Leica Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8 APO Macro - portrait photography gold
Shot during my Northern Vietnam Photography workshop in Hanoi, Vietnam. Leica SL2-S with Leica Leica Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8 APO Macro
I bought this Leica 100mm R Macro lens for my SL system and today I’ll talk you through why I bought it, why I chose this macro over others I considered, and I’ll share with you how I intend to use this lens along with showing you photographs taken with it in a not so macro way.
As they say, "When in Rome..." or in this case, "When in Wetzlar, buy a Leica." On a recent trip for the launch of the Leica SL3 (check out my full review here), I was drawn into their Leica Classics store, a photographer’s magnetic field pulled me in, and I didn’t have much say in the matter. The allure of the vintage lenses was too strong to resist; they seemed to beckon me to appreciate the past while celebrating the modern. One underrated aspect of Leica is its collection of R and M vintage lenses, which are easily adaptable to modern cameras like the SL3. Not to mention the growing collection with the L mount alliance, which provides access to Panasonic and Sigma lenses when you're on a budget.
Just a quick disclaimer: I have no intention of using this lens for traditional macro photography such as product photography, flowers, or insects.
As an M and SL2 user, I have a mix of old and new lenses and am always interested in expanding my collection. It just so happened that I was looking for a macro lens to use for various unique purposes. First, for tight portraits focusing on engaging eyes and details. Even with my new Leica 50mm Lux which is a fantastic lens,, I always want to get closer. Additionally, I enjoy having a lens for travel stories and my personal work photographing wildlife to capture detail shots like hands, food, and animal eyes. Lastly, since I also create YouTube content, this lens comes in handy for product details like buttons, knobs on a camera, or the overall craftsmanship of a product I’m reviewing or talking about.
So I looked into various options. I tried the Elpro screw-on adapter, but it was too cumbersome. It works in a pinch, but the fall-off from focus to out of focus was too dramatic for my taste. Plus, screwing it on with step-up rings was annoying as they would often get stuck and not fun to separate. I didn’t want to spend a fortune, didn't need autofocus, and wanted a lens that could blend in well with my existing M lineup. I considered the Panasonic L mount 100mm lens and the Leica Macro Elmarit R 60 as well as the 100 Macro R 2.8 APO. The 90mm macro was also appealing but it's expensive and my budget was around $1000ish as I don’t use macro enough to justify a super expensive lens.
Liam at the Classics store had the 60mm R with the adapter to make it a true 1:1 macro and the 100mm APO at a 1:2 magnification. I tested both for macro video shots on the SL3 and was impressed with both. The 60mm was significantly cheaper, around $400 including the macro adapter for 1:1 magnification. The 100mm was offered to me at around $950.
Quick note about the 100mm and this is about as nerdy as I’m willing to get here. The 100mm APO is an R-mount lens with an aperture range of f2.8 - f22 and a minimum focusing distance of 45cm, which produces a 1:2 magnification. With the ELPRO adapter, you can go down to 30 cm and have a 1:1 reproduction of the object. I chose the 100mm macro as it fits better in my existing lens lineup already having a 50mm lux the 60 was just too similar.
I tested out the 100mm at a car museum in Germany during the SL3 launch. I was pleased with the results and justified the purchase in my head. Upon returning home, I was eager to test it out in a real-world setting. I was teaching a workshop here in Vietnam and now is as good a time as ever to promote my workshops so check out the details here and here. it’s the trip of a lifetime, all top-notch, incredible food, and a unique way to see Vietnam that no one else can offer you, yeah bold statement but I have done this for a living and I’ve covered this country for almost 20 years so I can confidently say that.
Along with my students, I tested the 100mm in a portrait session with a model. The lens truly impressed me and just opened up all sorts of creative possibilities for me to get closer to my subject.
Shot during my Northern Vietnam Photography workshop in Hanoi, Vietnam. Leica SL2-S with Leica Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8 APO Macro
I don't rely on sharpness tests or charts. I use a lens, review the images on an iMac, and let my eyes tell me if I like it or not rather than charts. And I loved it. It invigorated me and inspired me to take more portraits and see things a little differently.
In terms of pros and cons, the only con for me is the extreme focus throw, which takes some getting used to. Also, using an R lens on an L mount requires an adapter, but it's not too complicated or expensive. I bought a Novoflex and it works just fine.
The whole experience is slow, but that suits me as I prefer to shoot in a slow and calculated manner for portraits. This lens filled a gap in my lineup, opened up more creative opportunities, and proved to be quite versatile for video details, portraits, and detail shots on assignments and personal projects. As for whether it's for you, I can't say, but please let me know your thoughts in the comments section, and don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter below if you want to see my latest articles and content.
Here is a gallery of portraits all taken with a combination of the Leica SL2-S and SL3 and the Leica 100mm
