Best Lenses for Leica SL, Lumix S and Sigma Cameras (L-Mount)

In October 2015, Leica introduced the Leica SL as its first mirrorless interchangeable lens camera with a full-frame sensor and an L-mount. The L-mount was so far limited to Leica products, but things took a surprising turn in September 2018 when Leica, Panasonic and Sigma announced the L-Mount Alliance. It allows  all three partners to use the L-mount not only for their lenses, but also for their cameras. The current camera models include the iconic Sigma BF, the compact Lumix S9, the mid-range Lumix S5 II, its video-enhanced sibling Lumix S5 IIX and the similarly specced Leica SL3-S, the high-resolution Lumix S1R II and the flagship Leica SL3 with a 60 megapixel sensor and 8K video. 

This page provides an overview of the extensive catalog of L-mount full-frame lenses. These are mostly autofocus lenses, but selected manual focus lenses may also be included. Manual focus lenses are marked by an asterisk (*), purely mechanical lenses with no digital coupling to the camera by a double asterisk (**). L-mount lenses for cameras with smaller APS-C sensors are listed separately.

For every lens, the following major characteristics are given:

  • Focal length.
  • Maximum aperture. It has a strong influence on the lighting conditions under which the lens can be used, and how shallow the depth of field can be. Fast lenses also tend to be much bigger, heavier, and more expensive. Green labels indicate fast lenses (> f/2), red labels indicate slow lenses (< f/4).
  • Filter size. It serves as a representative of the length, diameter and weight of the lens. Green labels indicate compact lenses (filter size < 60 mm), red labels indicate big lenses (> 70 mm).
  • Minimum focus distance (MFD). It has a major influence on the magnification that can be achieved, as well as the depth of field.
  • Another important point is of course the price, but it is different in every market and currency. Instead, plenty of links to independent reviews are provided to help you find the best lens for your needs.

1 Prime lenses

Lenses with a fixed focal length.

1.1 Fisheye lenses

Ultra wide angle lenses with purposeful strong distortions.

Lens         Filter ⌀ MFD Reviews
Sigma Art 15 mm 1.4 DG DN Diagonal FIsheye n/a 0.385 m  

1.2 Wide angle lenses

Lens         Filter ⌀ MFD Reviews
Sigma Art 14 mm 1.4 DG DN n/a 0.30 m TP
Sigma Contem­porary 17 mm 4 DG DN 55 mm 0.12 m TP
Panasonic Lumix S 18 mm 1.8   67 mm 0.18 m AP, TP
Sigma Art 20 mm 1.4 DG DN 82 mm 0.23 m  
Sigma Contem­porary 20 mm 2 DG DN 62 mm 0.22 m TP
Leica Super-APO-Summicron-SL 21 mm 2   67 mm 0.21 m  
Sigma Art 24 mm 1.4 DG DN 72 mm 0.25 m  
Panasonic Lumix S 24 mm 1.8   67 mm 0.24 m TP
Sigma Contem­porary 24 mm 2 DG DN 62 mm 0.25 m TP
Sigma Contem­porary 24 mm 3.5 DG DN 55 mm 0.108 m TP
*Panasonic Lumix S 26 mm 8   n/a 0.25 m TP
Leica APO-Summicron-SL 28 mm 2   67 mm 0.24 m TP
Sigma Art 35 mm 1.2 DG DN 82 mm 0.30 m TP
Sigma Art 35 mm 1.4 DG DN 67 mm 0.30 m DP
Panasonic Lumix S 35 mm 1.8   67 mm 0.24 m TP
Leica APO-Summicron-SL 35 mm 2   67 mm 0.27 m  
Leica Summicron-SL 35 mm 2   67 mm 0.24 m  
Sigma Contem­porary 35 mm 2 DG DN 58 mm 0.27 m CL, TP

1.3 Standard lenses

Lenses with a focal length around the image sensor diagonal of 43 mm that provide a natural perspective.

Lens         Filter ⌀ MFD Reviews
Sigma Contem­porary 45 mm 2.8 DG DN 55 mm 0.24 m  
Sigma Art 50 mm 1.2 DG DN 72 mm 0.40 m CL
Leica Summilux-SL 50 mm 1.4   82 mm 0.60 m TP
Panasonic Lumix S Pro 50 mm 1.4   77 mm 0.44 m CL, TP
Sigma Art 50 mm 1.4 DG DN 72 mm 0.45 m  
Meike AF 50 mm 1.8   58 mm 0.63 m  
Panasonic Lumix S 50 mm 1.8   67 mm 0.45 m TP
Leica APO-Summicron-SL 50 mm 2   67 mm 0.35 m TP
Leica Summicron-SL 50 mm 2   67 mm 0.45 m  
Sigma Contem­porary 50 mm 2 DG DN 58 mm 0.45 m  

1.4 Telephoto lenses

Lens         Filter ⌀ MFD Reviews
Sigma Contem­porary 65 mm 2 DG DN 62 mm 0.55 m TP
Leica APO-Summicron-SL 75 mm 2   67 mm 0.50 m  
TTArtisan AF 75 mm 2   62 mm 0.75 m  
Sigma Art 85 mm 1.4 DG DN 77 mm 0.85 m  
Panasonic Lumix S 85 mm 1.8   67 mm 0.80 m TP
Leica APO-Summicron-SL 90 mm 2   67 mm 0.60 m TP
Sigma Contem­porary 90 mm 2.8 DG DN 55 mm 0.50 m  
Sigma Sports 500 mm 5.6 DG DN OS 95 mm 3.20 m CL

1.5 Macro lenses

Lenses with a small minimum focus distance and a high magnification.

Lens         Filter ⌀ MFD Reviews
Panasonic Lumix S 100 mm 2.8 Macro 67 mm 0.204 m AP, CL, TP
Sigma Art 105 mm 2.8 DG DN Macro 62 mm 0.30 m TP

2 Zoom lenses

Lenses with a variable focal length.

2.1 Wide angle zoom lenses

Lens         Filter ⌀ MFD Reviews
Leica Super-Vario-Elmarit-SL 14-24 mm 2.8   n/a 0.28 m  
Sigma Art 14-24 mm 2.8 DG DN n/a 0.28 m CL
Panasonic Lumix S 14-28 mm 4-5.6 Macro 77 mm 0.15 m AP
Sigma Contemporary 16-28 mm 2.8 DG DN 72 mm 0.25 m  
Leica Super-Vario-Elmar-SL 16-35 mm 3.5-4.5   82 mm 0.25 m TP
Panasonic Lumix S Pro 16-35 mm 4   77 mm 0.25 m  
Panasonic Lumix S 18-40 mm 4.5-6.3   62 mm 0.15 m  

2.2 Standard zoom lenses

Zoom range from moderate wide angle to moderate telephoto.

Lens         Filter ⌀ MFD Reviews
Panasonic Lumix S 20-60 mm 3.5-5.6   67 mm 0.15 m CL, TP
Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70 mm 2.8   82 mm 0.18 m TP
Panasonic Lumix S Pro 24-70 mm 2.8   82 mm 0.37 m TP
Sigma Art 24-70 mm 2.8 DG DN II 82 mm 0.17 m  
Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90 mm 2.8-4   82 mm 0.30-0.45 m TP
Panasonic Lumix S 24-105 mm 4 Macro OIS 77 mm 0.30 m TP
Sigma Art 28-45 mm 1.8 DG DN 82 mm 0.30 m  
Sigma Contem­porary 28-70 mm 2.8 DG DN 67 mm 0.19-0.38 m DP
Sigma Art 28-105 mm 2.8 DG DN 82 mm 0.40 m  
Samyang AF 35-150 mm 2-2.8 L 82 mm 0.33-0.85 m  

2.3 Superzoom lenses

Like standard zooms, but with an approximately 10x zoom range.

Lens         Filter ⌀ MFD Reviews
Panasonic Lumix S 28-200 mm 4-7.1 Macro OIS 67 mm 0.14 m AP

2.4 Telephoto zoom lenses

Lens         Filter ⌀ MFD Reviews
Sigma Sports 60-600 mm 4.5-6.3 DG DN OS 105 mm 0.45-2.60 m  
Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 70-200 mm 2.8 ASPH 82 mm 0.65-1.00 m  
Panasonic Lumix S Pro 70-200 mm 2.8 OIS 82 mm 0.95 m TP
Sigma Sports 70-200 mm 2.8 DG DN OS 77 mm    
Panasonic Lumix S Pro 70-200 mm 4 OIS 77 mm 0.92 m CL, TP
Panasonic Lumix S 70-300 mm 4.5-5.6 Macro OIS 77 mm 0.54-0.74 m DP, TP
Leica APO-Vario-Elmarit-SL 90-280 mm 2.8-4   82 mm 0.60-1.40 m TP
Leica Vario-Elmar-SL 100-400 mm 5-6.3   82 mm 1.10-1.59 m  
Sigma Contem­porary 100-400 mm 5-6.3 DG DN OS 67 mm 1.12-1.60 m  
Sigma Sports 150-600 mm 5-6.3 DG DN OS 95 mm 0.58-2.80 m DP, TP

3 Teleconverters

Teleconverters extend the focal length of matching telephoto lenses by a certain factor.

Lens         Filter ⌀ MFD Reviews
Leica Extender L 1.4x 1.4x     n/a n/a TP
Leica Extender L 2.0x 2.0xx     n/a n/a  
Panasonic Lumix STC14 1.4x     n/a n/a  
Panasonic Lumix STC20 2x     n/a n/a  
Sigma TC-1411 1.4x     n/a n/a  
Sigma TC-2011 2x     n/a n/a  

References

The linked reviews are by Amateur Photographer (AP), CameraLabs (CL), DPReview (DP), LensTip (LT), OpticalLimits (OL), The Phoblographer (TP), and others. LensTip and OpticalLimits focus on laboratory testing, the others on real-world photography.