Teaneck, NJ—Leica’s latest camera system got a double addition to complement the Leica SL2 and the Leica SL2-S cameras. The company introduced the Leica Summicron-SL 35 F2 Asph and Summicron-SL 50 F2 Asph compact lenses.
Both standard focal length lenses are characterized by compact dimensions and low weight. “At the same time, they impress with their high speed and the famous Summicron look with a very shallow depth of field. This makes the SL-System even handier and ideal for daily use as well as traveling,” Leica announced.
The two Summicron lenses achieve fast, smooth and accurate focus thanks to their linear direct drive. In addition, they are also suited for videography, where quiet focusing is important.
Leica Summicron-SL 35 F2 Asph
This 35mm standard fixed-focal-length lens covers a range of applications, including landscape, street and reportage photography. It can also offer new perspectives because of a closest focusing distance of 9.8 inches. What’s more, at nearly half the weight of the APO-Summicron-SL lenses, the new lens is also a choice to capture video and image content in any situation.
The Summicron SL 35 f/2 Asph comprises 11 lenses in 9 groups. Three of the lenses contain aspherical surfaces and three are made of glass with anomalous partial dispersion. As a result, their optical properties compensate for chromatic aberrations to ensure sharp images and video in a compact form factor.
Leica Summicron-SL 50 F2 Asph
Further, the Summicron-SL 50 f/2 Asph is solution for almost all photographic situations—especially travel, event and portrait photography. A key feature of its construction is the motorized focusing system. In contrast to manually focused prime lenses where the length generally varies when focusing, the length of the Summilux-SL 50 f/1.4 Asph remains the same due to internal focusing.
Moreover, to ensure high imaging performance throughout its entire focusing range, its focusing group is constructed with an aspherical element. Yet, the lens remains light enough to guarantee fast autofocus.
Additionally, the optical design of the 50mm lens contains a total of 11 elements. Of these, two are aspherical elements and four are made from glass with anomalous partial dispersion. They work to correct various chromatic aberrations. The optical construction reduces monochromatic as well as chromatic aberrations to a minimum.
In addition, advanced multilayer coating on all lens surfaces, the design of the lens tubes, and the rectangular lens hood reduce reflections and stray light.
Lens & Kit Pricing
Both new SL lenses not only expand the SL-System but also the L-mount portfolio. The retail price of the Summicron-SL 35 f/2 Asph is $2,415; the Summicron-SL 50 f/2 Asph has a suggested retail price of $2,095.
To make it convenient for first-time SL-System buyers, Leica is offering four more SL-kits with these new lenses, in addition to the two existing kits with the Leica SL2 or SL2-S.
The retail price of the new Leica SL2 kit with the Summicron-SL 35 f/2 Asph is $8,800. With the Summicron-SL 50 f/2 Asph, the kit retails for $8,480.
Moreover, the retail price of the Leica SL2-S kit with the Summicron-SL 35 f/2 Asph is $6,860. The kit with the Summicron-SL 50 f/2 Asph has an SRP of $6,540.
