FlashGordonPhotography

There are a few subtle differences between the brands. Panasonic use a crosshairs for the eyes. Leica use a box. Also the S5II AF feels a bit more *mature*, if that makes sense. It’s obvious that the SL3 AF needs some firmware love. The SL3 firmware is solid but still feels like a beta release. I’s also expect some firmware releases for the L mount manufacturers as the new bodies are released this year. Almost every Leica lens got an upgrade for the SL3. I expect others to do the same as they transition to PDAF bodies. Gordon

Wow. That is ambiguous. Elsewhere Leica have said base ISO is 100 and 50 is a pull. You are absolutely correct to avoid ISO 50. Gordon

No. There are no differences other than wear and tear. I got my 24-90 and Summilux 50 on the day they were released and still use them. The 24-90 is still as good as any standard zoom I’ve used (most of them) and the 50 is simply special. I do use my smaller L mount 50’s more because of the weight. The Sigma DGDN f2.0 is my preference, usually. I like aperture rings on lenses. But the Summilux remains and still gets used because of how balanced (optically) it is. A special lens. I’ll never sell mine. Gordon

For street I’d choose the non APO 50mm Summicron. Not as perfect by noticeably faster AF. The Sigma *i* DGDN is also great but with less weather sealing (lens mount only) than the Summicron. I have both the ‘lux and APO and the two *lesser lenses*. The former are spectacular but the latter two are my choice for street and travel. Also much lighter. Makes the SL3 feel nimble. Gordon

You don’t. How can you not take resolution into account when choosing a sensor? And nobody is deciding between an X2D and an iPhone. It’s a stupid metric. I’d give it some consideration, despite its limitations as an accurate indicator, if they made the DR measurements at several output sizes. But they don’t 8MP is a useless measurement. People read this and make judgments on sensor IQ and those assumptions are often wrong becausee the data’s flawed for real world use. And as an experiment I did compare my A7R5 to an iPhone at ISO 6400. Not even close. Even at 8MP. Not to mention the phone relied on computational factors to keep its DR reasonable. So not actually a real sensor measurement at all. But P2P doesn’t mention that. Gordon

SL3. No doubt. First I have all the cameras you’re comparing. (SL2 instead of SL2-S) So I’m comparing directly. 1. It’s 130 grams heavier than an A7R5. In real world use the lens you strap to the front is what makes the difference. 2. Tri-resolution. Want to shoot SL2-S resolution. No problem. 60MP. Also no problem. 3. For now you can creat a b&w profile for import to your raw processor but even in DNG only Leica’s do write the *Leica look* information into the file. So you can have a b&w preview and that carries over to the Fotos app. A few of us are pushing Leica to have this also read by Adobe and C1, like the Fujis. 4. PDAF. DO you want to shoot manual focus all the time. Mostly you can completely replace your Sony A7R4. All the excellent Sigma glass is in L mount and then there’s the APO Summicrons…. A bit of casual sports? The 100-400 is excellent and focuses nice and quick on the SL3. 5. Punch in focus was removed from the SL2-S with the joystick. Leica promised to bring it back but it hasn’t happened yet. It’s there on the SL3 though. On the SL2 you need to program a button or the rear dial. 6. The SL3 is 70 grams lighter than the SL2-S. It feels more than that because the grip moved closer to the centre of gravity. It doesn’t feel any heavier than my A7R5 although it is. 7. The Sl2-S is end of line. The SL3 is new so there’s going to be upgrades coming. Leica is pretty good at this. 8. The flippy screen. Gordon

No it isn’t. It’s a daft system. Absolutely NO ONE buys a SL3 or A7R5 to shoot it at 8MP. P2P’s measurements have exactly zero real world use. Not only that they’re a raw score. Ignoring things like PDAF banding etc that does affect real world USABLE DR. You get better information from DP Reviews highly flawed test chart. Those using P2P’s charts to prove a point only prove they have no experience with the cameras they’re procrastinating about. According to P2P an iPhone 14 has as much DR as an A7R5 at ISO 6400. If you believe that I’ve got a bridge to sell you. Gordon

Yes. It is a bit but they are accessible. As is the lens release, which isn’t the case with all bodies (Sony, Canon). The grip on the SL3 is *just* big enough for me to use the camera normally for short periods. I definitely wouldn’t leave it on all the time. I took it to Iceland last year but not India. This is for when I go out with a tripod and/or if support for the SL3 comes to my Polaris. Other than that it’ll stay home. If I pack the tripod I pack the Atoll. Gordon

And if you set jpeg to B&W and the camera to DNG only, Fotos will recognise that and give you a B&W image. So the metadata is in the DNG. So everyone tell Leica we want this information pushed through to LR and C1 as well. Gordon

For years I used a S1R along side my SL2. Though I’d sell the S1R’s when the SL2 arrived but I still used them often as they had a few functions the SL2 didn’t (tri flip screen for example). Usually I have two of the same body but I only got one SL2 and used the S1R along side it. Great camera. Still have them. Currently I do have an S5II as well as my SL3’s but I don’t really use the S5II much, except for testing. The tri resolution negates any need to hang onto a low res body, for me. I’m planning on using the S5II as a video rig. Video isn’t my strength but I’d like to get better and I think the S5II will be a better base than the SL3. Gordon

I'd keep going with the Sigmas. Compared to the non-APO Leica's all you're missing is the Leica weather sealing for the contemporary lenses. The Sigmas are fabulous optically. Anything with the Sports or Art designation should be sealed about the same as it's Leica counterpart. I have the 20, 50 and 85 *i* primes and the 14-24 and 100-400 zooms. All excellent. The latter zooms are also available in Leica branded versions. I'd also look at the new 50mm 1.2 and existing 85 1.4 if you want something a bit special (but a bit heavier). I will say that the SL APO Summicrons are the pinnacle of the system. Everyone in the SL system deserves to try at least one SL APO. Gordon

I will have to agree that learning to properly clean a sensor is trivial and everyone should know how to do it. I have a small kit in my travel case that's always there for any travel I do and something a bit more substantial at home. My travel kit includes a Gittos Rocket blower, an Artic Butterfly and some swabs/fluid. A sesnor clean on location takes a couple of minutes. Nothing more. A few notes: 1. I've taken a pair of R5's to Africa. They did have to be cleaned. But not as often as the Sony's I took on the previous trip. I am convinced the shutter did help, especially with pollen. Both systems also had sensor vibration. The R5's were one of the best systems I've used in this regard. But not perfect. 2. I'm not seeing the SL3 being worse or better than the SL2. And I didn't find the SL2 that bad. On a trip across the Great Sandy Desert (that's its actual name), I think I used a blower 3-4 times in 6 weeks and didn't need a sensor swab at all. I've done 1 swab clean of my SL3 but that was my fault (I touched the sensor). Took maybe 2 minutes and I carried on with me Vietnam trip. 3. Having use systems with and without a sensor cover function I am convinced there's a difference. If you haven't then you have no idea. So, please, stop. However, it wouldn't stop me from buying a camera. Sensor cleaning is trivial. So this function is a nice to have and not a must have. It reduces the need to clean it doesn't eliminate it. 4. The SL cameras are the only ones actually with a RATING for dust sealing. IP54. So, I expect that they will actually not get that much dust in the first place with some care on lens changes. Even on the R5 I have a 24-240 for those days where all hell breaks loose. I do wish there was a better option than the Panasonic super zoom for this function. Sigma? Hello? 5. If Leica see no value in this why is it already available in the M system? Gordon p.s. As a side note, who the hell is daft enough to travel with a camera and no way to maintain it? I travel for photography a lot and I'm still stunned by the number of photographers who don't have the basics to fix minor issues and move on. Not just learning to clean a sensor. People who turn up with a tripod but no spare plates or an allen key to tighten the legs. A bit of Gaffa tape rolled around a tripod leg or selfie stick. A jewelers screwdriver to screw you lens mount back down. A multitool. A second way to charge camera batteries. And before you say I'm nuts, in the last 12 months I have used every piece of this kit. To repair other photographer's gear.

Don't panic. That's not the only thing wrong in that paragraph. And it's a year old. Gordon

Not at the lens mount. Gordon

That won’t work for me. Mind you I’ve just left it set to ISO as well as having a custom button for it as well. (aarrgghh) So far it’s not getting in the way at least. Gordon