LEICA TS-APO-ELMAR-S 120 mm f/5.6 ASPH. tilt/shift lens:
Superior control of perspectives while maintaining highest
possible image quality and intuitive handling
Photokina, Cologne, 17 September 2012: Leica Camera AG today announced the TS-APO-Elmar-S 120 mm f/5.6 ASPH., the first fully-adjustable tilt/shift lens for the Leica S medium format system. This apochromatically corrected lens, provides options for parallel shifting and tilting (Scheimpflug principle), and offers photographers all the adjustment options usually found in field cameras, while simultaneously
guaranteeing the greatest possible image quality, easy handling and universal applicability of the Leica S-System.
The Leica TS-APO-Elmar-S 120 mm f/5.6 ASPH. is ideal for product and still life photography, in which
perfect perspectives and maximum depth of field are required. Its optical system consists of six individual
lens elements and allows parallel shifts (shift) of up to 12 mm in all directions and tilting of the plane of
focus (tilt) by up to 8°. Its apochromatically corrected lenses ensure that the familiar superior quality
delivered by the S-System is maintained, even when fully exploiting the limits of creative freedom.
Tilting the plane of focus allows photographers to place it at any chosen point within the image. This
means that optimum depth of field can be achieved without stopping down sharply and without having to
accept the qualitative disadvantages of a closed aperture. The Leica TS-APO-Elmar-S 120 mm f/5.6
ASPH. also allows photographers to customise the location of the plane of sharpest focus.
Parallel shifting enables precise correction of converging or diverging verticals, without the loss of
resolution generally encountered when applying corrections with post-processing software. This
simultaneously ensures that the performance and capabilities of the S-System are preserved, and that
photographers have complete control over all lines within the image frame. Thanks to its large image
circle, the Leica TS-APO-Elmar-S 120 mm f/5.6 ASPH. allows the combination of tilting and shifting. This
means that photographers can exploit creative freedom in all its aspects in image composition.
Due to its special construction and external form, the Leica TS-APO-Elmar-S 120 mm f/5.6 ASPH. differs
to some extent from the other lenses of the S-System. For instance, it features an integrated lens hood
that reliably prevents stray light entering the optical system. Shifting and tilting movements are controlled
by a total of four rings. Two more rings manually control the aperture and distance settings.
As with all other lenses of the Leica S-System portfolio, the Leica TS-APO-Elmar-S 120 mm f/5.6 ASPH. is
distinguished by rugged, enduring design and construction that guarantees years of dependability, even
with frequent use.
The lens is supplied with a tripod mounting plate with 1/4" and 3/8" bushes, allowing the lens to be fixed
securely in any position.
Alongside the new Leica TS-APO-Elmar-S 120 mm f/5.6 ASPH., the current S-System portfolio offers a
total of eight lenses (five of which will also be available in CS versions with a central shutter), that
guarantee uncompromising image quality for almost all areas of photography.
Pricing and availability
The Leica TS-APO-Elmar-S 120 mm f/5.6 ASPH. is scheduled to be available in the UK at a suggested
retail price of £4,920 inc VAT from January 2013
