What is the absolute sharpest prime lens I can get for my L-mount setup right now? Im shooting on a Lumix S1R so I really need something that can actually resolve all those megapixels for some commercial architectural stuff I have coming up here in Chicago next month.
Ive spent the last three nights reading reviews and looking at MTF charts and Im honestly more confused than when I started lol. Most people point to the Leica 50mm APO-Summicron-SL as the king of sharpness but that price tag is just insane and I am trying to figure out if its actually worth the jump over something like the Sigma 35mm f1.2 or the newer 50mm f1.4 DG DN Art. I read on one forum that the Sigma 35mm is actually sharper in the center than the Leica but then another guy said the corner falloff on the Sigma makes it useless for architecture if you arent stopping way down and honestly I dont want to buy a lens that only works at f8 because I need that low light capability too.
My budget is around $2500 max but I could maybe go a bit higher if it is gonna be a forever lens for me. I really need edge to edge clarity because I am doing large format prints. Im mostly looking at these right now:
- Leica 50mm APO Summicron
- Sigma 35mm f1.2 Art
- Lumix S Pro 50mm f1.4
Is there a sleeper lens Im missing or is the Leica really that much better than the Panasonic Pro glass? I just want to make sure I am not overpaying for the red dot if the Sigma or Lumix glass is 95% of the way there...
In my experience, chasing those lab charts is a total rabbit hole. Seriously. Over the years, I've tried many lenses, but I learned that corner consistency is what actually matters for big prints. I was terrified of wasting money, so I eventually got the most reliable prime available. It is definitely the sharpest thing I've ever used. The peace of mind on professional architectural jobs made it worth every penny. Playing it safe pays off.
