Jonathan Levin Posted July 16 Share #1 Posted July 16 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi all. I am planning a trip out west and was thinking that I'd like a longer zoom for all those Nat Geo shot I'll capture ;- I currently have the 24-90 for my SL3. I was considering getting a really gently used 90-280 which run about $5200US. At over $7000, new is out of the question. Although I'm pretty confident the image quality has got to be pretty wonderful. Are there other options I should consider? Nothing is going to be as costly as the Leica lenses, so new for another brand is not out of the question. I'd prefer to have something in the 90-280 range, and maybe something that isn't as long as my right arm too. I'd love to have an accompanying Leica 90-280, but you know... Let me know your thoughts. Thanks Jonathan 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 16 Posted July 16 Hi Jonathan Levin, Take a look here Thinking about a 90-280?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
LD_50 Posted July 16 Share #2 Posted July 16 1 hour ago, Jonathan Levin said: Hi all. I am planning a trip out west and was thinking that I'd like a longer zoom for all those Nat Geo shot I'll capture ;- I currently have the 24-90 for my SL3. I was considering getting a really gently used 90-280 which run about $5200US. At over $7000, new is out of the question. Although I'm pretty confident the image quality has got to be pretty wonderful. Are there other options I should consider? Nothing is going to be as costly as the Leica lenses, so new for another brand is not out of the question. I'd prefer to have something in the 90-280 range, and maybe something that isn't as long as my right arm too. I'd love to have an accompanying Leica 90-280, but you know... Let me know your thoughts. Thanks Jonathan There are several options. Depends on how much reach you need. 70-200 with teleconverter and 100-400 with teleconverter come to mind. Check the available L mount lenses and decide what focal length and aperture you need. Start there and then decide on price and size/weight you’re okay with. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Photoworks Posted July 16 Share #3 Posted July 16 It took me some time to find a used one, but once i got it, I must say nothing is as good. Sure, it is heavy. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 4 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/423107-thinking-about-a-90-280/?do=findComment&comment=5834587'>More sharing options...
Photoworks Posted July 16 Share #4 Posted July 16 Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 4 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/423107-thinking-about-a-90-280/?do=findComment&comment=5834588'>More sharing options...
Jonathan Levin Posted July 17 Author Share #5 Posted July 17 3 hours ago, Photoworks said: It took me some time to find a used one, but once i got it, I must say nothing is as good Is that the 90/280? I read the three page thread From what I learned it seems like the 90/280 is amazing. Still poking around, but I feel I should maybe hold off for a really sweet used 90/280. I normally buy new but it seems Leica users take pretty good care of their glass. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
redrocksjoe Posted July 17 Share #6 Posted July 17 I bought one and sold it. The lens is obscenely heavy, slow to focus and did not wow me. I’m sure it is a nice lens for some, I just never clicked with it. -Joe Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LD_50 Posted July 17 Share #7 Posted July 17 Advertisement (gone after registration) The only real selling point for the 90-280 is the IQ. I have it for that reason alone. It is big, it is heavy, it is slower to focus than something like a Sigma 70-200. It doesn't offer the reach of some other options, including the Sigma with teleconverter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeicaR10 Posted July 17 Share #8 Posted July 17 Johnathan Levin, You have excellent choices for SL zoom lenses. I have used both the SL 90-280 and SL 100-400 for several years. Both IMO, are most excellent. Since you are going out west, I suggest you consider the SL 100-400 for capturing the wildlife and isolcate landscapes. The link below to this video, will give you a pretty good idea what these 2 lenses can do. It should help you make the best decision for your genres of photography and trip. r/ Mark Try: 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted July 17 Share #9 Posted July 17 I wouldn’t argue with anyone who said the 90-280 was slower than the competition, but that doesn’t make it unusable. I use it, typically in tandem with the 24-90, on a SL2-S for theatre and dance photography and find it more than acceptable for my needs. Its IQ is indeed fabulous. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
didier Posted July 17 Share #10 Posted July 17 I don’t use it much, but it is very usable for my needs. The IQ is amazing. I could catch some fast paced activity as well. For me the autofocus was fast enough, it was more the (2018) the SL (601) write speed on the SD that was a limiting factor. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 1 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/423107-thinking-about-a-90-280/?do=findComment&comment=5834674'>More sharing options...
Gateway77 Posted July 17 Share #11 Posted July 17 It is bigger and heavier than you expect - even after reading lots of reviews. But versatile too. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 3 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/423107-thinking-about-a-90-280/?do=findComment&comment=5834681'>More sharing options...
Gateway77 Posted July 17 Share #12 Posted July 17 I wouldn't want to carry it too far but on the occasions when I do, it's made me happy I did. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 3 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/423107-thinking-about-a-90-280/?do=findComment&comment=5834683'>More sharing options...
Tirpitz666 Posted July 17 Share #13 Posted July 17 Just ordered one myeself and eagerly awaiting for delivery, hope it really delivers the goods and that the AF with my SL2s will be decent enough, considering the price of the thing, even used... 🙂 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke_Miller Posted July 17 Share #14 Posted July 17 I love mine and use it for events. Just be aware that the SL mechanical shutter produces shutter shock in the 1/60th to 1/200th shutter speed range which can affect image sharpness. at longer focal lengths I go to electronic shutter if indoor lighting conditions put me in that range. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Levin Posted July 17 Author Share #15 Posted July 17 Thanks. Heavy I’m used to even at 69 yo! I thought I read the 100-400 is a repackaged Sigma? Not that matters if the lens is really good. And was that lens recently introduced? It is significantly less $$$$ than the 90/280. Thanks for your input. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Richardson Posted July 17 Share #16 Posted July 17 I think it is great. I also recommend using the electronic shutter in all conditions if you can. The shutter does impact this lens. Your best chance to avoid it is just not to use it unless you have to. I also find that it is not as good as the primes like the 180 APO Elmar S, 120mm APO Summarit S or 90mm APO etc, but it is still very good. It does benefit from stopping down to f8 or so in most cases, which will often bring your shutter speed lower than the speed at which the vibration is canceled. So again, if you want to get the most out of it, use a tripod, e-shutter and stopped down to f 8. It's still good without all that, but you may not see it at its peak. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpau17 Posted July 17 Share #17 Posted July 17 The 90-280mm is an outstanding lens. Despite its size and weight, it impresses with first-class image quality on par with prime lenses. For me, the APO correction and stabilizer are clear advantages over comparable Leica and Sigma lenses, but I've only tested the new ones briefly. The autofocus is faster, but that doesn't matter to me because I don't take sports photos. The following image was taken at f/9 at Lago in Italy and shows the impressive performance of the lens. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 7 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/423107-thinking-about-a-90-280/?do=findComment&comment=5835008'>More sharing options...
Stuart Richardson Posted July 21 Share #18 Posted July 21 (edited) I used it today and found this fun. It looks pretty good, though a bit of the zipper effect from multishot. Not a bad performance for the lens, considering the crop...done with the SL2 and multishot. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! To give an idea just how large this could be printed with good quality, without interpolation it is about 300dpi at 100x150cm. "very good" quality for quite large prints can extend down to at least 120dpi. So you could probably print this whole photo at 2x3 meters and still have it appear as having good quality and detail with your nose right up to it, especially if it was slightly retouched to mitigate the zipper effect in the few areas where it is visible. For this I was using the e-shutter, a solid tripod and a good head. The 90-280mm can keep up, especially when stopped down to f8. I think it is sharpest in the middle too, which is a bit unusual for zooms I think, but it seems to do best for me in the middle of the zoom range. That is not why I chose it...I would have zoomed in more if I had initially wanted to focus on that crop, it just happened to be the right focal length to do what I originally saw as the composition I wanted. Edited July 21 by Stuart Richardson 6 1 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! To give an idea just how large this could be printed with good quality, without interpolation it is about 300dpi at 100x150cm. "very good" quality for quite large prints can extend down to at least 120dpi. So you could probably print this whole photo at 2x3 meters and still have it appear as having good quality and detail with your nose right up to it, especially if it was slightly retouched to mitigate the zipper effect in the few areas where it is visible. For this I was using the e-shutter, a solid tripod and a good head. The 90-280mm can keep up, especially when stopped down to f8. I think it is sharpest in the middle too, which is a bit unusual for zooms I think, but it seems to do best for me in the middle of the zoom range. That is not why I chose it...I would have zoomed in more if I had initially wanted to focus on that crop, it just happened to be the right focal length to do what I originally saw as the composition I wanted. ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/423107-thinking-about-a-90-280/?do=findComment&comment=5836511'>More sharing options...
farnz Posted July 22 Share #19 Posted July 22 As a slightly different datum point for you, I've happily own the legendary Leica 280/4 APO-Telyt-R lens* for 15 years and the superb prints and screen pictures I've seen first hand from others' 90-280 lenses have convinced me to trade the 280/4 for a 90-280. It's that good. Pete. *Widely agreed for many years to be the top telephoto lens produced by any brand. (I blame Jono Slack for showing me his pictures with the 90-280. ) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted July 22 Share #20 Posted July 22 On 7/16/2025 at 2:28 PM, Jonathan Levin said: Hi all. I currently have the 24-90 for my SL3. I was considering getting a really gently used 90-280 which run about $5200US. At over $7000, new is out of the question. I bought a mint used copy over 5 years ago, for a similar discount, to pair with my 24-90. I sold it recently (at no loss) due to lack of use, not for any performance reason (although advice regarding shutter shock and electronic shutter use is worth noting). I also sold my SL 75 APO since the 24-90 suits my current needs and seems locked to my SL2. Can’t hurt to experiment; personal considerations and conclusions will eventually prevail. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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