What Other Brand Lenses Will Fit A Leica Cl Camera

Leica'due south CL system needs a bit of tender loving care. A new tart and a cappucino won't convince (Image Leica Photographic camera AG)

Sigma's decision to launch 3 APS-C primes for L-Mount is curious given that the only cameras they fit are both made by Leica – the TL range and the CL. These lenses were designed specifically for mirrorless cameras and accept won plaudits from reviewers, particularly in their Eastward-Mount guise. They are compact, light and well priced – at least in comparison with Leica's TL lineup which is at present looking increasingly dated.

It is possible, of course, that adding the L-Mountain to an existing lens is a relatively inexpensive procedure for Sigma. Perhaps the marketing gurus thought, simply, "why non". "We might sell some to existing Leica owners". From Leica's point of view, besides, a few fresh lenses won't come amiss in boosting torso sales, although I suspect the Sigmas volition cannibalise sales of the TL lenses.

Blindside for your buck: The 30mm f/1.four Contemporary prime for APS-C cameras has had excellent reports in its alternative mount guises. At present information technology comes to the L-Mount and tin exist compared with Leica's 35mm Summilux-TL. It represents a 45mm FF focal length compared with the Leica'southward 50mm. But at £330 it is nearly one-fifth of the price. Plus, it weighs only 280g compared with the Summilux's 498g. At the very to the lowest degree, it is an interesting contender. Permit's wait for the reviews.

The new lenses fill iii useful full-frame-equivalent focal length slots, 24mm, 45mm and 85mm. While the 30mm Sigma isn't a direct competitor for Leica'southward simply TL f/1.4, the 35mm Summilux, it comes pretty near and, I suspect, will concenter the same buyers. I like the 45mm focal length and would probably buy the Sigma in preference to the Summilux. It volition be interesting to read the reviews and direct comparisons with Leica glass.

Interestingly, the 45mm full-frame f/2.viii is one of my favourite lenses for the SL2. Information technology'due south then light and compact that it transforms the Leica into a more user-friendly package. For a full-frame lens, fifty-fifty 1 with a relatively wearisome f/ii.8 aperture, it is super light.

16mm, an f/ane.4 24mm equivalent for £450

Staggeringly, however, you tin can get all three of these fast APS-C lenses, covering all your everyday prime number needs, for under £1,200 compared with the £1,900 you'd accept to trounce out to buy just the ane Leica Summilux. Put another way, buying all Leica's TL primes (18mm, 23mm, 35mm and 60mm macro) volition set you back over £6,000. You can more or less encompass all bases with fast Sigmas for little more than 1-sixth of Leica'due south bill. They won't have the Leica bluecoat but…

Most people, I suspect, will be tempted by the Sigma trio and not just on price. They are modern, reputedly excellent (I oasis't tried whatsoever of them) and lite. Together, they certainly complement the TL/CL system.

The 23mm f/2 Summicron-TL is a fine lens, compact and light. But, at £1,425, it costs more than all three of Sigma's new f/1.4 primes. Food for thought (Image Leica Camera AG) — The 23mm f/2 Summicron-TL is a fine lens, compact and light. Simply, at £one,425, it costs more than all three of Sigma's new f/i.4 primes. Food for idea (Image Leica Photographic camera AG)

I said above that Sigma probably thought they might as well sell these lenses in L-Mount even though they may have not expected vast sales. The alternative mountain probably adds piddling to the overall product costs. In any case, these three lenses are eligible for Sigma's mount-swapping conversion so at that place won't accept been much work to be done. Launching them in 50-Mountain guise is a no-brainer. They volition certainly sell some to TL and CL owners at the expense of Leica.

These lenses, as well, will concenter owners of full-frame cameras, especially the S1R and SL2 with their 47MP sensors. Every bit lightweight, meaty primes they have a place on these cameras. The effective 20MP rendering on the larger sensor is non too far from that of the APS-C 24MP. Admittedly, on the old SL and the Panasonic S1, the megapixel count drops to but over 11, but this is all the same usable every bit I found in the by.

Leica's 35mm Summilux-TL on the first-generation SL. On this camera the resulting image is just under 11MP, simply is perfectly acceptable (image Mike Evans).

It's interesting, too, to explore the possibility of the utilize of L-Mount full-frame zooms on APS-C. The inexpensive but very competent Panasonic 24-105mm f/iv works surprisingly well on the CL and gives an equivalent reach of 36-158mm. It isn't as well heavy or cumbersome, and it brings stabilisation. It tin supervene upon both the eighteen-56mm and 55-135mm Leica TL lenses, particularly if you take i of those new 16mm Sigma primes in the corner of your pocketbook for wider-angle stuff. And, even, the new Sigma 100-400mm has a place on your CL – as a useful 150-560mm telephoto.

Leica's CL system needs a bit of tender loving care. A new tart and a cappucino won't convince (Image Leica Camera AG) — Leica's CL system needs a flake of tender loving care. A new tart and a cappucino won't convince (Paradigm Leica Camera AG)

The appearance of the L-Mount Alliance has certainly broadened prospects and it is the best affair that Leica could have done. With these new additions, Leica'south APS-C offerings will enjoy a new life.

Merely in that location could exist more to it? Could nosotros be well-nigh to see a new APS-C camera with L-Mount? It'due south an interesting question because the just company probable to produce a new APS-C body is Sigma itself.

Panasonic has stated quite categorically it is not interested in the APS-C marketplace. Like Fuji, which took the determination to leapfrog full-frame in favour of medium-format to complement its APS-C offerings, Panasonic decided sensibly that entering the APS-C market place would be counterproductive. With MFT and full-frame, they accept arguably the best complementary range to appeal to the modern photographer. Ignoring APS-C is probably the all-time thing Panasonic could accept washed.

Some other area of interest is Leica itself. Nearly commentators believe that the CL is due for an upgrade. One of the significant limitations of the unabridged TL/CL line up is the absence of stabilisation, either in the bodies or lenses. And then a new CL with IBIS would be a positive move.

However, we tin can't overlook the fact that Fuji and Sony have the APS-C slot neatly trussed and prepare for the oven (and Canon also is now showing its mettle).

As Leica has found, it is difficult to break into this market, particularly at a premium premium. A new CL will sell to the usual suspects, of class, but it volition demand more than that to drive a wedge into the Fuji/Sony duo.

Despite all this, for the past eighteen months, I take felt that Leica's APS-C offerings are overdue for a fleck of tender loving care. Peradventure Sigma'south move is a pre-emptive strike to go far early with a compelling range of lenses, just right for the launch of a new CL. We shall come across.

What do you lot think about Leica'southward APS-C prospects and the chances of a CL2? And are you interested in buying whatsoever of the new Sigma primes? Would you lot buy these ingather-frame lenses to use on Leica or Panasonic full-frame cameras?