New Leica SL Lenses & Roadmap!

[Mr.Q]

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While I agree with your assessment that M lenses are special due to their size/performance proposition, the bigger Leica lenses don't really hold an optical lead over every other manufacturer. The new Canon RF (especially the 50/1.2) and Fuji GFX lenses are equally as impressive imo. 

[sillbeers15]

It is great to hear that quite a few long time users of M & SL lenses do concur that the optical performance of SL lenses do excel beyond the already wonderful M lenses.

I do believe that the Leica SL’s DFD based Contrast Detect AF System is the same technology licenced from Panasonic. With the commonly appraised Panasonic G9 with firmware 1.2, couple of reviews have compared and commented it’s AF performances to be on par with Nikon Z7.

with the FF Panasonic S1R coming even later than G9, it looks promising for us with SL lenses now that it will be common L mount.

Will the SL lenses be optimised on the 47MP S1R more than DFD AF optimisation?

I know the S1R will not have the menu and simplified dials as the SL, but offer existing SL users an improved sensor and AF platform? Can the coming SL II be differentiated from the S1R in more and better ways?

I’m certain that 2019 will be exciting year for SL users. 

[6bit]

2 minutes ago, Mr.Q said:

While I agree with your assessment that M lenses are special due to their size/performance proposition, the bigger Leica lenses don't really hold an optical lead over every other manufacturer. The new Canon RF (especially the 50/1.2) and Fuji GFX lenses are equally as impressive imo. 

I would rate the GFX 45mm as the gold standard. The RF 50/1.2 and SL lenses are a distant second. 

I thought I would get a new SL and 35/2 when released but I ordered a GFX 50R and 45 while the Fuji deal is good. It’s just too much to pass up on. I will still be shooting my two M10s and SL but I have to see what I can do with the Fuji. 

[darylgo]

I've heard great things about the Canon RF 50/1.2 but I find it difficult to believe a medium format lens (GFX 45mm) can compete optically with a lens designed (well) for FF. 

 The 50/1.2 is getting great attention, is it deserved or is it the hype we often hear surrounding a new product release?  Unfortunately Canon produces worthless mtf curves that allow for any type of preliminary evaluation.  

Edited December 27, 2018 by darylgo

[caissa]

I hoped for news about new SL lenses ...       

Then I saw this discussion here about ‘gold standards’ and how great the new canon lenses are...   How boring. I only wonder what makes people come to other brands fora to talk about their (unrelated) personal preferences. And if they really think that users of this platform find this interesting news.

Please wake me up when there is really news about the products mentioned in the thread topic...   O.K. I agree that there is not enough news about new SL lenses. Hope this changes soon ....

[BernardC]

11 hours ago, 6bit said:

I would rate the GFX 45mm as the gold standard.

Based on what? You wrote that you haven't used it yet.

From what I've seen, the Fuji lenses are decent modern medium format offerings, exactly what you would expect from a large manufacturer.

The "ecstatic" reviews that I've read come from photographers with no medium format experience. These people have been struggling to get satisfying high-megapixel images since the D800 and A7r came out, with underwhelming results. They are learning what many generations of photographers have: if you want to print big, you need to shoot big.

On the other hand, photographers with medium and large format experience find the lenses to be decent. What they marvel at is the portability, and (lately) the aggressive year-end sale pricing.

I haven't tried the Fuji 45, but I have tried other Fuji lenses. I can't say that I was impressed, compared to Leica S lenses. The Fuji system overall is compelling for a certain type of pictorial photography. It is certainly a step-up from a Sony A7r.

[6bit]

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I own an SL, M10 (2) in fact, and an M6. Have many M lenses. I love the aleica system and will continue to use Leica as my go to camera.

However, I will not pretend they are the only manufacture of photography equipment. Since when did interjecting a comment on another manufacture lead to this type of response on this board?

I will just side step this entire thread and apologize for giving my opinion on the Fuji 45. Apologies.

[BernardC]

6bit,

I realize that my comment sounds harsh, and I apologize for that. I genuinely wanted to know if the Fuji 45mm lens is as outstanding as you stated.

That lens and the new "R" body could be quite useful as a walkaround camera outfit. I would certainly keep an eye out for a used kit in a few months (once the 100 MP Fuji is out).

[ropo54]

1 hour ago, 6bit said:

I own an SL, M10 (2) in fact, and an M6. Have many M lenses. I love the aleica system and will continue to use Leica as my go to camera.

However, I will not pretend they are the only manufacture of photography equipment. Since when did interjecting a comment on another manufacture lead to this type of response on this board?

I will just side step this entire thread and apologize for giving my opinion on the Fuji 45. Apologies.

Please don't!  I enjoy reading comments on competing systems.

Rob

[Agent M10]

7 hours ago, caissa said:

I hoped for news about new SL lenses ...       

Please wake me up when there is really news about the products mentioned in the thread topic...   O.K. I agree that there is not enough news about new SL lenses. Hope this changes soon ....

Me too. I have an M with its best lenses, but bought an SL because I was curious about the new mirrorless. I hadn't bothered comparing the M lenses to my SL lenses because, well, that kind of stuff really isn't important to me. So I was surprised seeing the noticeable differences between the SL photos as compared to the M's at less than letter-size sizes. I, too, am surprised about the dearth of news about these new SL lenses, and bewildered by the comments that the Fujis and Canons are so much better. 

One more comment. Time and time again we hear about sensor this and sensor that. Both the M and SL have 24 MP sensors.I believe that the present LFI demonstrates that lenses have much more to do with image quality than what you hear on various forums. The M lenses are great, but the SL lenses are noticeably a beyond.

Edited December 27, 2018 by Agent M10

[darylgo]

31 minutes ago, Agent M10 said:

 

One more comment. Time and time again we hear about sensor this and sensor that. Both the M and SL have 24 MP sensors.I believe that the present LFI demonstrates that lenses have much more to do with image quality than what you hear on various forums. 

Hear, hear.  

 

[Chaemono]

vor 4 Stunden schrieb ropo54:

Please don't!  I enjoy reading comments on competing systems.

Rob

Rob, here are some sample RAF files to download and play around with. 

https://www.photographyblog.com/previews/fujifilm_gf_45mm_f2_8_r_wr_photos

[ropo54]

Thanks, Chaemono. The files look very nice. (Just wondering how it compares in use to the S007, X1D, and SL w SL lenses, particularly AF).  

[Chaemono]

Rob, I had borrowed the X1D and gave it back. Preferred the M10 with M lenses stopped down a bit. The issue that I have with those ‘compact’ MF lenses is that to my eyes they are a bit soft wide open. The sensor is very good, of course, and the Fuji’s AF may be good enough for you to photograph your grandchildren. But I’d much rather get the SL2 or the S1R with the SL Summicrons. I don’t see much in those RAF files that attracts me. 

Edited December 28, 2018 by Chaemono

[tgdinamo]

On 12/27/2018 at 11:54 PM, ropo54 said:

Thanks, Chaemono. The files look very nice. (Just wondering how it compares in use to the S007, X1D, and SL w SL lenses, particularly AF).  

I have just purchased the GFX 50R with 45mm and 110mm lenses. I will go out to shoot with it first time today and after I use it for few weeks I can post my thoughts if people are interested (and specifically how the camera with the 45 lens does compared to my Q which is my all time favorite camera which I'm never getting rid off - how the IQ compares, but more importantly to what extent can this camera/lens combo be realistically used in the scenarios where Q shines, such as street and handheld low light). By the way, before I pulled the trigger on the Fuji bundle, I have been seriously considering the SL with 24-90 zoom to complement my Q, (even had it in my cart couple of weeks ago), but in the end I could not get over the fact that I would be paying over $10K to get the same sensor I already have on my Q, and the SL zoom while it is without question much higher quality than most zooms still does not match the IQ I can get with the Q summilux at 28mm - I have looked at many samples posted on this and other forums to come to this conclusion). By the way, my first take on the 50R (just handling it without shooting) is that it feels great in hands in terms of size, but the focus joystick and the buttons are far from great - they are in perfect places as far as placement, but are too small/flush so you don't get as good a tactile response when you press them as I was hoping for). The ergonomics of the 45 lens are fantastic however (that lens is much lighter than I expected and feels very solidly built). I also love the tilting LCD (even though it could be bigger - by the way, this is another reason I decided to not go with SL - I figured Leica was unlikely to add this on SL2 so there is no point in waiting for SL upgrade for that feature which I find extremely useful - I wish my Q had it as well). While I"m providing initial thoughts on 50R let me also add that the EVF on the 50R is excellent (better than on the Q), but still not as good as SL EVF (which has best ever EVF from what I have seen so far).

[Chaemono]

I looked at the GFX lenses today. They are humongous, like the S lenses. I went with the 75 Summicron-SL instead and look forward to the S1R or SL2. 

[tgdinamo]

1 minute ago, Chaemono said:

I looked at the GFX lenses today. They are humongous, like the S lenses. I went with the 75 Summicron-SL instead and look forward to the S1R or SL2. 

No question - most of them are large and heavy. However, the 45mm is actually smaller and significantly lighter (490 grams) than for example my Canon 35L 1.4 (760 grams).

[ropo54]

4 hours ago, tgdinamo said:

I have just purchased the GFX 50R with 45mm and 110mm lenses. I will go out to shoot with it first time today and after I use it for few weeks I can post my thoughts if people are interested (and specifically how the camera with the 45 lens does compared to my Q which is my all time favorite camera which I'm never getting rid off - how the IQ compares, but more importantly to what extent can this camera/lens combo be realistically used in the scenarios where Q shines, such as street and handheld low light).

Thanks, TGD. I'd love you to share your thoughts. Rob

[verwackelt]

I would like to see some wideangle SL Lenses without AF to keep them handy but faster about F2.0. A Shiftlens for architecture about 28mm would be nice too...
May be Sigma or Pana will do this earlier then Leica...

 

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica L-Mount

[ynp]

15 hours ago, tgdinamo said:

No question - most of them are large and heavy. However, the 45mm is actually smaller and significantly lighter (490 grams) than for example my Canon 35L 1.4 (760 grams).

I like that the GF45 has the medium format look wide open. And it’s better than my Zeiss-Contax 645 45mm.