Wide lens recommendations for R9

[dkCambridgeshire]

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On 5/20/2025 at 3:03 AM, Stuart Richardson said:

Honestly, I think you need to go back about 15-20 to get the good R deals!

There are still potentially good R deals listed regularly and for $£reasonable provided ROM is not a buyer's requirement. The R 50mm S'cron (both Mk I and Mk II); the 60/2.8 Macro Elmarit R (both Mk I and Mk II) and R 90/2.8 (both Mk I and Mk II), are all very capable optics – and the 50mm and 90mm lenses have much in common with their 'similarly designed', Leica M counterparts. We do not need to spend a $£fortune to acquire excellent R lenses.  

BW, dunk

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[SJCoates]

I realise I am a little late to this thread but happy that you have gone for the 28mm version; I have the same lens. I got it back in 1999 new, it was at the time the best 28mm lens available for any camera. Today, 26 years later, I am still blown away by it!

When funds allow, do what I did and get the 19mm V2. This is another absolutely stunning R lens, I got this one new around 20 years ago, sold it a few years later, but then purchased another one last year. Again, like the 28mm it was at the time the very best lens of its' focal length, and today, like the 28 is still a top performer. The newness has not yet worn off and probably never will. With the 28 and 19, I have a pair of fantastic lenses for landscapes. I have learnt my lesson now and will never sell the 19mm again!

I use both lenses on the SL which has enabled me to test them. They really are fantastic performers, fully open at f/2.8 they are razor sharp, with barely any increase in sharpness stopping down to f/8 on both lenses.

To be honest, any of the later R lenses are really fantastic. If I didn't have the 19 or 28 I might have considered the 21-35 zoom, however it hadn't been introduced at the time when I got the 28mm.

Edited Wednesday at 06:30 PM by SJCoates