Leica Leitz Elmarit-R 135mm f/2.8 (Leica R-Mount)
Name/Title
Leica Leitz Elmarit-R 135mm f/2.8 (Leica R-Mount)Entry/Object ID
279Tags
IconicDescription
The Leitz Elmarit-R 135mm f/2.8 is a world-class telephoto lens produced by Leitz Wetzlar for the Leica R-series SLR system. Known for its superb German engineering and exceptional optical quality, this lens features a built-in telescoping lens hood and a sophisticated five-element design that delivers the signature "Leica look"—high contrast, fine micro-detail, and a smooth, creamy bokeh. This specific unit, identified by its serial number as a first-version (Version I) lens, was manufactured in 1968. Version I is distinct for its substantial weight and a two-cam mechanism used for light metering on earlier Leica SL and SL2 bodies. Despite its age, the lens remains highly sought after by modern cinematographers and digital photographers who use simple mechanical adapters to mount it on mirrorless cameras like the Sony A7 series or Panasonic S-series. A notable feature of this lens is the "depth of field" scale engraved above the focus ring. This allowed photographers to visually calculate the range of sharpness based on their chosen aperture—a critical tool in the era of manual focus. The f/2.8 maximum aperture is relatively fast for a 135mm lens of this vintage, making it excellent for portraiture and low-light sports photography. When combined with the heavy-duty leather hard case (Quiver), it represents a premium era of professional photography equipment.Category
Lens