Last Updated on 11/15/2024 by Chris Gampat
Leica is one of the few companies that has built on its heritage in the modern world. They have continuously strived to provide the best gear for photographers, and their commitment has never wavered over the years. It’s also why our team members purchased a Leica for personal use. But it isn’t just the great quality and performance that drives us to Leica; it’s the fact they give you a camera that can you all your life. Leica has never wavered from repairing cameras that they discontinued. So, when Leica, Sigma, and Panasonic announced their holy trinity in 2018, we were quite excited. Two years after that, we created a comprehensive guide, and today, we share the biggest update on the L-mount lens guide.
Some Changes Along the Way
Our last update to this guide was three years ago, during the pandemic, when we reviewed 35 L-mount lenses. Today, that number stands at 48. However, you will notice that some of Sigma’s latest L-mount lenses are missing from the mix. For instance, the 50mm f1.2 Art, the 15mm f1.4 fisheye Art, or the 500mm f5.6 Sports. The reason was that Sigma chose to cut us, too. The shorter version of the story is Sigma stopped sending us Non-Disclosure Agreement announcements after our real-world reviews critiqued their lenses. And it’s not just them; we have done the same with Sony, Nikon, and Canon. However, instead of being okay with how we work, they paid YouTubers to break the news announcements (a few such creators told us so). Upon our confrontation, Sigma asked us to get on a call, but we chose to continue the conversation via email. And just like that, the press relationship ended.
Being our authentic selves has been a problem for some. That shows how much some camera manufacturers prefer clinically perfect image quality over everything else. In one of the last reviews, which was of the Sigma 16-28mm f2.8, we wrote how Sony’s own ultrawide does a better job at “reducing barrel distortion and keeping lines straight,” which makes the Sigma lens “a bit more whimsical.” Moreover, the weather-sealing is only at the mount. We reported the pros and cons, just as our journalistic ethics guide us to. And we shouldn’t be held accountable for it.
What You Will Find in The L-mount Lens Guide
The L-mount lens guide features a table of contents to help you navigate between the various offerings. Before our fallout with Sigma, we reviewed some of their exceptional lenses, which are also included in the guide. In addition, the lenses have been arranged from the widest focal lengths to the longest, making it easy for you to navigate between the options.
Furthermore, the L-mount lens guide also features some odd additions. For instance, each brand offers three different 24-70mm f2.8 lens offerings. That’s concerning because each brand needs to do something different than make a mess of the entries. For instance, with the Leica 24-70mm, we noted that it is a “Leica branded lens with Sigma’s optics,” and the company has done so recently, too. As for Panasonic and Sigma, they both offered great image quality, but each had its own shortcomings.
In that regard, we expect you to read our reviews, which are also linked in the guide. We hope you find what you are looking for in our in-depth guide. Have a great shopping day!