Leica Vario Elmarit SL 24 70mm F 2 8 ASPH Review | 54 Data compared

The Leica 24-70mm Vario-Elmarit-SL f/2.8 ASPH is a highly versatile L-mount lens that functions like four prime lenses in one by covering the essential focal lengths of 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, and 70mm. Designed for both stills and video, it pairs exceptionally well with cameras like the Leica SL2-S, remaining relatively lightweight and well-balanced at 1.9 lbs (856g) despite its constant f/2.8 maximum aperture and 19-element construction. The reviewer praises its "out of this world" build quality, exceptionally smooth zoom and manual focus rings, and its ability to consistently deliver pin-sharp images with rich tonalites and high clarity, even when shooting wide open in dimly-lit environments. Lab testing confirms excellent center sharpness, minimal fringing, and virtually non-existent distortion across most of the zoom range. However, the lens does come with notable drawbacks that buyers should consider. The primary downsides identified in the review include its external zoom mechanism—which extends the barrel when zooming—and a complete lack of built-in optical image stabilization. Furthermore, while the center sharpness is outstanding, lab results reveal that corner sharpness is somewhat disappointing and mediocre at longer...

The Leica 24-70mm f/2.8 Vario Elmarit L-mount lens serves as an excellent, high-performing standard zoom lens that balances beautifully on Leica SL bodies, particularly the SL2-S camera. The reviewer notes that this lens delivers exceptional overall image quality, crisp clean images, gorgeous color rendition, and creamy bokeh. Key advantages of this lens over Leica's older 24-90mm zoom include its smaller and lighter build, making it a much easier choice to carry around for all-day shooting, alongside its constant f/2.8 maximum aperture. Additionally, it boasts a premium all-metal build, smooth focusing dial, fast autofocus speed for photography, and robust weather sealing. It also provides seamless firmware integration that allows the camera to boot up instantly upon attachment. Despite its high performance, there are some notable drawbacks and considerations. At $2,795, it is a significant financial investment, even though it stands as the lowest-cost native Leica SL zoom lens available. Crucially, the lens is manufactured in Japan rather than Germany, fueling widespread speculation that it is a rebadged version of the much cheaper Sigma 24-70mm L-mount lens with which it shares nearly...

The Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70mm f/2.8 is a solidly built, weather-sealed standard zoom lens that integrates seamlessly with Leica SL cameras, offering minimalistic design aesthetics, clean edges, and exceptionally smooth zoom operation. The reviewer notes that while the lens delivers excellent image quality, it is heavily based on the Sigma 24-70mm Art (Version 1) optics but rehoused in a Leica metal enclosure. Key advantages of this lens include its flawless integration with the Leica system, which avoids the distracting viewfinder focus wobble experienced when using the faster HLA autofocus motor of rival lenses like the Sigma Mark II on a Leica SL2-S body. Ultimately, it provides a premium, fully integrated "Leica experience" for standard zoom needs on gigs or in harsh environments where changing lenses is impractical. The primary drawback of the Leica 24-70mm f/2.8 is its steep $2,995.00 price tag, which makes it nearly three times more expensive than the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN II Art ($1,189.00). Additionally, it is heavier than newer market options, weighing 1.9 lbs (856g) compared to the lighter 1.6 lbs (745g) Sigma Mark II,...

The Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70 mm f/2.8 ASPH is a constant-aperture standard zoom lens designed for L-mount cameras and manufactured in Japan through a collaboration, making it significantly more affordable, 300g lighter, and more compact than Leica's 24-90mm sibling. Built with an all-metal, weather-sealed body, it includes a premium metal petal-shaped lens hood and delivers excellent image quality that is sharp across all focal lengths, even when shot wide open. It features an impressive reproduction ratio for close-up shooting—notably at the wide-angle end (1:2.9 at 24mm)—and controls chromatic aberration, flare, and distortion admirably, while offering a smooth bokeh that appeals to stills photographers and videographers alike. However, the lens comes with several trade-offs to achieve its lower price point and smaller footprint. Its primary drawbacks include the omission of optical image stabilisation, though this is mitigated if used on newer camera bodies equipped with In-Body Image Stabilisation (IBIS). Additionally, it lacks physical AF/MF focus lock and zoom lock buttons on the barrel, and the zoom ring rotates in the opposite direction compared to standard Leica zoom lenses. Performance-wise, there is a...

The Leica Vario-Elmarit SL 24-70 f/2.8 ASPH is an all-metal, weather-sealed standard zoom lens that offers excellent image quality, smooth bokeh, and close-up shooting capabilities at an accessible price point for the Leica ecosystem. A major pro of this lens is its constant f/2.8 aperture, making it ideal for low-light situations and a massive advantage for video creators who cannot tolerate exposure shifts while zooming. It is also significantly smaller, about 300 grams lighter, and nearly half the cost of its premium sibling, the 24-90mm lens. Additionally, it features a superior macro-like reproduction ratio at the wide end (1:2.9 at 24mm) and comes with a high-quality metal petal-shaped lens hood. However, the lens does come with specific cons and trade-offs resulting from Leica's manufacturing collaboration in Japan. Most notably, it lacks built-in optical image stabilization, forcing users to rely entirely on the in-body stabilization (IBIS) of newer SL camera models. The zoom ring operates in the opposite direction compared to traditional Leica zoom lenses, which can cause user irritation. It also strips away physical AF/MF focus lock and zoom lock...

The PCMag review highlights the Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70mm f/2.8 ASPH as a premium, highly capable standard zoom featuring crisp f/2.8 optics, robust dust/splash-sealed metal construction, and impressive 1:2.9 macro capabilities. It is noted for quiet, fast autofocus and design parity with German-made SL lenses, though it carries a high $2,795 price tag compared to its optically identical Sigma counterpart. Notable drawbacks include the lack of built-in optical image stabilization (OIS), requiring reliance on IBIS, and the absence of a physical AF/MF toggle switch, alongside a slightly heavier build.

The Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70mm f/2.8 ASPH lens is an affordable, versatile L-mount zoom lens that costs $2,795, targeting Leica SL2 or SL2-S users. Despite speculation that it is simply a rehoused Sigma lens due to their identical focus and zoom rings, tests reveal that this "Made in Japan" lens offers significantly faster and more responsive autofocus performance when paired with a Leica body compared to its Sigma counterpart. The lens delivers top-notch image quality that remains exceptionally sharp from minimum to maximum apertures and across all focal lengths, showing minimal fall-off in the corners, alongside a highly capable minimum focus distance of just 7.08 inches (18 centimeters). The lens boasts several strengths, including a robust, weather-sealed solid metal housing and a metal lens hood that enhances its durability over competitors. It also produces natural, accurate colors that require minimal post-processing adjustments. However, it lacks built-in optical image stabilization, relying entirely on camera sensor-shift stabilization, and it remains somewhat heavy at 856 grams (1.9 pounds). Additional drawbacks include a complete absence of physical buttons or switches on the lens barrel—such as...

Jonathan Slack’s review of the Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70mm f/2.8 ASPH praises its high-quality, weather-sealed metal construction and excellent optical performance. Key pros include fast, quiet autofocus, lovely bokeh, and a significantly lower price point compared to other Leica SL zooms, achieved via Japanese manufacturing. The review notes that the lens lacks optical image stabilization (OIS), requiring reliance on in-body stabilization for older or non-stabilized cameras. Additionally, it features a slight, predictable drop in sharpness at 70mm and acts as an external zoom, which can lead to dust ingestion over time.

The LP Workshops review highlights the Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70mm f/2.8 ASPH as a versatile, sharp, and rugged L-mount lens, praised for outstanding image quality, consistent f/2.8 aperture, and accurate autofocus. Key advantages include its durable, weather-sealed construction and a more compact design compared to the Leica 24-90mm, making it an excellent choice for landscape and general photography. Conversely, the lens lacks built-in optical image stabilization (OIS), requiring reliance on camera-based IBIS, and features an extending external zoom design that may attract dust. Additionally, the zoom ring direction differs from other Leica zooms, and it remains a premium-priced option compared to similar third-party alternatives.

The Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70mm F2.8 ASPH. is an excellent, high-performance zoom lens designed specifically for Leica’s mirrorless full-frame system, though it can also fit APS-C models like the Leica CL. Developed in collaboration with L-Mount Alliance partner Sigma, this lens repackages the optical formula of Sigma’s 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN Art lens into a premium metal barrel that flawlessly matches the aesthetics of Leica's SL cameras. It delivers crisp F2.8 optics ideal for blurring backgrounds and capturing sharp, detailed photos, backed by a quiet and remarkably quick autofocus system that outpaces the Sigma variant when paired with Leica bodies. Additional physical highlights include a sturdy, weather-sealed metal barrel with dust, splash, and anti-smudge fluorine protection, alongside a impressive 1:2.9 close-up macro focus capability. However, these premium enhancements come with notable trade-offs, most significantly its steep $2,795 standalone price tag, which represents a massive brand markup over the $1,099 Sigma alternative. The lens also lacks built-in optical stabilization, meaning users must rely entirely on the in-body stabilization of current-generation cameras like the SL2 and SL2-S to shoot handheld with ease. Furthermore,...