Leica SL 70-200mm F2.8: The trio of F2.8 zoom lenses is now complete.

We often associate the manufacturer Leica with its legendary rangefinder camera, the Leica M in its eleventh generation (Leica M11) but the manufacturer also offers a hybrid with a more “traditional” design. This is the SL series, i.e. the SL3, the latest addition to the range launched in March 2024.

Leica SL series mirrorless cameras use L mount common with Lumix S and Sigma bodies. It was Leica that designed the L mount back in 2014 (we were talking about the T mount at the time) and was the originator of the L-Mount Alliance.

The new Vario-Elmarit SL 70-200mm F2.8 ASPH zoom. Designed in L mount and can potentially be used with a Lumix hybrid (like the S5 II) or Sigma. It covers the 24×36 mm format so if used on a Leica APS-C hybrid, such as the Leica CL, a conversion factor of 1.5X must be applied to achieve the equivalent focal length range: 105-300 mm.

A 70-200mm zoom lens is an essential lens for many photographers and complements the Vario-Elmarit SL 24-70mm F2.8 ASPH perfectly. and the Super-Vario-Elmarit SL 14–24mm F2.8 ASPH. Already in the Leica catalog. This focal length range is ideal for taking portrait or action photos in sports or wildlife, for example. For further viewing, the lens is also compatible with Leica 1.4X or 2X focal length converters. We can go up to 400 mm.

This lens has the great advantage of enjoying a bright constant F2.8 aperture. This allows you to effectively play with depth of field (the famous artistic blur), so that whatever the focal length is and the ISO doesn’t need to be raised too much in low light conditions.

The new Leica Vario-Elmarit SL 70-200mm F2.8 is based on a complex optical formula with 20 elements divided into 15 groups including 3 aspherical elements and 7 low dispersion elements for maximum optical performance. It is equipped with optical stabilization.

In terms of construction and ergonomics, we get a consistent footprint design with a length of around 20 cm, diameter of 9 cm. On the scale we can read 1.54 kg and we can count on the presence of a tripod fixing collar to remove the device mount. Designed for terrain, it is protected from bad weather. There is a manual focus ring and a zoom adjustment ring.

Availability and price

The new Leica Vario-Elmarit SL 70-200mm F2.8 ASPH. It costs €3,215 and the new Leica Extender L 2.0x costs €940.

It’s not the only fixed 70-200mm F2.8 in L mount on the market. The recent Sigma 70-200 mm f/2.8 DG DN OS Sports has been launched at a price of €1,699 and the Lumix S Pro 70-200 mm f/2.8 OIS model is offered at €2,799. Leica is always the most expensive.