The Leica APO-Vario-Elmar-TL 55-135mm f/3.5-4.5 ASPH is a telephoto zoom lens for Leica's TL-mount mirrorless system, covering a 35mm-equivalent range of approximately 80–200mm — making it a versatile choice for portraits, weddings, and action photography.
Key Specifications
- Focal length: 55–135mm (approx. 80–200mm equivalent on APS-C)
- Maximum aperture: f/3.5 (wide) to f/4.5 (tele)
- Lens type: Zoom — Standard
- Optical design: ASPH aspherical elements for reduced aberration
- Designation: APO (apochromatic) — corrected for chromatic aberration across the zoom range
- Mount: Leica TL mount
- Use cases: Portraits, sports/events, weddings, travel
Who is the Leica APO-Vario-Elmar-TL 55-135mm for?
If you shoot portraits, weddings, or events with a mirrorless Leica TL-series body, this lens fits right into your kit. The 80–200mm equivalent range is a classic "reach" zone — flattering compression for faces, enough distance from your subject at a reception or ceremony to stay discreet, and the speed to freeze a moment at a sports event. The APO designation means chromatic aberration is kept tightly in check across the entire zoom range, which shows up as crisp edges and clean colour rendering even in high-contrast scenes. It's also genuinely portable — reviewers who have used it on extended shoots note it's light enough to carry comfortably throughout a full day, which matters when you're covering a wedding or a travel itinerary. If you already own a Leica TL or CL body, this is the natural telephoto companion to pair with a wide or standard prime.
Buying a used Leica APO-Vario-Elmar-TL 55-135mm
Leica glass holds its optical quality well over time — the ASPH elements don't degrade, and there are no moving electronic parts inside the barrel to worry about beyond the focus and zoom mechanics. Buying this lens second-hand makes solid sense: you get the same image quality at a lower entry point, and every item on Camera-tweedehands.nl is professionally inspected and individually photographed before listing. All used lenses come with a minimum 12 months warranty (the exact term is shown on the variant listing), so you're covered if anything unexpected comes up. If you want a manual-focus alternative in a similar focal reach, the Leica APO-Telyt-M 135mm f/3.4 is sometimes mentioned as a comparison point — but for zoom flexibility at this range, the 55-135 is the dedicated TL-mount answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
