Compare lenses

Leica APO-Vario-Elmar-TL 55-135mm f/3.5-4.5 ASPH vs Leica Vario-Elmar-SL 100-400mm f/5-6.3

The Leica APO-Vario-Elmar-TL 55-135mm f/3.5-4.5 ASPH and the Leica Vario-Elmar-SL 100-400mm f/5-6.3 side by side, computed from this guide's catalogue.

Which to pick

Pick the Leica APO-Vario-Elmar-TL 55-135mm f/3.5-4.5 ASPH if you want a brighter f/3.5 (1.0 stops more light), for dim light and softer backgrounds; a wider view (from 82mm equivalent); and a design for APS-C, which usually means smaller and lighter. Pick the Leica Vario-Elmar-SL 100-400mm f/5-6.3 if you want optical stabilisation, which helps most on bodies without it; more reach (to 400mm equivalent); and coverage of full frame, so it suits the larger-sensor bodies too.

Still torn? Ask the guide about the Leica APO-Vario-Elmar-TL 55-135mm f/3.5-4.5 ASPH and the Leica Vario-Elmar-SL 100-400mm f/5-6.3

Specs side by side

Rows that differ are in full colour; the better value is marked where one is better by any measure.
Spec	Leica APO-Vario-Elmar-TL 55-135mm f/3.5-4.5 ASPH	Leica Vario-Elmar-SL 100-400mm f/5-6.3
Maker	Leica	Leica
Focal length	55-135mm (zoom)	100-400mm (zoom)
Full-frame equivalent	82-202mm on APS-C	100-400mm
Maximum aperture	f/3.5-4.5brighter	f/5-6.3
Made for	APS-C	Full frame
Mounts	L-Mount	L-Mount
Stabilised	no	yesstabilised
Autofocus	yes	yes
Zoom range	2.5×	4.0×more range
Cameras it fits	25 in this guide	25 in this guide

Focal range, in full-frame terms

Leica APO-Vario-Elmar-TL 55-135mm f/3.5-4.5 ASPH: 55-135mm on APS-C, like 82-202mm.

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

Aperture

Leica APO-Vario-Elmar-TL 55-135mm f/3.5-4.5 ASPH: f/3.5 wide open.

Leica Vario-Elmar-SL 100-400mm f/5-6.3: f/5 wide open.

Each opening drawn to scale against f/1.4: a smaller f-number lets in more light and blurs the background more.

Field of view

How wide each sees, at each end, on the sensor it was made for.

Cameras they fit

25 cameras in this guide take both, so either works on the same body.