Macro Lens: Leica or LUMIX?

[PhotoCruiser]

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vor 1 Stunde schrieb buj:

.. do you use the SL2 for underwater photography? 

what housing do you use for the Leica SL2???

Sorry for the misunderstanding, i used many cameras for under water photography but not my Leicas.
Over the years i owned many different Canon G series, Panasonic Lumix LX100 with Leica Lens, Nokon D90, D7000 and latest Nikon D800
Many different housings, some cheap plastic housings for every day use when i was working and expensive housings for serious use, Ikelite, Nauticam, Hugyfot and Patima.

There are several underwater housings for Leica cameras
Seacam
Aquatech
Subal (site is actually down)

I wrote it in another tread, i don't see a real reason to take a Leica under water as many cameras do better for that use and are considerable cheaper. Second problem can be that it may be difficult to find a WA dome for a Leica lens and a "generic" need to be used what usually lead to soft to very soft corners. The choice for ports and domes for Canon and Nikon and their lenses is just much broader than for Leica, however i never tested that with Leica's.

If you wan't to go into underwater photography then prepare for a hefty bill as there is to consider much more than only the housing and to the final amount a beginner has to add

• 1 dome port for WA
• 1 port for macro
• 1 tray with grips to hold the whole rig 
• 4 strobe arms with floats 
• 1 TTL converter if needed
• 2 strobes with electrical TTL cables, optical eTTL by INON strobes work in 90% just fine

A used quality housing can be found for a reasonable price, but most likely not for a Leica.

Chris

Edited February 1 by PhotoCruiser

[PhotoCruiser]

vor 4 Stunden schrieb caf:

I have the Lumix 100 macro and it's outstanding. Really like how compact it is, had other macro lenses in the past and the Lumix is a joy to use with how compact and easy to carry it is.

The Panasonic 100mm Macro is a nice macro lens as well, and definitively much smaller and lighter than the Sigma.
Not sure about optical quality and i guess the Panasonic is not really far behind, if so, but i have choose the Sigma to have the same brand and ART series and i believe that the Sigma is a tad superior.

vor 7 Stunden schrieb Crem:

Probably easier to just get a Easy35. My Sigma 70 requires very short distance from the Easy35. The Sigma 105 requires a lot more. 

Yes! I guess that a shorter focusing distance would be better for film scanning, generally spoken, shorter distance is always better as less air/water with "dirt" is between lens and subject as long subject can be illuminated with the flashes available (this was a problem when i did the tests with my Q2 and the Elpro 52)
As i wrote focal distance is under water a much bigger problem as it will create more backscatter as water is never clean as usual air, but for some animals it's better to have a longer distance. For still life macro, flowers or film scanning i would go with a 60mm or less.

Chris

[tpf1952]

Yet another vote for the Sigma. I’m a commercial photographer and use the Sigma 105 with an SL2s for headshots. The Sigma is sharp, neutral and utterly reliable in AFS. 

[dkCambridgeshire]

22 hours ago, Think Differently said:

Good morning

I have been considering purchasing a lens for occasional macro photography (small objects in museums and the occasional flora and fauna shot) using an SL3. 

I have read a number of helpful threads (including reviewing some lovely pictures) in these forums where people speak highly about "older" Leica lenses and Sigma's offering.  I have also seen the Red Dot forum video on the subject from 28 Feb 2021.

I appreciate I am not comparing like with like, but think I have narrowed it down to the following two options.  However this is based on little more than size/weight (because of the fact it will not get a huge amount of use but can still easily be carried), autofocus and not having to use any adapters.

• Leica APO-Macro-Elmarit-TL 60mm f/2.8 ASPH ("the Leica")
• LUMIX S 100mm F2.8 MACRO L-Mount Lens (S-E100E) ("the LUMIX")

Although the Leica will put the SL3 into APS-C mode, I do not think that is too much of an issue for looking at photographs on a computer and indeed is it correct the reduced pixel count may help if I am trying to take photographs in a museum of something that is dimly lit (without flash)?  Likewise I think the lack of weather sealing on the Leica is unlikely to be a problem for me.  

However will the Leica take noticeably better photographs than the LUMIX (or vice versa), particularly if I am trying to photograph something through glass in a museum?  The Leica is roughly double the cost of the LUMIX when purchased new.  The detail of the watch hands on the Red Dot video using the Leica seemed incredible to my eyes, but equally I doubt many of my shots will be using a tripod.

Any comments much appreciated.

Which lens(es) are you currently using with the SL3? 

BW, dunk

[PhotoCruiser]

I stumbled over this review by CameraLabs and it states:

Zitat

The Lumix S 100 delivers its maximum magnification from a distance of 20.4cm, versus around 30cm on the Sigma lens. Both allow you to be positioned far enough from the subject to avoid casting shadows, and once you’ve taken the lens barrel into consideration, you’re looking at a gap of around 11cm from the tip of the Lumix lens to the subject for 1:1 reproduction.

For many, the shorter focal distance comes handy, but 11 cm/4.3 inch can be a bit tight to illuminate well.

Chris

[Think Differently]

Quote

Which lens(es) are you currently using with the SL3? 

The 24-90.

Edited February 2 by Think Differently

[Elliot Harper]

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On 1/31/2025 at 8:59 PM, Crem said:

Currently I only scan 35mm using a Valoi Easy35. By far the easiest/fastest solution I've used and I've tried a few solutions. Previously I used a copy stand + the "Essential Film Holder". I still think the EFH holders them slightly flatter, but overall the Easy35 is so convenient I can't imagine using anything else. If/when I have to scan medium format I'll go back the EFH or get a flat bed. I don't know anything about the ES2 so I can't help you on that.

One thing I can tell you is the Easy35 comes with a bunch of tubes for pushing the film holder farther away from the lens. You use various sized tubes (like giant filter rings) depending on your lens. My guess is you could do something similar with the ES2, but I don't know where you would source the tubes. Probably easier to just get a Easy35. My Sigma 70 requires very short distance from the Easy35. The Sigma 105 requires a lot more. 

Thanks for the info. I measured ES2, fully extended with 2 tubes only goes to 8-9 cm. This is even not enough for sigma 70mm, let alone 105mm. I probably need to get Valio Easy35. But their price is just ridiculous.