SonomaBear

I wish someone would tell me to get the CL to use traveling with M lenses. My Q was all I needed in Italy for three weeks but a 50/2 and 90mm/2.8 would have been nice.

I also use the Sigma 24-70/2.8 as my go-to lens, Sigma 85/1.4 or Summicron-M 90 for portraits, then other M lenses for specific needs. The IQ of the 24-70/2.8 is incredible and clients love the results. Now I see kits with SL-2s, 24-70 Vario, AND Leica M adapter! Buy it !!!

The Pan 24-105/4 is good but the Sigma 24-70/2.8 is phenomenal for IQ etc. I’m selling my Pan

I carry my SL (601) as backup. Shooting a few frames at each location, I can copy the GPS info and paste it into images from non-GPS cameras. I'll never sell the SL... BUT not having GPS at this price point is beyond belief! What possible reason (other than engineering stubbornness or cheapness) could Leica have?

The 24-70 f2.8 (Sigma) delivers 85%+ of my images. They are literally all sale-able images. My bag carries three M lenses (all Summicrons: 28, 50, & 90 — all Mandler magic) The Sigma 85/1.4 DG DN is portrait magic, far better than the little 90 ‘Cron - but too big for casual carry It seems that the majority of the Amazing/Sensational/Artsy images start with my love of slow hands, caution, joy of M glass!

Travel: I always take my Q Light carry not far from home: SL with M lenses Serious travel/hiking: SL with 24-70 Good luck!

Thank you Jono for another well thought out review and unbiased opinions. Sharing this review here is very generous of you. Your new review of the SL2-S on your site is a very good read. I use the Sigma 24-70/2.8 as my normal lens on my SL(601) and I am more than satisfied. As akin, the SL2S/24-70 combo is hard to beat... My question is the nuanced differences between the Sigma and the Leica: Does the Leica version include better weather-proofing? Better coatings? Better warranty?

Sometimes the subject suggests a bit of softness in the image making. Today's lenses are almost too surgical in sharpens whereas our wonderful M lenses give us the "Mandler Magic" we dearly love... So I'll shoot fully stopped down to introduce a bit of softness (diffraction)

I shoot 24meg and remove mouire in post. This frees up drive space while helping my wallet. I’m ordering the SL2-S instead of SL2

I primarily use a SL(601) with all sorts of lenses. Screw mount (M39) lenses work fine on EVF cameras (SL etc ) with cheap adapters. I manually select the lens type for image correction, especially wide angle vignettes.

Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 could have been my only lens -- it is my workhorse! Incredible rendering and detail! I spent a month in Italy with my Q1 and loved every moment. Used my legs for zooming. Also a lot of cropping I post.

My kit is a SL(601), usually with M lenses - then I bought a Pan S1 with 24-105 f/4 lens. I quickly sold the S1, just didn't like it. The Pan 24-105 f/4 is a good, not great, lens. It is now for sale! I prefer f2.8 so I bought a Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 -- WOW! There is that something hard to describe when th ages are perfectly exposed (not just "recovered" in post) -- they have depth, almost like 3D. I can get the subject to "pop" away fro background. f2.8 does this better than f/4. Will I buy Leica primes? Probably not. a second body more likely (probably the SL2-S)

Does anyone use the AFL button? It would be great in the heat of battle touching up focus (switch to MF etc.)

I am very happy with my SL (601) and Sigma 24-70/2.8, 85/1.4, and 45/2.8 — and a few M lenses. Amazing image quality from 24mp!

My primary lenses are nearly all from Dr. Mandler 28/50/90TE/90Cron - my L mount lenses top at 85mmm or 70mm. Using my Canon 70-200 2.8L gives me the reach of 200mm (280 with 1.4x) on Novoflex adapter. AF is problematic and MF is not like M lenses. Your opinion regarding the M telephotos (135mm/2.8 or 180/2.8) or should I look for the R lenses? Thank you in advance... Bear