Ok so, in my experience the sharpest wide-open portrait look on L-mount usually comes from a modern Leica APO portrait prime… BUT what’s your sensor (SL2/SL3/Sigma/Panasonic) and are you doing tight headshots or half-body?

bump

spent weeks looking into this last year and it was a total mess. had issues with reviewers being way too biased... unfortunately some of the most expensive glass i tried wasnt even as sharp as i expected when you zoom in on the eyes. totally disappointing. youll honestly get a better answer if you look at these:

• search l-mount portrait sharpness shootout on youtube
• check the raw samples on the official leica user forum
• browse the technical mtf charts on the manufacturer websites comparing the actual files yourself is the only way to know for sure. if you narrow it down to a couple and want me to dig up my old test shots just ask. good luck!

Omg Larry you hit the nail on the head, those reviews are such a mess! I actually went through a similar thing where I saved up forever for the Leica glass thinking it would be the ultimate setup... but honestly? I was kinda disappointed with the results for that price.

• My current setup from one of the other alliance brands is way lighter and cost way less.
• The sharpness wide open is actually insane compared to that first lens I tried.
• I realized that brands like Sigma or Panasonic are totally outperforming the super expensive stuff for real-world shooting! I am just so happy I made the switch tho!! It feels so much better to have gear that actually delivers what it promises for my window light shots. Dont feel like you have to stick to just one brand because the others are making tools that are just as sharp if not sharper... basically just love how my work looks now! Let me know if you want to know which one I finally got!

Regarding what #6 said about "ngl I have been dealing with this exact same headache..." I went through that same analysis paralysis for a long time. After owning the APO series for several years now, I am very satisfied with the performance. If you want the sharpest results wide open, these two are the benchmarks:

• Leica APO-Summicron-SL 90mm f/2 ASPH: This is easily the sharpest portrait lens in the L-mount lineup. The micro-contrast is incredible and it stays biting sharp right to the corners at f/2, which is perfect for tight headshots.
• Leica APO-Summicron-SL 75mm f/2 ASPH: If the 90mm feels too long, this is the one. I use it for most of my natural window light work and the apochromatic correction keeps the eyes perfectly clean without any fringing. The main thing I have noticed over the years is how consistent they are. You dont need to stop down to get the best out of the sensor. The center and edges are both excellent, so you can place the eyes anywhere in the frame and they stay crisp. Its a heavy investment but honestly, I have no complaints.

+1

Same boat, watching this

Saved for later, ty!

ngl I have been dealing with this exact same headache for like three months now and I still havent found a clear answer. Online_qoEn is totally right about the reviews being a mess... I have been so close to clicking buy so many times but then I see another post that makes me second guess everything. I remember staying up until 2am last week just scouring old forum threads and pixel peeping sample images until my eyes hurt. You really have to be careful with the hype because I am honestly terrified of spending all that cash and not getting that biting eye sharpness I need for my headshots. I make sure to check every new post but I am still just as lost as when I started. I would suggest that half these people are just reading spec sheets instead of actually shooting... it is just a total nightmare.