Leica 24-70 vs 24-90

[SOLA]

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Is the 24-90 worth the switch?  I haven’t decided on a prime focal length and enjoy using a zoom, would buy used.  So many options - get 2 (or more) Zeiss//Voitlander/Sigma etc for $3k. Perhaps buy from KEH or others with a return policy and try something out. 

Edited August 25, 2023 by SOLA
Added info

[Jeff S]

 

 

 

 

Lots more, especially if considering Sigma and/or Panasonic options.

Jeff

[LeicaR10]

Sola,  First welcome to the forum.  You have most likely read the posts from a lot of well meaning photographers who offer sage advice to include myself.  Second, based on your question, you might consider a few things about switching to the superb SL 24-90 lens.  These include your genre of photography, do you need a fixed aperture or variable aperture, do you mind the weight.  I can write the SL 24-90 is a stellar lens, IMO its only two minor drawbacks are the weight and bulk of the lens.  It is a slightly soft at either end when used wide open, but this is overcome by shooting at f/5.6 or f/8 if doing say landscape photography.  As for the SL primes, IMO best in class, very highly resolving edge to edge, smaller, lighter than the zoom, yet, you may need a prime at different focal lengths.  The good news, you have choices.

Last, KEH currently has the SL 24-90s LN- or EX+ at really excellent prices, warranty and customer service along with SL zooms and primes.  I have no experience with third party L mount lenses and have no desire for such as the Leica SL lenses work best on SL cameras.  I hope this helps.   r/ Mark

[PDP]

There is a good video by Red Dot Forum in which the 24-70 was tested with results very very close to the famous 24-90. At 24mm the 24-70 tested even better.

In terms of rendering people say the 24-70 is closer to the M-lenses and less clinic. This why I have chosen it finally.

[Stonewall Brigade]

Sola, I had the 24-90 lens with my first SL, and then for my SL2 upgrade. The image quality was superb. However, that lens encouraged me to bail out of it and the SL system due to the incredible weight to carry it around. As I have aged, and with summer heat, it became too much of a burden. I sold the SL@ and the 24-90mm lens and swapped my trade-in value to the much smaller M11. Later, I decided to return back to the L-mount system by adding a new Lumix S5II, and also the Lumix S1R (essentially an SL2 in different clothing). However, this time I went with the newly introduced Leica SL 35mm and 50mm prime lenses, (which were not originally available whenI first entered the SL system), along with a very light Lumix S 20-60mm zoom. A much lighter package to carry around, and as far as I can tell, the same great image quality. Then I added a nice used SL2, again, as I wanted to give the SL2 another chance (with smaller lenses, this time). I also got the smaller, but still heavy Leica SL 24-70mm f/2 zoom (based off of the identical Sigma lens). And now I have added a smaller and even lighter Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 zoom (coming in the mail from MAP Camera in Tokyo) this Wednesday.  I want to have a travel lens for an upcoming Japan trip, and don't want to take a couple of my primes, or the still heavy Leica 24-70mm lens.  All that said, I can attest to the Leica 24-90m lens from an amazing image standard point, and the convenient zoom range. But, I will never again miss that weight.

[Luke_Miller]

The 24-90 is superb.  I bought it over the 24-70 for the extra reach.  Whether the 24-90 (and its big brother the 90-280) are too heavy depends, in my view, on what you are used to.  My other cameras are the big Nikon DSLRs and the f2.8 zooms.  Coming from them the SL and the big Leica zooms seem quite manageable.