Lens sharpness tests on SL-3

[John Hartman]

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I made a series of tests on four different Leica L-mount lenses: 24-70, 24-90, 75 APO and 90-280. All the zooms were shot at their longest focal length at f/5.6 except for the 90-280, which was shot at 90mm. These images are screen captures from Lightroom at 200%.

The best way to compare the images is to download and view them at 100% in Photoshop. I also tested each of these lenses in full stops from f/4 to f/16, and at four different focal lengths on the zooms.The 75 APO was hands down the winner, no surprise there. The 24-70 at 70mm and 90-280 at 90mm were very close. I was surprised to see how poorly the 24-90 fared against the others (and at all focal lengths). And it's not just this lens, as I tested it against another copy with very similar results.

Interestingly, I tested the 75 APO with the Lumix 24-105 and the Lumix 70-200/2.8 both at 75mm and all at f/8 there was no difference in any of the three at 200% magnification.

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Edited March 5 by John Hartman

[Filip Baraka]

Interesting. To me, results you got from 24-90 seems odd. It's not that I question your results, I have never run tests like this but real life photos from my 24-90 are plenty sharp, here they are lacking contrast and sharpens so complete opposite

[LD_50]

Interesting test. Thanks for doing it. 

I have always felt my 90-280 was much better at 90 than my 24-90. The result here for the 24-90 looks pretty bad and I’ve not seen such poor performance from mine. It almost looks bad enough to be out of focus. 

[Filip Baraka]

25 minutes ago, LD_50 said:

The result here for the 24-90 looks pretty bad and I’ve not seen such poor performance from mine. It almost looks bad enough to be out of focus. 

My feeling exactly…

[LeicaR10]

John Hartman,  Thank you for sharing your test results.  I found the SL 90-280 to be excellent for resolution.  I went through 2 copies of the SL 24-90 before I got one that was acceptable for resolution albeit I don't use that lens anymore.  My fellow SL photographers that I know here in Australia, found the same thing.  For whatever reason, there are good copies of the the SL 24-90 and some that appear out of calibration spec.  I can't write about the SL 24-70 as I never had one.  The SL primes, are in a class unto themselves for resolution.  The folks at Red Dot Forum have done similar comparison tests, i.e. Josh Lehrer with their videos and will also reinforce your findings.  r/ Mark

[Dsauro]

Agree 100% LeicaR10 re the SL primes.  They are in a class of their own.  There is a lot of file malleability using the primes.  The 90-280 is my only Leica zoom, and I find it stellar.   Go to the gym and work on your quads before hiking up a mountain 😀 However, there can be a bit of softness in the corners but not a game breaker.  The results compared to the newer lenses (70-200, etc) are still inferior to the 90-280.

[Kostia]

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I use the SL 24-90. It is so sharp, in my opinion and in my eyes, that I feel it is sometimes... too sharp. (I prefer to use M lenses with adapter = looks more like Leica photos.)

So, I don't understand the results you show. But, congratulations for having do that.

[carlosgavina]

I find those results odd as well, I dont have the 24-90 now, but looking at my photos with it it was pretty sharp @ 90mm stopped down.

My only complaint on that lens was at 24mm, where I found it was a bit softer in the corners/sides.

[helged]

On 3/7/2025 at 4:40 PM, carlosgavina said:

I find those results odd as well, I dont have the 24-90 now, but looking at my photos with it it was pretty sharp @ 90mm stopped down.

My only complaint on that lens was at 24mm, where I found it was a bit softer in the corners/sides.

Interesting. The 24-90 I have is, at the wide end, the sharpest lens - and the lens showing least (nil) - aberrations in the corners, focussed at infinity. Perfect for astro, as long as 24mm is sufficiently wide. 

[Richardgb]

On 3/5/2025 at 8:57 PM, John Hartman said:

I made a series of tests on four different Leica L-mount lenses: 24-70, 24-90, 75 APO and 90-280. All the zooms were shot at their longest focal length at f/5.6 except for the 90-280, which was shot at 90mm. These images are screen captures from Lightroom at 200%.

The best way to compare the images is to download and view them at 100% in Photoshop. I also tested each of these lenses in full stops from f/4 to f/16, and at four different focal lengths on the zooms.The 75 APO was hands down the winner, no surprise there. The 24-70 at 70mm and 90-280 at 90mm were very close. I was surprised to see how poorly the 24-90 fared against the others (and at all focal lengths). And it's not just this lens, as I tested it against another copy with very similar results.

Interestingly, I tested the 75 APO with the Lumix 24-105 and the Lumix 70-200/2.8 both at 75mm and all at f/8 there was no difference in any of the three at 200% magnification.

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I can only comment on the Lumix 24-105, which I used for several eyas as my 'go to' lens. While it is (as Jono Slack reported in his review) 'usable at all focal lengths and apertures, it definitely has a sweet spot in the mid-range focal lengths*, so no surprise that you found it good at 75mm, especially when stopped down.

*I expect most zooms show their best in such circumstances, too, regardless of their overall focal length coverage.