMAR R 80-200 mm F4

Review and photo examples of the Vario Elmar 80-200mm F4.

Gallery

Gallery / LEICA SL typ601 /LEICA M-P typ240

Review

The Leica Vario Elmar 80-200mm F4 is a zoom lens that covers a focal length of 80mm to 200mm. This focal length has been available for the past three generations, and this is the fourth.
The version with ROM terminal allows TTL flash control with LEICA R8 and R9. LEICA L digital camera series equipped with ROM lenses via R adapter L can control flash and record shooting information such as lens name, aperture value, and focal length in EXIF. The same applies to DMR (Digital Module R).

The lens control unit has a zoom ring at the base and a focus ring in the middle, which is unified by the rotary zoom of the Leica R mount.
From the outside it looks like an internal zoom, but when you turn the focus ring, the overall length of the lens changes slightly. The lens hood is built-in and can be used by pulling out the tip, but it doesn’t pull out very far, so 200mm seems like the hood isn’t long enough. The lens barrel is decorated with the Leica red badge, which is unique to zoom lenses and telephoto lenses, and matches the tube-shaped lens barrel design.

As you can see from the examples, the bokeh is beautiful among zoom lenses, and although the minimum shooting distance is 1.1m, it is not a lens that allows you to get very close, but it is also suitable for nature photography. I sometimes wish I could get as close as 0.7m, but I gave up thinking it was a trade-off for the convenience of a zoom lens. It is possible to attach a macro adapter, so you can use that if you really want to get closer.
As long as you use it during the day, the maximum aperture of F4 won’t be a problem, and although the slender lens has a slightly poor hold, its light weight means it can be fully utilized in the field.

The Vario Apo Elmarito 70-180mm F2.8, a luxury lens with a close focal length, is about twice as heavy as this lens, so I hesitate to take it with me.

Like the VARIO ELMAR 35-70 F4, it has the Mada in Japan stamp and is said to be manufactured by Kyocera. The problem with this lens is that the middle lens tends to get balsamed and foggy easily.
It seems that Kanto Camera Service was accepting repairs around 2022, but you will need to contact Kanto Camera Service to see if it is still possible. Cloudy lenses are sold at a fairly low price, but considering the repair costs, it may be better to ask for a normal lens from the beginning.

Specification

Leica zoom lens specs comparison through almost f/4

Lens name	VARIO ELMAR	←	←
Focal length(mm)	21-35	35-70	80-200
Max aperture	3.5-4	4	←
Min aperture	22	←	←
Leaf blade	6	←	←
Lens Construction	9elements in 8groups	8elements in 7groups	12elements in 8groups
Min distance(m)	0.5	0.5 (0.26 macro)	1.1
Lens length(mm)	66.3	79	46
Max diameter(mm)	75	74	62.5
Filter Size(mm)	67	60	60
Weight(g)	500	505	1020
Lens hood	Plastic claw hood 12438	Screw hood 12437	Build in hood
Production number*1	3,400(Up to 2005)	8,680(Up to 2005)	14,350(Up to 2005)
Release date	2001-	1996-	1995-