Ive been shooting with my SL2 for about three years now and honestly I love the color science but my trusty 50mm Summilux just isnt cutting it for the tight headshots I have coming up in London next month. I need something with serious bite, like really clinical sharpness, because my client is super picky about skin texture and detail. Im torn between the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN and the Leica APO-Summicron 90mm. Ive got about 3k to spend but if the extra cash for the APO is really worth it, I might stretch. Is the Sigma gonna give me that same pop or am I just gonna regret not going native Leica?
Oh man, I totally get where you are coming from. When a client is obsessed with pores and skin texture, you really cant afford to mess around with soft glass! I was in the exact same spot two years ago before a high-end beauty gig. I decided to pull the trigger on the Leica APO-Summicron-SL 90mm f/2 ASPH and honestly? It changed everything for me. Here is the reality of the situation:
- That APO lens is just clinical perfection. I mean, it is basically surgically sharp from wide open.
- The micro-contrast is what gives you that insane pop. You dont get that with the Sigma, even if the specs look similar on paper.
- When you are shooting on the SL2, you want glass that pushes the sensor to its limit, and that is exactly what the APO does. I tried the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art for a week, and it is a fantastic lens, dont get me wrong! It is incredibly sharp for the price and the bokeh is creamy, but it lacks that specific Leica drawing style that makes skin look like actual skin instead of digital mush. For a pro client, you want the reliability and the color transition that only native APO glass offers. Just stretch the budget, grab the 90mm, and never look back. Your client will be thrilled with the detail, I promise!
Regarding what #1 said about that beauty gig, I have actually spent the last few weeks testing the resolution charts on both of these. If you want clinical sharpness, the Leica APO-Summicron-SL 90mm f/2 ASPH is basically the gold standard for micro-contrast. It resolves way past what the sensor can actually capture.
- The APO design effectively eliminates color fringing, which is a massive help for skin texture post-processing.
- The Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art is incredible value but has a slightly different rendering that feels a bit more modern-clinical than optical perfection. Honestly, if you have the budget, go for the Leica glass. The transition zone at f/2 is just cleaner. I used mine on an SL2 for a studio shoot last month and the corner-to-corner clarity was just absurd. You wont regret that APO bite.
Regarding what #2 said about the Leica, honestly, the Panasonic Lumix S PRO 85mm f/1.4 is the real winner. It saves you cash and is sharper than youd expect, unlike the Sigma.
