24-90 ii

[jtp]

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Hi all,

Long time user and appreciator of the 24-90mm, which I currently pair with my SL2-S for professional work.

This lens has been around since 2016! Is it just me or is there a clear need for a new and updated version, ideally one that is significantly smaller/lighter – think Canon rf 24-105 in terms of ideal physical characteristics?

Cheers, J

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[PeterBoyadjian]

significantly smaller/lighter will probably not give you the same performance. 

Im sure they can come out with a 28-70 f4 thats tiny, but for small cheap and fun there is sigma. 

Ive been shooting my events with just a 35apo lately and loving it. 

 

 

[Stuart Richardson]

Based on many years in the Leica R/S/SL world, I wouldn't expect that you are going to get what you are looking for. Or, rather, you can get what you are looking for, but it will be from Sigma or Panasonic. Case in point would be the Leica 24-70mm, which is lighter and more compact while still being a good performer. But the 24-90mm, while big, offers a broader range and higher performance, which is why it is larger and why it costs more. 2016 is not really a long time in terms of lens formulas...most M lenses are older than that. Some a lot older. The 135mm tele-elmar is still razor sharp on 47mp nearly from wide open, and it is based on a design from 1929. The lens itself was made from 1965-98, only supplanted eventually by an APO version that is slightly better...mostly just a bit less fringing wide open and slightly more compact.

In any case, since the 24-90mm still performs very well, I do not see it being likely that they will update it, given there is so much demand on Leica's resources in other areas (especially in making M lenses, which are always under supplied and most likely more profitable). Leica is also past due to revamp the S system, and they say they plan on putting it out in 2024-2026, meaning they will also have to supply at least two or three lenses for that system in the meantime as well.

Leica's priority for the SL system has clearly been optical performance over light weight and compactness. Frankly, I am glad it is. Leica's version of light and compact are the M and Q lines. The SL has prioritized optical quality instead. The SL lenses are for the most part cheaper and better than the M lenses, albeit at the cost of size. They have been releasing Leica branded versions of Panasonic and Sigma lenses as an alternative for buyers who are looking for compact, lighter lenses at a lower price point. Panasonic likely designed the 24-90mm as well (they have a lot of patents on it), so it is not like there is anything that different in choosing one of these lenses. Just different trade-offs in cost/size/performance.

Edited December 10, 2023 by Stuart Richardson

[cj3209]

1 hour ago, Stuart Richardson said:

Based on many years in the Leica R/S/SL world, I wouldn't expect that you are going to get what you are looking for. Or, rather, you can get what you are looking for, but it will be from Sigma or Panasonic. Case in point would be the Leica 24-70mm, which is lighter and more compact while still being a good performer. But the 24-90mm, while big, offers a broader range and higher performance, which is why it is larger and why it costs more. 2016 is not really a long time in terms of lens formulas...most M lenses are older than that. Some a lot older. The 135mm tele-elmar is still razor sharp on 47mp nearly from wide open, and it is based on a design from 1929. The lens itself was made from 1965-98, only supplanted eventually by an APO version that is slightly better...mostly just a bit less fringing wide open and slightly more compact.

In any case, since the 24-90mm still performs very well, I do not see it being likely that they will update it, given there is so much demand on Leica's resources in other areas (especially in making M lenses, which are always under supplied and most likely more profitable). Leica is also past due to revamp the S system, and they say they plan on putting it out in 2024-2026, meaning they will also have to supply at least two or three lenses for that system in the meantime as well.

Leica's priority for the SL system has clearly been optical performance over light weight and compactness. Frankly, I am glad it is. Leica's version of light and compact are the M and Q lines. The SL has prioritized optical quality instead. The SL lenses are for the most part cheaper and better than the M lenses, albeit at the cost of size. They have been releasing Leica branded versions of Panasonic and Sigma lenses as an alternative for buyers who are looking for compact, lighter lenses at a lower price point. Panasonic likely designed the 24-90mm as well (they have a lot of patents on it), so it is not like there is anything that different in choosing one of these lenses. Just different trade-offs in cost/size/performance.

Totally agree with this.  The Leica 24-70 is the lighter 24-90. 

With the SL3 coming and we now have a 21mm APO, I don't see any new SL lens coming out anytime soon; Leica has covered the range:  21, 28, 35, 50, 75, 90 APOs, 50/1.4, and the zooms:  16-35, 24-70, 24-90, and 90-280.

What a time to shoot Leica!

[Slender]

The 24/90 is an incredible "money maker" for me shooting events and other freelance work.

True its heavy after 12 hours of work but oh-so much faster and convinient than to carry (and change lenses) 24-28-35-(43)-50-(60)-75-90 lenses. The hood makes it even more obnoxious I agree, and I would only take it for landscape/nature trips or video (never for people, candid). It blows every M lenses I have out of the water with ease. AF is fast, silent and will be even better with future cameras for AFC I suppose.

When I want smaller I simply put M lenses on here.

This lens is the main reason Steve McCurry switched to Leica cameras, and famously he has a harder time than most of us carrying/using his camera because of a badly treated injury when he was a kid.

Edited December 10, 2023 by Slender

[darylgo]

4 hours ago, jtp said:

Is it just me or is there a clear need for a new and updated version, ideally one that is significantly smaller/lighter

100%

As posted in #2-#5 it would be unlike Leica to do so.  Sony is improving image quality while reducing size and weight of their lenses, I would think that all manufacturers would want to do this, it happened previously with the Olympus OM-1.  Bodies were reduced in size, lenses also.  It could happen again but Leica prioritized image quality with the SL and has all but ignored portability.    

[hansvons]

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15 hours ago, jtp said:

Long time user and appreciator of the 24-90mm, which I currently pair with my SL2-S for professional work.

Done the same. And if I were to go back to photo journalism, I’d re-buy it without any further thinking. The 24-90 is the best standard zoom in the market. Only it’s a beast of a lens. If you want it lighter you probably don’t need the IQ, which also means perhaps a less expensive system would be more advisable, eg the Nikon Z6II, the Canon R6II, which are journalists‘ preferred choices today.
 

14 hours ago, Stuart Richardson said:

In any case, since the 24-90mm still performs very well, I do not see it being likely that they will update it, given there is so much demand on Leica's resources in other areas …

Agreed.

[Geoff C. Bassett]

I would love the same form factor, but make it slightly sharper at 90mm. 

Edited December 13, 2023 by Geoff C. Bassett

[Ivar B]

On 12/10/2023 at 7:23 PM, Stuart Richardson said:

Based on many years in the Leica R/S/SL world, I wouldn't expect that you are going to get what you are looking for. Or, rather, you can get what you are looking for, but it will be from Sigma or Panasonic. Case in point would be the Leica 24-70mm, which is lighter and more compact while still being a good performer. But the 24-90mm, while big, offers a broader range and higher performance, which is why it is larger and why it costs more. 2016 is not really a long time in terms of lens formulas...most M lenses are older than that. Some a lot older. The 135mm tele-elmar is still razor sharp on 47mp nearly from wide open, and it is based on a design from 1929. The lens itself was made from 1965-98, only supplanted eventually by an APO version that is slightly better...mostly just a bit less fringing wide open and slightly more compact.

In any case, since the 24-90mm still performs very well, I do not see it being likely that they will update it, given there is so much demand on Leica's resources in other areas (especially in making M lenses, which are always under supplied and most likely more profitable). Leica is also past due to revamp the S system, and they say they plan on putting it out in 2024-2026, meaning they will also have to supply at least two or three lenses for that system in the meantime as well.

Leica's priority for the SL system has clearly been optical performance over light weight and compactness. Frankly, I am glad it is. Leica's version of light and compact are the M and Q lines. The SL has prioritized optical quality instead. The SL lenses are for the most part cheaper and better than the M lenses, albeit at the cost of size. They have been releasing Leica branded versions of Panasonic and Sigma lenses as an alternative for buyers who are looking for compact, lighter lenses at a lower price point. Panasonic likely designed the 24-90mm as well (they have a lot of patents on it), so it is not like there is anything that different in choosing one of these lenses. Just different trade-offs in cost/size/performance.

Well said - I agree with everything you say. Just a question (since I don`t know) - where did you get the info that the 24-90 is a Panasonic design? I have read somewhere that the 90-280 is a Panasonic design, but not for 24-90.

[Stuart Richardson]

I am going from memory, so it seems like I confused the two lenses! I have no documentation. But I do know that Leica had many of the zoom lenses in the R system outsourced. My main point though was that lenses should be judged on their performance and build more than who designed them or produced them. 

[BernardC]

There's a Panasonic patent for the mechanical design of the 90-280, but not for the optical design.

Some people jump to the conclusion that it's a 100% Panasonic product, but some people always will. The lens is made in Germany, and we know that Leica sources a lot of mechanical bits from Panasonic (motors, OIS, etc.). That's not a bad thing, Panasonic lenses are some of the best-built in the industry.

Draw your own conclusions. Personally I don't care where someone's desk is located. As Stuart says, lens performance speaks for itself.

[Ivar B]

2 hours ago, BernardC said:

There's a Panasonic patent for the mechanical design of the 90-280, but not for the optical design.

Some people jump to the conclusion that it's a 100% Panasonic product, but some people always will. The lens is made in Germany, and we know that Leica sources a lot of mechanical bits from Panasonic (motors, OIS, etc.). That's not a bad thing, Panasonic lenses are some of the best-built in the industry.

Draw your own conclusions. Personally I don't care where someone's desk is located. As Stuart says, lens performance speaks for itself.

Of course. I own several of the Panasonic S Pro lenses, and they are excellent. 

[Ivar B]

2 hours ago, Stuart Richardson said:

I am going from memory, so it seems like I confused the two lenses! I have no documentation. But I do know that Leica had many of the zoom lenses in the R system outsourced. My main point though was that lenses should be judged on their performance and build more than who designed them or produced them. 

The first zoom lens for the R system the 2.8/45-90 was bought from Angenieux, and since then Leica has sourced lenses from Minolta, Sigma and others. The most recent R lenses I believe were the Zoom 4/35-70 and and 4/80-200, which were Leica designs but produced in Japan by Kyocera. All lenses for APS-C except 1.4/35 and 2.8/60 were produced in Japan. Today, we know that some L-mount lenses in all likelyhood are made by Sigma. Still superb products. 

[Planetwide]

The 24-90mm Is my most used Leica Lens. FYI the Panasonic 24-105mm F4 is very good as well, and much lighter.