Paul-B

For me, shooting with my Canon f/0.95 50mm, when I shoot a portrait against a window I want to zoom in to gain eye focus - in a backlit situation I need exposure preview to be on (so that I can actually see the eye), if I half press the shutter the frame zooms out and I can no longer benefit from the zoom to aid focus. I wouldn't mind pushing the (uncomfortable to use) front button so much if I didn't have to it for every single frame... Doing a model set in a window is a pain - and I shoot in that scenario a lot.

#61 Allow the back dial to be permanently set to exposure compensation. Currently, when using M lenses, I have to long press a function key to enable to exposure compensation mode and then it will work. I know I could just use the main dial to adjust shutter speed but perhaps I want that set and for the back dial adjust ISO. My other main gripes of sticky exposure preview, separate DNG and JPEG writes to the two cards and the ability to have a magnified focus spot stick between exposures (double click the joystick to return to centre is a good idea) are already there.

Well, I guess I can just fix the ISO and use the top button on M. Or, if I want to control shutter speed for any given aperture, switch it to A, have it on Auto ISO, do my long press and then use the back dial. The functionality with an M240 and EVF makes a lot more sense to me though. Given Leica must know their users shoot M lenses that way, it seems strange that this isn't supported.

Indeed - sticky exposure preview remains the biggest deficit. i still can't get direct exposure compensation to work though. I still have to press the button first. Perhaps I need to de-map it from that button..... Nope, that doesn't work either. Any ideas?

I'm not sure I fully understand your question but to my eye the Leica offers a softer rendition without sacrificing sharpness. The Canon lens seemed to give stronger contrast, especially around edges. This gives it the slightly crunchy look. The Leica seems to have smoother transitions between areas of different luminosity. That shoot was the only one I did with lenses. I've sold all my Canon gear now.

Here's a review I wrote over at Steve Huff that includes my experiences of using the 80mm Summilux R, albeit on an M240. I compared it optically to Canon's 85mm f/1.2 and the very cheap Jupiter 85mm f/2. It forms the final part of the review of Canon and Leica systems.

The SL is really quite tempting to me. I use an M240 and a Sony A7II with the Voigtlander close up adapter. I shoot a lot of shallow depth of field - I have the Canon 50mm 0.95 with rangefinder coupling (converted to M mount) and a 80mm 1.4 R among my lenses. The EVF is required to get accurate focus of the 50mm on the M240, but I very much value the automatic zoom that the rangefinder couple provides when I move the focus ring. However, images are normally better from the Sony - probably because of the higher resolution EVF and the better implementation of the focus peaking. I really don't use the rangefinder mechanism much, for street work I zone focus and shoot stealthily from the hip (although with practice I have become pretty good at nailing around f 1.4 @ 50mm at the 3m distance mark) but the general portability and form factor stealth of the M remains attractive. I also think that it's old school looks adds a degree of stealth / acceptance in street work. My other lenses are 21mm f1.8 (Voigtlander), 28mm f/2.8 (Zeiss), 50mm Nikkor f1.4 LTM and a couple of Jupiters (35mm and 85mm). Also, I have the Zeiss 55mm f1.8 AF for the Sony (but never use it). Having the two cameras is useful when owning only prime lenses, I'll often have both with different focal lengths mounted for portrait and model work. As I write this out, it seems like the logical thing would be to stay with my current two bodies but that SL EVF still calls to me... Also, there's the rejuvenation factor - investing in any new kit has a satisfying disruptive effect on my work, a rekindling of creative intent and renewed motivation to shoot. The SL feels like the right camera for me, but can it compete with the sum of the two cameras I currently own. A purchase of the SL would require the sale of both. A dilemma.