Which 85mm lens is best for Leica SL2 portrait photography?

Question

Which 85mm or 90mm is the absolute sharpest for the SL2 for someone moving over from M glass? Im doing a high-end destination shoot in Tuscany in three weeks and need to decide between the native Summicron 90 APO or just grabbing the Sigma Art. Is the Leica rendering actually worth triple the price or is the AF too slow...

Vrumnorkkep · Accepted Answer

Adding my two cents on the technical specs because the choice is kinda tough for a Tuscany gig. The Leica APO-Summicron-SL 90mm f/2 ASPH is basically an engineering marvel with its Dual Syncro Drive. Like someone mentioned, the rendering is a factor, but the hardware differences are where the money goes.Leica: Apochromatic design means zero color fringing even in that harsh midday Italian sun.Sigma: The Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art L-Mount is technically sharper in the center at 1.4 than many expect.Weather sealing: The Leica build is arguably more robust for dusty vineyard environments. Tbh, the rendering on the Leica is cleaner, while the Sigma has a bit more 'pop' due to the wider aperture. If youre coming from M glass, you might find the Sigma bokeh a bit busy compared to the smooth falloff of the APO. Just make sure you update the SL2 firmware before you leave so the AF tracking is actually usable.

we222 · Answer

> Is the Leica rendering actually worth triple the price tbh I was super nervous about picking wrong but I love the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art L-Mount! Its fantastic and so reliable for big shoots. The Leica APO-Summicron-SL 90mm f/2 ASPH is amazing glass but honestly the Sigma AF is just so fast... Id go Sigma to stay safe and save some cash for the trip! Its super sharp!

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Which 85mm lens is best for Leica SL2 portrait photography?