Leica APO Vario Elmar TL 55 135mm F 3 5 4 5 ASPH Review | 54 Data compared

The review compares the performance of the APS-C format Leica CL paired with the native Leica APO-Vario-Elmar-TL 55-135mm zoom lens against two premier manual-focus full-frame M-mount prime lenses: the 50mm Summilux-M ASPH and the 90mm APO-Summicron-M ASPH. The reviewer notes that the native 55-135mm zoom delivers image sharpness, contrast, and color rendition nearly identical to the "gold standard" prime lenses when tested on a tripod at identical focal lengths and apertures like f/4 and f/11. Key pros of the system include the Leica CL's high-quality build, intuitive interface, and seamless communication with M-mount lenses for profiles and corrections. Additionally, using native autofocus lenses avoids the tedious process of focusing manual M-lenses wide open before stopping down to a working aperture. However, the review highlights distinct cons regarding the 55-135mm lens and the overall system camera setup. The zoom lens is relatively slow with a maximum variable aperture of f/3.5 to f/4.5, making it less ideal for achieving shallow depth-of-field or distinct "bokeh" compared to the fast prime lenses. It also completely lacks built-in image stabilization. Combined with the Leica CL's...

Shige's review highlights the Leica APO-Vario-Elmar-TL 55-135mm f/3.5-4.5 ASPH as the longest telephoto option for Leica’s APS-C line, delivering exceptional image resolution, excellent rendering, and minimal false color. The lens offers a 43mm extension at maximum zoom and produces high-quality bokeh at 135mm, justifying its position as a top-tier optical choice in the system. However, the lens is limited by relatively slow maximum apertures of f/3.5-4.5 and a complete lack of optical image stabilization, which caused significant issues with camera shake during low-light, twilight shooting. The experience was further complicated by relying on the Leica T's rear screen without an electronic viewfinder, making stable, sharp composition challenging.

The Leica T mirrorless camera is a unique, powerful, and impeccably constructed APS-C camera crafted from a solid block of aluminum, though it presents distinct operational tradeoffs. On the positive side, the camera delivers stunning image quality, beautiful color rendering, great dynamic range, and that signature Leica micro-contrast and look. The heavily praised 55-135mm f/3.5-5.6 lens performs like a versatile, tack-sharp "stunner". Furthermore, firmware update 1.5 vastly optimizes the system by doubling the autofocus speed, quickening the startup time to under one second, increasing data transfer speeds, and allowing the camera to create its own Wi-Fi hotspot. Conversely, the primary drawbacks of the Leica T platform revolve around high costs and specific design choices. The camera body lacks both a built-in viewfinder and a tilting LCD screen, forcing users to shoot at arm's length unless they purchase an external electronic viewfinder (EVF) that costs over $500. Additionally, the system features a radical, button-free backend interface that relies entirely on a wide touchscreen mimicking an iPhone layout, which may alienate some traditional photographers. Finally, the slow aperture ranges on the zooms...

The Leica APO-Vario-Elmar-T 55-135mm f3.5-4.5 ASPH is a versatile L-mount zoom lens (80-200mm equivalent) designed for APS-C cameras, offering exceptional, "next level" image sharpness that competes with top-tier glass. Its build quality is described as exceptionally solid, featuring a tight, premium metal construction with a smooth, resistant zoom ring. Weighing roughly 500 grams, the lens strikes a balance between stability and portability, making it comfortable for all-day shooting. It is compact enough to fit into smaller bags, providing a high-performance, long-reach option for Leica CL users.

The Leica CL serves as an exceptionally lightweight, compact, and well-built tool for travel and landscape photography, especially when paired with the native TL 18-56mm and 55-135mm zoom lenses. Reviewer Andrew Tobin highlights the camera's superb image quality, the extensive latitude of its 24-megapixel DNG files for shadow recovery at ISO 100, and a resilient build that kept the sensor entirely free of dust during a rigorous week in northwest Scotland. Furthermore, the electronic viewfinder makes it highly effective for manually focusing vintage Leica M-mount lenses, breathing new life into older glass despite a 1.5x crop factor. However, the review exposes several notable performance flaws and usability quirks. In freezing conditions (-3°C), the battery life depleted rapidly, yielding only 86 shots on a single charge. The camera also suffers from erratic software bugs, including an un-nuanced touchscreen that cannot be fully disabled, an unexplained focus mode shift from "Field" to "Touch AF", and a bizarre file-numbering glitch when transitioning past frame 999. While the system excels in daylight landscapes, the smaller APS-C sensor lacks the necessary low-light capability and speed...

Mark Pope's initial review of the Leica APO-Vario-Elmar-T 55-135mm on L-Camera Forum highlights its exceptional, premium build quality and compact design that balances well on the Leica CL. Early tests show the lens delivers very strong, satisfying, and sharp image quality immediately. While satisfied, the reviewer notes as a con the lack of a built-in, sliding lens hood, preferring a more integrated design, though the included hood can be reversed for storage. He plans to conduct more intense testing to further evaluate the lens's capabilities.