Slightly wide angle walkabout prime for L mount

[colonel]

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Hi all

Having some difficult deciding on a 28/35 walkabout prime lens. Prefer on the lighter side but will compromise.

Sigma 35mm f2 DG DN: I loved the handling and sharpness of this lens at 2.8 and above, but felt the f2 was a bit veiled.

Panasonic 35mm f1.8: looks nice but MTA curve is worse then Sigma 35mm f2, so might be disappointed. 

Sigma 35mm f1.4 DG DN: A bit heavier but is not great at f1.4. So you are carrying weight to use at f2 and above where it is critically sharp and micro-contrasty.

Leica 35mm f2: A lens with a reputation for nice rendering. However for thr price, MTA is no better then Sigma.

Leica 35mm f2 APO: my grail, but over my budget at the moment.

Sigma 24mm f2 DG DN: i would prefer 28 or 35, but this is the only lens that hits all the criteria for sharpness from wide open, build and cost. I might need to consider this route.

Nothing in the 28mm world as far as I can see.

Please feel free to correct me, and suggest alternatives. I feel the L platform is superb for primes equal and above 50 and equal and below 24, but not great in between.

What do you guys think ?

Edited April 3 by colonel

[hoolyproductions]

If you are looking at 24mm lenses you could also consider the Sigma 3.5. It is highly regarded and very light/compact. I use mine when I don’t want to take a heavy zoom and use it like a 24-35mm zoom for casual landscape/cityscape.

Otherwise I don’t think you missed any options (28 apo of course, but sounds like you are more interested in the 35 apo).

I also have the 35mm SL asph and am very happy with it.

[jaapv]

I have no complaints about the Panasonic 35/1.8. It is not for nothing that Leica cloned it for their Summicron  35 SL (cutting off the aperture at 2.0 to prevent remarks about the MTF curves). In reality it is a lens I can recommend, the corners @ 1.8 are still good for real photographs and the rendering is Leica-worthy. 

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Here you can see the reason behind the MTF curves: the lens has coma in the corners. I would suggest that it has no impact on the vast majority of real-life photographs. 

 

 

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/418655-lumix-18-35-s-open-for-sl-summicron-35-too/#comment-5776267

[colonel]

1 hour ago, jaapv said:

I have no complaints about the Panasonic 35/1.8. It is not for nothing that Leica cloned it for their Summicron  35 SL (cutting off the aperture at 2.0 to prevent remarks about the MTF curves). In reality it is a lens I can recommend, the corners @ 1.8 are still good for real photographs and the rendering is Leica-worthy. 

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Here you can see the reason behind the MTF curves: the lens has coma in the corners. I would suggest that it has no impact on the vast majority of real-life photographs. 

 

 

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/418655-lumix-18-35-s-open-for-sl-summicron-35-too/#comment-5776267

I'll try one out, sounds interesting 

[JoshuaR]

I'm in the same boat. I haven't tried the Lumix 35 f/1.8, but I own the 50 f/1.8 and find it to be fine but not too interesting. 

The Leica 35 APO is amazing, but very very expensive. I feel okay spending that kind of money on an M-mount lens that will last for decades, but not on an autofocus lens.

The Sigma 35/2 is small and super sharp, but it's still not tiny and the images have a squeaky-clean look that I don't love.

24mm is too wide for my everyday lens.

Honestly, the lack of small weather-sealed native primes at 28mm and 35mm in L-mount drives me crazy. It's enough to have me considering a Nikon Zf or Z6 III (so that I can use the small 26, 28, and 40mm primes), or even a Fuji APS-C camera, so that I can use the excellent 18 and 33 f/1.4 lenses. 

[PhotoCruiser]

vor 19 Stunden schrieb colonel:

Nothing in the 28mm world as far as I can see.

I have the Sigma 28mm F1,4 DG HSM | Art as my everyday lens on my SL2 and like it.
However it's a bigger and bulky lens
Chris

[wattsy]

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I really like my old (2011) 35mm Summilux-M ASPH as a general lens. I had hardly used it for years and was thinking of selling it but it has had a new lease of life on my SL2-S. It balances really nicely on the body and the results are excellent for the kind of casual landscape stuff I keep it for.

 

Edited April 6 by wattsy

[Bikie John]

@colonel - is autofocus important to you? If it isn't, there are tons of choices in manual focus land with M fit lenses, as @wattsy has suggested above.  Am I right in thinking that you already have an M body and lens(es)? If so, get the M to L adaptor and you will be flying!

John

[Stuart Richardson]

On 4/3/2025 at 11:43 AM, colonel said:

Hi all

Having some difficult deciding on a 28/35 walkabout prime lens. Prefer on the lighter side but will compromise.

Sigma 35mm f2 DG DN: I loved the handling and sharpness of this lens at 2.8 and above, but felt the f2 was a bit veiled.

Panasonic 35mm f1.8: looks nice but MTA curve is worse then Sigma 35mm f2, so might be disappointed. 

Sigma 35mm f1.4 DG DN: A bit heavier but is not great at f1.4. So you are carrying weight to use at f2 and above where it is critically sharp and micro-contrasty.

Leica 35mm f2: A lens with a reputation for nice rendering. However for thr price, MTA is no better then Sigma.

Leica 35mm f2 APO: my grail, but over my budget at the moment.

Sigma 24mm f2 DG DN: i would prefer 28 or 35, but this is the only lens that hits all the criteria for sharpness from wide open, build and cost. I might need to consider this route.

Nothing in the 28mm world as far as I can see.

Please feel free to correct me, and suggest alternatives. I feel the L platform is superb for primes equal and above 50 and equal and below 24, but not great in between.

What do you guys think ?

I think the 35mm DG DN is probably the best bet, along with just looking past the lack of sharpness at f2. Barring that I suggest you save, wait or sell something to get a used 35mm APO Summicron SL. It is an incredible lens and the APO Summicrons are among the most compelling reasons to be shooting the SL system at all. Honestly, if it meant choosing between the bodies and the lenses, I would take the APO Summicrons over the bodies any day. An S1RII and 35mm APO Summicron vs an SL and a 35mm Sigma or Panasonic? I'll take the former I believe.

[costa43]

I agree with Stuart. Buy the low cost, low size/weight Sigma 35mm whilst you accumulate funds for the APO. Used options can be found in good condition for up to 50% off retail. It’s a lens that will excel with any sensor, now and in the years to come.

Edited April 6 by costa43

[wattsy]

The APO-Summicron 35 f/2 is 750g and that, for me, rules it out as a "walkabout" lens. The non-APO 35 f/2, at around half that weight, is surely a more suitable choice? (That is if you don't mind paying £2,029 for essentially the same lens as the £579 Lumix 35 f/1.8.😂)

Edited April 7 by wattsy

[jaapv]

I am not sure that I would use the APO Summicron for my general photography IMO it is a lens for super-perfectionists, special use and - no offense intended- nerds. 

To bring some character and normalcy to my images I would rather use the Summicron 2.0 or rather the Panasonic 1.8, if only because I do not want the effort to apply the extensive photographic technique needed to use the APO to its full potential in my regular shooting situation.

I do not need Verstappen's car to drive to work. 

[roma]

I’ve also been looking for an autofocus 28 or 35 that isn’t too heavy (APOs are too heavy). 
Can someone comment on SL + 35 Panasonic colors (especially skin tone and red objects)?

I don’t love Sigma lens color because it seems to add a rustic/brownish tone. 
Panasonic cameras seem to over saturate blue and red, and skin tones go way too pink. 

Unfortunately, I’m spoiled by M camera/lens combination for color, but am curious how Panasonic lenses do on SL. I can use my M lenses, but want autofocus. 
Thank you!

[Babylonia]

vor 4 Stunden schrieb roma:

Panasonic cameras seem to over saturate blue and red, and skin tones go way too pink.

You have all the options to choose different profiles within the camera itself, and tweak those profiles to your taste,
by contrast, dynamic range, lift shadows (or the opposite), highlights, saturation, colour rendering, sharpness, noise reduction....
All is possible.

[roma]

Sure, sure, I understand corrections and adjustments. However, I have yet to see color as good as Leica’s (to my eyes) from another manufacturer (aside from Hasselblad). I have looked at color in photos for many years. But that’s a whole different discussion. 
I just want to know if having Panasonic glass on an SL body takes away from Leica color or keeps it mostly intact. 

[jaapv]

It does not make a difference. I use Sigma/Panasonic lenses an Leica as well and the difference in colour rendering is minimal. Certainly not enough to upset your postprocessing. 

[Dazzajl]

When looking at 28mm lenses or thereabouts, you’re talking about story telling fields of view. The best lens is the one you’re actually going to take with you the most often. You can have a ‘chart topping’ lens but what value is it if you’re missing great stories because it’s sat at home when you’re out. 
 

As I have been reminded elsewhere today, good light and practice will do far more for our photography than perfect rendering. 

[Photoworks]

On 4/3/2025 at 7:43 AM, colonel said:

Leica 35mm f2 APO: my grail, but over my budget at the moment.

It is heavy, may can justify one lens, but if you start putting more than one APo in your bag, you will think about a nice zoom just for that LOL.

Keep in mind, just Summilux lenses, they have 2 look in one, nice and soft at 1.4, and at f2-2.8 they look like other lenses. The Sigma 35 1.4 is a very good lens.

Typically, between Pana and Sigma, Sigma lenses are better in the wide-angle range. Panasonic is better in the 50+ range.

[Chris Nebard]

For me, the Sigma 35 f2 DG DN i Contemporary is a great everyday or walkabout lens.  I’m biased, I love this range of Sigmas anyway and, as with the others, the 35mm f2 is beautiful to use on my SL2-S. I’m sure that the Panasonic f1.8 is excellent, as will be the Summicron derivative. And, of course, the APO range is stellar. But, none of those have an aperture ring on the lens barrel. That, portability, and the tactile nature of the Sigmas, is meaningful to me - but that’s obviously a personal thing. In terms of results, I don’t have one complaint: the Sigma 35 is more than sharp enough, colours to me are rich and punchy. It’s not simply “great for the money” it’s a good lens in its own right.
 

Any slight deviation in output, from what I intended, is usually amended easily in Lightroom. For me - and you may well think differently - using the light effectively and good processing is more critical in getting “the look” I’m after than, for example, the differences in lens coatings and minimal optical differences. The SL2-S and the Sigma 35 f2 combination also makes lovely monochrome conversions.  Again, I’d say that sympathetic processing is often just as important as the lens - assuming the file and lens are half decent.
 

At the end of the day, you won’t go wrong with any of the main L Mount choices. I genuinely believe that gear is so good these days that much of it boils down to what you love using. Enjoy whatever you choose!

A couple of out and about shots with the Sigma 35 f2: 

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[Planetwide]

I think your info on the Sigam 35mm F1.4 DG DN is outdated and possibly referring to the older model. It's a nice 35mm F1.4 with good bokeh. A little CA wide open, but it is easily corrected.

 

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