So I finally bit the bullet and got an SL2-S after shooting Sony for like a decade and I love the colors and the build but man I am totally hitting a wall with the lens situation. I expected them to be pricey but I didnt realize even the secondhand market for L-mount wide glass is this brutal right now. I spent most of my savings on the body because I wanted that sensor but now I am staring at a trip to the Italian Dolomites in three weeks and I basically have nothing wider than a 35mm and I feel like an idiot.
I need something for those big landscape shots but I literally cannot drop another three grand on the 21mm Super-Elmar-M or the Vario-Elmarit-SL. My budget is like $800 max which I know is cheap for Leica people but I am feeling really stuck. I tried looking at the Sigma 14-24 Art but its so bulky and heavy for hiking all day and the Lumix 18mm feels a bit plasticky but maybe thats my only option? I also thought about adapting some old M-mount stuff but I am worried about the corner smearing on the SL2-S sensor since I heard it can be an issue with some older wide designs. Honestly I just need something sharp enough that wont make me go bankrupt before I even get on the plane. What are you guys actually using that doesnt break the bank but still looks halfway decent on this body?
Be careful with those M-mount adapters... the SL2-S sensor stack is thick and might smear your corners on wider glass. For hiking, weight is everything. I would suggest:
- Sigma 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary L-Mount - its only 450g and way more manageable than the Art line, tbh.
- Panasonic Lumix S 14-28mm f/4-5.6 Macro - watch the slow aperture, but the 14mm width is essential for those peaks.
Just catching up on this thread and i honestly have to disagree with the zoom route for a trip like this. While zooms are convenient, they often lack the micro-contrast and edge-to-edge clarity that makes that SL2-S sensor really shine, especially when you are stopped down for landscapes. If you want that premium Leica feel without the insane price tag, you should look at the Sigma 20mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary L-mount. Unlike the Lumix glass, this thing is built with an all-metal barrel and has a dedicated aperture ring that feels amazing to use. It is incredibly sharp and fits your budget perfectly while being tiny enough to carry up a mountain all day. If 20mm isnt wide enough for the scale of the Dolomites, I would strongly suggest looking into the Laowa 15mm f/2 Zero-D L-mount. The technical construction on this lens is seriously impressive because it manages to keep architectural lines and horizons perfectly straight without heavy software correction, which is vital for those big mountain vistas. It is a manual lens, but since you are shooting landscapes, you can just set it to f/5.6 or f/8 and basically everything will be in focus. The build quality is fantastic—all metal and glass—and it totally avoids that plasticky vibe you were worried about with the Panasonic. Using a high-quality prime will honestly yield much cleaner results on that sensor than a budget zoom would. Both of these options are way under your $800 limit but punch way above their weight class optically... definitely worth a look before you hop on that plane.
Re: Ok adding this to my list of things...
- it is a solid list but I want to double down on the warning about using cheap adapters for a trip like this. While the sensor stack issue is a real technical pain for image quality, the physical reliability is what usually ruins a vacation. If you use a budget adapter to save cash, you are introducing a huge failure point. I have seen those mount tolerances be so loose that you lose electronic communication with the lens right when the light is perfect. Also, since you are hiking in the mountains, seriously check the weather sealing specs on whatever you pick. Some budget glass skips the internal seals. If it is not internal zoom or it lacks a rubber gasket at the mount, you are basically inviting dust and mountain mist into your Leica SL2-S. It is not just about the glass being sharp enough, it is about the lens not dying if it gets a bit damp. Just something to keep in mind before you head out... totally kills the vibe when your gear stops talking to itself mid-hike.
Ok adding this to my list of things to try. Thanks for the tip!
