Summilux-M 28mm or Apo-Summicron 28mm on a SL2-S

[StefanC]

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Dear Leica-Community,

I can't decide which lens I should take for my SL2-2 as my standard lens. Is the Apo so large that you hardly take it with you on trips?

At the moment the Summilux is my favorite, because it is smaller and f/1.4. Having no autofocus is not such a huge issue for me!

Any suggestion, which one to choose?

Thanks a lot!

Stefan

[BernardC]

It sounds like you've made your decision already. You have a 28 that you enjoy using. Stick with it. 

[StefanC]

To be honest, I don't have it yet! Just thinking. Perhaps there is someone who has asked himself the same question?

[LeicaR10]

Sc-Fotoblog.com,   You wrote that a decision has not been made on which lens to purchase.  I suggest you do a pro and con list and start by asking yourself, what is the intended use of each lens, i.e., landscapes, environemental portraits, street photography and so on.  Then ask, how important is having manual vs AF for the lens.  Followed by do you need weather sealing, ask yourself, how do you want your photographs to render, how much pain does your bank account wish to suffer?   There are other pros and cons, but this is a start. Plus, there is also the question between; Wanting and Needing.  Do you want the lens or do you NEED the lens. There is a difference.  Last and important, asking other people what you should buy often isn't the best route to go.  Your experience, judgement are most important and at the end of the day, the decision is always your choice alone.  r/ Mark

PS  I might add one tip with 40+ years of experience behind it.  I suggest you remember it is not about the camera or lens, it should always be about the content of your photograph and what will help you capture your vision to create a photograph that will cause the viewer to; Stop, Look, Think and perhaps Feel something about that moment in time...this IMO is the difference between a mere photo and that of a masterpiece photograph.  The good news for you...You have choices.

[StefanC]

Thanks a lot for your answers! 

Kind refards, Stefan

[mokona]

and what about Q2/Q3?

Do you already own a Leica APO lens: since they all have the same dimensions.

[jplomley]

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I just purchased the 21 SUPER-APO and am absolutely floored by the performance. Best wide angle I have ever owned, hands down (no regrets selling my 16-35 SVE). I also have the 35 APO and 75 APO SL lenses and therefore tempered my expectations given the bar set by these two optics. I am now eyeing the 28 APO......the addiction to this glass is very real!

[tom0511]

I own both, have used the 28/1.4 for quite some time and bought a used 28/2.0 APO SL recently.

I prefer the APO SL - I think it offers clearly better IQ (the 28/1.4 can show some CA), it has AF, is weather sealed, and great corner to corner performance. The 28 APO SL might be my fav lens at the moment.

So my recommendation is 28 APO SL, or if you want a M lens 28 Summicron.

I would only choose the M lens if you want to use it on M body and SL body.

 

[tom0511]

AH, and the size and weight: I find it totally ok. Quit compact, not the lightest, but balances very nice on the SL bodies.

[Malabito]

Look at the Panasonic 24mm f1.8, or if you want smaller the sigma 24mm f3.5, both are great lenses and focus quite fast.

The sigma has a great feeling and is small, looks like an m lens. 

I have the 28mm summicron v1 and rarely use it on the sl,  i am not so convinced about the image quality, on the m10/11 it shines. I also have the 35mm sl apo and rarely take it out for a walk due to the size. 

For my al2s i actually prefer using my 24mm pana or the 28mm summaron for fun.

[jmannix]

OP go to a Leica store and shoot both.

The biggest difference between M and L on this and every other forum is rarely discussed.

Size and weight  is a big consideration. As is how you shoot and need or not for AF / close focus etc. I find people judge quality/performance etc all wrong.

Having shot both systems and lenses there is a big difference also in what really matters when it comes to quality/performance....

the images and beauty which is always in the eye of the beholder

Performance/Quality in lenses is purely subjective. You might find the 28 APO SL too clinical or fall in love with its precision and cleanliness. You may find the 28 lux rendering somehow more to your taste in terms of the falloff at 1.4. Performance/Quality seems to have become synonymous with mtf charts, sharpness and a lack of CA but that doesn't always matter to everyone and may not to you. 
 

I've shot a bunch with the 35 APO SL and thoroughly enjoyed the ability to pixel peep the amazing detail rendering at 200%. However, I love the images more from a 35 summilux FLE shot on an M11. There's a character or tonality to the image that appeals to me as more painterly, more beautiful. Don't get me wrong I'm not in the camp that claims the SL as soulless and lacking in Leica look. I will say to my eyes it's a different look and I prefer the M lenses and I prefer the M lenses on the M11.

My advice again... shoot a few images yourself with both and make the decision your eyes tell you to make.

[StefanC]

Thank you so much for all the infos! I decided to go for the Summilux-M 28mm because I preferred the character, size and the manual experience on the SL2-S vs. the (for sure) perfect APO SL lens.

Didn't shoot much so far, but love the rendering of the Summilux-M 28mm. Here a sample pic at f/1.4 (obviously nothing special), but I will upload some more pics later.

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Edited April 17, 2024 by Sc-Fotoblog.com