Leica R infrared lenses.
41 lensesGood 28Maybe 9Bad 4
Use an adapter to mount these lenses to many mirrorless cameras.
Data credit: these ratings come from the remarkable research at irlensdb.com, a community-built resource that has tested and documented more infrared lenses than any other reference online. I have stripped the retailer links and reformatted the data, but the hard work of collecting it belongs to them.
Ratings describe how a lens behaves on an infrared-converted camera. A maybe lens is usually fine wide open and shows a hot spot as you stop down, so check the notes before you write one off.
Zooms (8)
Leica Vario-Elmar-R 21-35mm ƒ/3.5-4 ASPH
Maybe- Focal
- 21-35mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/3.5-4
- Filter
- ⌀67mm
- Weight
- 500 g
Hotspot starts at f/5.6.
Leica Vario-Elmar-R 28-70mm ƒ/3.5-4.5
Good- Focal
- 28-70mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/3.5-4.5
- Filter
- ⌀60mm
- Weight
- 450 g
No hotspot.
Leica Vario-Elmarit-R 35-70mm ƒ/2.8 ASPH
Bad- Focal
- 35-70mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2.8
- Filter
- ⌀77mm
- Weight
- 1050 g
Hotspot at all apertures.
Leica Vario-Elmar-R 35-70mm ƒ/3.5
Maybe- Focal
- 35-70mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/3.5
- Filter
- ⌀67mm
- Weight
- 450 g
Hotspot starts at f/8. The later E67 (3-Cam) version; an earlier E60 version also exists.
Leica Vario-Elmar-R 35-70mm ƒ/4
Good- Focal
- 35-70mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/4
- Filter
- ⌀60mm
- Weight
- 505 g
Hotspot visible at f/11, but usable up to f/16 at 70mm.
Angénieux Zoom 45-90mm ƒ/2.8
Maybe- Focal
- 45-90mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2.8
- Filter
- ⌀67mm
- Weight
- 790 g
Hotspot starts at f/8. Uses a Series VIII filter mount rather than a front thread; the first zoom lens made for the Leica R system, built by Angénieux rather than Leitz.
Leica Vario-Elmar-R 70-210mm ƒ/4
Good- Focal
- 70-210mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/4
- Filter
- ⌀60mm
- Weight
- 720 g
No hotspot.
Leica Vario-Elmar-R 75-200mm ƒ/4.5
Good- Focal
- 75-200mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/4.5
- Filter
- ⌀55mm
- Weight
- 725 g
No hotspot.
Primes (33)
Leica Super-Elmarit-R 15mm ƒ/2.8 ASPH
Good- Focal
- 15mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2.8
- Filter
- n/a
- Weight
- 710 g
No hotspot. Uses a built-in filter turret rather than a front filter thread.
Leica Super-Elmar-R 15mm ƒ/3.5
Maybe- Focal
- 15mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/3.5
- Filter
- n/a
- Weight
- 815 g
Hotspot starts at f/8. Uses a built-in filter turret rather than a front filter thread.
Leica Fisheye-Elmarit-R 16mm ƒ/2.8
Maybe- Focal
- 16mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2.8
- Filter
- n/a
- Weight
- 460 g
Hotspot starts at f/5.6. Uses a built-in filter turret rather than a front filter thread.
Leica Elmarit-R 19mm ƒ/2.8 (I)
Good- Focal
- 19mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2.8
- Filter
- n/a
- Weight
- 815 g
No hotspot. Uses a built-in filter turret rather than a front filter thread; the earlier of two distinct optical designs sold under this name (1975-1990).
Leica Elmarit-R 19mm ƒ/2.8 (II)
Bad- Focal
- 19mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2.8
- Filter
- n/a
- Weight
- 560 g
Hotspot at all apertures. Uses a built-in filter turret rather than a front filter thread; the later, more compact redesign (1990-2009).
Leica Super-Angulon-R 21mm ƒ/4
Good- Focal
- 21mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/4
- Filter
- ⌀72mm
- Weight
- 420 g
No hotspot.
Leica Elmarit-R 24mm ƒ/2.8
Good- Focal
- 24mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2.8
- Filter
- ⌀60mm
- Weight
- 420 g
Hotspot visible at f/11. Uses the Leica Series 8 filter mount.
Leica Elmarit-R 28mm ƒ/2.8 (I)
Good- Focal
- 28mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2.8
- Filter
- ⌀48mm
- Weight
- 275 g
Hotspot visible at f/11. Uses a Series VII filter held by the lens hood rather than a plain front thread.
Leica Elmarit-R 28mm ƒ/2.8 (II)
Good- Focal
- 28mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2.8
- Filter
- ⌀55mm
- Weight
- 435 g
Hotspot visible at f/16.
Leica PC-Super-Angulon-R 28mm ƒ/2.8
Maybe- Focal
- 28mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2.8
- Filter
- ⌀67mm
- Weight
- 600 g
Hotspot visible at f/8. A perspective-control (shift) lens for architectural work.
Leica Summilux-R 35mm ƒ/1.4
Bad- Focal
- 35mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/1.4
- Filter
- ⌀67mm
- Weight
- 685 g
Hotspot at all apertures.
Leica Summicron-R 35mm ƒ/2 (I)
Good- Focal
- 35mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2
- Filter
- ⌀48mm
- Weight
- 510 g
No hotspot. Uses a Series VII filter adapter rather than a plain front thread.
Leica Elmarit-R 35mm ƒ/2.8 (III)
Good- Focal
- 35mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2.8
- Filter
- ⌀55mm
- Weight
- 305 g
Light hotspot from f/11.
Schneider-Kreuznach PA-Curtagon 35mm ƒ/4
Good- Focal
- 35mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/4
- Filter
- ⌀60mm
- Weight
- 310 g
No hotspot. A third-party perspective-control (shift) lens for Leica R; uses a Series VIII filter mount.
Leica Summilux-R 50mm ƒ/1.4 (I)
Maybe- Focal
- 50mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/1.4
- Filter
- ⌀55mm
- Weight
- 395 g
Hotspot visible at f/8.
Leica Summilux-R 50mm ƒ/1.4 (II)
Bad- Focal
- 50mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/1.4
- Filter
- ⌀60mm
- Weight
- 710 g
Hotspot visible at f/2.
Leica Summicron-R 50mm ƒ/2 (I)
Good- Focal
- 50mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2
- Filter
- ⌀44mm
- Weight
- 680 g
No hotspot. Uses a Series VI filter adapter rather than a plain front thread.
Leica Summicron-R 50mm ƒ/2 (II)
Maybe- Focal
- 50mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2
- Filter
- ⌀55mm
- Weight
- 290 g
Hotspot visible at f/8.
Leica Macro-Elmarit-R 60mm ƒ/2.8
Good- Focal
- 60mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2.8
- Filter
- ⌀55mm
- Weight
- 400 g
Hotspot visible at f/11.
Leica Summilux-R 80mm ƒ/1.4
Good- Focal
- 80mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/1.4
- Filter
- ⌀67mm
- Weight
- 700 g
No hotspot.
Leica Apo-Summicron-R 90mm ƒ/2
Good- Focal
- 90mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2
- Filter
- ⌀60mm
- Weight
- 520 g
Hotspot visible at f/16.
Leica Elmarit-R 90mm ƒ/2.8 (I)
Good- Focal
- 90mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2.8
- Filter
- ⌀54mm
- Weight
- 500 g
No hotspot. Uses a Series VII filter adapter rather than a plain front thread.
Leica Elmarit-R 90mm ƒ/2.8 (II)
Good- Focal
- 90mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2.8
- Filter
- ⌀55mm
- Weight
- 450 g
Hotspot visible at f/11.
Leica Macro-Elmar-R 100mm ƒ/4
Good- Focal
- 100mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/4
- Filter
- ⌀55mm
- Weight
- 540 g
Light hotspot at f/16.
Leica Elmarit-R 135mm ƒ/2.8
Good- Focal
- 135mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2.8
- Filter
- ⌀55mm
- Weight
- 730 g
No hotspot.
Leica Elmarit-R 180mm ƒ/2.8
Good- Focal
- 180mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2.8
- Filter
- ⌀67mm
- Weight
- 1325 g
No hotspot.
Leica Apo-Elmarit-R 180mm ƒ/2.8
Good- Focal
- 180mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/2.8
- Filter
- ⌀67mm
- Weight
- 970 g
Very light hotspot at f/22.
Leica APO-Telyt-R 180mm ƒ/3.4
Good- Focal
- 180mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/3.4
- Filter
- ⌀60mm
- Weight
- 750 g
No hotspot.
Leica Elmar-R 180mm ƒ/4
Good- Focal
- 180mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/4
- Filter
- ⌀55mm
- Weight
- 540 g
No hotspot.
Leica Telyt-R 250mm ƒ/4 (I)
Good- Focal
- 250mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/4
- Filter
- ⌀55mm
- Weight
- 1380 g
No hotspot.
Leica Telyt-R 250mm ƒ/4 (II)
Good- Focal
- 250mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/4
- Filter
- ⌀67mm
- Weight
- 1230 g
No hotspot.
Leica Telyt-R 350mm ƒ/4.8
Maybe- Focal
- 350mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/4.8
- Filter
- ⌀77mm
- Weight
- 1820 g
A curious hotspot, but usable.
Leica MR-Telyt-R Miroir 500mm ƒ/8
Good- Focal
- 500mm
- Aperture
- ƒ/8
- Filter
- ⌀77mm
- Weight
- 750 g
No hotspot. Fixed ƒ/8 mirror (reflex) lens; also takes 32mm rear drop-in filters.
Next step
Ready to shoot infrared on Leica R?
Links to Kolari Vision are affiliate links: if you buy through them the site earns a commission at no extra cost to you. They are the shop my own conversions and filters came from, and the recommendation would be the same without the program — full disclosure.
Links to Kolari Vision are affiliate links: if you buy through them the site earns a commission at no extra cost to you. They are the shop my own conversions and filters came from, and the recommendation would be the same without the program — full disclosure.
Other full frame mounts
All mounts in the database →Related guides
Where this data comes from
These ratings are compiled from the community-maintained Infrared Lens Database, with contributor credits kept in the notes. Ratings are submitted by photographers using different conversions, so results vary by wavelength, aperture and individual lens copy — treat them as a strong starting point, not a guarantee. Retailer links from the source have been removed. If you have tested a lens, contribute your result back to the original database so everyone benefits.