THE NEW LEICA LENSES

Leica SUPER-ELMAR-S 24 mm f/3.5 ASPH lens

New super-wide lens with outstanding optical properties

Solms, Germany (September 17, 2012) – Leica Camera has expanded the Leica S medium format system with the addition of a new lens, the Leica Super-Elmar-S 24 mm f/3.5 ASPH. Corresponding to a focal length of 19 mm in terms of 35 mm photography, this super-wide-angle lens guarantees excellent imaging quality. Ideal for not only landscape and architectural photography but also for indoor photography and many other applications, the lens shows very high contrast rendition and maximum resolution at the highest aperture.

As the result of the unusually complex construction of its focusing system, the Leica Super-Elmar-S 24 mm f/3.5 ASPH offers superior imaging performance from the point of closest focus to infinity throughout the entire focusing range. During focusing, only the middle group of three lenses is moved. Concurrently, one of the lenses is moved independently as a floating element and guarantees optimum ray paths at every setting.

With an optical system comprising 12 lenses in ten groups, Leica’s optical design engineers have achieved extraordinarily high freedom from distortion for such a wide-angle lens. Five of the lenses are manufactured from glasses with anomalous partial dispersion to prevent negative effects, such as chromatic aberration. Two aspherical lenses located behind the iris and the aspherical surface of the front lens minimize monochromatic aberrations.

The Leica Super-Elmar-S 24 mm f/3.5 ASPH. is distinguished by rugged, enduring design and construction that guarantees years of dependability, even with frequent use. Featuring an extremely robust bayonet mount and fully sealed against dust and spray, the new release ensures maximum dependability even under the harshest shooting conditions.

With the addition of the Super-Elmar-S 24 mm f/3.5 ASPH., the current S-System lens portfolio offers a total of eight lenses (five of which will also be available in CS versions with a central shutter), ensuring superior imaging quality for all areas of photography.

The Leica Super-Elmar S 24 mm f/3.5 ASPH. is supplied complete with a lens hood specially optimized for its optical system. It will be available from selected Leica dealers, including the Leica Store Washington DC, beginning in November 2012.

ELPRO-S 180

Accessory close-up lens extends the working range of the LEICA APO-ELMAR-S 180 mm f/3.5

The Leica Elpro-S 180 close-up lens is a specially calculated accessory lens for the Leica APO-Elmar-S 180 mm f/3.5 that reduces the close focusing distance to 1.1 meters (approximately 3 feet, 7 inches / 43 inches). Attaching this accessory lens achieves a significant increase, approximately 30 percent, of the reproduction ratio of up to 1:4.5.

Elpro S 180 attached to the Leica APO-Elmar-S 180mm f/3.5

In contrast to the majority of apochromatic accessory lenses, the Leica Elpro-S 180 is dedicated to one particular lens. Additionally, this new release avoids lateral chromatic aberrations and ensures that there are no detrimental effects on the excellent imaging qualities of the lens.

The Leica Elpro-S 180 is attached to the threaded filter mount of the lens, in the same manner as a filter. Autofocus, exposure metering and all other camera and lens handling functions are fully maintained when using the Leica Elpro-S 180.

Beginning in October 2012, the Leica Elpro-S 180 close-up lens accessory will be available at select Leica dealers, including the Leica Store Washington DC.

Leica VARIO-ELMAR-S 30-90 MM F/3.5-5.6 ASPH lens

The first zoom lens for the S-System with exceptional imaging quality and low weight

Leica Camera also presented the first zoom lens for the Leica S medium format system with the Leica Vario-Elmar-S 30-90 mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH. The range of focal lengths covered is equivalent to that of a 24-72 mm zoom for 35 mm format, providing S-System users access to a lens that possesses the flexibility to cover the majority of photographic needs and simultaneously delivering the outstanding performance of prime lenses. Photographers can now avoid time-consuming lens changes in many areas of photography, from landscape to portrait. The lens provides the opportunity to concentrate more on subjects when time is a critical factor.

Presenting elaborate mechanical and optical construction, the new Leica Vario-Elmar-S 30-90 mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH. is also extremely compact and light, with a weight of only 1,345 grams / 3 lbs. (with lens hood).

The lens construction is based on 14 lenses assembled in four groups. For a zoom construction, the lens achieves extraordinarily high contrast rendition and maximum resolution wide open thanks to the use of nine lenses manufactured from glasses with anomalous partial dispersion, three of which are fluoride lenses with particularly low dispersion. Two aspherical surfaces on the rearmost lens element and one on the front lens of the second group reduce monochromatic aberrations to a minimum and ensure that imaging performance constantly remains high at close focusing distances.

As with the prime lenses of the Leica S-System, the Leica Vario-Elmar-S 30-90 mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH. is distinguished by rugged, enduring design and construction that guarantees years of dependability, even with frequent use. The lens features an extremely robust bayonet mount and is fully sealed against dust and spray, ensuring maximum dependability even under the harshest shooting conditions.

Guaranteeing uncompromising imaging quality for all areas of photography, the current S-System portfolio offers a total of eight lenses (five of which will also be available in CS versions with a central shutter).

The lens is supplied complete with a dedicated lens hood specially optimized for its optical system. The Leica Vario-Elmar-S 30-90 mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH. will be available from selected Leica dealers, including the Leica Store Washington DC, beginning in November 2012.

Leica TS-APO-ELMAR-S 120mm f/5.6 ASPH tilt-shift lens

Enables control of perspectives while maintaining the highest possible imaging quality and optimum handling

The Leica TS-APO-Elmar-S 120 mm f/5.6 ASPH is the first fully-adjustable tilt/shift lens for the Leica S medium format system. This apochromatically corrected lens provides options for parallel shifting and tilting according to Scheimpflug and offers photographers the full range of adjustment options traditionally found in field cameras. Additionally, the new lens guarantees the greatest possible imaging quality, easy handling and universal applicability of the Leica S-System.

The Leica TS-APO-Elmar-S 120 mm f/5.6 ASPH. is ideal for product and object photography where perfect perspectives and maximum depth of field are required. Consisting of six individual lens elements, the lens’ optical system allows parallel shifts (shift) of up to 12 mm in all directions as well as tilting of the plane of focus (tilt) by up to 8°. Its apochromatically corrected lenses ensure that the familiar superior quality delivered by the S-System is maintained, even when fully exploiting the limits of creative freedom.

Tilting the plane of focus allows photographers to place it at any chosen point within the image. As such, the optimum depth of field can be achieved without stopping down sharply and without having to accept the qualitative disadvantages of a closed aperture. The Leica TS-APO-Elmar-S 120 mm f/5.6 ASPH. also allows photographers to adjust the location of the plane of sharpest focus.

Parallel shifting enables precise correction of converging or diverging verticals without the loss of resolution generally encountered when applying corrections with post-processing software. This simultaneously ensures that the performance and capabilities of the S-System are preserved and that photographers have complete control over all lines within the image frame. As a result of its large image circle, the Leica TS-APO-Elmar-S 120 mm f/5.6 ASPH. allows the combination of tilting and shifting for maximum artistic flexibility.

As a result of its special construction and external form, the Leica TS-APO-Elmar-S 120 mm f/5.6 ASPH. differs to some extent from the remainder of the S-System lens portfolio. For instance, it features an integrated lens hood specially optimized for its optical system. Shifting and tilting movements are controlled by a total of four rings and two additional rings manually control the aperture and distance settings.

As with the entire Leica S-System, the Leica TS-APO-Elmar-S 120 mm f/5.6 ASPH. is distinguished by ruggedly enduring design and construction that guarantees years of dependability, even with frequent use. Including the new Leica TS-APO-Elmar-S 120 mm f/5.6 ASPH., the current S-System range offers a total of eight lenses (five of which will also be available in CS versions with a central shutter), guaranteeing uncompromising imaging quality for all areas of photography.

The lens is supplied complete with a tripod mounting plate with 1/4" and 3/8" bushes that allows the lens to be fixed securely in any position. The Leica TS-APO-Elmar-S 120 mm f/5.6 ASPH. will be available through select Leica dealers, including the Leica Store Washington DC, beginning in January 2013.