The letter L in L-bayonet was synonymous with Leica and luxury, high-end optics that few photographers had enough money to buy. But thanks to Panasonic and Sigma joining the L-mount alliance, there are now three top L-mount lens manufacturers, leading to more options at different price points.
Based on our own experience and user reviews, we’ve rounded up the best L-mount lenses for Sigma, Panasonic and Leica cameras. And since an L-bracket can easily get expensive, we’ve included a few cheaper alternatives.
The best L-Mount wide angle main
Sigma 35mm f/1.2 DG DN Art
Why you should buy this: Excellent sharpness and bokeh make this Sigma one of the best 35mm lenses.
Who it’s for: Landscape, street, portrait — every photographer looking for a bright wide-angle
Why we chose Sigma 35mm F1.2 DG DN Art:
With excellent sharpness and stunning bokeh, the Sigma 35mm F1.2 Art is an exceptional lens — so exceptional, in fact, that it may be overkill for the average photographer. But for a must-have pixel peeper with the latest and greatest, few can beat the Sigma 35mm f/1.2 Art.
The lens is exceptional mainly because of the image quality. Sharpness is among the best we’ve tested and there’s little real difference between f/1.2 and stopping down to f/2.8. Bokeh is excellent — swirling and dreamy at f/1.2, flatter at larger apertures. We could not detect any chromatic aberration which, combined with the sharpness, makes the lens ideal for the highest resolution L-mount cameras.
If there’s anything to complain about, it’s vignetting at f/1.2, which is significant enough to negate some of that wide-aperture light-gathering power.
Although it is a wide-angle lens, the Sigma 35mm f/1.2 Art is not that portable. The f/1.2 optics make for a large, heavy lens. The lens is weatherproof and, in the nod to the videographer, has an aperture de-click switch and a focus lock button.
Do you need a Sigma 35mm f/1.2 Art? Probably not, but you’ll want to. It’s a commendable lens and, given the f/1.2 aperture, it’s also reasonably priced compared to the f/1.4 competition.
Budget alternative: The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art lens may not be as bright, or as sharp, and it’s not made specifically for mirrorless cameras, but it’s still available in L mount and can be had for less than a grand.
Read our review Sigma 35mm f/1.2 Art
The best L-mount wide-angle zoom
Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DN Art
Why you should buy this: A compact, sharp lens that shoots ultra-wide angles
For whom it is intended: photographers of travel, street and landscape photography
Why we chose the Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8:
Designed specifically for mirrorless, the Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DN Art is a feat of engineering, as an ultra-wide zoom range and bright aperture typically require large and heavy optics. Almost half a kilogram lighter than Sigma’s older version of the DSLR, the lens is much easier to carry. It is the first bright, 14-24mm for L-mount.
Apart from the smaller size, the design is also weather resistant. The wide-angle view requires a curved front element, so you can’t use front filters, but the leaf filter holder on the back of the lens makes up for it.
Optically, the Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DN Art does not bring any surprises, maintaining the high bar set by other lenses in the Art series. Sharpness is solid, and chromatic aberration is low. Distortion, almost impossible to eliminate at such a wide angle, is subtle and easy to correct after shooting, with vignetting also easy to remove after shooting or by stopping down past f/4.
Budget alternative: The L-mount doesn’t really have a cheaper ultra-wide zoom. If you can’t spend the money, consider a basic lens like the Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art.
Read our review Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DN Art
The best L-mount lens for portraits
Panasonic Lumix S Pro 50mm f/1.4
Daven Mathies/Digital Trends
Image used with permission of the copyright holder
Taken on a Lumix S1 Image used with permission of the copyright holder
Shot on a Lumix S1 Daven Mathies/Digital Trends
Why you should buy this: Superior image quality and fast autofocus with a well-built lens
For whom it is intended: professional portrait photographers and serious enthusiasts
Why we chose the Panasonic Lumix S Pro 50mm f/1.4:
The price of the Panasonic Lumix S PRO 50mm f/1.4 approaches Leica territory, but the images with this lens are excellent. A bright f/1.4 aperture is ideal for low light and defocused backgrounds, while superb sharpness allows the lens to capture excellent detail, even when working with high-resolution bodies. The 11-blade aperture helps create circular bokeh even when you’re not shooting wide open.
As the Pro name suggests, the construction is top notch, with weather resistance and a very solid feel. A manual focus clutch allows you to quickly switch from automatic to manual by pulling the focus ring. Weighing in at 2.1 pounds and over five inches long, the lens is on the larger side at 50mm, but that’s just what’s needed for such great optics.
The L-mount has some great options for portraits — including the Sigma 85mm and 105mm F1.4 Art lenses, although these aren’t mirrorless specific — but the image quality that comes with the Panasonic Lumix S Pro 50mm f/1.4 is simply superb, if you can afford it.
Budget alternative: Half the price with a longer focal length, the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art is an excellent alternative.
See more images in our Panasonic Lumix S1 review
The best mid-range L-mount zoom lens
Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90mm f/2.8-4 ASPH
Image used with permission of the copyright holder
Why you should buy this: The versatility of a zoom combined with the image quality of a prime lens
Who’s it for: Any photographer who needs a workhorse zoom — and has a big budget
Why we chose the Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90mm f/2.8-4 ASPH:
Where smaller zooms sacrifice sharpness for versatility, the Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90mm f/2.8-4 ASPH rivals prime-time image quality. Photos are extremely sharp, and the optical stabilization system rated at 3.5 stops helps keep blur from obscuring that detail.
While the f/4 lens is on the long end, the f/2.8 on the wide end is admirable for this type of lens. The Leica has balanced brightness and zoom range to create a rather unique lens. It offers a slightly wider range than the standard 24-70mm f/2.8 and slightly smaller than the standard 24-105mm f/4, while its variable maximum aperture covers the difference between the two common lens types.
The lens’s autofocus is both quick and quiet, although the electronic focusing system isn’t ideal for shooters who want to focus manually.
In terms of design, the lens is weatherproof and also uses water-repellent coatings on the front and rear glass. It’s a bit of a beast to carry around, though, at 2.5 pounds.
There’s no getting around the fact that that red dot logo means the lens costs more than some used cars. And while it manages to do the seemingly impossible and offer the best image quality in zoom, few will want to shell out that much money for a lens, especially now that the L-Mount alliance means there are more options than ever before.
Budget alternative: If you’re dying inside when you see the price of a Leica, consider the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art, which should be released in February 2020, for about a fifth of the price.
The best telephoto L-mount lens
Panasonic Lumix S Pro 70-200mm f/2.8 OIS
Image used with permission of the copyright holder
Why you should buy this: This versatile telephoto captures some stunning images
Who it’s for: serious photographers and professionals looking for a longer lens
Why we chose the Panasonic Lumix S Pro 70-200mm f/2.8 OIS:
The Panasonic Lumix S Pro 70-200mm f/2.8 OIS is a new release, but initial reviews suggest this lens will be a heavy hitter. It offers solid image quality with sharp details and good colors and contrast. As with other Panasonic Pro-series lenses, distortion and aberration should be minimal. An 11-blade aperture and an autofocus system designed to reduce focus breathing should appeal to videographers as well as photographers.
One of the biggest features of the lens is stabilization, which when used with Dual IS 2.0 on the Panasonic S1 and S1R is good for up to a whopping 7 stops of stabilization. Combined with a bright f/2.8 constant aperture, the S Pro 70-200mm should be a beast in low light.
Beast is also an apt term due to its weight of 3.45 pounds, which can make the lens more difficult to use in all-day shooting. That weight, fortunately, indicates top-notch build quality, and the lens is completely weatherproof. And finally, while the price isn’t pocket money, it’s pretty similar to what other brands charge for the bright 70-200mm.
Budget alternative: Moving up to an f/4 lens creates a lot of wiggle room in the budget with optics like the Panasonic Lumix S Pro 70-200mm f/4 OIS.
Editor’s recommendations
Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn