Best camera for the leica vario elmar sl 100 400mm f 5 6 3?

This lens is a full-frame zoom at heart, so I'd start with a full-frame body. The Leica SL3 is a solid choice if you want the lens to frame exactly as marked, at 100-400mm. The Panasonic Lumix S5 II is a good full-frame alternative if you want to spend less on the body.

If reach matters more than the full-frame view, go APS-C. On a Leica CL or Leica TL2, this lens frames like 150-600mm on full frame, which is the better value for birds and distant wildlife. The wildlife and sport guide explains why that extra reach matters.

Keep in mind that f/5-6.3 gets darker as you zoom in, so this lens rewards good light. Long lenses also hold their value, so a used copy is worth a look. See buying used.

Written by Claude from this site's pages.