Leica Super-Vario-Elmar-SL 16–35/3.5–4.5 ASPH.

April 9, 2018 | Mark Goldstein | Lenses | Comment |

The Leica Super-Vario-Elmar-SL 16–35/3.5–4.5 ASPH. is a new wide-angle zoom lens for the Leica SL camera.

The Super-Vario-Elmar-SL 16–35/3.5–4.5 ASPH. will be on sale from 23 April priced at £4500 / $5495. A new firmware version (3.2) for the Leica SL will also appear at the same time as the new wide-angle zoom lens.

Leica Press Release

Versatile wide-angle lens: Super-Vario-Elmar-SL 16–35/3.5–4.5 ASPH. expands the SL-System

Wetzlar, 9 April 2018. The Super-Vario-Elmar-SL 16–35/3.5–4.5 ASPH. wide-angle zoom lens complements the previously available portfolio of two zoom lenses for the Leica SL. Its range of focal lengths is ideal for a diverse range of uses from landscape and architectural photography, wedding, event, and concert photography to reportage and documentary photography. In combination with the familiarly high product quality and imaging performance, its protected construction and special AquaDura® lens coating make this lens an ideal companion for professional photographers at all times, even in adverse weather conditions.

In addition to excellent imaging quality throughout the entire range of focal lengths and at all apertures, the high-performance lens also offers simultaneously fast and quiet autofocus.

This is driven by a specially developed focusing drive comprised of a stepping motor and linear positioning and moves a single, very light focusing element that, due to its low mass, contributes to the high focusing speed.

The newly designed optical system of the Super-Vario-Elmar-SL 16–35/3.5–4.5 ASPH. contains a total of 18 elements in 12 groups. These include two asphericals for the correction of monochromatic aberrations Three elements made from glass with anomalous partial dispersion correct chromatic aberration, while an improved mount geometry and high-quality coating ensure optimum suppression of reflections and stray light within the optical system.

With the addition of the Super-Vario-Elmar-SL 16–35/3.5–4.5 ASPH., the portfolio of zoom lenses for the Leica SL now covers a range of focal lengths from 16 to 280 mm.

Together with the Vario-Elmarit–SL 24–90/2.8–4 ASPH. and the APO-Vario-Elmarit-SL 90–280f/2.8–4 this covers all typical genres of photography and enables particularly those photographers who need a high degree of flexibility to draw on a trio of exceptional lenses.

The Super-Vario-Elmar-SL 16–35/3.5–4.5 ASPH. will be on sale from 23 April.

A new firmware version for the Leica SL will also appear at the same time as the new wide-angle zoom lens. Version 3.2 integrates numerous wishes for general improvements requested by SL photographers: 

• The Joystick can now be deactivated from the menu to prevent inadvertent changes to settings while the camera is in use
• Eco Mode can be set to reduce the power consumption of the camera
• The standard white balance value for daylight has been changed from 6600 K to 6500 K
• Various improvements have been made for entering text/numbers (e.g. at WiFi password)
• Compatibility with the Leica SF 60 System Flash and the SF C1 wireless flash controller
• Other bug fixes

Technical Data

Lens Super-Vario-Elmar-SL 16-35/3.5-4.5 ASPH.
Field angle (diagonal, horizontal, vertical) Focal length 16mm: 105,6°/ 95,3°/ 72°
Focal length 24mm: 84,7°/ 74,4°/ 53,7°
Focal length 35mm: 64,6°/ 55,5°/ 38,7°
Optical design
Number of lenses/groups 18/12
Number of aspherical lenses 2
Entrance pupil position Focal length 16mm: 105,9mm
Focal length 24mm: 101,5mm
Focal length 35mm: 105,0mm
Distance setting
Working range 250mm to infinity
Smallest object field Focal length 35mm: 90 x 135 mm
Largest reproduction ratio Focal length 16mm: 1:7,7
Focal length 35mm: 1:3,7
Aperture
Setting/function Electronically controlled aperture, set using turn/push wheel on camera, including half values
Aperture setting range Focal length 16mm: 3,5-22
Focal length 35mm: 4,5-22
Lowest value 22
Bayonet/sensor format Leica L bayonet, full-frame 35mm format
Filter mount E82
Dimensions and weight
Length to bayonet mount 123 mm (without lens hood)
Largest diameter 88 mm
Weight 990 

Your Comments

Loading comments…