Leica SL Survey - Your Opinion?

[IkarusJohn]

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I want one if and when Leica releases an auto-focus adapter so I can use all my Leica S lenses (I have 7 of them... )

:-)

 

Wow!  I hope you can post some shots showing the results.

 

Will you consider getting any SL lenses?  It looks like the SL may go longer than the 180mm limit of the S lenses ...

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[rshseow]

Hope you enjoy reading it!

 

Had a close range dialogue with Stephan Schulz (Head) and Steffens Skopp (Product Manager of Leica Professional Imaging Business) on the Leica SL. With a mixed group of professionals and hobbyists, who asked all sorts of questions, including challenging one.

 

Positive points for me (followed by neutral view and disappointment as you read on):

 

-The rather quiet and "lighter" shutter of the SL is likely due to cushioning effect of the weather-seal, and the single-block-metal body frame.

 

-the EVF is the hallmark of the SL, for both still photography and videography; high definition, large view point, near no black-off and lag; such level of advanced technology is only made available recently!

 

-The future Summilux-SL will be the "best" 50mm lens in the market. Wow! Let's see....

 

-Weather-seal for SL body and lens combination; even though the lens barrel of SL24-90 extends while zoomed in-and-out, it is still weather-sealed.

 

-Compatibility (with lens info recorded in EXIF file for some lenses) with LTM, M, R, plus auto focus for T and S lenses

 

-Focus magnifier is activated by the programmable buttons (4 of them) beside the rear display and front function button - for precise manual focus especially for very shallow depth of field

 

Points just as info to me, neutral view on these:

 

-The Leica SL is intended to address DSLR user's needs and "liking" and do it better without being a DSLR.

 

-Priority is to meet required performance, therefore a smaller body cannot fulfill the purpose.

 

-Speed is the key: AF, operation, adjustment, data processing etc

 

-The SL lenses shall be the best performing lens on the SL as the lens' optical formula takes into consideration of the sensor cover glass characteristics; and today's computer-aided optical design is "more refined and precise"

 

-The SL90-280 Zoom (it's available for hands-on during the dialogue), is fixed length while zooming & focusing in-and-out, good for weather-seal, comes with a lens collar, lighter and smaller than equivalent (zoom range and wide open aperture) SLR zoom lens. (Still it's big and heavy for my taste)

 

 

Disappointment to me:

 

-Do expect only three SL lenses for the next twelve months; and only one prime lens; not ready to disclose lens roadmap at present.

 

-On manual focusing using M and R lenses etc., no automatic activation of focus magnifier; because there is not mechanically moveable contact between the lens and the body in the SL mount (whereas the M mount has the rangefinder movement contact).

 

-No capability for leaf shutter in the SL 601 body and lens.

 

-The hand grip is required for accommodating the huge battery as the EVF and videography need lots of battery power. And no comment on current hand grip design consideration for ergonomic comfort.

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[lct]

[...] Focus magnifier is activated by the programmable buttons (4 of them) beside the rear display and front function button - for precise manual focus especially for very shallow depth of field [...]

But neither by the thumbwheel nor the joystick... Never seen that so far...  Impossible to trigger magnification with the right thumb w/o removing the index finger from the shutter release this way...

[IkarusJohn]

Doesn't sound like this camera is for you 

[lct]

If it stays as is i'm afraid not... 

[peterv]

lct, I can see no reason why a firmware update (if necessary at all) could not accommodate your wish for a closer activation button for magnified LV. I'd think the function button next to the joystick will do fine, or the top right soft-key.

 

Strange that Leica hasn't thought of that, or have they? I'm still trying to find the time to read the manual ... 

[lct]

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You mean button 11 below i guess. Hard to press it while keeping the index finger on the shutter release i'm afraid...

 

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[pop]

How about taking some piano or, perhaps, flute lessons?

[peterv]

Yes, I see ... Than in the next firmware maybe # 6 should be configured for magnified LV.

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[lct]

How about taking some piano or, perhaps, flute lessons?

 

Indeed piano (or surgery?) for magnification, gym for big lenses... hard to deserve a Leica these days...

[toyfel]

Hope you enjoy reading it!

 

Had a close range dialogue with Stephan Schulz (Head) and Steffens Skopp (Product Manager of Leica Professional Imaging Business) on the Leica SL. With a mixed group of professionals and hobbyists, who asked all sorts of questions, including challenging one.

 

....

 

-Do expect only three SL lenses for the next twelve months; and only one prime lens; not ready to disclose lens roadmap at present.

 

-On manual focusing using M and R lenses etc., no automatic activation of focus magnifier; because there is not mechanically moveable contact between the lens and the body in the SL mount (whereas the M mount has the rangefinder movement contact).

 

-No capability for leaf shutter in the SL 601 body and lens.

 

-The hand grip is required for accommodating the huge battery as the EVF and videography need lots of battery power. And no comment on current hand grip design consideration for ergonomic comfort.

 

Thanks for the input, there are some interesting points (e.g. regarding the 50mm). The lens roadmap, or lack thereof, is surely disappointing. I can understand they do not want to promise yet any delivery and price points for lenses that may be released in two years down the road but they could at least give some info on a few lenses they are already developing (for example primes other than 50mm)

[toyfel]

You mean button 11 below i guess. Hard to press it while keeping the index finger on the shutter release i'm afraid...

 

button11_02.jpg

 

LCT,

button 11 might be quite OK to use to trigger magnification, i.e. I think it can be done with the right thumb while still having the index finger on the shutter release. I got that impression after digging out my Mamiya 7II which has almost exactly the same dimensions as the SL and even the grip design and location of shutter release button are roughly the same. Have to say though that I have fairly large hands and I am of course only guessing where button 11 would be on the Mamiya "dummy", but I guess to me at least the SL seems better ergonimcally than I thought initially. 

[ramarren]

But neither by the thumbwheel nor the joystick... Never seen that so far...  Impossible to trigger magnification with the right thumb w/o removing the index finger from the shutter release this way...

 

I'm not entirely sure why you feel you must keep your finger on the shutter release while activating magnification assist. Once in hand, you might find a different workflow is more suitable. 

 

I've read the manual on the buttons and customization several times through. I basically understand how it works, but it's going to take a camera in hand to fully grok how to use it. However, I don't feel there's any crippling omission to what it offers, although I will spend some time experimenting with different use methodologies. 

 

My R lens kit is complete .. I'll get the body only to start with, use the R lenses, and expand the kit with SL zooms as it seems warranted to take advantage of OIS  and AF. I generally find that AF is more helpful  with zooms and find that adapting zooms is often less successful for me anyway. I do have a Nikkor 25-50/4 AI-S to experiment with.  

[lct]

My R lens kit is complete also. I just need a digital back to replace my 5D1. If i cannot focus the SL601 like my other cams, i will have to consider a Sony. Would be a pity as i like much the M240's IQ and the SL's looks very close with M lenses as clear as i can see.  

[ramarren]

My R lens kit is complete also. I just need a digital back to replace my 5D1. If i cannot focus the SL601 like my other cams, i will have to consider a Sony. Would be a pity as i like much the M240's IQ and the SL's looks very close with M lenses as clear as i can see.  

 

I bought and used an A7 body with my R lenses for a year and some. It worked but was just "ok" on image quality, compared to what I see with these lenses on film, and particularly with anything shorter than 50mm. M-mount lenses were mostly awful with it, with some exceptions. 

 

The focus assist control could be placed on the button by the right thumb, but it was somewhat awkward anyway. On the Olympus E-M1, I have it set to the upper front body button, which is less awkward for me but does require that I use my index finger. I've had no difficulties with that. It looks like I can do the same with the SL and the FV button, leaving the LV button as the direct access to exposure compensation. 

[lct]

[...] On the Olympus E-M1, I have it set to the upper front body button, which is less awkward for me but does require that I use my index finger. I've had no difficulties with that. It looks like I can do the same with the SL and the FV button, leaving the LV button as the direct access to exposure compensation. 

 

If you mean the "Stop down / FN button" on the front you must have larger hands than mine i suspect as this button stands significantly lower than that of the M240.

[ramarren]

If you mean the "Stop down / FN button" on the front you must have larger hands than mine i suspect as this button stands significantly lower than that of the M240.

 

I don't know about size of hands. It seems about the same relative distance from the shutter release as the font buttons on the E-M1, which I find quite convenient. The M-P button is higher and a bit harder to find reliably. The SL, M-P, and Leicaflex SL bodies are all within mm of the same vertical size, and I have no problems reaching any part of the front of either the M-P or 'Flex SL front with my right hand holding either of those cameras. But as I said, it'll be hard to evaluate further until I have one of the SL bodies in my hands. 

 

It it took me about a month and some in 2013 to work with the E-M1 and get every little detail set up and working the way I wanted. But since then, I've hardly touched anything in the camera configuration—it just works seamlessly, without conscious thought. I expect the same with the SL. :-)

[pico]

-No capability for leaf shutter in the SL 601 body and lens

 

 

I never thought of that.

But I never thought of storing tunes on the SL, either.

Is there an earphone jack?

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica L-Mount

[Peter H]

I never thought of that.

But I never thought of storing tunes on the SL, either.

Is there an earphone jack?

 

 Pico, this is getting to you isn't it?

 

Time to do something outside for a while perhaps?

[CheshireCat]

[...]

But I never thought of storing tunes on the SL, either.

Is there an earphone jack?

 

A Canon DSLR with ML firmware can also play mp3. Seriously.

Leica will add nice features like this in a few thousand years.