IQ of apo-summicron-sl 90mm vs 90mm on Vario-Elm. 90-280mm

[chrisinsf]

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I've been shooting a lot with the 90-280 the last few months since I've purchased it, and have fallen in love (of course) with the IQ.  I've been taking many (maybe most) of the pics at 90mm and really like the look at the focal length.  Anyone with experience with both the 90-summicron-sl  and the 90-280 tell me how they compare IQ wise?  Enable me some more to purchase the 90mm-Summicron

Some of the main reasons wanting to switch to the 90-summicron was that I was "wowed" when I finally got the 35mm-summicron as opposed to the vario-elm. And...would like something, smaller, less noticeable when walking around the city etc...

 

any shared thoughts on their 90mm summo vs. 90-280mm would be greatly appreciated...

Thanks

Edited March 30, 2022 by chrisinsf

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[Photoworks]

90 SL is better then 90-280 at 90mm , nothing else to say!

I like the 75mm too

[Jeff S]

Well, 90 on the 90-280 is better than 90 on the 24-90. A prime will potentially be better still, and of course far better ease of handling, albeit without OIS.  Priorities, user skill and output goals. I make these decisions by demo and print making.  I recently sold my SL 75, despite better technically than my 24-90, but just not getting used enough.  And now my overall kit is smaller by one lens.  

Jeff

[Anakronox]

I tested both options recently at my local Leica shop and it didn’t take me long to go for the 90 APO Summicron.  

[Gavin Cato]

I have both. Yeah, the 90 f2 is better but we aren't talking huge differences. It's more a depth of field difference, rather than a outright image quality difference.

Don't get me wrong, zoom in and the 90 f2 will be better - but this doesn't mean the 90-280 is bad by any stretch.

Really, get the 90 f2 if you want relatively small and lightweight, and you want f/2. I use both for different purposes. If I could only pick one I'd keep the 90 f2, but I absolutely adore the 90-280. In the right scene it's absolutely killer.

 

[LocalHero1953]

I have both. Your photographic requirements would have to be pretty special for the IQ difference to make a significant difference to your output (and it may be, for all I know). If I wanted to shoot at 90, though, I would pick the Summicron every time for the obvious reasons of size, weight and slightly wider maximum aperture.

I take the 90-280 when I'm doing theatre, music and events, when I don't know what focal length I need, I'm standing back out of the action and want to catch, say, the percussionist at the back as well as the first violinist. I take the Summicron when I am doing portraits. I will also take it to play rehearsals when I am already familiar with the action, and want to get in among them and isolate faces from the crowd.

Edit. I must add that every time I lift the 90-280 to my eye I am gobsmacked by the view through the finder - the brightness, life and immediacy (none of them technical terms!) just hit me in the face. 

Edited April 1, 2022 by LocalHero1953

[robb]

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I think all 3 90’s in the SL lineup are great.  
I opted to go 75 summicron instead of 90 because I already had the 24-90 and 90-280 and an M 90 apo summicron.

i would not feel bad shooting the 24-90 (at 90) all day long especially portraits.

but the other 2 90’s are sharper and sharpest with cron.

can’t make a bad decision.  I pick the lens to use based on lighter weight needs or not, video of not, and how dark it is, or not.  Rest of characteristics are pretty similar.  All smooth.

Robb

[caissa]

The 90 is the classical Leica portrait lens. So it is excellent. But the 90-xxx offers additional options for portrait. E.g. I like to use 100 or 120 or 135 or even longer for portrait. So it is much more flexible (the aperture makes no big difference).

Regarding IQ I cannot find a difference, which is not really surprising as both are Apo.

Yes, it depends if you can stand the additional weight.

(I use the 75 more often than the 90.)