With Leica SL in Lofoten

[SrMi]

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I was fortunate to photograph in Lofoten this March. My favorite landscape camera system is Hasselblad H5D which I usually complement either with a Nikon D810 or a Sony a7rII system. This time I choose Leica SL, with lenses 24-90mm, 90-280mm and WATE. Both Hasselblad and Leica system fit nicely in a Mindshift Firstlight 40L. Note to travelers to Norway: at each checkpoint be prepared to remove all bodies and all lenses from the backpack and bag.

 

While I was using Leica SL for a while now, I never really worked with it in the field. Executive summary: it’s a very enjoyable system that can deliver excellent results.

 

Switching between Hasselblad’s gorgeous OVF and SL’s fantastic EVF proved to me that there is still considerable progress to be made with EVFs before they equal the visual pleasure of an OVF.

 

SL worked very well as a landscape camera. It worked reliably except once, on a cold dry evening, when the EVF started acting up. The problem was remedied either by changing lenses or by leaving the battery out for a while (I did both).

 

For photographing Northern Lights I alternated between H5D and SL. SL’s EVF  was too dim for proper framing, some guesswork was required. On the other hand, the illuminated depth of field information in top panel display is really useful when it is too dark to properly focus.

 

I will travel with SL again as I am very pleased with the results obtained. Although I really enjoyed using 90-280mm (excellent lens, great range), next time I may take the lighter Nikon 300mm f/4E PF with adapter instead. The weight of SL with both native zooms adds considerably to the total backpack weight.

 

For long exposure (> 12 sec.) I used almost always H5D as it does not need a noise reduction phase.

 

Compared to Sony A7rII with GM lenses, I prefer output from Leica, though Sony system is much lighter and smaller. I would still bring a Nikon system if wildlife photography is involved.

 

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[Donzo98]

WOW!!

[meerec]

Fantastic! It's the place I'd like to visit with SL and H5D ... what a coincidence!

I'd like to find out more about your trip and experience ...

[leica1215]

you wrote....Switching between Hasselblad’s gorgeous OVF and SL’s fantastic EVF proved to me that there is still considerable progress to be made with EVFs before they equal the visual pleasure of an OVF.

 

can you elaborate more on this? what is better on Hasselblad OVF than the SL EVF?  I just noticed that EVF is bright and clear.. and yes sometimes a delay a bit

[Jeff S]

Look through the gorgeous S007 OVF and you won't need elaboration.

 

The SL EVF is the best I've experienced, with its own advantages (focus aids, etc), but for sheer viewing pleasure, seeing is believing.

 

Jeff

[SrMi]

Fantastic! It's the place I'd like to visit with SL and H5D ... what a coincidence!

I'd like to find out more about your trip and experience ...

Thanks.

Feel free to ask any questions about Leica, and message me anything related to Hasselblad.

For preparing to travel I found e-books by Cory Duncan helpful (68north.com).

[SrMi]

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you wrote....Switching between Hasselblad’s gorgeous OVF and SL’s fantastic EVF proved to me that there is still considerable progress to be made with EVFs before they equal the visual pleasure of an OVF.

 

can you elaborate more on this? what is better on Hasselblad OVF than the SL EVF?  I just noticed that EVF is bright and clear.. and yes sometimes a delay a bit

 

I agree with Jeff that best way would be to see for yourself. Even most DSLR (Canon/Nikon) users would be left very impressed when looking through H5D/H6D or Leica S viewfinder, same way as owners of other EVF cameras are impressed by Leica SL's EVF.

 

My main 'beef' with EVFs is still the lack of dynamic range, i.e., details in shadows are not visible although they are there in the recorded image. With EVFs I somehow feel more detached from the scene. It is almost as comparing Google Earth vs. view from an airplane window :-).

 

To be clear, I am not saying that EVFs are worse than OVFs as EVFs have clear advantages. EVFs can and should become better.

[meerec]

Thanks.

Feel free to ask any questions about Leica, and message me anything related to Hasselblad.

For preparing to travel I found e-books by Cory Duncan helpful (68north.com).

Thanks I know all about SL and H5D because I shoot with both.

But I'd like to learn all tips about logistics: where to stay, where to go shooting, when is best time ... etc.

[SrMi]

Thanks I know all about SL and H5D because I shoot with both.

But I'd like to learn all tips about logistics: where to stay, where to go shooting, when is best time ... etc.

Here is some quick information, much of which I extracted from Cody Duncan's books. 

 

- All stores and almost all restaurants are closed on Sunday.

- It is easy and popular to rent a car at the airport and travel to various destinations.

- Hamnoy area is very popular, you may want to be based in that area for a while at least.

- Hamnoy area and some popular beaches can get crowded with photographers.

- Leknes is a good airport to travel into Lofoten.

- Check the tides, the beaches look different on low and high tides.

- For Northern Lights check the moon status, you may want a moon that can brighten up the landscape.

- In winter you want to take shoe spikes, it is very easy to slip.

- Every season has its characteristics, many photographers go in winter. This was my first time in Lofoten, March seemed a good time to be there.

[tpf1952]

Stunning images. Thanks for sharing,

 

Tom

[tom0511]

stunning images. I wonder how big you see a difference between the MF-Hassy and the SL in regards of image quality? whats your opinion in this regard?

I have become quite lazy since I own the SL and the Zoom. I was never a Zoom guy, but the 24-90 is so flexible for walkaround and many things and so good optically that I often grab the SL instead of the S with primes.

[helged]

stunning images. I wonder how big you see a difference between the MF-Hassy and the SL in regards of image quality? whats your opinion in this regard?

I have become quite lazy since I own the SL and the Zoom. I was never a Zoom guy, but the 24-90 is so flexible for walkaround and many things and so good optically that I often grab the SL instead of the S with primes.

 

 

May I expand the question above to also include a few words/considerations/thoughts about "...how big ... a difference between the S and the SL in regards of image quality?" (for those with experience from S and SL, obviously; I own and enjoy the SL but I am also pondering on a larger format platform).

 

Thanks...

[jrp]

Well there are the practical differences (cost, weight, need for tripod) and the output differences (there are those that can't see them because they don't print large enough, to those that talk a lot about tonal transitions, etc).  As the S is "only" 36Mpx you could also consider Sony (42Mpx, IBIS) and the 50Mpx Fuji / Hasselblad systems if you really needed more resolution / better image quality.

[SrMi]

stunning images. I wonder how big you see a difference between the MF-Hassy and the SL in regards of image quality? whats your opinion in this regard?

I have become quite lazy since I own the SL and the Zoom. I was never a Zoom guy, but the 24-90 is so flexible for walkaround and many things and so good optically that I often grab the SL instead of the S with primes.

Thank you.

 

In many Hasselblad H5D images I see a difference that can be attributed to the larger sensor. I don't think the difference is mainly because of the resolution but because of the quality of the image/pixels (detail, tonality, ....). My observation is based on working with images on screen. Unfortunately, I do not print that much.

 

The difference in quality is big enough to me that I bother dragging and setting up an MF system. There is also the stunning H5D OVF, which makes me enjoy creating a picture even more.

 

I am really happy with the output of Leica SL with native zooms and WATE. The amount and importance of improvement that MF can provide is subjective. The point of my post was to confirm that Leica SL has the potential to make any landscape photographer happy.

 

I really appreciate the quality of 24-90 as well. They say you should be zooming with your feet instead. This is difficult to do when you are standing on a narrow ledge :-).

[leicatraveller]

I was fortunate to photograph in Lofoten this March. My favorite landscape camera system is Hasselblad H5D which I usually complement either with a Nikon D810 or a Sony a7rII system. This time I choose Leica SL, with lenses 24-90mm, 90-280mm and WATE. Both Hasselblad and Leica system fit nicely in a Mindshift Firstlight 40L. Note to travelers to Norway: at each checkpoint be prepared to remove all bodies and all lenses from the backpack and bag.

 

While I was using Leica SL for a while now, I never really worked with it in the field. Executive summary: it’s a very enjoyable system that can deliver excellent results.

 

Switching between Hasselblad’s gorgeous OVF and SL’s fantastic EVF proved to me that there is still considerable progress to be made with EVFs before they equal the visual pleasure of an OVF.

 

SL worked very well as a landscape camera. It worked reliably except once, on a cold dry evening, when the EVF started acting up. The problem was remedied either by changing lenses or by leaving the battery out for a while (I did both).

 

For photographing Northern Lights I alternated between H5D and SL. SL’s EVF  was too dim for proper framing, some guesswork was required. On the other hand, the illuminated depth of field information in top panel display is really useful when it is too dark to properly focus.

 

I will travel with SL again as I am very pleased with the results obtained. Although I really enjoyed using 90-280mm (excellent lens, great range), next time I may take the lighter Nikon 300mm f/4E PF with adapter instead. The weight of SL with both native zooms adds considerably to the total backpack weight.

 

For long exposure (> 12 sec.) I used almost always H5D as it does not need a noise reduction phase.

 

Compared to Sony A7rII with GM lenses, I prefer output from Leica, though Sony system is much lighter and smaller. I would still bring a Nikon system if wildlife photography is involved.

 

 

wonderful photos and thanx for the infos 

[blacksinner]

amazingggggg.......