Leica Vario-Elmar-SL 100-400mm f/5-6.3 Review

This lens is a weird one. It's a Leica, so you expect perfection, but it's a super-telephoto zoom with a slow f/5-6.3 aperture that costs over two grand. The one thing to know? If you're an L-mount shooter who needs serious reach and portability, this is your only real native option. It's not a bad lens, but it's a very specific tool for a very specific job.

The optical performance is shockingly good, landing in the 98th percentile. That means the images are sharp and clean, which is what you're paying for. The stabilization is also excellent at 91st percentile. What surprised me, in a bad way, is the autofocus. It's only in the 48th percentile, which feels sluggish for a lens in this price bracket, especially on a system known for its speed.

It's not worth it. Unless you are locked into the L-mount ecosystem and desperately need a native 400mm lens, skip this. You're paying a massive 'Leica' tax for optics that are great, but paired with mediocre AF, a slow aperture, and subpar build. For this money, you could adapt a sharper, faster lens from another system.

Look, the competitors listed are all over the place—mostly fast primes—which shows how niche this lens is. A more direct comparison would be something like the Sigma 150-600mm for Sony E-mount. That lens gives you more reach, a faster aperture at the long end (f/6.3 vs this lens's f/6.3, but it starts at f/5), and costs less than half the price. The trade-off is size and weight, but you get way more lens for your money. For L-mount shooters, you're comparing this to nothing, which is the problem.

I can't recommend this lens to anyone but the most dedicated L-mount wildlife or sports photographer who refuses to use an adapter. For everyone else, the slow aperture, middling autofocus, and outrageous price make it a hard pass. Leica made a very competent optical tube but forgot to build a great lens around it.