Leica has added two ultra-wide-angle lenses to its mirrorless SL-System, the Super-Vario-Elmarit-SL 14–24 f/2.8 ASPH. and the Super-APO-Summicron-SL 21 f/2 ASPH. These add to the lens choice for fans of landscape, architecture, night photography and other genres where you need to soak up as much of the scene as possible.
These new ultra-wides will also fit L-mount cameras, Leica being a founder member of the L-mount alliance.
The Super-Vario-Elmarit-SL 14–24 f/2.8 ASPH.
This new lens marks the first time a focal length from 14mm has been available in the SL system. It’s aimed at a wide range of genres, from architecture and interior shots to documentary, landscape and night sky photography
There is a constant aperture of f/2.8 across the zoom range and offers a very wide diagonal viewing angle of up to 114 degrees. To combat the distortions and aberrations associated with ultra-wide lenses, Leica has come up with an ‘elaborate’ optical construction, comprising 18 lenses in 13 groups, with three aspherical lenses.
Stray light is prevented with a multiple coatings on the glass surfaces and a fixed metal lens hood. The latter also serves as a robust protection for the strongly curved front lens
The Leica Super-Vario-Elmarit-SL 14–24 f/2.8 ASPH. is available to buy now for £2,220.
Super-APO-Summicron-SL 21 f/2 ASPH.
Also released is this lens, the world’s first APO (apochromatic) lens with a 21mm focal length. It joins the current range of APO-Summicron-SL-lenses, which have 28, 35, 50, 75 and 90mm focal lengths, and also has an E67 filter diameter and Leica’s Dual Synchro Drive autofocus. This new lens has a close focussing distance of only 21cm and features14 high-precision made lenses within the lens – three of them with an aspheric surface – divided in 11 groups
The Leica Super-APO-Summicron-SL 21 f/2 ASPH. is priced at £4,700. Both lenses are now available globally at all Leica stores, the Leica Online Store and authorised dealers.
From Leica:
Leica Camera expands the powerful mirrorless SL-System with two ultra-wide-angle lenses and further expands the capabilities of the SL-System with its widest lenses yet.
Super-Vario-Elmarit-SL 14–24 f/2.8 ASPH.
Leica now offers a focal length from 14 mm in the SL-System for the first time with the Super-Vario-Elmarit-SL 14–24 f/2.8 ASPH.. With its consistently high aperture ratio of f/2.8 over the entire zoom range and impressive panoramas, videos and images of the highest quality and brilliance can be created at a wider angle. A very wide diagonal viewing angle of up to 114 degrees often leads to unavoidable distortions and aberrations in ultra-wide-angle lenses, however the Super-Vario-Elmarit-SL 14–24 f/2.8 ASPH. compensates for this with an elaborate optical construction.
This ensures the image subject is sharp right into the corners at any aperture and focal length. Inside the new lens, 18 lenses in 13 groups compensate for chromatic aberrations and three aspherical lenses ensure the best image and video quality. The focal length range of 14 to 24 mm makes this versatile ultra wide-angle zoom lens an excellent tool for numerous photographic applications: from architecture and interior shots to reportages close to the action, right up to landscape and night sky photography.
This new zoom lens also ensures unwanted stray light is prevented with a sophisticated multi-coating of the glass surfaces and a fixed metal lens hood. The latter also serves as a robust protection for the strongly curved front lens. The Super-Vario-Elmarit-SL 14–24 f/2.8 ASPH. is equipped with a special filter holder on the side of the bayonet mount. In combination with the Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24–70 f/2.8 ASPH., this new ultra wide-angle zoom lens covers a wide focal length range and ensures comparatively light weight giving photographers full flexibility.
Super-APO-Summicron-SL 21 f/2 ASPH.
Leica Camera simultaneously introduces the world’s first APO lens with a focal length of 21 mm with the Super-APO-Summicron-SL 21 f/2 ASPH.. This high-performance wide-angle lens meets even the highest professional requirements and provides consistent sharpness right into the outer corners of the image. This lens joins the latest family member of the APO-Summicron-SL-Lenses, high-performance lenses in the optical field which impress with their fast, reliable Dual Synchro DriveTM autofocus.
Just like the current lenses with a focal length of 28, 35, 50, 75 or 90 mm, the Super-APO-Summicron-SL 21 f/2 ASPH. has the same compact dimensions and the E67 filter diameter, despite the extreme difference in viewing angle. The wide angle of the Super-APO-Summicron-SL 21 f/2 ASPH. now allows use in challenging landscape photography and indoor photography, during reportage photography, in studio settings and for architectural photography. A closest focusing distance of only 21 cm also ensures effective detail shots while the large maximum aperture allows for additional creative possibilities due to the selective usage of sharpness and blur.
The 14 high-precision made lenses within the lens – three of them with an aspheric surface – are divided in 11 groups and contribute to the highest possible degree of image quality even with the aperture fully open. The apochromatic correction of the lens is unique to its focal length and once again proves the highest standards of the Leica engineers. The majority of the lens elements used for this lens are therefore made of high-quality, special glass which demand precise and high-level processing needs, meaning most innovative methods of manufacturing are applied to the construction of this lens.
Both new lenses enhance not only the SL-System but also the ever-expanding portfolio of the L-Mount alliance with two outstanding ultra wide-angle lenses to capture pictures and videos in unique Leica quality.
The retail price of the Leica Super-Vario-Elmarit-SL 14–24 f/2.8 ASPH. will be £2,220 including VAT. The retail price of the Leica Super-APO-Summicron-SL 21 f/2 ASPH. will be £4,700 including VAT. Both lenses will be available globally at all Leica Stores, the Leica Online Store and authorised dealers starting now.
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