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

In October 2015, Leica introduced the professional 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. Current camera models include the very compact Sigma FP, the entry-level Panasonic Lumix S5 II (also the first L-mount camera to feature phase-detect autofocus), the mainstream Leica SL2-S and Lumix S1, the high-resolution Leica SL2 and Lumix S1R, and the video-centric Lumix S1H with 6K video. 

This page provides an overview of the quickly growing catalog of full-frame L-mount lenses. These are mostly autofocus lenses, but selected manual focus lenses may also be included. L-mount lenses for cameras with a smaller APS-C sensor 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, links to independent reviews are given which will help you to find the best lens for your needs.

Note that additional designations such as ASPH, OIS and OS that are not necessary to identify a lens are omitted. Manual focus lenses are marked by an asterisk (*), purely mechanical lenses with no digital coupling to the camera are marked by a double asterisk (**).

1 Prime lenses

Lenses with a fixed focal length.

1.1 Fisheye lenses

Ultra wide angle lenses with purposeful strong distortions.

lens   focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
    mm   mm m  

1.2 Wide angle lenses

lens   focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
    mm   mm m  
Sigma DG HSM | Art 14 1.8 n/a 0.27  
Sigma DG DN | Contem­porary 17 4 55 0.12  
Panasonic Lumix S 18 1.8 67 0.18  
Sigma DG DN | Art 20 1.4 82 0.23  
Sigma DG DN | Contem­porary 20 2 62 0.22  
Sigma DG DN | Art 24 1.4 72 0.25  
Panasonic Lumix S 24 1.8 67 0.24  
Sigma DG DN | Contem­porary 24 2 62 0.25  
Sigma DG DN | Contem­porary 24 3.5 55 0.108  
Sigma DG HSM | Art 28 1.4 77 0.28  
Leica APO-Summicron-SL 28 2 67 0.24  
Sigma DG DN | Art 35 1.2 82 0.30  
Sigma DG DN | Art 35 1.4 67 0.30 DP
Panasonic Lumix S 35 1.8 67 0.24  
Leica APO-Summicron-SL 35 2 67 0.27  
Sigma DG DN | Contem­porary 35 2 58 0.27 CL

1.3 Standard lenses

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

lens   focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
    mm   mm m  
Sigma DG HSM | Art 40 1.4 82 0.40  
Sigma DG DN | Contem­porary 45 2.8 55 0.24  
Leica Summilux-SL 50 1.4 82 0.60  
Panasonic Lumix S Pro 50 1.4 77 0.44 CL
Sigma DG DN | Art 50 1.4 72 0.45  
Panasonic Lumix S 50 1.8 67 0.45  
Leica APO-Summicron-SL 50 2 67 0.35  
Sigma DG DN | Contem­porary 50 2 58 0.45  
Sigma DG DN | Contem­porary 65 2 62 0.55  

1.4 Telephoto lenses

lens   focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
    mm   mm m  
Leica APO-Summicron-SL 75 2 67 0.50  
Sigma DG DN | Art 85 1.4 77 0.85  
Panasonic Lumix S 85 1.8 67 0.80  
Leica APO-Summicron-SL 90 2 67 0.60  
Sigma DG DN | Contem­porary 90 2.8 55 0.50  
Sigma DG HSM | Art 105 1.4 105 1.00  
Sigma DG HSM | Art 135 1.8 82 0.88  

1.5 Macro lenses

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

lens   focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
    mm   mm m  
Sigma DG Macro | Art 70 2.8 49 0.26  
Panasonic Lumix S Macro 100        
Sigma DG DN Macro  | Art 105 2.8 62 0.30  

2 Zoom lenses

Lenses with a variable focal length.

2.1 Wide angle zoom lenses

lens   focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
    mm   mm m  
Sigma DG DN | Art 14-24 2.8 n/a 0.28 CL
Panasonic Lumix S Macro 14-28 4-5.6 77 0.15  
Sigma DG DN | Contemporary 16-28 2.8 72 0.25  
Leica Super-Vario-Elmar-SL 16-35 3.5-4.5 82 0.25  
Panasonic Lumix S Pro 16-35 4 77 0.25  

2.2 Standard zoom lenses

Zoom range from moderate wide angle to moderate telephoto.

lens   focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
    mm   mm m  
Panasonic Lumix S 20-60 3.5-5.6 67 0.15 CL
Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70 2.8 82 0.18  
Panasonic Lumix S Pro 24-70 2.8 82 0.37  
Sigma DG DN | Art 24-70 2.8 82 0.18 DP
Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90 2.8-4 82 0.30-0.45  
Panasonic Lumix S Macro 24-105 4 77 0.30  
Sigma DG DN | Contem­porary 28-70 2.8 67 0.19-0.38  
Panasonic Lumix S 28-200        

2.3 Superzoom lenses

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

lens   focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
    mm   mm m  

2.4 Telephoto zoom lenses

lens   focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
    mm   mm m  
Sigma DG DN | Sports 60-600 4.5-6.3 105 0.45-2.60  
Panasonic Lumix S Pro 70-200 2.8 82 0.95  
Panasonic Lumix S Pro 70-200 4 77 0.92 CL
Panasonic Lumix S Macro 70-300 4.5-5.6 77 0.54-0.74 DP
Leica APO-Vario-Elmarit-SL 90-280 2.8-4 82 0.60-1.40  
Leica Vario-Elmar-SL 100-400 5-6.3 82 1.10-1.59  
Sigma DG DN | Contem­porary 100-400 5-6.3 67 1.12-1.60  
Sigma DG DN | Sports 150-600 5-6.3 95 0.58-2.80 DP

3 Teleconverters

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

lens   focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
Leica Extender L 1.4x 1.4x n/a n/a n/a  
Panasonic Lumix STC14 1.4x n/a n/a n/a  
Panasonic Lumix STC20 2x n/a n/a n/a  
Sigma TC-1411 1.4x n/a n/a n/a  
Sigma TC-2011 2x n/a n/a n/a  

References

The linked reviews are by CameraLabs (CL), DPReview (DP), LensTip (LT), MirrorLessons (ML) and OpticalLimits (OL). LT and OL focus on laboratory testing, CL, DP and ML on real world photography. Links in brackets refer to tests of earlier models.