Question 1

Are Leica SL lenses good?

Accepted Answer

Leica SL lenses are widely regarded as being among the highest-performing autofocus lenses available for full-frame mirrorless systems. They're designed specifically for professional use — built to deliver strong image quality at every aperture and every focus distance, not just in ideal conditions. The 24-90mm in particular covers a genuinely useful zoom range with an f/2.8 maximum aperture at the wide end, which is something you don't always get in a lens that also stretches to 90mm.

Question 2

What is the Leica 24-90mm f/2.8-4 Vario-Elmarit-SL?

Accepted Answer

The Leica 24-90mm f/2.8-4 Vario-Elmarit-SL ASPH is a full-frame zoom lens designed for L-mount cameras. It covers 24mm through 90mm, opens to f/2.8 at the wide end and f/4 at 90mm, includes built-in optical image stabilisation and autofocus, and focuses as close as 0.3 metres. It uses an 82mm filter thread and weighs 1140g. The ASPH designation indicates aspherical optical elements aimed at reducing aberrations across the zoom range.

Question 3

What is the best 90mm lens for Leica L mount?

Accepted Answer

If you want to stay within the native Leica ecosystem, the 90mm end of the Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90mm f/2.8-4 gives you a compact portrait focal length without carrying a separate prime. If you'd rather have a dedicated 90mm prime with a lighter footprint, there are native L-mount prime options worth considering — particularly if 90mm is your primary working length and you'd prefer a smaller, lighter kit over a versatile zoom.

Question 4

How heavy is the Leica 24-90mm f/2.8-4 Vario-Elmarit-SL?

Accepted Answer

The lens weighs 1140g. That's substantial — roughly double the weight of many third-party L-mount zoom alternatives. In practice this means you'll want a solid grip on your camera body, and a good strap is not optional for all-day shooting. The upside is that the build quality that comes with that weight makes this lens feel genuinely robust in professional conditions.

Question 5

Does the Leica 24-90mm f/2.8-4 Vario-Elmarit-SL have image stabilisation?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the 24-90mm Vario-Elmarit-SL has built-in optical image stabilisation. This is useful across the whole zoom range but especially handy at 90mm where camera shake is more pronounced, and in travel or street situations where you can't always control the light. On compatible Leica SL bodies that also feature in-body stabilisation, the optical stabilisation in the lens works alongside the body's system — this combined behaviour is well-documented across SL2 and SL2-S reviews.

Question 6

What's the minimum focus distance of the Leica 24-90mm?

Accepted Answer

The minimum focus distance is 0.3 metres at the wide-angle setting. That's genuinely close for a standard zoom — it means you can isolate small subjects, shoot tight product details, or capture food and still-life without switching to a macro lens. At 24mm and 0.3m you get a noticeable close-up perspective that's useful in travel and documentary shooting.

Question 7

Is buying a used Leica 24-90mm f/2.8-4 Vario-Elmarit-SL worth it?

Accepted Answer

For most L-mount shooters, yes. Leica SL lenses are built to professional standards, so a well-maintained second-hand copy performs identically to a new one optically. Buying used also brings the cost down considerably on a lens that's expensive new. On Camera-tweedehands.nl, used lenses are individually inspected and photographed before listing, and come with a minimum 12 months warranty — so you're not buying blind.

Question 8

How does the Leica 24-90mm f/2.8-4 compare to a 24-70mm zoom?

Accepted Answer

The extra reach to 90mm is the obvious practical difference — at 90mm you're in genuine portrait territory with more subject compression and background separation than a 70mm end provides. The tradeoff is weight and size: the 24-90mm at 1140g is heavier than most 24-70mm alternatives. If you regularly shoot portraits or need that short-telephoto reach without swapping lenses, the 24-90mm range earns its keep. If you shoot mostly wider and want a lighter kit, a 24-70mm may be the better fit.

Mount	L-Mount
Focal range	Wide Angle
Prime / Zoom	Zoom
Focal length (min)	24 mm
Focal length (max)	90 mm
Max. aperture	f/2.8
Stabilisation
Weight (Grams)	1140
Year of release	2015
Auto Focus

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Leica 24-90mm f/2.8-4 Vario-Elmarit-SL ASPH (11176)

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About the Leica 24-90mm f/2.8-4 Vario-Elmarit-SL ASPH (11176)

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