Leica

Leica 11089 Elmarit-TL 18mm f/2.8 APS-C Lens

4.0 (2 reviews)

Capture Stunning Wide-Angle Images with a Compact Pancake LensThe Leica Elmarit-TL 18mm f/2.8 ASPH Lens is a compact and high-performance wide-angle lens designed for APS-C-format L-Mount mirrorless cameras. Its pancake design makes it incredibly portable, while its advanced optical construction ...

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Overview

Capture Stunning Wide-Angle Images with a Compact Pancake Lens

The Leica Elmarit-TL 18mm f/2.8 ASPH Lens is a compact and high-performance wide-angle lens designed for APS-C-format L-Mount mirrorless cameras. Its pancake design makes it incredibly portable, while its advanced optical construction delivers exceptional image quality and fast autofocus. Perfect for the Leica CL and other L-Mount cameras.

Specifications:

  • Brand: Leica
  • Model: Elmarit-TL 18mm f/2.8 ASPH
  • Mount: L-Mount
  • Format: APS-C
  • Focal Length: 18mm
  • Aperture: f/2.8
  • Optical Design: 8 elements in 6 groups
  • Aspherical Elements: 4
  • Focusing: Electronically controlled
  • Minimum Focusing Distance: 0.3 m

Key Features

This 18mm f/2.8 wide-angle prime lens is designed for APS-C-format L-mount mirrorless cameras and provides a 27mm equivalent focal length.

Four aspherical surfaces are featured in the optical design to control distortion and spherical aberrations for greater sharpness and clarity.

Pancake form factor measures just 0.8" thick for an ultra compact, sleek option well-suited to everyday shooting.

Autofocus design affords full-time manual focus control along with a minimum focusing distance of 11.8".

Specifications

Focal Length
18mm
Maximum Aperture
f/2.8
Lens Type
Wide-angle prime
Compatibility
APS-C-format L-mount mirrorless cameras
Equivalent Focal Length (APS-C)
27mm
Optical Design
Four aspherical surfaces
Form Factor
Pancake (0.8" thick)
Focus Control
Autofocus with full-time manual focus
Minimum Focusing Distance
11.8"

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • Designed as a wide-angle prime lens, ideal for capturing expansive scenes with a fixed focal length.
  • Provides a 27mm equivalent focal length on APS-C-format L-mount mirrorless cameras, offering a versatile wide perspective.
  • Features four aspherical surfaces in its optical design, which helps in controlling distortion and spherical aberrations for enhanced sharpness.
  • Boasts a pancake form factor, measuring just 0.8" thick, making it ultra-compact and sleek for everyday portability.
  • Offers full-time manual focus control, giving photographers precise command over focusing in addition to autofocus.
  • Achieves a minimum focusing distance of 11.8", allowing for close-up shots with adequate detail.
  • The f/2.8 maximum aperture is relatively bright for a wide-angle prime, aiding in low-light conditions and depth of field control.

👎 Cons

  • The 18mm focal length is fixed, meaning it lacks the versatility of a zoom lens and requires physical movement to adjust framing.
  • Designed specifically for APS-C-format L-mount mirrorless cameras, limiting its compatibility with other camera systems.
  • While f/2.8 is bright, it may not be fast enough for extreme low-light scenarios compared to lenses with wider apertures like f/1.4 or f/1.8.
  • The "pancake form factor" might mean certain compromises in optical complexity compared to larger, more specialized wide-angle lenses.
  • Specific details on weather sealing or robust construction materials are not provided, which could be a consideration for outdoor use.

Frequently Asked Questions

This lens is specifically designed for APS-C-format L-mount mirrorless cameras.
On an APS-C-format camera, the 18mm lens provides an equivalent focal length of 27mm.
The Leica Elmarit-TL 18mm lens features a pancake form factor, measuring just 0.8 inches thick, making it an ultra-compact option.
Yes, the autofocus design of this lens also affords full-time manual focus control.
The lens has a minimum focusing distance of 11.8 inches, allowing for reasonably close-up photography.
The optical design incorporates four aspherical surfaces, which are included to control distortion and spherical aberrations for greater sharpness and clarity.