300mmF4 class ZOOM VER 105-280
A review and photo examples of using the LEICA VARIO-ELMAR-R 105-280 / 4.2 with the medium-format mirrorless camera HASSELBLAD X2D.
Table of contents
Gallery
- The example photo was taken using a HASSELBLAD X2D.
Review
1．Overview
The Vario-Elmar 105-280 F4.2 is a telephoto zoom lens released in 1996, at the end of the R-mount era.
The main specifications are as follows, and detailed specifications are listed in the table.
- Focal length is 105mm to 280mm
- Lens construction: 13 elements in 10 groups
- Aperture blades: 8
- Minimum shooting distance: 1.7m (all areas)
- Hood is built-in
2．Usability
The first impression of this lens is that it is heavy.
It is about the same weight as the Apo-Telephoto lens, which is being compared based on lens specifications, but the weight balance is poor because the large, heavy lens elements are concentrated at the front of the lens, and the layout of the lens controls, which will be described later, limits the hold points when shooting.
In terms of operability, the zoom ring and focus ring in the center of the lens are almost the same width, resulting in a cramped layout, and since it is a manual focus lens, it is difficult to quickly change the focus and focal length by zooming.
Thus, the ring layout is not great, but the zoom ring has a moderate weight and does not change position unintentionally. The left end is the wide-angle end of 105mm, and when turned to the right it moves in the telephoto direction, and the right end is the telephoto end of 280mm.
The focus ring is lighter and easier to operate than the zoom ring, but since it has a rotation angle of about 330 degrees, it takes a considerable amount of rotation to go from infinity to the minimum focus.
This lens is not internal focus, but rather the lens length changes with focus. The left end is infinity, and turning it to the right shortens the shooting distance and extends the lens. The right end is the shortest shooting distance and the lens is at its longest. I wish the focus ring was a little wider.
And, for a zoom lens of this size, you would want an autofocus (AF) mechanism that automatically changes the focus as the focal length changes. Especially when shooting moving subjects outdoors, you have no choice but to fix the focal length and concentrate on focusing.
The shortest shooting distance is 1.7m at all focal lengths, and the 280mm focal length allows you to get quite close.
The lens hood is built-in and does not have a hood lock mechanism; you just pull it out in front.
There are no problems with using the lens when using the APO-EXTENDER x2 teleconverter, which increases the shooting magnification. Judging from the position of the rear lens element, it looks like the APO-EXTENDER x1.4 could be attached, but I don’t have an APO-EXTENDER x1.4 on hand so I can’t confirm this. However, according to information on LENS-DB.com, it seems that it can be used without any problems.
3．Add Info.
When shooting with the X2D 44mm x 33mm sensor, vignetting can be seen in the four corners when shooting a blue sky at a focal length of 105mm, but it will not be a concern for general photography. And as you zoom in, the vignetting gradually disappears and you can use almost the entire surface at the 280mm position.
As such, the image circle is generous for a 35mm format.
When used with a mirrorless 35mm full-frame camera, you can expect good image quality across the entire surface.
In terms of focal length, this lens overlaps with the APO-TELYT 280mm F4. Checking the differences in lens specifications, the maximum lens diameter and filter diameter are the same, but the Vario-Elmar lens length is 20mm longer, the weight is about 100g heavier, and the F-number at full aperture is 4.2, which is slightly darker.
As with the APO-TELYT 280mm, there is no significant degradation in the results when the APO-EXTENDER x2 is attached. The moon below is the result of cropping out the center and reducing it.
This Vario-Elmar 105-280 is in the same category as the F4 100-300mm lens that was made popular by Japanese manufacturers. I feel the manufacturer’s sincerity in the fact that the F value is dutifully listed as 4.2. From a marketing perspective, it would definitely sell better if they falsified the number and listed it as F4. The Sigma 100-300mm F4 I previously owned weighed about 1400g, and this lens is about 500g heavier.
About 1500 units were made over the two years from 1996 to 1997, and although the number produced is not that large, this lens is often seen on the Japanese second-hand market. I assume this is because a fair number were sold in Japan, where zoom lenses are popular.
I have seen it about five times in the past 10 years, and this time I was lucky enough to catch it. The price varies depending on the condition, but the cheapest one I saw was around 150,000 yen around 2015. Even in 2022, they can still be found for between 200,000 and 300,000 yen, giving the impression that they are being sold for much cheaper in Japan compared to the selling price on overseas markets such as eBay.
Specification
| Item | VARIO ELMAR | APO TELYT |
| focal length(mm) | 105-280 | 280 |
| Maximum aperture | 4.2 | 4 |
| Minimum aperture | 22 | 22 |
| Lens configuration | 13elements in 10groups | 7elements in 6groups |
| Leaf blade | 8 | 8 |
| Minimum distance(m) | 1.7 | 1.7 |
| Lens length(mm) | 236 | 208 |
| Lens max diameter(mm) | 88 | 88 |
| Filter diameter(mm) | 77 | 77 |
| Weight(g) | 1950 | 1875 |
| Production number | 1500 | 2000 |
| Release Year | 1996-1997 | 1993-1997 |
Reference links
Update history
- 2024.7.15
- 2022.11.21
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