What’s the secret behind the Leica look? Well, besides their incredible lenses, it has to do with the way their cameras are used. Admit it, sometimes you end up browsing Reddit or Instagram to find photos shot on a Leica that you fall head over heels for. In this roundup, we dove into our Reviews Index to find the best Leica lenses for portraits that deliver a modern look and stellar performance. These are the ones you’ll want to get.
Table of Contents
Understanding LEica LEns Nomenclature

Some things about Leica SL lenses might not be clear. Here are a few things worth quickly explaining to folks:
- Summicron: Leica’s designation for a lens being an f2 maximum aperture
- SL: Meaning the lens is designed for full-frame L-mount cameras
- ASPH: Aspherical lens elements
- APO: Apochromatic design
- M: Designed for full-frame M-mount cameras
- Noctilux: Faster than f1.4
- Summilux: f1.4 through f1.7
- Summarit: f2.4 and f2.5
- Elmarit: f2.8
- Elmar: Around f3.4 to f4
- Summaron: f5.6
- Telyt: Long telephoto focal length
Understanding the Best Leica Lenses for Portraits

Here’s what you need to know about the best Leica lenses for portraits:
- We’re recommending Leica SL lenses in this roundup. Those lenses are for L Mount. They work with any Leica L-Mount camera and any Leica TL camera.
- Why are these the best Leica lenses for portraits? The ancient (sort of) secret is apochromatic lenses. Essentially, apochromatic elements work in a unique way that takes whatever is in focus and adds more contrast to it. The resulting image makes it seem like the subject is popping out of the scene. These lenses work best shooting wide open. Combine that with the autofocus of the Leica SL system and you’re in for a great time.
- All the best Leica lenses for portraits are weather-sealed. And they’ve done a great job with that too!
- These lenses have a metal exterior, so they’re durable enough to handle lots of abuse.
- Leica SL lenses are all autofocus. You can zone focus with them, but they’re not going to work the same as Leica M-mount lenses.
- Leica sticks with their classical focal lengths when it comes to prime lenses. Specifically, we’re recommending prime lenses as the best Leica lenses for portraits.
- Pretty much the entire f2 prime lens range are the same size. We’re not recommending the Leica 50mm f1.4 SL lens, despite the fact that it’s undeniably an incredible lens. It just doesn’t have the same Leica character as Summicron SL lenses.
- On the Leica SL2, the Leica SL Prime Lenses will render their sharpest images because of the resolution of the sensor. Keep this in mind when retouching.
- On the Leica SL2-S, the Leica SL Prime Lenses will focus faster and help passionate photographers in low-light situations better. Our Editor in Chief uses the Leica SL2-S as his main camera for most situations.
Leica APO-Summicron-SL 28mm f2 ASPH
- The fastest autofocusing Leica lens we’ve used to date
- Great colors
- Keeps distortion down
- Beautiful bokeh
- Does a nice job with portraiture
In our review, we state:
“What’s to hate about the Leica 28mm f2 Summicron SL’s image quality? Honestly, nothing. Leica’s colors are always outstanding. The bokeh from this lens is beautiful and surely packs a bit of character. On top of that, it’s an incredibly sharp lens.”
Essential Tech Specs
- Fast wide-angle lens with f2 aperture
- Excellent optical performance
- Extremely fast and reliable autofocus with Dual Synchro Drive
- Close-focusing down to 0.24m
- Same dimensions and filter size as all APO-Summicron-SL lenses
- L-mount

Leica APO-Summicron-SL 50mm f2 ASPH
- Beautiful metal build
- Excellent mix of quality and character
- Nice contrast
- Lovely bokeh
- Simple design
- About 25% lighter than the Leica 50mm f1.4 SL
In our review, we state:
“While it’s not the brightest nifty fifty for L mount shooters, the Leica 50mm f2 SL still delivers beautiful bokeh, solid contrast, and minimal distortion. The lens offers an ideal balance of the things modern photographers are looking for without eliminating the potential for a bit of character. The lens mixes minimal distortion and good sharpness with the potential for some flare.”
Essential Tech Specs
- High performance in a handy format
- New dimension of visual aesthetics
- Versatile standard focal length extends the lens portfolio of the Leica SL and other L-mount systems
- Quick and quiet focusing thanks to precision autofocus system with Dual Syncro Drive TM
- Precise production “Made in Germany” under the highest quality standards
- Reflection and scattered light optimization through high quality coating and optimized frame geometry
- AquaDura ® coating for dust and spray protection for use in everyday photography under extreme conditions

Leica APO-Summicron-SL 90mm f2 ASPH
- Small size
- Metal exterior
- Build quality, it’s weather sealed!
- Beautiful image quality
- Fast focus and tracking with the Leica SL2s
- Nice bokeh that you’re going to love!
- Sharp, but not overly sharp! Leica has this wonderful balance
In our review, we state:
“Optically speaking, there isn’t much to say about the Leica 90mm f2 SL besides the fact that it’s perfect. It’s got colors you’re going to love. And that bokeh? Oh, man! You’ll almost feel like you’re shooting with a 135mm! It’s also sharp without being too sharp.”
Essential Tech Specs
- High performance in a handy format
- Quick and quiet focusing thanks to precision autofocus system with Dual Syncro Drive TM
- Precise production “Made in Germany” under the highest quality standards
- Reflection and scattered light optimization through high quality coating and optimized frame geometry
- AquaDura ® coating for dust and spray protection for use in everyday photography under extreme conditions
- The eye detection enables sharp, pinpoint portraits, even with very shallow depth of field
- The high detail contrast in combination with the maximum magnification of 1: 5 provides impressive images
- L-mount bayonet

This piece is presented in partnership with Leica. We’ve independently and ethically reviewed all the lenses in this roundup already without sponsorship. And we worked with them to recommend a few key gems to you. The Phoblographer’s various product round-up features are done in-house. Our philosophy is simple: you wouldn’t get a Wagyu beef steak review from a lifelong vegetarian. And you wouldn’t get photography advice from someone who doesn’t touch the product.