Ive been shooting with the SL2 for about three years now and honestly I love the color science and that tank-like build, but Ive been feeling kinda frustrated with my current portrait setup. I started out using the 24-90mm zoom which is versatile as hell, but recently I did a series of headshots for a buddy who is an actor and even though the results were decent, I felt like the sharpness just wasnt hitting that surgical level I see in some of the work online. Maybe its just me pixel peeping too hard but the micro-contrast isnt quite popping the way I want it to.
So I was thinking about grabbing a dedicated prime since I usually shoot portraits in the 85mm range. My budget is around 2k maybe 2.5k if I find a deal, and I really need this by next month because I have a couple of outdoor editorial gigs lined up here in Chicago. I briefly considered the Sigma 85mm f1.4 DG DN Art because the price is right and the reviews are stellar, but then I keep looking at the Leica APO-Summicron-SL 75mm and wondering if the extra cash is actually gonna give me that noticeable jump in optical clarity. Does the APO branding really make that much of a difference for portraiture specifically or am I just buying into the red dot tax again?
- Sigma 85mm Art
- Leica APO-Summicron-SL 75mm
- Panasonic S Pro 85mm
My logic was that the Panasonic lens is probably the best balance, but part of me really wants that Leica glass for the rendering. Has anyone actually A/B tested these on a high-res sensor? I dont want to waste money if the sharpness difference is negligible at normal viewing distances, but if I can get that crisp eye-lash detail without having to over-sharpen in post, Id lean towards the spendier option. Am I overthinking the sharpness bit and ignoring the rendering character? Its driving me crazy...
Late to the party here, but check out the Panasonic Lumix S PRO 85mm f/1.4. It hits that sweet spot between cost and performance. Honestly, it is super sharp wide open, so you dont need to do much heavy lifting in post.
- It is weather-sealed which is perfect for Chicago weather.
- Rendering is smooth but very clinical. Check out the lens charts on OpticalLimits to see if the resolution numbers match what you need.
> Does the APO branding really make that much of a difference for portraiture specifically or am I just buying into the red dot tax again? Honestly, I spent all morning obsessing over MTF charts because I had a bit of downtime, and here is the deal. If you want that absolute clinical, surgical sharpness you mentioned, the APO moniker is not just marketing fluff. It actually reduces longitudinal chromatic aberration, which is usually what makes portraits look soft around the eyes. If you can track down a used Leica APO-Summicron-SL 75mm f/2 ASPH, it is practically unbeatable for micro-contrast. That said, if the budget is tight for your Chicago gigs, you really should look at the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art. I know you mentioned it, but honestly, for the money, you are getting 95 percent of the performance. I have used it on the SL2 and the rendering is surprisingly organic, not just sterile sharp. It is way easier on the wallet, leaving you enough cash to grab a solid NiSi V7 100mm Filter Kit if you are shooting outdoors. Save the extra grand for your next trip or lens rental. You won't regret saving that cash, and your buddy won't notice the difference in pixel-peeped files.
> I briefly considered the Sigma 85mm f1.4 DG DN Art because the price is right and the reviews are stellar, but then I keep looking at the Leica APO-Summicron-SL 75mm and wondering if the extra cash is actually gonna give me that noticeable jump in optical clarity. Honestly man, I spent months obsessing over this exact thing before I finally pulled the trigger on the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN Art. It is absolutely mental! I get that Leica itch, I really do, but that Sigma is just surgical. I shoot for local magazines and the sharpness is honestly scary. You can see every single stray hair. It saves me so much time in post because I dont have to crank the clarity sliders at all. Save that extra grand for a trip or a new light set, seriously. You wont regret it!
