Panasonic S 24-70/2.8 vs Leica SL 24-90

[Hendo]

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Have any of you tried the Panasonic S 24-70/2.8 on Leica SL/SL2? What are your thoughts on Panasonic S 24-70 on a Leica SL2?

The advantages of the Panasonic is first and foremost the price. However, it has to be weighted against image quality.

[Jared]

I have used it but don’t own it (since I bought the 24-90 Leica with my SL years ago).  It’s a really, really good lens.  If you don’t mind losing the 90mm reach of the Leica I’d say it’s a perfectly reasonable choice. It is not exactly a bargain, though, compared to the Sigma 24-70 DG DN Art.  I’d have said those two are roughly comparable, and the Sigma is quite a bit cheaper.  If you are going to go with a less expensive option, I’d lean that way instead.  In practice, all three will provide consistently good pictures.  You might be able to find one or the other does better at a given focal length and aperture, but sample variation will probably play a larger role here than anything else.  The Leica may have the most consistency based on anecdotal discussions. 

[Hendo]

Thanks, Jared, for your thorough answer. I would guess that the build quality is superior with the Leica 24-90 followed by the Pana and than the Sigma. 

[Photoworks]

the Leica lens has Image stabilization what Pana and sigma lack, that probably was a bigger deal with the original SL.

I have the 24-90 Leica lens and for some reason it just doesn't excite me. in reality it is a f4 lens most of the time.

the claim of this lens are whether sealed, extra heavy, dual fast AF motors, build extremely well.

Personal opinion is that the lens does not give enough separation from subject do to F4 aperture in most focal. at 90mm there is some softening in the corners. Build quality is questionable, my lens zoom ring gets stock sometime, it looks like an internal flow that some other people experienced. I have not sent it in because all Sl lenses get fixed in Germany and not sure when I will see it back. Lastly my lens seam to be noise when zooming in video mode.

I have done test for myself of Pana S Pro and Sigma lenses. there ave very close in details and quality. minor points for the PANASONIC for better cromatic aberration correction, but the bokeh is nicer on the sigma at 2.8.

I don't think you can go wrong with any of them.

PS: some lenses from sigma have issues with SL2 firmware in 4k video mode, you get an alert that you need more power.

[kuau]

I went with the Panasonic 24-70/2.8 and really like it except for it really doesn’t support back button focus, when you push / pull the focus clutch this disables all AF function where as the Sigma does not have this issue. In hind sight i probably would have gone with the Sigma, yet the time it wasn’t even shipping yet. I also purchased the Panasonic 70-200/2.8  another excellent lens yet has the same issue as the 24-70 no access to back button focus