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first images of the new SL


cpclee

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In an effort to break up the current trend of "bitter-sweat" opinions, I would like all of you to please refer to the Leica SL Review by Jono Slack.

 

As I read it, I found it unfortunate that Jono was forced to test a camera that was conceived and built on a very cohesive, essential and indivisible marriage of lenses and camera, with non-proprietary lenses. Even with that handicap in mind, it’s a great review for the SL (or mini S), which happens to be an optically appealing design.

 

I am getting the feeling that this “marriage” of lenses having been conceived for that particular body (and vice versa), is the new concept that Leica has created and wants to sell. Accordingly, the frowned upon deceiving F stops of the zoom are of no consequence as is the alleged deficient MP count. The intrinsic electronics of the body and the finely crafted motorized lenses (just like the S) create a complete IQ, and underscore that creation of “bare essentials“ that can only work perfectly when working in unison - no matter what size and weight.

 

I hope the SL becomes a success story for Leica.

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I'm not talking about the M. 

 

Yes it's just launched but are you seriously going to buy an SL and then use it for T lenses? APS-C & 10 MP ? I guess there are dafter ways to waste money….

 

If you are right about the T lenses changing the camera to an APS-C with just 10MP the yes it is a waste of money for everybody, including Leica. I think the camera will be a great camera, and could be a great system if given time. But judging from the reaction it is getting I just hope Leica have not bet the company on this camera!!! I would say there is a lot of anxiety in the Leica boardroom today...

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If you are right about the T lenses changing the camera to an APS-C with just 10MP the yes it is a waste of money for everybody, including Leica. I think the camera will be a great camera, and could be a great system if given time. But judging from the reaction it is getting I just hope Leica have not bet the company on this camera!!! I would say there is a lot of anxiety in the Leica boardroom today...

 

Just going on Jono's review of the camera.

 

Obviously the T lenses won't cover the FF sensor so it automatically crops down to the area of an APS-C sensor, which from the SL's FF sensor produces a 10MP image.

 

I don't see this as an issue, in that I don't see the point in spending £5K on a body one is going to use with lenses for a crop sensor. But it does at least allow anyone with the T to also use their lenses on the S if they wish to (I can't use my Canon EFS lenses on a FF body).

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Leica takes pride in the fact that the SL works with lenses from any Leica system. It would have been odd to exclude T/TL lenses, especially when they use the exact same L mount.

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It would have been odd to exclude T/TL lenses, especially when they use the exact same L mount.

What is the difference between T and TL lenses please? I have only seen the TL line so far mentioned in the rumors leading to unveiling of the Leica SL.

 

Edit. Okay, immediately found one article explaining that the mount (which I assumed was called T) is now called L bayonet, and thus future T lenses are TL lenses.

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A fantastic camera, a profesional photographer's tool.

For me unfortunately somewhat too pricey and too heavy, as I am aging and don't want to handle and carrie a large heavy camera.

 

The largest camera I have owned is the R9 with a bunch of lenses, surprisingly this camera in spite of it's large size was very comfortable

in the hand and easy to keep steady.

 

I am happy with the small sized Leica T with 3 lenses, and the Leica Q that I am getting  tomorrow , they cover all my needs and then some.

 

This is an exiting time to be involved in photography, I think that Leica has done a great job with providing the world's photographers with fantastic

cameras, something for everyone.

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All in all I am not disappointed, I would even say I am glad this was not a new M.

It could only mean the upcoming M might use even a better sensor. This one looks quite impressive at high ISO. Add a bit more dynamic range and I might be ready for the new M.

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All a bit hypothetical for the moment, but I WILL be interested to see reviews of M lens performance on this body (and I AM interested to see if the EVF technology Leica have developed for the SL can be brought across to whatever replaces the M240 (probably as an external Viso).

 

Certainly interesting times...

I can't think of anything less I would like to do with an SL then put on M lenses

 

1. They look ridiculous on it

2. The M240 (and its successor), MP and M7 overall are a much better platform for them

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Interestingly, I think a lot of us might have been thinking differently if the M adapter had been immediately available and testing had been done using these lenses rather than the AF monsters that we've seen thus far.  I have the sneaking feeling that the SL might begin to make sense if the large zooms are seen as occasional tools and the M lenses are seen as the go for kit.  If performance with M wides is good AND if long M lenses like the 135 A-T are easy to focus manually with the view finder, then the SL COULD be seen as a useful adjunct to an M.  Carry an M-240 + an SL along with either existing R 80-200 or equivalent and you have a viable two body system with better reach than the M alone + the capacity to shoot 4K video.  Shell out for the dedicated lenses later on if you feel the need (or maybe even find that there are adapters which will let you use Canon/Nikon zooms with the Leica SL body...

 

All a bit hypothetical for the moment, but I WILL be interested to see reviews of M lens performance on this body (and I AM interested to see if the EVF technology Leica have developed for the SL can be brought across to whatever replaces the M240 (probably as an external Viso).

 

Certainly interesting times... 

 

The Leica SL / M adapter is available right now - it's the Leica M / T adapter.  The accessories are listed on the Leica page (here) and the adapter is #18771 which has been available for some time now.  It reads the 6-bit coding which is nice, but I don't think it supports any type of auto magnification.  This adapter works as-is and does not need a firmware update (I've already asked my dealer who is in Germany; he verified this with someone at Leica).

 

For now Leica's approach to getting R lenses on the SL is via adapter stacking - this T adapter + the Leica M/R adapter.  The Leica SL / R adapter eliminates the stacking and I think it may support ROM contacts (trying to verify that, though maybe Leica has not decided yet because this adapter's release is a long ways away... Autumn 2016).

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Regarding the SL's size, it's only ~10mm wider than a M and stands ~20mm taller.  I weighed my M (M-P) and it's 851 grams - that includes:  camera, Leica battery, 1.25x, Arte de Mano 1/2 case (open back), Thumbs-up and A&A rope strap.  The M isn't exactly light.  With the SL I would not use 1/2 case or strap, so for me the SL's 847g vs the M's 851g is a wash.  The SL/M adapter will add alittle weight, but then so does the EVF on the M.

 

I also have an A7II with the Sony vertical grip and the RRS L-Bracket.  That little piggy (with a Novoflex M adapter attached) tips the scale at 1060g.  Obviously the SL's volume a bit bigger than the M-240's, but some of the pictures on line are very deceiving.

 

As for the SL lenses... those are just bonkers.  The 24-90mm is nearly the same weight as the 30-90mm S and that 30-90mm S felt heavy on the Leica S...!...  I've yet to see a published weight for the 50 Lux, but its volume looks really big.  I'll stick with M and R lenses.

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There's a fortune to be made by the first person to design a small, FF, AF lens system. Bodies could be made smaller in proportion (given the size of the lenses, there was no pressure on Leica to come up with anything smaller.)

IS doesn't have to go in the lens - I'd be interested in Leica's rationale for putting it there. After all, they have included a sensor cleaning system. IS in the lenses is a bit of an unnecessary commitment to future large lenses, I'd have thought.

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Does Panasonic offer stabilized sensors?  If so, then the question is quite valid (why did Leica go with stabilized lenses?)

 

I'm guessing Leica used as much Panasonic "tech" as they could.  It shortens development time, presumably lowers cost, and minimizes their patent infringement exposure.

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Does Panasonic offer stabilized sensors?  If so, then the question is quite valid (why did Leica go with stabilized lenses?)

 

I'm guessing Leica used as much Panasonic "tech" as they could.  It shortens development time, presumably lowers cost, and minimizes their patent infringement exposure.

 

 

FWIW, stabilized sensors work best with a particular set of lenses on one mount. When you throw many different adapted lenses on, you'd have to configure the in-body stabilization manually (as with the A7R2). This may be a factor why it's in-lens, not in-camera. 

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FWIW, stabilized sensors work best with a particular set of lenses on one mount. When you throw many different adapted lenses on, you'd have to configure the in-body stabilization manually (as with the A7R2). This may be a factor why it's in-lens, not in-camera. 

 

Sorry, this sentence "does not compute" :)

 

Yes, IBIS works at best when it knows lens parameters, but this is always the case with native lenses.

On the other hand, having to set the FL is better than nothing with M or R lenses.

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There's a fortune to be made by the first person to design a small, FF, AF lens system.

If you want small and AF, go MFT (but then even MFT cameras and lenses aren’t as small as the Pentax Auto 110 was, using the same image format back in the analogue era). If you want small and FF, go M. But small, AF and FF – nope. Ain’t gonna happen.

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.... as Michael says ....... you are fighting against the laws of physics and optics ......

 

if you want fast apertures on full frame for low light and shallow DOF you are looking at big lenses ...... add AF and bigger still ..... add Zoom and bigger still ..... add high quality and correction of as much of the aberrations as possible and you are up to S and SL size lenses.

 

You can stuff it on a small camera with a large mount if you like ...... and have crappy battery life and fiddly controls ....... but that hardly makes sense either. 

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