Skip to main content

Leica’s new APO-Summicron lenses are made with portrait photographers in mind

leica sl apo summicron 90mm 75mm
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Leica has announced two new APO-Summicron 90mm f/2 and 75mm f/2 lenses for the Leica SL full-frame mirrorless camera. The two lenses are the first models of a new high-performance Summicron-SL line, which is made in Germany using “extremely precise” engineering, according to Leica. The lenses promise sharp optics with less chromatic aberration, improved autofocus speed, and better close-focusing distance. Both models will go on sale in February from authorized retailers, Leica boutiques, and Leica.

The two telephoto primes are clearly made with portrait photographers in mind. According to Leica, the 75mm “captures exceptional natural portraits” while the longer 90mm will yield a shallower depth of field and introduce more compression distortion, a flattering effect suitable for headshots and other single-subject portraits.

Recommended Videos

Leica also citess the new autofocus stepper motors and Dual Synchro Drive (DSD) as being a boon for portraiture, making it easier for photographers to capture the decisive moment. The DSD system is capable of moving the focus element from minimum to maximum focus in just 250 milliseconds. The SL is Leica’s first full-frame mirrorless camera to include autofocus, and this is a key differentiator between it and the more established M rangefinder system.

As the APO label designates, both the 75mm and 90mm are apochromatic lenses, meaning they are designed to focus red, green, and blue light to the same point. This should mean a significant reduction in chromatic aberration, or color fringing, over non-APO lenses. As chromatic aberration is most noticeable at wide apertures, this further helps these lenses in portrait situations, where wide apertures are often preferred in order to create a shallow depth of field.

Despite a 15mm difference in focal length, both lenses are quite similar in terms of their outward appearance and physical design. Each is built with 11 elements in nine groups, measures 102 millimeters long by 73mm wide, and have similar weight (720 grams for the 75mm, 700 for the 90mm). There’s a bit more difference in the price, with the 75mm coming in at $4,750, while the 90mm will cost $5,150.

According to Leica, the SL lens selection will expand even further later this year, with the Summicron 35mm f/2 and APO-Summicron 50mm f/2 arriving in the second half of the year.

Daven Mathies
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Daven is a contributing writer to the photography section. He has been with Digital Trends since 2016 and has been writing…
GoPro launches ultralight, affordable Hero 4K Camera for $199
The 2024 GoPro hero is frozen in ice.

GoPro enthusiasts have a new camera to consider after the company introduced its miniature, ultralight 4K Hero late last week. It is the company's smallest and most affordable offering, costing just $199.

The Hero is waterproof and combines GoPro's simplest user interface with 4K video, 2x slo-mo at 2.7K resolution, and 12-megapixel photos. It is available on retail shelves around the world and online at GoPro's website.

Read more
The best camera phones in 2024: our top 9 photography picks
A person holding the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

In the past decade or so, cameras on smartphones have evolved so much that they can pretty much replace a standalone digital camera for most people. The results you can get on some of the best smartphones these days are just so impressive, and being able to be with you at all times means you'll never miss a moment.

But what if you want the best possible camera phone money can buy? A camera that won't let you down no matter what you're taking a picture of? You've come to the right place. Here are the very best camera phones you can buy in 2024.

Read more
An ace photographer is about to leave the ISS. Here are his best shots
The moon and Earth as seen from the ISS.

NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick is preparing to return to Earth after spending seven months living and working aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

After arriving at the orbital outpost, Dominick -- who is on his first mission to space -- quickly earned a reputation for being an ace photographer. He's been using the facility’s plethora of high-end cameras and lenses to capture amazing shots from his unique vantage point some 250 miles above Earth. Sharing his content on social media, the American astronaut has always been happy to reveal how he captured the imagery and offer extra insight for folks interested to know more.

Read more