Ive been shooting with the SL2 for a few years now and usually stick to the 35mm or 50mm Summicrons for my street and portrait stuff. They just work. But I just landed a gig shooting some architectural interiors for a new cabin project in Vermont next month and I'm realizing I have a massive gap at the wide end of my bag. I borrowed a buddy's 16-35mm Super-Vario-Elmar-SL the other day and while the glass is incredible it's just so heavy for a full day of handheld shooting. My wrist was actually killing me after four hours.
Im trying to weigh the options because I have about $3,000 to spend on this and I need to move fast. Do I just bite the bullet on the native 21mm or 28mm primes or is the Sigma 14-24mm DG DN actually good enough to match the Leica look? I'm also considering:
- Adapting my old 21mm Super-Elmar-M
- Looking at the Panasonic Pro series
- Maybe the Sigma 20mm i-series if I want to stay light
My main concern with adapting M glass is the corner performance on the SL sensor vs the M11. Some people say it's fine and others say the smearing is a nightmare. I want that micro-contrast I'm used to without carrying a boat anchor. What are the best wide-angle paths you've actually tested on the SL series that don't weigh five pounds?
Quick thought while I have a sec... you really gotta be careful with that Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art. It is a stunning lens for sure, but it is basically a bowling ball. If the Leica 16-35 killed your wrist, the Sigma Art wont be much better tbh. It is front-heavy and just plain chunky. I would suggest looking at the Sigma 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary instead. It is way lighter than the Art series and surprisingly sharp for architectural stuff. You might lose a tiny bit of that clinical Leica micro-contrast, but for under a grand it is a steal. Another solid path is the Sigma 20mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary prime. It is tiny, all metal, and has great rendering. Just be careful with the internal lens corrections... make sure they are turned on in camera because these compact wides rely on software to fix some distortion. Definitely easier on the joints tho.
Hey! You should totally look into the Panasonic glass if you want to save your wrist and keep some money in your pocket! I am obsessed with the Panasonic Lumix S PRO 16-35mm f/4 for interior shoots. It is so much lighter than the Leica version but the optical quality is still amazing! For real, it handles the corners beautifully and it is way safer than adapting M glass where you might get those weird color shifts or soft edges. If you still have budget left, grabbing the Sigma 20mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary is a fantastic move for a tiny prime option. Its super sharp and basically fits in a jacket pocket. Both these lenses are super reliable and wont fail you on a big job like that Vermont cabin project! Go for the native L-mount stuff, it just works so much better and youll save like two thousand dollars!
ngl i tried adapting my old m-mount glass to the sl2 for a cabin shoot last year and it was a total disaster. unfortunately the corner smearing on that sensor stack is way worse than people admit... it basically ruined my architectural lines. i thought id save weight but the results just werent as good as i expected for pro work. definitely avoid that route.
