Got a gallery shoot in London this weekend and need the sharpest glass for my SL2. Everyone says the 90mm APO-Summicron is king but then I saw charts saying the Sigma 85mm Art is actually crisper. I have 5k to spend but need to order tonight. What is the sharpest portrait lens available for Leica SL cameras?
Look, I really wanted to love the third-party stuff but unfortunately I had issues with the consistency of the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art L-mount on my own SL2. It is sharp in the center, sure, but it was not as good as expected regarding edge-to-edge clarity or autofocus reliability during actual shoots. If you are doing a gallery shoot in London, you need the Leica APO-Summicron-SL 90mm f/2 ASPH. Its the only lens that truly resolves the 47MP sensor without compromises.
- Apochromatic correction eliminates color bleeding entirely.
- Weather sealing is far superior for the unpredictable London weather.
- Better integration with the SL2s eye-tracking system. Its a massive price tag but honestly, professional reliability is what you are paying for here. Dont risk a big job on anything else.
Quick reply while I have a sec... I totally see why everyone points to the native glass, but honestly, I was pretty disappointed with the Leica APO-Summicron-SL 90mm f/2 ASPH after I actually dropped the cash on it. It is sharp. Dont get me wrong. But for that price it just felt a bit clinical and cold for my taste. Since the other guys mentioned issues with the Sigma 85mm, you should really look at the Panasonic LUMIX S PRO 50mm f/1.4 instead. Its super sharp, way more affordable, and has a much more natural look for portraits imo. I also tried the Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art L-Mount but it was just way too heavy. Basically a boat anchor. My wrists are still killing me lol. The Panasonic is the sweet spot. Save some of that budget for your gallery costs, you wont regret it!
Saw this earlier and had to jump in. Honestly, I fell for those Sigma charts too, but after using the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art L-Mount for a bit, I was pretty disappointed with how it handled fine details. It just feels a bit flat. I'm gonna have to disagree with the 90mm hype slightly too... if you want the absolute peak of the SL system, you need the Leica APO-Summicron-SL 75mm f/2 ASPH. Tbh it has even more bite than the 90mm and the micro-contrast is just insane for big gallery prints. Since you have 5k, just grab that and dont look back. The way it resolves on the SL2 sensor is basically magic... way better than the Sigma or the older designs. Good luck with the London shoot!
Can confirm this works. Did the same thing on mine and its been solid ever since.
