Elmarit Explained

The name Elmarit is used by Leica to designate camera lenses that have a maximum aperture of f/2.8.

History

The Elmarit is a derivation of the Elmar. Confusingly not all f/2.8 lenses are Elmarits. The 50 mm f/2.8 collapsible, manufactured until 2007, was designated an Elmar rather than an Elmarit.^[1]

Description

The Elmarit are popular lenses for extreme focal lengths: 21 mm, 24 mm, 28 mm and 90 mm. The Elmarit has also come in 135mm super-telephoto.^[2]

Market positions

The Elmarit are behind the Summicron and the Summarit lenses. Only the Elmar and most Summaron lenses have a smaller f-number.

List of Elmarit lenses

For the Leica M mount:

• Elmarit-M 21 mm
• Elmarit-M 21 mm ASPH.
• Elmarit-M 24 mm ASPH.
• Elmarit-M 28 mm
• Elmarit-M 28 mm ASPH.
• Elmarit-M 90 mm
• Elmarit-M 135 mm

For the Leica R mount:

• Leica 15 mm Super-Elmarit-R ASPH – 2001
• Leica 16 mm Fisheye-Elmarit-R – 1970 (Minolta design and glass production)
• Leica 19 mm Elmarit-R 1st version
• Leica 19 mm Elmarit-R 2nd version – 1990
• Leica 24 mm Elmarit-R – 1970 (Minolta design and glass production)
• Leica 28 mm Elmarit-R 1st version – 1970
• Leica 28 mm Elmarit-R 2nd version – 1994
• Leica 35 mm Elmarit-R 1st version – 1964
• Leica 35 mm Elmarit-R 2nd version
• Leica 35 mm Elmarit-R 3rd version
• Leica 35 mm Elmarit-R 4th version (Built-in lens hood; 55mm filter)
• Leica 60 mm Macro-Elmarit-R 1st version – 1972 – outside bayonet lens hood fitting
• Leica 60 mm Macro-Elmarit-R dn2 version
• Leica 90 mm Elmarit-R 1st version – 1964–1996
• Leica 90 mm Elmarit-R 2nd version – 1983
• Leica 100 mm APO-Macro-Elmarit-R
• Leica 135 mm Elmarit-R 1st version – 1965
• Leica 135 mm Elmarit-R 2nd version
• Leica 180 mm Elmarit-R 1st version
• Leica 180 mm Elmarit-R 2nd version
• Leica 180 mm APO-Elmarit-R – 1998
• Leica 28 mm-90 mm -4.5 Vario-Elmarit-R ASPH
• Leica 70–180 mm Vario-APO-Elmarit-R zoom
• Leica 35–70 mm Vario-Elmarit-R ASPH zoom – 2000 (only 200 were made)

For the Leica S mount:

• Super-Elmar-S 1:3.5/24 mm ASPH.
• Elmarit-S 1:2.8/30 mm ASPH.
• Elmarit-S 1:2.8/30 mm ASPH. CS
• Elmarit-S 1:2.8/45 mm ASPH.
• Elmarit-S 1:2.8/45 mm ASPH. CS

For the Leica L Mount:

• Elmarit-TL 18 mm f/2.8 ASPH.
• APO-Macro-Elmarit-TL 60 f/2.8 ASPH.
• Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70 f/2.8 ASPH.
• Vario-Elmarit-SL 1:2.8–4 / 24–90 ASPH.
• APO-Vario-Elmarit-SL 1:2.8–4 / 90–280

For the Four Thirds mount^[3] :

• D Vario-Elmarit 14–50 mm -3.5

For the Micro Four Thirds mount:

• DG Vario-Elmarit 8–18 mm -4.0
• DG Vario-Elmarit 12–35 mm Asph. Power OIS
• DG Vario-Elmarit 12–60 mm -4.0
• DG Macro-Elmarit 45 mm Asph OIS
• DG Vario-Elmarit 50–200 mm -4.0 Asph. Power OIS
• DG Elmarit 200 mm OIS

Notes and References

1. Book: Taylor, David . Leica M Typ 240 Expanded Guide . Ammonite Press . 2014 . 978-1781450390 . United Kingdom.
2. Web site: LEICA Lens Names . www.kenrockwell.com . 2019-11-27.
3. manufactured under license by Panasonic