Macro options for the SL2s: 90mm f/4 macro-elmar-m vs 100mm f/2.8 APO Macro Elmarit-R

[kengai]

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macro with the SL2-S: which lens do you recommend?

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[davidmknoble]

Honestly, one of my favorite macro lenses is the Leica R APO 100 f/2.8 with / without the macro lens attachment.  It is incredible.  I have also used the Leica M 90mm f/4 macro lens and I believe the SL 24-90 focuses very close.

[LeicaR10]

Kengai,   I second David's recommendations.  You have some great choices.  Plus others might chime in with the Sigma 100 Macro as well.  There are several SL and SL2 photograph threads with examples take with macro lenses.  r/ Mark 

[LocalHero1953]

And there's the Macro-Elmarit-R 60mm as well. I have the Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100 and ELPRO for negative copying at 1:1.

[hofo100]

Have a look at the Sigma 2,8/70mm - I use it on the SL2 and very pleased with the results - here is a link to posts I have made with that combo...

[drjonb]

2 minutes ago, hofo100 said:

Have a look at the Sigma 2,8/70mm - I use it on the SL2 and very pleased with the results - here is a link to posts I have made with that combo...

I second that, I have the Sigma 2.8/70mm; outstanding for macro on my SL2-S and, considering the price, amazing value.

[LeicaR10]

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Kengai,   I meant to include these links for you.  Take a look at these different Leica Macro lens photographs.  It might help you.  r/ Mark

Try:   https://onfotolife.com/lens_sample_photos?lens_id=396&page=1&focal_min=0&focal_max=800&aperture_min=0&aperture_max=32

Try:  https://onfotolife.com/lens_sample_photos?lens_id=391&page=1&focal_min=0&focal_max=800&aperture_min=0&aperture_max=32

[jibanes]

Hello,

I own a SL2s and a few M-lenses (that I use with the Leica M-mount to L adapter) I'm very pleased with the results.

I wanted to do some Macro work, fortunately I own a leica macro-elmar-m 90mm f/4 and a Leica-Macro-Adapter (made specifically for the macro-elmar-m 90mm f/4).

My interests would be to photograph old coins, flowers, small electronic equipment (closeups of PCBs, nixie tubes, etc.) and fruits/vegetables. The final result would be 8x10 prints, framed and displayed on a wall.

Results are relatively very good, there is really nothing to complain about and the elmar delivers quite well on the SL2s body. However, this setup is quite tedious to use and feels very unnatural due to the added ring of the Leica-Macro-adapter itself and the odd-shaped macro-elmar-m lens extension tube, which slightly shows its age.

I am wondering if a 100mm f/2.8 APO Macro Elmarit-R coupled with a R-mount to L adapter would deliver comparable results, in theory, without the ELPRO it should deliver the same 1:2 ratio, but would it lead to be a better setup in the end of the benefits would be relatively marginal? (besides being a F2.8 naturally)

I am aware of the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art Lens, I have never tried one but I am certain it's equally a stellar lens, I was told it is a bit difficult to focus manually, but I have never tried it myself.

Any input welcomed, thanks for reading.

Edited April 23, 2023 by jibanes

[ImmerDraussen]

Hi Jibanes,

the Apo macro 100 mm is of the best lenses ever made, so picture quality will be no issue. You have still have to stop down manually. This would disturb me.

An alternative could the 120 mm macro from the „S“ line. Picture quality is stellar and you have all automatic functions of the SL2-S. 
 

Andreas

[hansvons]

I own the 60mm Elmarit R Macro, a 1:2 macro. At f 5,6, it delivers corner-to-corner sharp images at 1:2. It's not super crispy sharp but Leica-sharp in its best sense - for a 50-year-old lens. The best thing about the 60mm Elmarit R is its versatility. It renders interesting images at normal distances and infinity showing a character I'd describe as decidedly unexcited but 100% Leica-esk. It is somewhat of a sleeper as you can get it in pristine condition for 500 euros/dollars and below. It's one of those lenses you won't part with, even if you use it rarely and need a clean shelf. 

Because the 60mm Elmarit can only magnify to 1:2 and macro rings cause soft corners - and I need sharp corners for scanning 35mm film - I bought a modern-day macro lens. At 500 euros, the Sigma 70mm f 2,8 macro is a bargain. Yes, it's AF, its housing is made of composite materials, and it's not a lens to drool over or pass on to your grandchildren. Still, at f 8, it renders amazingly sharp images at 1:1. I fell instantly in love with it because it's very, very good at what it's meant to do. I also took regular images with it, such as landscapes and portraits, and while it does that nicely, it's not in the ballpark of the 60mm Elmarit R. It's a modern lens with that clinical perfection I don't want. It's from element protrudes considerably in macro mode. That's a thing to be considered. The large hood protects the moving front part, which, conversely, can blanket the fill light on the subject. And as it's 70mm and not 100mm, you must move your camera closer to your subject. But the wider field of view allows for more context. 

Edited April 23, 2023 by hansvons

[Ivar B]

Don`t rule out the Sigma Art 105mm DG DN Macro. Optically it is really first class and rivals the Leica APO 100mm. In addition, you get autofocus and save trainloads of money. 

Edited April 23, 2023 by Ivar B

[drjonb]

9 minutes ago, Ivar B said:

Don`t rule out the Sigma Art 105mm DG DN Macro. Optically it is really first class and rivals the Leica APO 100mm. In addition, you get autofocus and save trainloads of money. 

Here is a very compressed example using the Sigma 70mm f2.8 macro lens, and the sharpness and colour rendering are difficult to beat in my view.  And, yes, a fraction of the price of some of the usual lens options discussed.  The VE 24-90 also is superb for macro but obviously an expensive alternative.

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Edited April 23, 2023 by drjonb

[drjonb]

This was done with the VE 24-90 on a table top tripod.  It was a test to combine around ten images in PS to get more depth of field by layering shots at different focal points from front to back.  But it does demonstrate the macro capability of this lens.

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[Ivar B]

3 hours ago, drjonb said:

Here is a very compressed example using the Sigma 70mm f2.8 macro lens, and the sharpness and colour rendering are difficult to beat in my view.  And, yes, a fraction of the price of some of the usual lens options discussed.  The VE 24-90 also is superb for macro but obviously an expensive alternative.

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I agree completely. I have both lenses and have used 70mm the most since I bought it earlier. I am very impressed by what Sigma delivers. Superb lenses and reasonable cost.

[Stuart Richardson]

I have had the 100mm APO R lens, still have the 120mm S APO Macro. They are stunning lenses. Nevertheless, I currently use the 105mm Sigma macro. As far as I can see, it is every bit as good as the 120mm in terms of sharpness. It has very pleasing bokeh too. The Leica may look slightly more pleasing, but that is probably confirmation bias. The Sigma is one of the best lenses I have used, and I would not hesitate to recommend it at all. I have not had any great troubles manually focusing it either. You can also choose spot AF and in my experience that works perfectly well. 

[jibanes]

Thank you! Extremely helpful posts! I'm going to look further into the Sigma 105mm, do we know when Leica is coming up with their rebranded Sigma 105mm?

[ellisson]

A recent image with the Leica 60mm elmarit-R macro, on film (BW400CN) with the Leica R6.2 camera.  

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Edited April 23, 2023 by ellisson
typo

[jibanes]

So essentially there are a few options assuming a SL body (L-mount):

* 90mm f/4 macro-elmar-M w/adapter

* 100mm f/2.8 APO Macro Elmarit-R w/adapter

* Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro

* Sigma 70mm f2.8 DG Macro

* Leica APO-Macro-Summarit-S 120mm f/2.5 w/adapter

In terms of Macro, I only own the 90mm f/4 macro-elmar-M which is "okay" but I wouldn't call it an incredible lens; and it's a bit difficult to use (IMHO); in terms of IQ and usability, could somebody help me rank these 5 lenses (I don't have the pretension to know how to interpret MTF curves)? Additionally it would be interesting to also figure out which has best characteristics for non-macro work, assuming you don't want to carry too many lenses with you.

Edited April 23, 2023 by jibanes

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[Stuart Richardson]

In my experience for optical performance only, I would rank the 120mm APO Macro S at the top, essentially followed in a tie with the 105mm Sigma APO DG DN. I owned the 100mm R lens and loved it, but I think, while still extraordinary, it does not have quite the sharpness of these two. But it does have lovely bokeh and great handling. I have not used the 70mm or 90mm. In terms of what lens works best on an SL, I think objectively it is pretty clearly the Sigma. It has a native mount, native autofocus, lighter weight and smaller size than the 120mm and it focuses to 1 to 1 instead of to 1 to 2 like the Leica lenses. I cannot really help you as much with the bokeh (though what I have seen was nice), as I have primarily used it for landscape and macro work, but I can say that it is very very sharp across the whole frame at 47mp on the SL2 at distance even at f4. I have not noticed any fringing or longitudinal chromatic aberrations. I am honestly surprised that it (so far) has not been one of the Sigma lenses that Leica has chosen to rebrand. Optically it is, as far as I can tell, beyond reproach. When combined with the native lens mount, auto stop down, 1 to 1 focusing and low price, I find it hard to recommend anything else...at least if you are interested in the best optical performance. If you are not interested as much in that, I would say get a 90mm Summicron, as it will probably have even nicer bokeh for portraits.

Edited April 23, 2023 by Stuart Richardson

[LocalHero1953]

Without disagreeing at all with Stuart's recommendations, if you are considering negative or print copying, you will want a lens with a flat focus field. I don't know how the different lenses on the list perform, except the Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm, which I own and is fine. For nature and irregular objects it is less critical.