FTI Posted October 21, 2015 Share #1  Posted October 21, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) Not meaning to get on the negativity band wagon. The SL is undoubtedly a great camera in terms of specs and IQ. In fact, compared to the price of the M (at launch), is the SL that much more expensive (excluding the lens)?  What bothers me is the form factor resembling the A7 - who could blame Steve in his first impression really. But what bothers me even more is this ueber-stylized camera. I find the style too much of a statement of what marketeers and designers think that the would-be trend setting, affluent, all-things-Apple loving hipsters want or demand.  Have another look at the style..... what do you think?    Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 21, 2015 Posted October 21, 2015 Hi FTI, Take a look here Too stylized ... modern M5 ?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
rodluvan Posted October 21, 2015 Share #2  Posted October 21, 2015 I was looking for a thread to comment on the design aspects of the camera. some people claim with a straight face, that this is the professional's camera, not for the average weekend shooter.  well, I got a thinking. in the latest iteration of Nikon's full frame slr's (d8xx/d4) they made a thing about how they had redesign the body and especially the placement of the shutter-button which they'd place slightly differently to enhance usage. that's how you approach the development of a professional tool  otoh, the SL is style first, function at best second. that is _not_ how you make professional gear and yet the price point suggests otherwise in true Leica fashion Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
@McLeica Posted October 21, 2015 Share #3  Posted October 21, 2015 Not meaning to get on the negativity band wagon. The SL is undoubtedly a great camera in terms of specs and IQ. In fact, compared to the price of the M (at launch), is the SL that much more expensive (excluding the lens)?  What bothers me is the form factor resembling the A7 - who could blame Steve in his first impression really. But what bothers me even more is this ueber-stylized camera. I find the style too much of a statement of what marketeers and designers think that the would-be trend setting, affluent, all-things-Apple loving hipsters want or demand.  Have another look at the style..... what do you think?  Actually I think it's refreshing to see a workhorse DSLR break from the Canon / Nikon clones and present something with clean lines and a bit of style. On Jono's review there's a picture of the SL black taped out and to my mind it looks great and actually very professional.  While not for me, I can see jobbing Pro's / Journo's loving it even if just because they can talk about something other that Canon / Nikon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjh Posted October 21, 2015 Share #4 Â Posted October 21, 2015 otoh, the SL is style first, function at best second. that is _not_ how you make professional gear and yet the price point suggests otherwise in true Leica fashion The design of the SL borrows heavily from that of the S. Anyone owning an S should feel right at home. A bad decision? I don't think so. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynp Posted October 21, 2015 Share #5 Â Posted October 21, 2015 I like the style of the SL. Maybe there will be an SL-P without the red dot and Leica name on the "prism".:-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter H Posted October 21, 2015 Share #6 Â Posted October 21, 2015 I have plenty of serious issues with the SL, (some which may be overcome when it's been more widely used) but the visual design's not one of them. I find it quite appealing to look at. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rramesh Posted October 21, 2015 Share #7  Posted October 21, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) I bet you, there will be a secondary market for 'button stickers'. EUR 10 each sounds about right. The originals will have the right Leica font. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodluvan Posted October 21, 2015 Share #8 Â Posted October 21, 2015 The design of the SL borrows heavily from that of the S. Anyone owning an S should feel right at home. A bad decision? I don't think so. yes the button layout and eye-piece, definite the not the ergonomics (which is what I discussed). the S (or S2) is more akin to R8/9 in that aspect and the digital SL more akin to the original SL (which is definitely not coincidental)Â Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted October 21, 2015 Share #9 Â Posted October 21, 2015 Actually I think it's refreshing to see a workhorse DSLR break from the Canon / Nikon clones and present something with clean lines and a bit of style. On Jono's review there's a picture of the SL black taped out and to my mind it looks great and actually very professional. Â While not for me, I can see jobbing Pro's / Journo's loving it even if just because they can talk about something other that Canon / Nikon. Â One of the reviewers - Ming I think - said the camera became very uncomfortable to hold for a prolonged period of time. Â The rounded forms of the Canon and Nikon cameras are perhaps better ergonomically? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodluvan Posted October 21, 2015 Share #10  Posted October 21, 2015 The rounded forms of the Canon and Nikon cameras are perhaps better ergonomically?  well fancy that; last I checked humans weren't square  Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted October 21, 2015 Share #11 Â Posted October 21, 2015 Ergonomics might benefit from a hand/knuckle strap. Â dunk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjh Posted October 21, 2015 Share #12 Â Posted October 21, 2015 The rounded forms of the Canon and Nikon cameras are perhaps better ergonomically? With my left hand supporting the camera under the (round) lens and my right hand grasping the (rounded) handgrip, I fail to see (or feel) the issue. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjh Posted October 21, 2015 Share #13 Â Posted October 21, 2015 S (or S2) is more akin to R8/9 in that aspect and the digital SL more akin to the original SL (which is definitely not coincidental) As a medium format DSLR the S needs to be both higher and thicker; a mirrorless FF camera does not and thus requires a different design. Â But then I am not a big fan of Colani's design in general. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgrayson3 Posted October 21, 2015 Share #14 Â Posted October 21, 2015 I have never been able to tell how comfortable a camera was to hold from a picture. The early A7 had the shutter release on top like an M, yet the hand position was different enough that I couldn't shoot with the A7 at all. The later A7II was much more comfortable for me, but not like a Leica S. That camera just sticks to my hand and won't be put down. Â Leica has a good track record (with me) for ergonomics, but I certainly won't form a strong opinion about the SL one way or the other until I use one. Soon, I hope! Â --Matt Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicamr Posted October 21, 2015 Share #15 Â Posted October 21, 2015 With the 'Holy Grail' M system, Leica had to make digital models look like the classic M of 1954 onwards. The S and SL look like CAD drawings, on screen and in real life. Why are they both void of any nice aesthetics? The R8 / 9 shape is very nice and they look professional. The SL looks like a big brother SONY A7. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mooky Posted October 21, 2015 Share #16 Â Posted October 21, 2015 I can live with minimalist design. But I prefer a bit more ergonomics in the grip, it just seems more of a design exercise for design's sake than simply making a grip that blends useability AND design. The large zooms won't help, too, the zooms would likely benefit from the addition of a tripod mount. I would interpret these simple omissions of a contoured grip and a mount for the bigger zoom as a major oversight by the design decision tree, which is a bit odd. The M5 was a highly useable, forward design with a great control cluster albeit in a stretched body that was needed for the meter tech. So perhaps Leica will read/hear the grip comments and massage some curves to it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted October 21, 2015 Share #17 Â Posted October 21, 2015 With my left hand supporting the camera under the (round) lens and my right hand grasping the (rounded) handgrip, I fail to see (or feel) the issue. Â So Leica made a mistake with the more ergonomic form of the S models? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjh Posted October 21, 2015 Share #18 Â Posted October 21, 2015 So Leica made a mistake with the more ergonomic form of the S models? Different concepts - DSLR vs mirrorless, MF vs FF - result in differently sized cameras requiring different designs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjh Posted October 21, 2015 Share #19 Â Posted October 21, 2015 Btw., the tele zoom comes with a detachable tripod mount; the standard zoom does not. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted October 21, 2015 Share #20 Â Posted October 21, 2015 Different concepts - DSLR vs mirrorless, MF vs FF - result in differently sized cameras requiring different designs. Â Hmmmm.........why does the S require a hand grip formed to fit the shape of someones hand and the SL requires a straight edged bump? Â It's a styling choice, not a functional choice. Â FWIW I think the looks are interesting and remind me of some braun designed equipment from the 1980's and some prototypes of the first ever digital cameras (does that make it post modern?) but it's maybe not so good in actual use as a more ergonomically designed body. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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