Availability of wide angle primes?

[Simone_DF]

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How's the Panasonic 16-35 compared to the Leica and Sigma WA?

[FrozenInTime]

If there is to be a 28-70 f/2.8 , would this be cine friendly;  parfocal and focus breathing compensated, or designed be be as small as possible to counter complaints of size ?

[Stuart Richardson]

The 24-90mm sold like hotcakes because it was the only lens they offered other than the 50 1.4, which indeed is a monster. I think introducing a general purpose zoom is perfectly reasonable as a first lens, as is putting out a trio to cover all the focal lengths. Personally, I think the next step is to introduce a range of wide, standard and long primes. They have almost done that, releasing the 35, 50, 75 and 90. I imagine that they released the 75 and 90 together as they are likely "easy" in comparison to the wides, as Leica already has very high quality modern formulas for those focal lengths...several to choose from: 75 and 90 APO Summicrons, 70mm Summarit S, now the 75mm Nocti and 90 Summilux etc. On the wide end, it seems they have some very good lenses, but nothing that would really be suitable for the SL Summicron. The 24mm Super Elmar S is much slower at 3.5, and it is also too big for the SL system compact wides. The M versions are probably ok, but not up to the optical performance required for the SL2 (let alone the SL3, 4 etc).

As for the 28-70mm, I am not against that lens at all. I would be glad to see it and if helped people, that would be wonderful. But it seems to me like Leica is missing a chance here. The SL program is ostensibly designed for professionals, but it is missing some important professional tools: a wide lens for interiors and architecture, as well as landscapes, cityscapes etc. On the long end, there are no true telephoto lenses. This is ignoring the things that would be very nice to have as a pro, but which clearly have a more limited market, such as tilt shift lenses, a bellows system, a true 1 to 1 macro, a true long telephoto (300mm or more). I know it is unlikely to get most of those, but I really would expect a wide angle prime!

Here, in the end, I think the issue is that Leica views zooms as an acceptable substitute (and clearly, it seems, do most photographers). I do not. Frankly, it is their own fault! If you want me to like your zooms, then stop making your primes so much better, haha.

Edited December 18, 2020 by Stuart Richardson

[Jeff S]

In tonight’s Red Dot Forum YouTube episode on the SL2-S, someone asked the Leica Miami guys when the remaining SL Summicron primes are coming. They responded that their expectation for the 21/24/28 is sometime in 2021 for all.  They don’t know for sure, but that’s what they thought.  
 

Jeff

[Chuck Albertson]

On 12/19/2020 at 7:05 PM, Jeff S said:

In tonight’s Red Dot Forum YouTube episode on the SL2-S, someone asked the Leica Miami guys when the remaining SL Summicron primes are coming. They responded that their expectation for the 21/24/28 is sometime in 2021 for all.  They don’t know for sure, but that’s what they thought.  
 

Jeff

I just watched that, and they were quoting someone on the live Webcast from Wetzlar that introduced the SL2-S. So there's some hope.

[douglas ball]

I was looking for a smaller wide angle lens as a walk around on my S1-R.  Years ago I had acquired a Contax Yashica 21mm 2.8  Distagon, and it was just collecting dust on the shelf. I decided to try it out and recently bought an adapter from Fotodix CY-LM, that works with my M to L mount.  I must say I am delighted with the results. It was always a fabulous lens and now seems almost better on the higher resolution sensors. Unfortunately the C/Y Zeiss 21 Distagons still command a very high price, but I think the Zeiss  Milvus Ze for Canon might even be a better alternative.

Again, searching for a smaller manual focus 50 alternative than the SL 50 Summilux which I have, I am now using a Zeiss Makro-Planar 50mm /2 with a EOS - L adapter. I really like this combination and much prefer it to using my 50M APO on the S1R because at 5.6 it is as sharp corner to corner as the Leica I feel. At f2,- f4 it will certainly be a little softer. The big advantage is that with the with the ZE Canon interface you get Auto Aperture Stop Down which you do not get with any M or R lens. You control aperture setting with your thumb wheel, and you get full EXIF information as well. Thus it works much the same as any SL lens on manual focus.This is why I prefer this combination to the M option. The main criticism with  the 21 Distagon was always the moustache distortion, but even that seems less severe on the Lumix, and for most shooting is not noticeable. This can easily be corrected in post if a problem. Obviously with any older Zeiss lenses there no built in Op-codes if you worry about SDC.

In the future I believe this may be my 21mm option because one rarely shoots landscape wide open anyway, so why pay the extremely high price for a Leica lens just for the wide open corner to corner sharpness advantage that we have come to expect from the new SL Summicrons. By the way I have and really enjoy the SL 35, and 75 Summicrons so I know very well where their advantages lie. However their high degree of perfection is not always required. For me the Zeiss ZE option is very interesting.