APO-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8: A Benchmark Revisited

There are lenses that age gracefully and lenses that simply refuse to age. The APO-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8 belongs decisively in the second category. Introduced at a time when apochromatic correction in a mass-produced photographic lens was genuinely novel, it has spent nearly four decades establishing and defending a reputation for optical excellence that remains largely unchallenged.

This review examines the lens from two perspectives: its intended use on R-mount film bodies, and its growing second life adapted to modern full-frame mirrorless cameras — a use case its designers could not have anticipated but that the lens handles with remarkable composure.

What Apochromatic Correction Actually Means

The term "APO" appears on a number of lenses from various manufacturers, not all of them equally deserving of the designation. In the case of this Leica, apochromatic correction means that longitudinal chromatic aberration — the tendency of different wavelengths of light to focus at slightly different distances — has been corrected across three wavelengths rather than two. The result is an image that is essentially free of the colour fringing that afflicts even high-quality conventional lenses at close focusing distances.

This matters most in macro work, where the magnification of subject detail also magnifies aberrations. At 1:1 reproduction ratio, an uncorrected lens can show purple or green fringing around fine detail that is distracting and difficult to remove in post-processing. The APO-Macro-Elmarit-R produces none of this.

On Film: Tonal Rendering and Sharpness

Tested on a Leica R6.2 loaded with Kodak Portra 400, the lens delivers exactly what its reputation promises. Even wide open at f/2.8, the centre of the frame is clinically sharp, with a smooth transition to a background blur that is characteristically Leica — present but not aggressive, never distracting. By f/5.6 the entire image circle is essentially perfect.

The tonal rendering on film has a quality difficult to describe quantitatively: colours are rendered accurately without the slight compression of midtones that some macro lenses impose. Skin tones in portrait use — a secondary application for a 100mm f/2.8 — are luminous and natural.

Adapted to Mirrorless

On a Sony A7R V via a Novoflex LER/SOM adapter, the lens reveals what modern sensor resolution demands of older glass. Many classic lenses that look excellent on film or lower-resolution sensors show limitations when paired with 60-megapixel sensors. The APO-Macro-Elmarit-R does not.

At f/2.8 the centre resolution is extraordinary — resolving fine textures with a clarity that justifies every megapixel the Sony sensor can offer. Corner performance is excellent from f/4 onward. Chromatic aberration remains effectively absent across the aperture range. The lens behaves, in short, as if it was designed for a sensor that would not exist for another three decades.

Practical Considerations

The lens focuses to 1:2 magnification (0.45m) without accessories. To reach 1:1, you need the Leica Macro-Adapter-R, a purpose-built extension tube that maintains all metering cam coupling. Without it, the macro in the name is slightly misleading for photographers who need true 1:1.

The build quality is entirely characteristic of R-mount glass: all-metal barrel, silky helicoid action, aperture ring that clicks positively at each full and half stop. It is heavier than you might expect for a 100mm lens, but the weight feels purposeful rather than excessive.

• Works at 1:1 only with Leica Macro-Adapter-R (add ~€150–250 used)
• 60mm filter thread is non-standard — check your existing filter collection
• Manual focus only; no AF adapter exists that works reliably with this optic
• Paired best with a focusing rail for critical macro work

Market and Value

The APO-Macro-Elmarit-R commands a firm price in the used market: €1,200–1,800 for clean examples, with mint boxed specimens occasionally reaching €2,200. This is not cheap, but compared to its optical performance relative to current macro offerings from other manufacturers, the value proposition holds.

Photographers who understand what they are getting — one of the finest macro lenses ever made, capable of performing at the limits of modern digital sensors — find it a worthwhile investment. Those who simply want a competent 100mm for occasional close-up work might look first at the more affordable 60mm Macro-Elmarit-R.

Verdict

The APO-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8 is a rare thing: a lens whose reputation is entirely deserved and has not been diminished by time. On film it is exemplary. Adapted to high-resolution mirrorless it is remarkable. At 1:1 macro it is, for practical purposes, without peer in the R system. If your photography includes any serious close-up work, it belongs on your shortlist.