Trumpeted as a versatile telephoto, the APO-Vario-Elmarit-SL 90-280mm f/2.8-4 is due to go on sale on 24 March, priced £4,650. Meanwhile, Leica says it is still on course to launch a Summilux-SL 50mm f/1.4 Asph for the SL in the final quarter of 2016.
The ‘dust and splash-proof’ 90-280mm features built-in optical image stabilisation that Leica claims enables exposure times to be extended by up to 3.5 stops.
The 23-element-in-seven-groups-lens includes dual internal focusing designed to deliver ‘extremely fast and quiet autofocus’.
In a statement, Leica explained: ‘The movement of the two focusing elements is provided by newly developed drive technology with linear positioning of the lenses by stepping motors.
‘This means the overall length of the lens does not change when either focusing or zooming.’
The Leica SL (Typ 601) is a full-frame mirrorless system camera featuring a 24-million-pixel imaging sensor.
Among its key features is a 4.4-million-dot ‘EyeRes’ electronic viewfinder, the magnification of which is ‘reminiscent of a medium-format camera’, Leica said at last year’s launch, adding:‘It fulfils even the most stringent demands of moviemakers as a fully fledged video camera.’
A 2.95in back-panel display boasts a viewing angle of up to 170°.
The camera is built to protect against dust, moisture and spray, and includes a built-in ultrasonic sensor-cleaning function.
