Jump to content

SL


Likaleica

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 88
  • Created
  • Last Reply

What if it is neither? So far we have ‘a new M with an EVF’, ‘a Q with interchangeable lenses’, ‘an FF T’, and ‘an S lite’. That is, the SL is supposed be like something already existing, only different. But what if the new system should differentiate itself from all of the existing Leica systems while liberally borrowing proven concepts and components?

That doesn't look like speaking in riddles . . . 

But didn't we also have a new M with an electronic rangefinder (like the Konost)?

it's quite hard to keep up with it all!

Link to post
Share on other sites

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I thought it was a roadster.

That's what I thought first too...a SL (SuperLegerra) with EVF and AF (Early Variable Flow control with Anti Freeze) and FF (Freaking Fast). It will also have MF (Medium Fast) and RF (Rarely Fast) mode for the rich old ladies.

Link to post
Share on other sites

That doesn't look like speaking in riddles . . . 

But didn't we also have a new M with an electronic rangefinder (like the Konost)?

it's quite hard to keep up with it all!

You're missing in-camera focusing by a moving sensor.
Link to post
Share on other sites

Hello Jaap,

 

If the camera does its focusing with a movable sensor how would that camera's movable sensor accommodate lenses with floating elements?

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

 

It would not. 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Hello Jaap,

 

If the camera does its focusing with a movable sensor how would that camera's movable sensor accommodate lenses with floating elements?

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

Of course not, it is an Internet idea....
Link to post
Share on other sites

Yes, Mercedes Benz 190 SL  and 300 SL. For those with more money, there was also 300 SLR. Maybe Leica is also planning SLR after SL. - vintola -

 

The 300 SLR was a racecar. Not for sale. Only two street-legal were made. One of them was the private car of it's designer Rudolf Uhlenhaut.

Link to post
Share on other sites

The S is just an M with a larger sensor and a prism finder and AF….. Indeed, the SL appears to be a separate new system. 

James, I think that your second comment is a safe one (and I may lust for this system too)

I have a different view on your first comment though. I have the S2 (hoping to upgrade) and the M. For me they have different strengths.It depends on how you typically use your cameras of course. File to file shot side by side the differences are apparent (dynamic range, DoF, default colour rendering and WB and practical resolution for me). 

 

I don't think of the S cameras as big dSLRs though (to be compared directly with the best of Canon and Nikon). They compare and compete instead directly with Hasselblad and PhaseOne in market and for purpose. I suspect that most if not all 'fullframe' cameras will end up mirrorless. I think that pro format/medium format is a different case though.

I sometimes use the liveview on my M's LCD for framing and where I need to hold the camera away from my eye (focus peaking and video I don't find useful). I can see how live view may be useful for similar purposes with the Typ 007 (and 008 onwards???!!!) but the loss of that optical finder would be a great disappointment for me. Well i will worry about that after I get the Typ 007 and do my best to wear it out first.

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Leaving aside suggestions of any impact on the S and M camera series, the idea of the SL does intrigue me.

 

If we look at the functionality of the S, the M(240) and the T, and we assume that each system is intended to stand on its own, and have its own bright future independent of the rest, it is clear that the SL is going to fill a very particular niche.  In 35mm format, apart from film, we will have the choice of the manual M camera (limited focal lengths, optical view finder, pretty much manual everything), the SL will at least reflect the S line, but with EVF in 35mm format:

  • AF lenses, of pretty much unlimited focal lengths - will it also have a centre leaf shutter as an alternative ti the focal plane shutter (like the S systems CS lenses)?
  • live view - will the LCD be articulated? touch screen?
  • 4K video, with headphone jacks etc independent of the hotshoe?
  • WiFi
  • tethering
  • multi-matrix, spot, centre weighted metering
  • GPS

Heaven knows what else, and many here will be extremely annoyed if it has some features which others want, and if it doesn't have other features.  A lot will turn on the buttons it has, and the quality of the user interface, rather than functionality I guess.

 

What I'm struggling with is if I added one lens with AF capability, what would it be?  My M lenses are superb, so a slow(ish) AF zoom from 24-90mm is just duplicating the range of fast primes I already own and use.  So, what's the driving force?  Long zooms? It brings to mind the ridiculous 80-400mm Nikkor AF-S zoom I had on my D800E.  No doubt it took very good pictures, but it was HUGE.  Ridiculously huge; it was one of the driving forces of selling the Nikon system - the whole thing was just ridiculously big.

 

Will the SL suffer from the same thing?

 

There's no doubt that a fast AF lens would be useful for those events where manual focusing is a pain - sport and wildlife spring particularly to mind, which suggests a telephoto.  Back to HUGE!  The telephoto I loved and used the most was the amazing Nikkor 180/2.8 IFED - it was expensive a the time, but it was compact, rock solid and about as long as you'd want to use handheld.  So, while Leica produces its wide, mid-range and long zooms and 35 & 50 Summiluxes for the SL, I must confess to thinking a bit like Jono - a camera like this does actually have a place with the M cameras, using M lenses.  The trick will be for Leica to produce some lenses at some reasonably early stage which complement the M line of lenses - a good macro lens, perhaps a TE lens and an APO Summicron 180 ASPH AF.  That might get me going ...

 

Christ, how expensive is this going to be?  If the new AF lenses are of the standard of the S & M lenses, and the camera has an adapter for, say, the C lenses, this could get very interesting.  It might appeal to a small group of rich (or in my cases stupidly deranged), but if it delivers the quality in the way the Leica is capable of, it should make the A7 look like a toy.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...