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Waiting for a Q but having second thoughts about an SL


lanetomlane

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I've been on the waiting list for a Q for a couple of months and last time I checked was second on the list with Stephens in Manchester.

 

Last week I received an invitation from them to try the SL, this coming Friday the 13th. I emailed them and said I would be there (it's a 390 mile round trip) and was hopeful I could pick up the Q at the same time. Then unfortunately I started thinking .... always dangerous! What if I liked the SL?

 

For the last couple of days I've been going between the two in my mind.

 

I've loved the Q whenever I've had chance to handle one. However, I've never been the biggest lover of the 28mm focal length; but a couple of months ago I left a 28 on my M and decided I could live with it, but would probably end up cropping slightly. As someone else pointed out, the Q is a fixed lens camera and therefore when the camera dies the excellent Summilux dies with it.

 

On the other hand the SL would take my extensive range of M lens and I would still have those when the SL dies.

 

With the SL I would propose to use the M lens, plus the one R lens I bought (35-70mm), to try when the M/EVF was introduced. I like the idea of EVF but find the one for M frustrating in that I have to take it on and off and the quality of vision isn't exactly wonderful.

 

In the scheme of things I definitely would not be parting with either my M, or Monochrom 246 whatever I decide to buy.

 

It's all Leica's fault, if they had delivered the Q without the months of waiting I wouldn't be having these thoughts.

 

Am I being irrational or what?

 

Cheers, Tom

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I have handled both cameras for about the same length of time and within the same setting, i.e. about twenty minutes each at my dealer's.

 

I do not actually need a reason not to buy either, because I don't have a reason right now to buy any new camera. However, the two are radically different things.

 

The Q would be the almost always with me camera, living practically in my briefcase, for any kind of outing where photography is not on top of the agenda. It's light and uncomplicated. With some cropping, it will cover the range between 28mm and, perhaps, 50mm, and that's it. You don't have to think much when using it. That's the niche (but not the focal length) my Sony NEX 5N covers right now, with a nice Leica lens, of course, and the X Vario might grow into it, as soon as it's back from the repair. There's the small matter of the price, but that's another story.

 

The SL is going to be a system camera as soon as there will be some more accessories and lenses. It is a serious camera with the size and heft and flexibility to go with it. I don't think you'd carry that one for some casual shooting or just for walking the dog but only when you mean business. My dealer mounted a Noctilux on it and - oh my, it's a lovely piece of engineering and in comparison to the lens nearly cheap; its price per weight makes it a very attractive camera in comparison to other cameras I own. Still, after a short time of handling it, particularly with its native zoom lens, my wrists started noticing the weight.

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Hmm. I guess it's time for my annual refresh of underpants too...  :blink:

 

I have an X113 as my casual camera. Less expensive than the Q, performs the same task with my preferred 35mm FoV. I have a Leica OVF semi-permanently fitted to it. 

 

The SL is a far more serious commitment in both money and usage. The EVF is stellar. It's ability to work with M, R, and (eventually) S lenses, as well as its own line of dedicated lenses, puts it into a completely different class of camera from the Q or X.; or even M.  While I have no problems with carrying it and a lens or two (same size/weight overall as my M-P) any time I want to use it to take pictures, it is more to carry than X or Q and bespeaks a more intent approach to doing photography. 

 

Enjoy the trip to look at it, but think carefully about what you want and what you are willing to spend to get it once you see it. Cost of even just an SL body is not insignificant, even if you're a pay grade or two above me, so that says to me, "Think carefully and weigh the options..." 

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Hmm Well

I've spent an equivalent amount of time with the Q and the SL (about 3 months each), I thought the Q was spiffing, but I never considered buying one - not even for a minute. . . . . . Whereas after the first 1/2 hour I've never considered NOT buying an SL.

 

I guess you're already on the way to your round trip - have a great time - hope the waiting list for the SL isn't too bad!

 

All the best

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. . . . . Whereas after the first 1/2 hour I've never considered NOT buying an SL.

 

 

Half an hour? What took you so long? Do you suffer from indecisiveness or what? [emoji6]

 

In my case, the decision happened sometime between the Leica dude unlocking the display cabinet and me getting my greasy paws onto it.

 

[emoji3]

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So you have a M, an MM and a 28mm M-lens and you're going to buy a Q _or_ an SL, but can't decide on which?

 

sorry, I can't help, but my heart goes out to you 

 

perhaps goldplate your toilet or get an S2 and use it as a doorstop? 

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Half an hour? What took you so long? Do you suffer from indecisiveness or what? [emoji6]

 

In my case, the decision happened sometime between the Leica dude unlocking the display cabinet and me getting my greasy paws onto it.

 

[emoji3]

Hah!

Well, I was quite surprised to see it . . and it took a little while to figure out what to do with it :) - the very first I saw of it was unwrapping the bubble wrap!

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I have handled both cameras for about the same length of time and within the same setting, i.e. about twenty minutes each at my dealer's.

 

I do not actually need a reason not to buy either, because I don't have a reason right now to buy any new camera. However, the two are radically different things.

 

The Q would be the almost always with me camera, living practically in my briefcase, for any kind of outing where photography is not on top of the agenda. It's light and uncomplicated. With some cropping, it will cover the range between 28mm and, perhaps, 50mm, and that's it. You don't have to think much when using it. That's the niche (but not the focal length) my Sony NEX 5N covers right now, with a nice Leica lens, of course, and the X Vario might grow into it, as soon as it's back from the repair. There's the small matter of the price, but that's another story.

 

The SL is going to be a system camera as soon as there will be some more accessories and lenses. It is a serious camera with the size and heft and flexibility to go with it. I don't think you'd carry that one for some casual shooting or just for walking the dog but only when you mean business. My dealer mounted a Noctilux on it and - oh my, it's a lovely piece of engineering and in comparison to the lens nearly cheap; its price per weight makes it a very attractive camera in comparison to other cameras I own. Still, after a short time of handling it, particularly with its native zoom lens, my wrists started noticing the weight.

Perfectly put!

The SL is a work horse of a camera...very useful. The Q is fun, easy, quick and fast...but limited. Looks like two truly fine cameras.

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So you have a M, an MM and a 28mm M-lens and you're going to buy a Q _or_ an SL, but can't decide on which?

 

sorry, I can't help, but my heart goes out to you 

 

perhaps goldplate your toilet or get an S2 and use it as a doorstop? 

 

 

Thank you for your constructive comment.

 

Regards, Tom

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Thank you for your constructive comment.

 

Regards, Tom

 

with all due respect, what kind of constructive comments are you after?? you can't decide on which pointless vanity purchase you're going to execute and you're using this forum to wallow in your childish excitement (the christmas reference was made tongue in cheek, but taking another look it was uncannily in the spirit of the OP)

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