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M10 or SL


BigBabyEarl

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Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS

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The M is a rangefinder. Of course it's a different philosophy. Not rocket science.

What has psychology got to do with an M over a SL............confused 

 

Neil

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Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS

I dumped my SL because it was just too heavy and I would not carry it around. The only reason for my using the SL is auto focus but the lenses are just humungous.

I would not buy an SL to use M lenses on as it it still a 30% increase in weight body alone.

If you don't mind carrying it the keep it. As mentioned before the resale value is not very attractive.

I can focus quicker and get sharp pictures 99% of the time compared to 50% of the time with a rangfinder.....................not everyone is the same

 

Neil

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Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS

So, a heavy burden. A backpack, perhaps.

 

Jeff

The SL and 4 lenses fit nicely in this bag...................perfect for biking, hiking, jogging and more

Not the exact bag but looks pretty much the same

 

Neil

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Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS

I bought an M240 a few years ago, because I wanted to try Leica lenses. I quickly stopped carrying my Nikon SLR around unless I needed the autofocus - mostly shooting birds or sport. I was in love with the way the M240 rendered... the falloff of contrast from the focal plane, the way shadows were rendered and the step away from the HDR like images that most modern DSLRs seem to be tuned for these days. I was also in love with taking photos again... it felt like using a camera, not a computer.

 

Along came a collection of Leica M lenses... all fascinating in their own way. My favourite Nikon lenses were the 58 f/1.4 and 105 f.2 DC for their rendering... not the best MTF performers, but lenses with character. All of a sudden just about every Leica lens had character AND exquisite sharpness. Before I knew it I had the 24 Lux, 28 Elmarit, 35 Lux, 50 APO Cron, 0.95 Nocti, 75 APO Cron, WATE... and the list went on, including an MS Optics 21 f/4.5. A painter's pallete rather than a choice of lenses.

 

The SL put the nail in the coffin of my Nikon gear for everything except shooting birds with the 500 f/4 and fast moving macro work (where I already have a dedicated flash setup). The SL has allowed me to stand in the ocean photographing surfing, take tens of thousands of photos of soccer and netball (the 90-280 leaves the Nikon 70-200 so far for dead it's not funny), document weddings and parties and do everything my SLR used to be relied upon for. With the accessory grip it's comfortable for extended sessions with long glass. Without the grip and with a 28 M Elmarit it is very portable and quite unobtrusive.

 

I was absolutely sure that I would never like using an EVF, being a die hard OVF fan... but all of a sudden the rendering of landscapes and scenes with difficult lighting are a cinch.

 

Further, I've now used the Leica APO-Macro-Summarit-S 120 mm f/2.5 on the SL, and am ecstatic with the results. And don't get me started on the Summilux-SL 50... what a lens.

 

So for me, the SL has opened the full world of Leica magic to me, being able to explore its native lenses, all of my exquisite M glass and now dipping my toe into the S glass too. At the same time, it is rugged and capable of meeting almost every photographic need. The only downside really is the eye watering cost of this Leica gear.

 

All that said, I'm currently holidaying overseas with the M10. It is such an amazing rangefinder, and while I was pretty good with the M240 I'd say I have a 99%+ focus rate with the M10... I'm no expert on technical reasons, but for me the rangefinder is much better. The M10 is so unobtrusive and so mechanically satisfying... it epitomises the reason I bought a Leica in the first place.

 

If I could only have one, it would be the SL and I fervently hope Leica sells heaps of them and continues to develop the platform for decades. The native lenses are huge, but it can be compact with M lenses. And the results are stunning. But it's still more like the modern SLR experience of using a computer to make photos. The M10 still feels more engaging.

 

Sorry for the long post, but if you can only have one I guess it boils down to whether you want a weather sealed, robust and highly versatile image making machine or whether you want the best compact. modern, mechanically engaging camera Leica has ever made. Both are amazing bits of kit.  

Sounds like what I would say :) :)

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I agree with alistairm: If I could only have one it would be the SL. The combo of quality and versatility is outstanding. I have just spent a happy week in Tuscany with the SL, three R-zooms  and an M 50mm. If I only want to bring one lens then the 24-90 is, for me, the swiss army knife of lenses. Want to travel small? Pack a trio of M-lenses and the footprint is not much bigger than the M10...

 

...On the other hand: If one likes the rangefinder experience, and is willing to spend the cash, then the M10 is hard to resist. So I didn't. 

 

In my view both are fantastic cameras and more than good enough for all-round usage. They just do it differently. Each to their own, or there would only be one option for everything.

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I can focus quicker and get sharp pictures 99% of the time compared to 50% of the time with a rangfinder.....................not everyone is the same

 

Neil

I don't believe I said that everyone is the same. 

He asked for an opinion I gave mine.

And my opinion is based on my issue with the weight of the two systems

You are talking about focusing accuracy

What has that got to do with my point?

In fact I even said that if he don't mind the weight he should keep the SL :)

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The SL and 4 lenses fit nicely in this bag...................perfect for biking, hiking, jogging and more

Not the exact bag but looks pretty much the same

 

Neil

I was talking about carrying a philosophy, not the SL.

 

Humor detector missing lately, or just not following the threads?

 

Jeff

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Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS

I was talking about carrying a philosophy, not the SL.

 

Humor detector missing lately, or just not following the threads?

 

Jeff

 

Sorry I missed the joke......but I have no idea what a mycological bag is

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Price of SL just dropped $1,450 here in US. 20% discount. Cheaper than the M now.

The thread I started this am is already a couple of pages. Leica Rumors picked up the news later....I see you've taken your M10 availability complaints there too.

 

Jeff

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