Thank you for this review. I think that any review of this lens will be simple like yours and for good reason. It is an excellent lens, capable of extremely sharp images with beautiful rendering on an SL2 or SL2-S. I have this lens and there really isn't much more to say about it other than what you said in your video. For me, this lens replaced two Nikon lenses that I consider to be equivalent, the 105mm F/1.4 and the 200mm F/2.0. While both lenses are excellent for portraiture, the 90-280 is better. While I understand that having an extremely wide aperture is good, in practical use a portrait has to have sufficient depth of field to achieve focus on what is important. Yes, bokeh is pleasing but only if what is supposed to be in focus is in focus so that the subject stands out (or pops as some would say). My only concern about this lens is that the SL camera bodies are not yet the equivalent of Sony, Canon, and Nikon cameras when it comes to autofocus and tracking. While I am very happy with what the 90-280 does, I look forward to future Leica cameras being able to do more with this incredible lens. All this being said, I don't consider the SL bodies to be bad. The latest firmware on both the SL2 and SL2-S is a huge improvement and face detection is working much better.
Other than advanced AF, I actually find everything else about the SL2/s to be as good or better than Canon Nikon or Sony. The simplicity, the programable buttons etc, also the robust construction. For video the SL2/s has shutter angles which Sony doesnt have, and raw recording... full size HDMI etc etc... overall, coming from Canon, the SL2 series really blew me away. I sold my Canon R6. Of course, lets be honest, if you do sports photography for a living, get something else like an A1 or canon R3... but for most other things the SL2s does it exceptionally well. I wouldn't be surprised to see Leica release an SL3 next year with the new phase detect hybrid AF from Panasonic Lumix that was just released.
Thank you for taking the time to review all of this gear. I doubt most people understand how much time it takes to do all of this, and how little you get in return from ad revenue.
This is not a lens a lot of people talk about. So thanks for making the effort to show it to us. The guys at Red Dot Forum say that the SL zooms are so good, they are sharper than the best M lenses. I can believe it! Interesting point about the 24-90 that some people miss: it's a 3.75x zoom. A lot of standard zooms are 24-70 only, and that is only 2.9x. I think that if you can handle the size, it's better to have a zoom that goes to 90mm. Because 70mm is nowhere near long enough for portraits. Even 90mm is a little short IMHO. It's a shame that Leica doesn't make something like a 200-600mm lens. 280mm isn't really long enough for birds or sports. IMHO, of course. BTW the correct English term for an aperture that changes when you zoom is called a *sliding aperture*. Some people call it a *floating aperture* but that is not as common. (Some people make the mistake of calling it a *variable aperture* which is confusing because apertures on all lenses are variable, except for mirror lenses.)
@@rumporridge1 You are not wrong. However, I use Micro 4/3 cameras which are far better for either macro or super telephoto lenses. I think using half the SL2's sensor is perfectly fine, but what would be the point? You'd get arguably better results with an OM-1 or GH6 at the narrower AOV. It would be interesting to know if you can get AF adaptors for Nikon 400mm and 600mm lenses.
@@Biosynchro indeed but using the crop mode is in a pinch. If i’m living farther out in length for an extended time, that 150-600mm Sigma L mount would do the trick. Personally my bazooka is enough glass. Don’t do birding. But for sports this lens is great albeit lifting weights 🏋🏽♀️ just to heft the thing outdoors.
It is so heavy but a magnificent lens. Just hurts to carry this around all day. I went with the Panasonic S Pro 70-200 f2.8 for the constant aperture but the 90-280 is extremely prime lens level sharp. It beats the S Pro except in weight and aperture range. The S Pro is about 85% sharp comparing to that Leica. Way lighter over the longer run and the focus clutch is pretty cool with the lens I.S, AF/MF, and focus range switch. I miss the 90-280 but I realised it would be an expensive lens to just stay in the dry cabinet 90% of the time.
Math, I have no doubt that if there really is an SL3 coming that you are already testing and reviewing. Looking forward to watching and learning and then maybe buying. Your reviews are absolutely the best and without sycophantic hyperbole.
It is a great lens - I used it in the Mosul operation for a year, later in documentary photography for my book about Kurdistan than sometimes in a studio. Perfect allrounder and the quality is amazing! Weathersealing was enough for war photography…
Nice review Matt I always wonder with those large zooms, is the fall off from aperture (2.8-4) linear or progressive. Thanks for sharing Have a great weekend !!
Fully agree! I just took this lens with my SL2 to Costa Rica. Wonderful images are the results, “if you can live with some wasted images”. That was true when shooting my kids on surf boards. Thank you again, Bart
@Mathphotographer Thank you very much for that beautiful review! Compared to the new Nikon 70-200, any thoughts in terms of resolution power or sharpness? Have a very good day!
I can't confirm it 100%, but AFAIK, the SL lenses are the sharpest lenses that you can buy today. The new Sony zooms are also excellent. It would be interesting to compare them.
Ive loved everything about the leica sl system when I had it but the autofocus is really bad compared to that of canon, sony, and Nikon mirrorless systems. I was sad to part with my Leica after a year! When they improve the autofocus system I'll consider going back but if it cant do the basics of following a walking subject at wide apertures then it just doesnt fit in with my requirements
Even using the current SL2 with the newest firmware, I had no problems with the AF-C following a walking subject (like bride and groom). Even bicycles and cars approaching the camera can be tracked quite reasonable meanwhile. Maybe give it a try... Before the last two firmware updates, AF-C and Face detection was unusable for me. Now, the AF-C and especially the Eye/Face/Body detection is still significantly behind Canon or Sony level, but IMO already more useful than that of my Fuji X-T3/4 AF system.
I shot the Westminster Dog show with this lens on a SL2 body and got 90% keepers using zone tracking with the joy stick. Absolutely no problems with autofocus whatsoever using back button manual tracking.
I can explain that. The engineers are Leica believe that a sliding aperture zoom will give you much better image quality. This makes sense, as the Sigma 24-70/2.8 cannot compete with the 24-90/2.8-4. Although, to be fair, the Sigma is much cheaper. The Leica, though, performs almost like a cinema lens, and has excellent performance at all distances and focal lengths.
Only Achilles heel with the two. I use those and leave my primes home. Without a BlackRapid strap hefting those lens are really difficult. But the rendering and sharpness are unmatched IMHO.
Thank you for this review. I think that any review of this lens will be simple like yours and for good reason. It is an excellent lens, capable of extremely sharp images with beautiful rendering on an SL2 or SL2-S. I have this lens and there really isn't much more to say about it other than what you said in your video. For me, this lens replaced two Nikon lenses that I consider to be equivalent, the 105mm F/1.4 and the 200mm F/2.0. While both lenses are excellent for portraiture, the 90-280 is better. While I understand that having an extremely wide aperture is good, in practical use a portrait has to have sufficient depth of field to achieve focus on what is important. Yes, bokeh is pleasing but only if what is supposed to be in focus is in focus so that the subject stands out (or pops as some would say).
My only concern about this lens is that the SL camera bodies are not yet the equivalent of Sony, Canon, and Nikon cameras when it comes to autofocus and tracking. While I am very happy with what the 90-280 does, I look forward to future Leica cameras being able to do more with this incredible lens. All this being said, I don't consider the SL bodies to be bad. The latest firmware on both the SL2 and SL2-S is a huge improvement and face detection is working much better.
Tracking works but is indeed slower than on other camera brands, spot on comment
Other than advanced AF, I actually find everything else about the SL2/s to be as good or better than Canon Nikon or Sony. The simplicity, the programable buttons etc, also the robust construction. For video the SL2/s has shutter angles which Sony doesnt have, and raw recording... full size HDMI etc etc... overall, coming from Canon, the SL2 series really blew me away. I sold my Canon R6. Of course, lets be honest, if you do sports photography for a living, get something else like an A1 or canon R3... but for most other things the SL2s does it exceptionally well.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Leica release an SL3 next year with the new phase detect hybrid AF from Panasonic Lumix that was just released.
Thank you for taking the time to review all of this gear. I doubt most people understand how much time it takes to do all of this, and how little you get in return from ad revenue.
Thank you very much for your kind comment!
Excellent review! Did some mountain bike and unihockey (indoors) photos and the lens delivered in a spectacular manner!
Great to hear, thanks Tom!
This is not a lens a lot of people talk about. So thanks for making the effort to show it to us. The guys at Red Dot Forum say that the SL zooms are so good, they are sharper than the best M lenses. I can believe it!
Interesting point about the 24-90 that some people miss: it's a 3.75x zoom. A lot of standard zooms are 24-70 only, and that is only 2.9x. I think that if you can handle the size, it's better to have a zoom that goes to 90mm. Because 70mm is nowhere near long enough for portraits. Even 90mm is a little short IMHO.
It's a shame that Leica doesn't make something like a 200-600mm lens. 280mm isn't really long enough for birds or sports. IMHO, of course.
BTW the correct English term for an aperture that changes when you zoom is called a *sliding aperture*. Some people call it a *floating aperture* but that is not as common. (Some people make the mistake of calling it a *variable aperture* which is confusing because apertures on all lenses are variable, except for mirror lenses.)
Crop mode brings this lens to 420mm. Not too shabby.
@@rumporridge1 You are not wrong. However, I use Micro 4/3 cameras which are far better for either macro or super telephoto lenses.
I think using half the SL2's sensor is perfectly fine, but what would be the point? You'd get arguably better results with an OM-1 or GH6 at the narrower AOV.
It would be interesting to know if you can get AF adaptors for Nikon 400mm and 600mm lenses.
@@Biosynchro indeed but using the crop mode is in a pinch. If i’m living farther out in length for an extended time, that 150-600mm Sigma L mount would do the trick. Personally my bazooka is enough glass. Don’t do birding. But for sports this lens is great albeit lifting weights 🏋🏽♀️ just to heft the thing outdoors.
Great comment, many thanks Karim.
It is so heavy but a magnificent lens. Just hurts to carry this around all day. I went with the Panasonic S Pro 70-200 f2.8 for the constant aperture but the 90-280 is extremely prime lens level sharp. It beats the S Pro except in weight and aperture range. The S Pro is about 85% sharp comparing to that Leica. Way lighter over the longer run and the focus clutch is pretty cool with the lens I.S, AF/MF, and focus range switch. I miss the 90-280 but I realised it would be an expensive lens to just stay in the dry cabinet 90% of the time.
Math,
I have no doubt that if there really is an SL3 coming that you are already testing and reviewing. Looking forward to watching and learning and then maybe buying. Your reviews are absolutely the best and without sycophantic hyperbole.
Did you use an old firmware for this review? As you know, the SL2 has eye detection now, but the review only shows face detect.
Firmware is up to date
It is a great lens - I used it in the Mosul operation for a year, later in documentary photography for my book about Kurdistan than sometimes in a studio. Perfect allrounder and the quality is amazing! Weathersealing was enough for war photography…
Great to hear, thx for sharing
Nice review Matt
I always wonder with those large zooms, is the fall off from aperture (2.8-4) linear or progressive.
Thanks for sharing
Have a great weekend !!
As far as i know, it only becomes slower at ca. 220mm. Until this region it is f2.8.
not bad !!
Indeed pretty good :)
Hello Matt good information that said, how does the lens compares to the SL Prime Lenses? Thank you
Great video, Math! Could you please compare that to the Leica R 280 mm lens, please?
Math. Can you review the SL 16-35??? And what is better…The 24-90 at 35mm or the 16-35 at 35mm?? Curious to see who wins the overlap
Fully agree! I just took this lens with my SL2 to Costa Rica. Wonderful images are the results, “if you can live with some wasted images”. That was true when shooting my kids on surf boards. Thank you again, Bart
Thanks Bart. Can imagine that some shots on fast moving kids were missed but all-in it is a great lens!
amazing lens. the sharpness is really amazing. but i bet you need a whole garnison for it xD. My Lumic 70-200 f2.8 is already rly heavy.
Excellent review!
Many thanks!
Wow must be amazing, but out of my range will be sticking to Sony, thanks for the look though always good to dream ! 😍
Thanks - it is an expensive lens like many lenses from Leica, indeed
Leica lens + apo = unlimited sharpness
Indeed :)
@Mathphotographer Thank you very much for that beautiful review! Compared to the new Nikon 70-200, any thoughts in terms of resolution power or sharpness? Have a very good day!
I can't confirm it 100%, but AFAIK, the SL lenses are the sharpest lenses that you can buy today. The new Sony zooms are also excellent. It would be interesting to compare them.
@@Biosynchro Yes agree! The rendering differences and sharpness can be very interesting to compare!
How is the lens perform on a TL2?
Ive loved everything about the leica sl system when I had it but the autofocus is really bad compared to that of canon, sony, and Nikon mirrorless systems. I was sad to part with my Leica after a year! When they improve the autofocus system I'll consider going back but if it cant do the basics of following a walking subject at wide apertures then it just doesnt fit in with my requirements
Even using the current SL2 with the newest firmware, I had no problems with the AF-C following a walking subject (like bride and groom). Even bicycles and cars approaching the camera can be tracked quite reasonable meanwhile. Maybe give it a try... Before the last two firmware updates, AF-C and Face detection was unusable for me. Now, the AF-C and especially the Eye/Face/Body detection is still significantly behind Canon or Sony level, but IMO already more useful than that of my Fuji X-T3/4 AF system.
I think focus tracking works ... but yes, not as good as on a Nikon Z9 or a Sony A1, fully agree
I shot the Westminster Dog show with this lens on a SL2 body and got 90% keepers using zone tracking with the joy stick. Absolutely no problems with autofocus whatsoever using back button manual tracking.
Can you explain why they make it 2.8 to 4.0?
Because f/4 at 280mm is still very wide open, very wide
I can explain that. The engineers are Leica believe that a sliding aperture zoom will give you much better image quality. This makes sense, as the Sigma 24-70/2.8 cannot compete with the 24-90/2.8-4. Although, to be fair, the Sigma is much cheaper. The Leica, though, performs almost like a cinema lens, and has excellent performance at all distances and focal lengths.
@@Biosynchro spot on analysis.
What is this??? 06:28😀
I sold my 90-280, although it is sharp but the weight is unbearable
Heavy indeed - as is the 24-90mm
Only Achilles heel with the two. I use those and leave my primes home. Without a BlackRapid strap hefting those lens are really difficult. But the rendering and sharpness are unmatched IMHO.