Leica’s new APO-Macro-Elmarit-SL 100mm F2.8 has arrived, at least on paper. The new L-Mount macro lens was scheduled for release on 1 September 2026, and pre-orders are now being taken by authorised dealers.
The 100mm focal length is an interesting choice. While Leica is presenting it primarily as a macro lens, its combination of a 100mm focal length and F2.8 aperture makes it equally attractive for portraiture and general subject isolation. It offers 1:1 reproduction at a minimum focusing distance of 30cm, giving photographers plenty of working distance for close-up subjects.
The APO optical design is, of course, central to the lens. Leica has designed it to deliver high levels of correction, sharpness and colour accuracy, while nine aperture blades should contribute to smooth out-of-focus rendering and circular specular highlights. The lens also uses a substantial all-metal construction and weighs around 800g.
There is also a nod to Leica history with this model. The new lens pays homage to the manual focus APO-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm F2.8, introduced in 1987, a lens that has become something of a classic in its own right.
At €2,450 including VAT, it is unmistakably a Leica proposition, but it’s still an unusually attractive price when compared with others in the range. Whether that is justified will ultimately come down to the images, but the combination of true 1:1 macro, a useful 100mm focal length and APO correction makes this a particularly interesting addition to the SL system.
If anything, it looks seriously under-priced to me.
Pre-orders are now open, with the lens available through Leica and authorised dealers.
