Leica’s Two New Camera Lenses

credits: Leica

Alongside the new SL3-P (which we looked at in yesterday's magazine issue), Leica has also announced two new SL lenses, the Summilux-SL 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. and the APO-Macro-Elmarit-SL 100mm f/2.8. The 50mm is the more notable of the two, with Leica claiming it is the world’s most compact autofocus 50mm f/1.4 lens, regardless of mount. It measures 75.5mm in length, 74mm in diameter, weighs 584g, and uses a 67mm filter thread. The lens features an 11-element, 6-group optical design with two aspherical elements, while an 11-blade aperture covers a range from f/1.4 to f/16. Autofocus is handled by a voice-coil motor and minimum focusing distance is 50cm.

Leica also introduced the APO-Macro-Elmarit-SL 100mm f/2.8, bringing back a name that many Leica fans will recognise from the company’s highly regarded 100mm f/2.8 R lens first released in 1987. Like the original, the new version puts a strong focus on optical quality, using an apochromatic design to reduce chromatic aberration and deliver high sharpness across the frame. It offers a 30cm minimum focusing distance and a 1:1 reproduction ratio, making it a true macro lens while also being well suited to portrait photography. The lens is built around a 17-element, 12-group optical design and has a 9-blade aperture with a range from f/2.8 to f/22.

Like the 50mm, the 100mm keeps physical controls to a minimum, with only an AF/MF switch on the barrel while aperture adjustments are handled through the camera. It weighs 862g, measures 137.6mm in length, and also uses a 67mm filter thread. Both lenses have an all-metal construction and are built to IP54 standards for dust and splash resistance. The Summilux-SL 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. is priced at $4,950. The APO-Macro-Elmarit-SL 100mm f/2.8 comes in at $2,700.