Leica R 70-210mm f/4.0 Vario Elmar Leitz. If you’re looking to purchase this lens I always check Adorama and Ebay for good deals. It helps me if you purchase it through one of these links here in this review. When you purchase through these links it financially enables me to devote time to develop this site further. Thanks for the help! -Todd

Barrel
Metal.

Weight
25.9 oz (733g).

Focus Ring
Rubber on Metal.

Close Focus
4.0 feet (1.1 meters).

Filter Threads
60mm, Metal.

Aperture Ring
Metal

Diaphragm
7 blades stopping down to f/22.

Mount
Leica R Metal Mount.

Made in
Japan

70mm f/4 | 70mm f/4.5 | 70mm f/5.6 | 70mm f/8 | 100mm f/4 | 100mm f/4.5 | 100mm f/5.6 | 100mm f/8 | 135mm f/4 | 135mm f/4.5 | 135mm f/5.6 | 135mm f/8 | 210mm f/4 | 210mm f/4.5 | 210mm f/5.6 | 210mm f/8

70mm f/4 | 70mm f/4.5 | 70mm f/5.6 | 70mm f/8 | 100mm f/4 | 100mm f/4.5 | 100mm f/5.6 | 100mm f/8 | 135mm f/4 | 135mm f/4.5 | 135mm f/5.6 | 135mm f/8 | 210mm f/4 | 210mm f/4.5 | 210mm f/5.6 | 210mm f/8

70mm f/4 | 100mm f/4 | 135mm f/4 | 210mm f/4

Flare 70mm f/4

Flare 210mm f/4

Close Focus 70mm f/5.6

Close Focus 210mm f/5.6

Sharpness
70mm:
f/4: Decently sharp with great contrast and with some chromatic aberration.
f/4.5: Very sharp with only a little chromatic aberration.
f/5.6: Super sharp and amazing contrast.
f/8: Super sharp all over.

100mm:
f/4: Decently sharp with good contrast and with some chromatic aberration.
f/4.5: Very sharp with only a little chromatic aberration still.
f/5.6: Very sharp and no signs of chromatic aberration.
f/8: Super sharp all over.

135mm:
f/4: Decently sharp with less contrast and more chromatic aberration and a little spherical aberration.
f/4.5: Very sharp with only a little chromatic aberration.
f/5.6: Very sharp with great contrast and only a hint of chromatic aberration.
f/8: Super sharp all over.

210mm:
f/4: A bit soft with less contrast due to a fair bit of chromatic aberration and spherical aberration.
f/4.5: Very sharp good contrast and a little chromatic aberration and spherical aberration.
f/5.6: Very sharp with great contrast and only a hint of chromatic aberration.
f/8: Very sharp all over.

Vignetting
70mm: Not too much vignetting at f/4 and stopping down to f/4.5 is almost clear and gone around f/5.6.
100mm: Not too much vignetting at f/4 and stopping down to f/4.5 is almost clear and gone around f/5.6.
135mm: A bit more vignetting at f/4 as expected which clears just over f/5.6.
210mm: Quite a bit around f/4 and gone by f/7.1

Distortion
70mm: A bit of Barrel Distortion.
100mm: Almost no Distortion at all.
135mm: A little more Pincushion Distortion.
210mm: A fair bit of Pincushion Distortion but not too bad for a zoom lens.

Recommendations

On MF Camera
Optics:         ★ ★ ★ ★
Mechanics:  ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Ergonomics: ★ ★ ★ ★
Usefulness:   ★ ★ ★ ★
Availability:    ★ ★
Overall:          ★ ★ ★ ★

On AF Camera
Ergonomics:  ★ ★ ★
Overall:          ★ ★ ★
Out of 5

This lens is great and will last forever. Leica is famous for building amazing real metal lenses that are still decently light but very strong. Every part on the lens just snaps and slides perfectly and feels amazing in the hands like no other.
Optically this lens is great with fantastic color and low flare and not too bad distortion. At 210mm you can also get decently close to your subjects giving some decent macro photos.
The lens is definitely better at the short end and 210mm wide open is surprisingly pretty soft and not just from aberrations.
This is a rich mans lens but I’m not convinced they are worth what they are still selling for. They still can fetch around $400-700 but optically I would have trouble recommending this lens as there are better options that are also Auto Focus.
However if you want a really nice lens to show your friends this thing rocks.