MindsEye

For traveling I use a Gitzo Traveler 1. The four section folds up a little smaller than the three section. I use a small Really Right Stuff Bh-30 ball head on it. I highly recommend the Mini Screw Knob clamp over the quick release, especially for travel but also for reliability and fit. Gitzo and RRS are not cheap, but neither is Leica. I'm sure others on the forum may have other suggestions. Hope this helps. Joel

@Pelu2010, I don't know the European distributor but when I emailed LLL ( lightlenslabna@gmail.com ) they were responsive. Perhaps they can assist you. I verified with Tony at PopFlash that ALL of the Light Lens Lab L-M adapters have the misalignment issue I posted here. So I need to send mine back until replacements are available. Allegedly that will be the end of this month. Hope you are able to get one- from the new batch.

It looks like you already ordered the thumb support which (IMO) is the most essential accessory and makes a huge difference in handling. Of course an extra battery is important too, especially because you will be traveling. You can read my review of the LIMs half case which I like and think is well designed. That said, I never use the half case. I prefer the feel of the camera without any extra bulk. I guess it depends how important it is for you to keep the body nick and ding free. Straps, cases and bags are so personal you'll have to try some out and decide. I like Peak Design fasteners so I can quickly change between wrist strap and neck strap. I just ordered a Spinn.Design strap and FastLock system but no hands on experience with it yet (FastLock won't be released for a few months) I like my ThinkTank Restrospective 5 v2 bag. I think it's perfect for a carry-it-with-me-everywhere bag for Q3 and essential accessories. But if you ask two photographers, you get three opinions! Enjoy your new camera and happy shooting!

To OP: I own both. I shoot for my living and I travel frequently. I have a whole bunch of lenses for my X-T5 bodies. My favorite camera to use is my Q3. BUT that's ME. I suppose if I were going to travel and have only one camera and lens I would seriously consider the Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 DG DN for the X-T5. My main reason is "seeing" the focal lengths. I like the frame lines in the Q3 but not being able to zoom in with the viewfinder is a handicap. If you're okay with the framelines for longer focal length equivalents then the Q3 will work well. If you don't already know it, with the X-T5, you can set up a couple zoom/crops on a custom function for longer focal length equivalents if you're set on getting the 18mm only for the X-T5. As so many have mentioned, no-one can choose for you. Good luck.

UPDATE: Distance accuracy test + Problem I encountered with Light Lens Lab M-L adapter I did a distance test comparing the LLL L-M adapter with my inexpensive Fotasy L-M adapter (no helicoid.) I measured exactly 3 feet (sorry, I didn't have a metric tape measure handy) to the image plane of my S5IIx on a tripod and looked at the corresponding number at the index mark on the lenses. I'm only reporting one distance but I tried it at some other distances also. Basically, two of the lenses were right on the money with both adapters. My 21mm Ultron VM was the only one that was off by a bit. The error got slightly more pronounced with more distance. I was using high magnification plus focus peaking to assist focusing. For what it's worth, with native L-mount lenses, the S5IIx focus scale is precise at checked distances. I conclude that the adapters themselves are precise and it is the focusing scale on my 21mm lens that is a bit off. I say this because results with both adapters were identical. Focus accuracy with adapter(s) Light Lens Lab L-M adapter: 21mm Ultron VM: 3 feet lines up on the .5 portion of 2.5 feet mark on lens scale 40mm Nokton VM: 3 feet lines up on 3’ of lens scale 75mm Ultron VM: 3 feet lines up on 3’ of lens scale Fotasy L-M adapter: 21mm Ultron VM: 3 feet lines up on the .5 portion of 2.5 feet mark on lens scale 40mm Nokton VM: 3 feet lines up on 3’ of lens scale 75mm Ultron VM: 3 feet lines up on 3’ of lens scale Mounted M-lenses not centered on LLL adapter I discovered the other day that my M-mount lenses don't line up centered with the LLL adapter. Below are some photos with a comparison to a native L mount lens (Sigma 35mm f2 DG DN) I wouldn't assume this is all Light Lens Lab adapters as the one I have is a prototype/early production. This doesn't seem to affect the efficacy of the adapter but it's annoying. I spoke with Tony at PopFlash and he said to send it back for replacement. The only problem is they still don't have any more in stock at the moment. I can use my inexpensive Fotasy in the meantime but I have become spoiled using the helicoid frequently for close focus as many M-mount lenses have pretty limited MFD. Photos showing M-mount lenses not being centered when fully mounted on LLL adapter

Thanks for the heads up. I'll keep an eye out for this. I often purposely underexpose to protect highlights when shooting scenes with high dynamic range. Not normally by 3+ stops but it could happen. I'll probably try it just for the heck of it.

I've only used the SL2 briefly when comparing to S5IIx. I agree the EVF on the SL2 is a better experience. But without a direct comparison I think the S5II/x is still good. But I will be happier when 9M dot EVFs are the standard 😉 One of the alleged goals of the L2 partnership between Leica and Panasonic/Lumix (not to be confused with L-mount alliance) is for Leica to share color science. I'm going to do some careful comparisons on that front but my gut reaction was that the S5IIx is much more Leica-esque than any other Japanese camera I've used, sans Fujifilm. Maybe in part because I'm using mostly M mount lenses. And I'm comparing to my Q3 which in turn may be a little different than the SL line (?) I'd be curious to hear feedback for you or other users as to S5IIx color as that model specifically, is supposedly the first camera to benefit from the official L2 partnership. And of course the SL3, will I'm sure, also benefit in some areas. It's hard to discern if L2 means more than the previous partnering with Leica and Lumix as many other Leica cameras have incorporated Panny tech.

I am in the midst of a bunch of tests right now. It does very well so far. While moving my photo studio I misplaced my resolution targets so some of my tests aren't as controlled as I would like. But using a fence instead of my charts and various distances in field testing my general conclusion is that the S5II/S5IIx does very well. Way better than the Sony a7R III which I also compared (a7R series have a significantly thicker sensor stack.) All that said my lenses are limited. I have a Voigtlander 21mm f1.8 Ultron, VM 75mm f1.9 Ultron, I borrowed a Leica 28mm f2.8, and I've also compared to Lumix 50mm and Lumix 20-60mm lenses that came with the camera. Some of my tests were at the Leica store so not all that controlled but it allowed me to also compare to the SL2 which I don't own personally. The main reason for my getting the S5IIx was to use manual focus lenses, primarily M mount. I have a Sigma 35mm f2 DG DN and Voigtlander 40mm f1.2 Nokton arriving soon and I will also test those. Most of the tests out there are with the more challenging Sony a7 and a7R series cameras. I figure if something can do well on a Sony body it will do at least as well or better on the S5II and better yet on an SL2/S. Try this link with WA tests by Joey Miller at Lensrentals and this other thread on this topic I started a few weeks ago. When I finish testing I'll try to post on both threads. NOTE: In this thread I may have missed it but didn't see anyone mention the 48MP and 96MP pixel shift mode on the S5II/x. It works way better than I expected, especially handheld mode. @jaapv, I don't know if resolution is important to your photography but if so, give it a try on your newly acquired S5II 😃 Obviously not for wildlife but with more static subjects, it works well. Happy shooting! Joel

Thank you for this. It's helpful. I've done some comparison tests with a few lenses on my S5 IIx and a Sony A7R III. So far the S5 IIx is a fair amount better. This isn't surprising considering the Lumix sensor stack is thinner than the Sony stack. I've tried a VM 21mm f1.8 Ultron, VM 75mm f1.9 Ultron, and Leica M 28mm f2.8. The Leica lens was just in the Leica store comparing it on SL2 v S5 IIx. I'm sticking with the S5 IIx. It's much nicer to use than the Sony. I used Sony FF for many years professionally and the lenses are stellar. But for me it always felt like sticking great glass on a computer. The cameras I've really enjoyed using over the years have been Fujifilm X-T and X-Pro, my Q3 and various Leica rangefinders. Now that I'm older I don't enjoy the rangefinder experience as much. It will likely never happen but I'd love to see Leica make a Q type camera with interchangeable M lenses or something with a hybrid OVF/EVF for M lenses.

It's been awhile since I've had an M body but I have a recollection that my M 240 read an approximate aperture from coded lenses. Is this any different on the SL2-S? I borrowed an SL2 to shoot some lens tests but didn't have the Leica adapter so wasn't sure how/if aperture would work with an SL2/S.

I get it. I don't know of any adapters with both 6 bit coding and a helicoid/close-up ability. The TTArtisans adapter with 6 bit coding also allows you to pass EXIF data to the camera, even without a six bit coded lens. But as far as I know, they don't have it in L-mount. If they did I'd be temped to get one. My L-mount body is a Lumix S5 IIx so I can store my lens focal lengths in the camera and have that transmitted to the camera in EXIF. But not the working aperture. Seems if you have mostly/only six bit coded lenses, the Leica M-adapter-L is the answer and perhaps the TTArtisan if you have both (though haven't tried that one) and a Sony E-mount or Nikon Z-mount body.

Yeah, it was a defect. I returned it.

As mentioned I got mine from Popflash. They are the reseller in the U.S. and perhaps Canada too. I emailed with David at LLL and he said they wouldn't have it on their own site until after the Chinese new year. At the moment, perhaps QyCamera on eBay might be the only choice. But if you're in the U.S. I would check with Popflash. They only had one in stock when I bought mine but had more on the way.

The problem was that I couldn't acheive infinity focus at all. Leeway in the other direction makes sense. Some of my M mount lenses actually focus beyond infinity but this was the opposite problem.

Here are some more photos showing helicoid extension from mini-review- previous post