One lense for leica sl2

[Calebg]

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Im going to buy a new sl2 . It will be my first leica camera and im very excited a out it. Im going to just buy one lense. First of all because of expense haha but im considereing the 24-90 due to versatility.  Im mainly going to be doing lamdscapes and street photography.  Thoughts or suggestions would greatly be appreciated.  Thank you

Edited December 18, 2019 by Calebg

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[SJH]

Hi and congratulations, mine arrives tomorrow to join my Q2 and M10P. I’ve also just posted a thread on this combination compared with the Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 which I have on order. You might like to consider it as an option as early reviews are indicating that it exceeds performance of the 24-70 2.8 GM Sony for example. If you took that route you could buy the Sigma zoom, 45mm 2.8, 12-24 and say the Sigma 85mm 1.4 L mount for less than just the Leica lens. Other options could be to  add in the excellent Voigtlander 50mm 1.2 and M to L mount converter. All that lot comes to the same price. It does make you think

Personally my decision is really around buying the Leica 24-90 to join my 3 M lenses to use on the SL2 or buying the Sigma 24-70 with say some Sigma primes (45, 50 or 85) or just the 50mm SL APO. The Leica is a wonderful lens and it goes to 90 but I just have this hunch that the Sigma is going to be on a par or at say 97% and that makes it rather compelling if I add in a Sigma or SL prime. 

[Leicaiste]

Staying in the Leica L stable, I would consider the 35/2, 50/2 or 24-90 in that order for your purposed use. 

[maqroll]

8 hours ago, Calebg said:

Im going to buy a new sl2 . It will be my first leica camera and im very excited a out it. Im going to just buy one lense. First of all because of expense haha but im considereing the 24-90 due to versatility.  Im mainly going to be doing lamdscapes and street photography.  Thoughts or suggestions would greatly be appreciated.  Thank you

Definitely 24-90, eventually 16-35 (having 3 zooms +50 lux)

[Fedro]

by far and large the most useful lens for the SL is the 24-90

I have had all of them (apart from the 35 Cron) at some point and if I look at LR it is the most used lens

As others have pointed out it coves all basic FoVs, quality is awesome, you avoid changing lenses etc etc etc

There are plenty of people who only use that lens to amazing results

IF you also want something lighter or more agile, then get one of the crons (35 or 50)

the 16-35 and 90-280 are also amazing lenses if you want to do respectively landscapes or tele work but they are more specialised 

I have not tried the Panasonics or Sigma, but many people swear by them so as an alternative the Sigma 45 2.8 could be a great and cheaper lightweight companion to the 24-90

[tom0511]

either 24-90 or 16-35+75 (oh - sorry, these are 2)

The 24-90 is very flexible lens if the size is fine for you.

 

[dem331]

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The 24-90mm is amazing. Too big maybe, but at 90mm results look “better” to me at the moment than my 90mm APO M on SL2, which I did not expect, although maybe I am not comparing like for like (I shot the 90mm at f2) 

[Macberg]

vor einer Stunde schrieb dem331:

The 24-90mm is amazing. Too big maybe, but at 90mm results look “better” to me at the moment than my 90mm APO M on SL2, which I did not expect, although maybe I am not comparing like for like (I shot the 90mm at f2) 

What is the most open aperture when shooting 90mm with the 24-90 SL?

That was also a decisive criterion for me (another one was pricing...) when deciding between the 24-90 SL and the 35 SL Apo. I already have the M 90 Apo and thought that I would be worse off when using the 24-90 SL for 90mm shots when I could use the M 90 Apo with aperture 2.0 instead. That's why I got the 35 SL Apo as my first lens for the SL2.

 

Edited December 18, 2019 by Macberg

[JamesBarry]

4 minutes ago, Macberg said:

What is the most open aperture when shooting 90mm with the 24-90 SL? That might also be a decisive criterion for me when deciding between the M 90 Apo (apterture 2.0!) and the 24-90 SL.

f/4

[Tailwagger]

You don't mention what system you are coming from and what focal lengths you've typically relied on in the past. The 'cron primes are quite special.  Sadly, at the moment there's noting wider than 35mm and even that is backordered.  The 24/28s are expected sometime next year.  Obviously building a system solely out of L-primes gets stupid expensive, stupid fast. The cheaper, more flexible, more portable alternative is the 24-90mm. And of course having been around for a while, they are easily found at a significant discount to new. As yet I've resisted buying one, as having come from the M, I prefer shooting with primes, for a number of reasons and 24-90 is right in my prime zone.

If your first lens will be your last, buy the zoom. If not, as is my case, then I suggest you consider creating roadmap for how your system will wind up. Here's the key thing to consider.  You have 47MPx to play with.  For most folks that means an excess of riches. You no longer need to think in terms of optical zooming as every prime you own is essentially a zoom, assuming you can live with 24-36MPx as the final result. Primes are smaller, lighter, faster in several dimensions and optically superior (if only slightly and of course at pre-crop resolution). 

My plan is to add the 35 and 21 crons to the 75 cron I currently own. While I'm waiting, I opted to pre-order the Pano 16-35 f4 which will in the end cover the ultra wide end, and I'm currently debating on whether to pickup the Sigma 135 or wait for the Pano 70-200 2.8, coupled with the Pano extender.  YMMV, best of luck. 

  

 

[hillavoider]

35 SL + sigma 24-70 F2.8 for similar money, maybe a bit more, then 24-90 leica tank, its just too heavy 

Edited December 18, 2019 by hillavoider

[Chaemono]

vor 33 Minuten schrieb Tailwagger:

Here's the key thing to consider.  You have 47MPx to play with.  For most folks that means an excess of riches. You no longer need to think in terms of optical zooming as every prime you own is essentially a zoom, assuming you can live with 24-36MPx as the final result.

+1.  The SL Summicron lenses are ‘crop-able’ and, therefore, de facto ‘zoom-able.’  Not so much on the S1, of course. 

[m9photo]

One lens = SL 50 Summicron

[nryn]

13 hours ago, Calebg said:

Im going to just buy one lense. First of all because of expense haha but im considereing the 24-90 due to versatility.  Im mainly going to be doing lamdscapes and street photography.  Thoughts or suggestions would greatly be appreciated.  Thank you

Your plan is solid, as is Tailwagger’s advice. The 24-90 does an outstanding job covering the majority of commonly-used focal lengths. For many people it will be the only lens they need and even if it isn’t it is a great place to start. But I also agree with Tailwagger’s advice to look at your previous setups and figure out what focal lengths (actual/effective) work best for you. It’s unlikely that you shoot best at 16-21mm or above 105mm, but if that’s the case the zoom is probably not the best place to start.

Whether or not the size of the SL2 + 24-90 will work for you with respect to street photography or the weight of it for landscape photography is up to you (but as many people said it’s a good place to start). I’m blown away by the results I’m getting with the zoom but feel much more operationally comfortable with primes (even more so with manual focus). So while I have the zoom and a few SL primes, I may well end up relying on my M lenses for street and retain the larger, automated lenses for other purposes (landscape, studio, etc).

Edited December 18, 2019 by nryn

[Arrow]

The 50 Lux SL tends to be comparatively cheap second hand. None of the Luxes is either old, nor outdated  You gain one stop over the cron, but also 325 gramme in additional weight. If you stick to the one lens only policy, there is no other lens hiding in your bag adding weight. So, that should be fine then.

If you feel too limited with only a 50, ..... go for the 24 - 90 which is a great experience on the SL ..... and buy the 50 later 😁

[m9photo]

2 hours ago, Arrow said:

The 50 Lux SL tends to be comparatively cheap second hand. None of the Luxes is either old, nor outdated  You gain one stop over the cron, but also 325 gramme in additional weight. If you stick to the one lens only policy, there is no other lens hiding in your bag adding weight. So, that should be fine then.

If you feel too limited with only a 50, ..... go for the 24 - 90 which is a great experience on the SL ..... and buy the 50 later 😁

50 lux is love and hate for me. I love the images it produced but I hate the weight.

 

[Arrow]

13 minutes ago, m9photo said:

50 lux is love and hate for me. I love the images it produced but I hate the weight.

 

I had a shoulder surgery last year and need to exercise my right biceps. Therefore, the weight of the 50 Lux is more than welcome for the health benefit that comes along with it. Gives the SL this cattle bell weight feeling 🥰

Edited December 18, 2019 by Arrow

[Mr.Q]

I'd suggest getting an used 24-90 in good condition.

 

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[Flu]

35mm SL APO. This will do street and landscape quite well. Keeps the setup relatively small and has the highest resolving power of any SL lens! The 24-90 is too big and heavy for street photography, you’ll stick out too much IMO.

Edited December 18, 2019 by Flu

[snooper]

1 hour ago, Flu said:

35mm SL APO. This will do street and landscape quite well. Keeps the setup relatively small and has the highest resolving power of any SL lens! The 24-90 is too big and heavy for street photography, you’ll stick out too much IMO.

+1

That lens is really surprising by its quality. I just can compare with the M 35 Cron, but the SL version is far ahead. Street, landscape... Just perfect.