Allendale, NJ—Leica Camera AG expanded its Leica SL lens portfolio with the Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24–70mm F2.8 Asph zoom lens. The lens is for reportage, travel, studio, architectural and landscape photography, as well as portraits, close-ups and video productions. Leica is positioning it as a universal lens, because of its focal range and consistently high light sensitivity of f/2.8.
Moreover, thanks to its price-performance ratio, the new lens also represents an opportunity for photographers to upgrade to the SL system. As a result, Leica is aiming two affordable lens-and-camera sets at newcomers to the SL system
Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70mm F2.8 Asph
Leica engineers constructed the new universal zoom with 19 elements in 15 groups. What’s more, a total of three elements feature aspherical surfaces on both sides. Nine special glass elements with anomalous partial dispersion also provide chromatic correction across the entire focal range.
In addition, the lens’s internal focus is based on a single, lightweight lens element. It also uses a quiet stepping motor to deliver fast and precise autofocus. Also, with its metal body and ingress protection against water spray and dust, the lens is a solution for use in harsh conditions.
Furthermore, its compact dimensions are made possible by the absence of in-lens optical image stabilization. However, when photographers mount the lens on the SL2 or SL2-S, the cameras’ suspended image sensor provides effective image stabilization; it does so for both still photography and video recordings.
Moreover, the aperture of the Vario-Elmarit-SL 24–70mm f/2.8 Asph has 11 blades to facilitate circular bokeh. Another feature is its 7-inch minimum focusing distance from the sensor plane (at the shortest focal length) and 15 inches (at the longest). The lens has a suggested retail price of $2,795.
