Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70mm f/2.8 Review
Should You Get the Leica 24-70mm f/2.8 or Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN II Art or Perhaps Skip Them in Favor of Prime Lenses?
I keep skirting the issue of getting a standard zoom lens, but it inevitably comes up, especially before gigs where I can see the benefit of having one. Or at least, I think I should have one.
I have used standard zoom lenses on gigs but often end up renting or borrowing from a friend as I normally prefer the quality I get from prime lenses. For gigs in harsh environments or where frequent lens changes are impractical, a standard zoom lens like the Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70mm f/2.8 can come in handy.
If you are an L-mount photographer, however, the choice is not straightforward. In the following, I will address some of the pros and cons of either a Leica or a Sigma lens, or perhaps avoid them and instead pick a few prime lenses to get the job done.
Introduction
I met Julian Fok for a photo walk in Steveston, BC, Canada, where we did a lens exchange day. Julian tried three of my lenses and I tried three of his.
It was an excellent way to catch up and for us to try out gear before making potential purchase decisions. I highly recommend doing this if you have a photo buddy or can find like-minded souls in your part of the world.
The other two lenses I tried were (links to my reviews)
Voigtländer Nokton 21mm f/1.4 Aspherical VM
Leica Summicron-M 35mm f/2 IV
The Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70mm f/2.8 was released in 2021 and at the time this review was posted the retail price was $2,995.00. In comparison, the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN II Art is $1,189.00 (approx. 40% of the Leica lens).
Handling
The Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70mm f/2.8 and Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 version 1 are striking similar in design and performance and it is commonly known that the Leica lens is heavily based on the Sigma lens but rehoused in a Leica-designed enclosure.
I have not tested these two side-by-side but the lenses are said to have very similar if not the same optical performance. I have handled both lenses, and they feel very solid with a slight edge going to the Leica lens.
In the spring of 2024, Sigma released a Mark II version of the 24-70mm f/2.8. This lens now has an aperture ring (de-clickable) and is lighter at 1.6 lb / 745 g versus 1.9 lb / 856 g for the Leica lens.
The Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70mm f/2.8 is solidly built with a very smooth zoom action well-designed metal lens hood. The design of fonts and lens barrel is typically Leica minimalistic with clean edges. The lens is a formidable fit for my Leica SL2-S.
Specs
24-70mm focal length
Metal construction and weather-sealing
Aperture range: f/2.8 to f/22
19 Elements in 15 Groups
Three aspherical elements
Internal focusing
12-blade diaphragm
Filter size: 82mm
Minimum focusing distance: 7.1" / 18 cm
Dimensions: 3.5 x 4.8" / 88 x 123 mm
Lengh at max. extension: 6.41" / 162.8 mm
Weight: 1.9 lb / 856 g
Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site, Steveston, Leica SL2-S, Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70mm f/2.8 @ f/2.8, 68mm
In Action
About a month ago curiosity got the better of me and I ordered the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN II Art with a couple of upcoming gigs in mind. I love the fit and finish of this lens and in the end, the lower price and the fact that the Sigma lens has an aperture ring were deciding factors for me in choosing this over the Leica version.
However, I did encounter an issue that resulted in me returning the lens. The AF speed with the new HLA autofocus motor is blazingly fast—perhaps too fast for my SL2-S. It almost felt as if the SL2-S didn’t have the breaks to handle it, resulting in a noticeable wobble in the viewfinder when the lens hit the focus.
Could I have lived with this? Perhaps, but when I discovered it, I could not see past it and I found it quite distracting. I have not experienced this with any other AF lenses on the SL2-S.
The moral of this story is that, from my memory, the Leica lens does not have this issue and is a very integrated part of the whole Leica experience. To some photographers, this may be worth the price of admission.
I would like to see if the Mark 1 version of the Sigma 24-70mm Art lens has this issue. If not, it could be a real bargain, especially for a used copy.
Image Quality
I have not had a chance to do direct comparisons between the Leica and Sigma versions of the 24-70mm lenses but expect them to be quite similar.
Image quality from the Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70mm f/2.8 looks excellent albeit somewhat shy of what you could do with prime lenses in this focal length range.
After returning the Sigma 24-70mm I stumbled upon a used Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 and much prefer the image quality from this lens compared to the zoom.
This, of course, should not be a surprise as the prime lens only has to perform at one focal length and has the benefit of a brighter aperture of f/1.8.
Please make sure to click on the sample images to view sizes up to 2500 pixels depending on your monitor size or pinch zoom if on your mobile phone.
Conclusion
The Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70mm f/2.8 is an excellent fit for a Leica SL camera and if you want the complete Leica experience, this is the way to go if you can stomach the steeper price tag.
For under a third of the cost you could pick up a used Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art and most likely have a similar experience and output but the lens will not carry the Leica logo.
If you are concerned about weight and size and want the latest, the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN II Art is another option but I would advise you to check for compatibility with your Leica SL camera.
Last but not least, ask yourself if you need a standard zoom lens. For now, I am sticking with primes and will live with having to change lenses more often. For my photography genres, I have the luxury of time to do this and if I find that I need a zoom lens for a certain type of gig, I will rent a lens.
Please see more sample images below.
Pros
Excellent build quality
A good match for a Leica SL camera
Smooth zoom operation
Cons
Expensive compared to options from Sigma
Price / Availability
Thank you for reading my review. If you are planning a purchase and would like to support us, you can do so, at no additional cost, by using the affiliate link below. A small commission goes to us and helps us keep the wheels turning at 5050 Travelog.
Check the current price at B&H Photo
Leica Vario-Elmarit 24-70mm f/2.8 - B&H Photo
Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN II Art
Thank you for being supportive.
Leica Vario-Elmarit 24-70mm f/2.8 Aspherical - Sample Images
Please see the sample images below. Editing was done in Lightroom. Some photos are slightly cropped.
Please click to view larger images.
Julian Fok with his Leica SL2-S and my Voigtländer Nokton 50mm f/1.2. The photo is captured with a Leica SL2-S, Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70mm f/2.8 @ f/2.8, 54mm
Leica and L-Mount Alliance Reviews
Leica Q3
Leica SL3
Leica SL2-S
Leica SL2-2 First Impressions
Leica M10
Leica Q vs. XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR
Leica Summicron-M 35mm f/2 IV
Leica Summicron-M 50mm f/2
Panasonic Lumix S 14-28mm f/4-5.6 Macro
Panasonic Lumix S 100mm f/2.8 Macro
Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art
Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art
See all of my reviews at a glance: Camera Reviews - Archives
