Leica 24-90 Lens - Who's Using It?

[thedwp]

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I'm on the fence about this lens. with the F2 Crons being so great I'm having trouble deciding to go with a 28mm Summilux for street, SL50mm & the SL90....or the 28Lux and the 24-90 for everything else. I've never held one, I've heard it's a beast. Is the f2.8-4 unless indoors with natural light? 

Can I get some options on your usage? It will go on my SL2 body. 

Thanks.

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[Jeff S]

You can read all day (tons of posts here and elsewhere from those who swear by the 24-90, and from others who have no interest or found it too large/heavy), but the only way for you to really know is to hold and shoot one.  This can be done by store demo or rental.  

 

A brief sample of discussions....

 

 

Many of us have the SL 24-90 as a one lens option, yet still own one or more SL primes for other situations.  I bought the SL2 as a complement to my M system, which meets my 28/35/50 needs in a small, simple package, while the SL2 offers zooms, weather sealing, stabilization, AF, etc.  As such, the M lenses stay on the M, and the 24-90 and 90-280 are the mainstays for my SL2.  I added an SL75 primarily because I never bonded with 75mm frame lines on my M, and it provides a smaller weather sealed option.  Different tools for different needs and shooting experiences. ( To answer your question, the OIS in the 24-90, combined with IBIS in the SL2, as well as ISO flexibility, provide for easy handholding in low-ish light.)

Jeff

Edited August 14, 2021 by Jeff S

[thedwp]

21 minutes ago, Jeff S said:Many of us have the SL 24-90 as a one lens option, yet still own one or more SL primes for other situations.  I bought the SL2 as a complement to my M system, which meets my 28/35/50 needs in a small, simple package, while the SL2 offers zooms, weather sealing, stabilization, etc.  As such, the M lenses stay on the M, and and the 24-90 and 90-280 are the mainstays for my SL2.  I added an SL75 primarily because I never bonded with 75mm frame lines on my M, and it provides a smaller weather sealed option.  Different tools for different needs and shooting experiences. 

Jeff

Thanks for sending these links Jeff. Very helpful. I don't see anywhere that anyone hates the lens or dogs it...it sounds like it's a matter of size and what other lenses will be in the kit. I may keep a 28mm Summilux + adapter and get the 24-90 and see how that works out for a while. One thing I know, it won't be the last lens I'll ever purchase  

 

[LikameLeica]

5 hours ago, thedwp said:

Thanks for sending these links Jeff. Very helpful. I don't see anywhere that anyone hates the lens or dogs it...it sounds like it's a matter of size and what other lenses will be in the kit. I may keep a 28mm Summilux + adapter and get the 24-90 and see how that works out for a while. One thing I know, it won't be the last lens I'll ever purchase  

 

I have had the 24-90 as the first lens I purchased with the original SL.  It is big, but it is a great one lens solutions that I primarily use for landscape while traveling.  Weather sealed and covers the range of focal lengths needed.  I think the comments about it being big are relevant for people use to the M system, but if you are a legacy SLR user (canon or Nikon) the size is very familiar as a versatile zoom lens with incredible quality.  When I travel, I take the 24-90 as well as SL35 for a more compact solution.  I also bring along a few M lenses (35 summilux, and 50 summilux) for more compact carry options when doing street or out for the evening.  If I am doing exclusively landscape type adventure, I only take the 24-90 + the M 21 3.4 which is incredible and compact solution.

[LocalHero1953]

I have the 24-90, as well as the 35 and 90 primes. I use them for different things: the 24-90 for events and associated portraits and headshots, such as for theatre, when I don't know what space I have to work in, or what type of perspective I need - the versatility is useful. For specific portrait sessions, I would use the 90, less because its a prime than because the extra two stops at 90 are useful. As a user of the CL as well, in comparison I find the SL system as a whole quite large and heavy, so the extra weight of the 24-90 is neither here nor there. 

The 35 is used least - fabulous though it is, I have to think hard about what it is suitable for*, given how I use the CL, SL2-S, and now 5x4, each for different types of photography. If I want to use the 35mm range, it's usually for a scenario (travel, street) where I'd be carrying the CL instead - and so the 11-23TL zoom.

 

*Edit. I've just remembered! I keep it mainly for video, for recording stage and other productions. Not much of that for the last year or so, so I'd forgotten.

Edited August 14, 2021 by LocalHero1953

[LEICAKS]

For me i got the 24-90 as my first lens with the SL and it's really great! The low light performance is not excellent but the OIS&IBIS compensates. The APO 90-280 is my favourite of the two zooms. I ended up trying the SIGMA 85 1.4 DG DN and it's just so good I use it a lot at the expense of the 24-90 @ 90mm f4+. On a sunny day or in a studio the 24-90 is outstanding. After that I got a used 35mm f/1.2 DG DN SIGMA for low light winter shots and product shots. This setup has been great for me. In addition to that I adapted the excellent 400mm 5.6 + 1.4x II using MC-21 adapter.

Comparing the low end of the 90-280 @ 90mm f2.8 in my mind it outperforms the 24-90 @ 90mm f/4. The images the 90-280 produce are just so damn pleasing.

In 2021 I might have opted for the 35mm Summicron SL f2 or the 50mm Summilux SL 1.4 instead backed by the 85 1.4 Sigma. The 90-280 is a keeper for me even in 2021.

[hansvons]

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The 24-90 is Leica‘s take on a journalist’s workhorse lens. And it excels in every respect: durability, weatherproofing, AF speed, IQ, you name it.

But its pronounced dimensionality and the long end of 90mm compared to the usual 70mm sets it apart from the competition and makes all the difference to me.
 

I have it as my go-to lens on the SL2-S. It‘s a no-brainer for everyone who looks for versatility in a fast working pace. 

[northernlights]

I used to own the M (240) Hence I brought over M lenses when i sold the M to try out the SL (601) used.

The SL was supposed to be a transition camera until the used M10s become affordable to me. But the SL has been superior as it is all-situations suitable, focusing luxes is a breeze with the EVF and magnification. It is also slightly heavier than the M and very slightly less compact. 
i use the SL (no IBIS) only with M lenses (zeiss 21 f2.8 biogon ZM, Leica 50mm Cron APO, Canon 50mm f1.4 LTM) whenever i shoot for leisure, for street (my favourite).

However, for paid shoots (i am not a professional) but do occasional paid actual wedding day, paid solemnisations, and other events both paid and unpaid ones, i will pick the 24-90 which I bought used at a very good price. The 24-90 has OIS (my M lenses don’t), it has AF and zoom flexibilities for any changing situations. The 24-90 has a closer minimum focussing distance and is a pseudo macro. Hence a shallower DOF effect. 

For me, the 24-90 would be the only L mount lens I would own because I do not shoot that frequently and I don’t want to overspend on photography. i will keep the other lenses M mount for the compact set up and portability as I am not a pro.