Leica SL a real camera for the pro.

[Paulus]

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Yesterday I was in a camara shop in which a lot of pro's buy .

 

About the SL the shopkeep told me, that he and a lot of pro's are very exited. A lot of them are already used in every corner of the world. Some of them are in Iraque using the camera instead of the Nikons and the Canon.

 

I wonder if his story is backed up by some of you here?

 

 

[digitalfx]

There aren't a lot of them out yet, but why does it matter if a Pro uses the camera? Buy it because it works for you, not because it works for someone else.

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[earleygallery]

Sounds like he was hyping it up to make you buy - did it work?

[otto.f]

I think you meant a camera for the real pro. All cameras are real, not every photographer is as real a pro as another. 

That said, a camera for a real pro does not qualify it as a good instrument per se. It says that it is usefull to earn your money with. I doubt wether the SL is better in that respect than Nikon or Canon, as a system. All the hustle with adapters, that's really amateuristic. And the word amateur means lover; a pro is in it for the money. The SL is too expensive for a pro. 

Edited November 27, 2015 by otto.f

[ramarren]

I think you meant a camera for the real pro. All cameras are real, not every photographer is as real a pro as another. 

That said, a camera for a real pro does not qualify it as a good instrument per se. It says that it is usefull to earn your money with. I doubt wether the SL is better in that respect than Nikon or Canon, as a system. All the hustle with adapters, that's really amateuristic. And the word amateur means lover; a pro is in it for the money. The SL is too expensive for a pro. 

 

By your own statement, what is considered a "pro" varies widely. How well the SL satisfies the needs of a given "pro" will vary widely because of that. The segue to your opinion about adapters that leads to the inductive logic about what a pro is "in it" for slides your statements right off the mark: it's rather difficult to conclude "The SL is too expensive for a pro" from the thread of your logic.  

 

It might be, it might not be ... that depends on the "pro" and what his or her business is, and whether the SL satisfies those business needs better than something else. 

 

But again, who really cares? Calling the Leica SL a "professional system" is marketing hype to feed the fantasies of those who aspire to be considered professional by using fancy equipment. Calling the Leica SL a high-end system with pro-grade build, reliability, and features would be a much more objective and meaningful statement that one could take some points for or against. 

[earleygallery]

Pro's tend to use equipment that's proven to be reliable, durable, comes with a good system and back up service - the SL has only just been launched and only has one dedicated lens. It's not what I'd consider a 'pro' camera yet. 

[otto.f]

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Totally agree ramarren. Pro is just a hyping concept and IMO outdated too, quite eighties so to speak. 

[bencoyote]

I think you meant a camera for the real pro. All cameras are real, not every photographer is as real a pro as another. 

That said, a camera for a real pro does not qualify it as a good instrument per se. It says that it is usefull to earn your money with. I doubt wether the SL is better in that respect than Nikon or Canon, as a system. All the hustle with adapters, that's really amateuristic. And the word amateur means lover; a pro is in it for the money. The SL is too expensive for a pro. 

I'm not really sure the dichotomy of pro vs. amateur is the right one. It seems to me that it may be consumer vs. professional.

 

To me this suggests a methodological process of choosing between conflicting engineering trade offs. When there are conflicting objectives more weight is given to the needs of a professional user vs. the needs of a consumer. As an example, if there is a conflict between size and weight and ruggedness and water sealing then experience has shown that professionals will frequently trade size and weight for ruggedness and durability. However consumers may not be as concerned by ruggedness and water sealing. They may choose to leave their camera at home on a rainy day or leave it in a bag while in an area where it may get jostled to the point of being damaged.

 

So I would say that Leica is asserting that the process of designing SL focused on the needs of the professional user as opposed to the needs of the casual consumer.

[thighslapper]

Judging from the thin response on this and other SL related threads ....... and the fact that real pros are not speculative early adopters of cameras I think you can safely say this is dealer bullsh*t

If there were more than 500 in the first batch distributed worldwide I would be surprised ...... and if Leica's usual pattern if behaviour is repeated there will only be a limited steady trickle of the odd one per dealer every couple of weeks. 

I doubt if there is 'genuine pro' (ie. a photojournalist in this dealers meaning of the word)  with one in his hands as we speak ...... 

Edited November 28, 2015 by thighslapper

[Manoleica]

As we all seem to agree the designation "Pro" is really just Advertising/Marketing hype... (If you want the SL buy it).. IMHO - Give it 6months and a possible software update and then we will see if it's "Pro" material... Well heeled enthusiasts Q here" Professionals

please go to the "Pick Up" window to collect your SL Kit..!!.. -

[Winedemonium]

My dealer has sold 14 SLs, the most recent one to me yesterday.

 

I'm an amateur. I regard this as a great amateur camera. Pros can make up their own minds too of course. The problem with being a pro is that gear is an input expense, and you have to justify it to your accountant... and yourself. Amateurs have the luxury of writing it off as pure expense - a hobby expense. And, as others have mentioned, a real pro would be cautious about switching to an as yet untested system. 

[ramarren]

Judging from the thin response on this and other SL related threads ....... and the fact that real pros are not speculative early adopters of cameras I think you can safely say this is dealer bullsh*t

If there were more than 500 in the first batch distributed worldwide I would be surprised ...... and if Leica's usual pattern if behaviour is repeated there will only be a limited steady trickle of the odd one per dealer every couple of weeks. 

I doubt if there is 'genuine pro' (ie. a photojournalist in this dealers meaning of the word)  with one in his hands as we speak ...... 

 

I personally know three pro shooters who have taken delivery of an SL. One of them does events and urban documentary work, another does news and field reportage, another does documentary work and portraiture in far flung places. I suspect that puts them in the "photojournalist" category; two of them are women. All three picked the SL for its durable build, weather sealing, and the 24-90mm lens, as well as, but secondarily, compatibility with R and M lenses. All three make their living from their photography.

 

So at least three 'genuine pros' are using the SL today that I'm aware of. 

[Peter H]

I personally know three pro shooters who have taken delivery of an SL. ............

 

So at least three 'genuine pros' are using the SL today that I'm aware of.

A great opportunity to get three new forum members maybe? They could tell us about their experiences which should be interesting.

[jaapv]

A "pro" label on a camera is a bit like "racing" on a ski. Basically it is the marketeer's way of indicating the level of user the gear is intended for, not really the user group identified (and hoping lesser mortals will want to buy their way into the hallowed few )

[Paulus]

Sounds like he was hyping it up to make you buy - did it work?

No. But it would be nice to hold it in my hand next week, so that I really know what it's like. 

[Rick]

I personally know three pro shooters who have taken delivery of an SL. One of them does events and urban documentary work, another does news and field reportage, another does documentary work and portraiture in far flung places. I suspect that puts them in the "photojournalist" category; two of them are women. All three picked the SL for its durable build, weather sealing, and the 24-90mm lens, as well as, but secondarily, compatibility with R and M lenses. All three make their living from their photography.

 

So at least three 'genuine pros' are using the SL today that I'm aware of. 

 

Also, Tiny Manley is getting one.

 

Question:  Do members here believe the S is a professional camera?

 

Rick

[Bill Livingston]

No.

 

Although I am sure some professional photographers use one...

 

I suppose I don't really know what a professional photographer actually is. I thought it was someone who earns his/her living through photography, so I don't really see what a camera has to do with it.

 

I suppose a professional photographer will choose a camera that meets his or her needs in terms of reliability, quality and serviceability... and it will need to be able to withstand that particular photographers use or 'misuse'.

 

I have worked with some pretty competent professional photographers - and with some very competent amateurs who produce exceptional work very consistently, but choose to earn their living elsewhere.

 

Incompetent professional photographers tend not to last long. On the other hand, incompetent amateurs can last their lifetime. 

 

In either case, their chosen camera doesn't have a lot of say in the matter...

 

It's marketing.

 

I wish a mainstream manufacturer would produce a camera aimed at 'incompetent amateurs looking for a cheap camera that will produce better results than you could ever imagine achieving on your own'.

 

I wonder how many of us would rush out to buy it and then tell everyone on here...? 

[pico]

Question:  Do members here believe the S is a professional camera?

 

About the only pros who can afford one are hookers, so I'd say yes.

[Rick]

 

I wish a mainstream manufacturer would produce a camera aimed at 'incompetent amateurs looking for a cheap camera that will produce better results than you could ever imagine achieving on your own'.

 

 

They do... it's called the A7series.  

 

Duck and cover,

 

Rick

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[thighslapper]

 

I personally know three pro shooters who have taken delivery of an SL. One of them does events and urban documentary work, another does news and field reportage, another does documentary work and portraiture in far flung places. I suspect that puts them in the "photojournalist" category; two of them are women. All three picked the SL for its durable build, weather sealing, and the 24-90mm lens, as well as, but secondarily, compatibility with R and M lenses. All three make their living from their photography.

 

So at least three 'genuine pros' are using the SL today that I'm aware of.  

 

 

well I'm surprised ...... if they are really willing to put their money where their mouths are this early in the game then maybe this really is as good a camera as those of us who have one think it is ..... 

Edited November 28, 2015 by thighslapper