Schrödinger's cat Posted October 21, 2015 Share #141 Posted October 21, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) Kristian Dowling is a man. He is also a very accomplished photographer in his own field. http://kristiandowling.com/bio/ This is a first look article (apparently after a few days with the camera). It is not a complete technical review. There is more to follow according to his article. How nice for her, er...... him. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 21, 2015 Posted October 21, 2015 Hi Schrödinger's cat, Take a look here first images of the new SL. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
hoppyman Posted October 21, 2015 Share #142 Posted October 21, 2015 Have you looked at Kristian's work and track record? I don't know the gentleman personally but he is clearly experienced and knowledgeable and has worked with Leica equipment previously and provided review too. Someone just sent me a link to one of those 'lifestyle' publication reviews that didn't indicate that they had even used the camera. They did have a hipster bicycle review on their page though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeremyS Posted October 21, 2015 Share #143 Posted October 21, 2015 With so much goodwill towards Leica (at least from a devoted section of the photographic community) and the resurgence of the brand with the Q I have to say that I am hugely disappointed in the SL. It's not just that it is an anti-climax, it is that it seems so woefully misconceived. Anyone who pretends that it will succeed among pros as a real alternative to Nikon and Canon is delusional. This has none of the Leica magic or mystique. It looks botched - and rushed (how can a launch with just one dedicated (AF) lens be anything but?). What upsets me is that so many of us put off buying an A7R2 (often to be used as an adjunct to an M) while we waited with keen anticipation for the camera we knew we would fall in love with (it is after all the kind of camera where the heart rules the head - another reason why it's primary market is affluent and passionately keen photographers). What a wasted opportunity. And I worry how many more mistakes Leica (with its enlarged factories, dedicated stores etc) can afford to make. Writing as a fan of the brand all I can say is what a pity. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fischmann1 Posted October 22, 2015 Share #144 Posted October 22, 2015 I find it ugly and too expensive. I fear it won't sell well and hope it won't hurt Leica financial health because we still need support and new lenses for the M. In my humble opinion is the worst move from Leica in years...but in years...I might not be wrong to think that will be a total sales disaster... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rramesh Posted October 22, 2015 Share #145 Posted October 22, 2015 For the next M, I will be very happy if Leica did the following: Used a Maestro II processor or better to bring ISO up to 50,000 or more. A removable EVF would still make sense, especially for the rangefinder purists. Dual SD Card. Micro SD cards would also make sense. GPS built-in. Touch screen with programmable LCD buttons. Better bulb option. Top display like the SL. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vikasmg Posted October 22, 2015 Share #146 Posted October 22, 2015 ... At 6,900 Euros for the body only I don't think they will have to worry about deliveries. I have to say, what bothers me most about the system is not the fat price but the fat size - specially the lenses! If I do ever buy an SL it will only be to use my M lenses - if it offers a convincing advantage over the M240. I know about auto focus and image stabilization and so on, but the lens sizes are still far to much to swallow. - Vikas Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted October 22, 2015 Share #147 Posted October 22, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) 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. I'm writing from a standpoint of total ignorance here, but I don't doubt you're right. My naive viewpoint, probably shared by 90% of people here is: - M lenses are small. - AF/IS lenses are massive. - Therefore the difference is down to motors and mechanicals. - If we've learned anything from the last 50 years, it's that motors & mechanicals get smaller. - Therefore AF/IS lenses should get smaller. Sure, I know about the need to redesign lenses so they can be focussed rapidly and at low power etc. But "ain't gonna happen"? What, never? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyoung Posted October 22, 2015 Share #148 Posted October 22, 2015 Either way. Big small fat thin it's still going to take sharper faster images than the M. You boys just need to man up and hit the gym and stop winging about how big /small it is When you're getting old and rheumatic etc hanging 2kg round your neck or about 5kg with a few lenses on your shoulders is a torture session not a pleasure. It can be the best camera/lens in the world but if you cant carry it about and enjoy yourself then its not much use. Gerry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_tribble Posted October 22, 2015 Share #149 Posted October 22, 2015 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). John - thanks for the heads up on this. I've now also read the excellent review by Jono Slack. As I have an R to M adaptor, the economics of an SL begin to make a bit more sense for me. I can imagine a scenario in which I hold on to my current pair of M bodies for use on most projects and get an SL with the M-T adaptor for when I want to use the longer R lenses that I have, or for use with M lenses that are wider than 28. As I've never been satisfied with the EVF on the M240, and the SL seems to eliminate the problems of lag and shutter black out that we suffer with the EVF/M combination this would work. It would mean an outlay of £5350 (SL body + the M-T adaptor), which is likely to be less than the overall cost of selling my current Ms and buying a pair of whatever the new M looks like, along with its (probably very expensive) EVF. Clearly, the deal breaker will be what solution they come up with on the new M (which I'm sure will happen). If we get more or less the same processor and sensor as the SL + a new EVF and significantly improved performance, all for a COMPARABLE price then I'll stay with the M... What I'll almost certainly never do is to go for the Leica AF zooms. With the 24-90 slated to sell at over £3000 (compared with the excellent Canon 24-70 L IS at around £1000), and other lenses probably being even more relatively expensive, I would find it hard to justify the investment... Interesting times... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS Posted October 22, 2015 Share #150 Posted October 22, 2015 When you're getting old and rheumatic etc hanging 2kg round your neck or about 5kg with a few lenses on your shoulders is a torture session not a pleasure. It can be the best camera/lens in the world but if you cant carry it about and enjoy yourself then its not much use. Gerry i hear you man. It might just be time to get one of those compact cameras that you can shove in your pocket........ And to hell with Full Frame madness Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyoung Posted October 22, 2015 Share #151 Posted October 22, 2015 A7 is light, plus a 50mm Summicron :-) If I'm feeling even more frail the nex 6 plus a 35mm Summicron is even lighter Gerry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Black Posted October 23, 2015 Share #152 Posted October 23, 2015 Clearly, the deal breaker will be what solution they come up with on the new M (which I'm sure will happen). If we get more or less the same processor and sensor as the SL + a new EVF and significantly improved performance, all for a COMPARABLE price then I'll stay with the M... Yep, it's sort of toss up at that point. I need to feel the SL in hand and gauge its size, etc. If it handles light and nimble, then it's a good candidate for M lenses. If it handles big like a dSLR, I think I'd be more inclined to use R and other SLR lenses on it - leaving the M lenses to the M body. But if things work out that way, then it's essentially coming 360º back to where I am today with the M-240 and A7II - though my wallet will be alot lighter Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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