APO-Vario-Elmarit 90-280mm or APO-Summicron-SL 90mm

[Danila]

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Hi!

I have an APO-Summicron-SL 50mm lens, it transmits stunning colors (SL2S camera), and now I choose a second lens with a longer focal length, the choice is between 90-280mm f/2.8-4 APO-Vario-Elmarit-SL Lens and APO-Summicron-SL 90mm f/2 ASPH Lens. I'm not a professional, I don't shoot in Log or Raw, I shoot videos for myself as a hobby. I'm interested to know if the color and image transmission of the lenses above will differ? If I take the first lens and shoot the object at 90mm, take the second lens and shoot the same object at 90mm, will the picture differ in color? That's all I want to know, thank you! If you can tell me something more than this, I will be glad to listen to you!

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[Simone_DF]

The 90mm APO will match your 50mm. 

[Stuart Richardson]

I have not tried both as I do not have the 90mm apo, but I have not noticed any variation in color between my 35 or 50mm apo lenses in comparison to the 90-280. Leica is usually quite consistent about this, particularly in their S and SL lenses.

What do you envision doing that you would need both the 90mm apo summicron and 90-280mm at the same time of the same subject?

[robb]

Same color from both.  At portrait distances in particular, the apo SL 90 summicron is sharper.  

But I’d select the zoom to go with your 50 apo to give you much more flexibility.

can’t go wrong with either.  

The 90 apo summicron is a reference lens in the system with color and clarity and sharpness.  

Robb

[wjdrijfhout]

I own both lenses and have never noticed a difference in color, but never tested in the way you described. What I would say is that the lenses are very different in use, as you probably well realise. The 90-280 is a massive lens, much bigger than your typical 70-200. It's just not fun carry that lens around if it's not for a specific use-case where the longer end of the reach is needed. Ever since I got my 90 summicron, my 90-280 has seen much less attention. The summicrons are just perfect lenses for the SL2(S). 

[John Smith]

30 minutes ago, wjdrijfhout said:

I own both lenses and have never noticed a difference in color, but never tested in the way you described. What I would say is that the lenses are very different in use, as you probably well realise. The 90-280 is a massive lens, much bigger than your typical 70-200. It's just not fun carry that lens around if it's not for a specific use-case where the longer end of the reach is needed. Ever since I got my 90 summicron, my 90-280 has seen much less attention. The summicrons are just perfect lenses for the SL2(S). 

I own both lenses. Yes, unless you plan to use 100m+ most of the time, I'd say choose the 90mm. I only use the 90-280m for particular uses. The 50mm and 90mm are my favorite combination.

[algrove]

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Got the 100-400 for long needs and use the SL APO 28/35/50/90 as needed. Perfect primes for my use.

Edited August 30, 2023 by algrove

[LocalHero1953]

I have both and don't notice a difference in colour, look etc. Both are superb, though I can believe @robb that the 90 prime would beat the 90 end of the 90-280 for sharpness. But both are very sharp! I don't have an overlap in use cases: I use the Apo 90SL for portraits and the 90-280SL for long distance theatre/music shots (sometimes I prefer the long perspective over being on stage with a shorter lens). 

[algrove]

Many users of the 90-280 and APO 90 SL say the prime is better. At LocalHero1953, have you tried to compare these 2 lenses at the same FL with your SL camera? Would be interesting to hear from you. Thanks.

[LocalHero1953]

4 hours ago, algrove said:

Many users of the 90-280 and APO 90 SL say the prime is better. At LocalHero1953, have you tried to compare these 2 lenses at the same FL with your SL camera? Would be interesting to hear from you. Thanks.

Sorry, no - I'm not really a tester - I go on impressions in use.

[Stuart Richardson]

I have the 90-280mm and a 90mm APO Summicron M, which by most accounts is not as sharp (at least at close range) as the 90mm APO Summicron SL. In my experience the M lens is sharper than the 90-280mm even at f 5.6 in my test. That said, I tested shortly after I got the 90-280mm and I do not recall if I used the e shutter. I probably did, but it was more than a year ago, so I cannot recall. What I can say, however, is that both lenses take very sharp images and the 90mm APO Summicron M is much more pleasant to carry along, while the 90-280mm takes much better pictures from 100-280mm, and has much better autofocusing ability.

The 90-280mm is a very very good lens, but one which definitely benefits from a tripod, e shutter and stabilization turned off. If you truly lock it down and keep the vibration away, it rewards you with a bit extra image quality. When used handheld with the stabilization and mechanical shutter, it is still usually very good, but is more likely to have slight blurring, either from the handholding or shutter shock. The difference is probably not all that noticeable unless you go looking for it, or are interested in making huge prints. Another note is that the P function in the SL2 seems to really gravitate towards keeping the aperture fairly wide open, presumably to keep the shutter speeds as high as possible. This is great for handheld work, but unlike the APO Summicrons, the 90-280 does noticeably benefit from being used at f5.6 or f8 instead of 2.8-4. Overall, because of its size and weight and these attributes, the 90-280mm is a more demanding lens to get the best out of. If you are primarily concerned with 90mm, the 90mm APO Summicron SL will be a sharper, easier to use lens with the added bonus of being quite a bit lighter, much smaller, as well as a stop faster.

Edited August 31, 2023 by Stuart Richardson