SL or wait for my M 10?

[jimleicam3]

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Hi,

 

I have been waiting months for a M 10 to arrive, I had sold all my Canon gear and my M 8, now more than a year ago.  All I have been using is my X 2, which is a great camera.  However, in my closest sit 4 great M lenses.   So with the price drop in the SL, which is around the cost of the M 10.  And my dealer saying he has no idea when an M 10 may show up.  Should I spring for the SL?  I am not a pro, but I have a vacation coming and was looking forward to having a new camera.

 

Thanks,

 

Jim

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[IkarusJohn]

Do you want an EVF based camera (with all that entails), or do you want an optical coupled rangefinder camera?

 

Whichever you get, if you take the time to come to grips with it, and make it work for you, then it probably doesn't matter, does it? The M10 feels small in the hand, but not actually small enough to put into your pocket; the SL has greater functionality. Both have similar sensors, and both play well with your M lenses.

 

In the long run, you can expand your SL system with AF lenses and zooms. One is a classic, the other will be a classic.

[tom0511]

I also suggest to decide for the one you want and not the one which can be delivered. If you want a M10 I would start calling around several dealers, I am sure you will find one quick if you spend some time.

[darylgo]

I have heard that chrome is available, black is not.  

[Bill W]

I would find another dealer. I have managed to get two M10's and not wait more that a month for either. Look at the Availability thread and you might get some names of dealers that will get stock and not have long wait times. 

[Irakly Shanidze]

if you are used to a rangefinder camera, chances are, SL will disappoint you with its bulk and weight. Not that it is not a great camera, it just imposes a very different workflow and consequently style of shooting.

 

it seems that your dealer is trying to manipulate you into buying a camera that in a lesser demand than M10 because he has one sitting on a shelf. Do call around.

[fsprow]

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Chrome M10's are readily available.  Took me 25 minutes calling dealers.

[Chaemono]

M10 has better IQ (dynamic range, high ISO performance) as it should given that it has a newer sensor.

[sillbeers15]

SL + AF zooms vs M10 + prime M lens. As a user, I see merits in both systems for different applications. My choice is to keep both as I get to have Leica glasses on both. Else many other choices of cameras with equal or better performance are available in the market.

[Keith_W]

A few months ago I was trying to decide on whether I wait for an M10, or get the SL right now. These articles helped: 

http://www.streetsilhouettes.com/home/2017/2/23/leica-m10-vs-leica-sl-part-i-under-normal-use

 

http://macfilos.com/photo/2017/2/5/leica-sl-and-m10-a-tale-of-two-cameras

 

The shop didn't have an M10 in stock so I could compare, so I played with an SL and a M240 ... knowing that the comparison would not be strictly fair. I could live without the autofocus, but for me the deal breaker for the SL were the massive lenses and the relatively immature system. I mean, the Summilux-SL weighs 1080g, compared to the Summilux-M which is 370g! It weighs almost 3 times as much, just for autofocus. And don't forget, the resale value is likely to be lower, since there are fewer SL shooters about than M. 

 

So I knew that if I bought an SL, I would be shooting with M lenses anyway. Does the SL make a case for itself with M lenses? The answer is yes - that EVF is superb, and (as others have pointed out), it may even be superior when you are shooting at f/0.95. But then, the M10 also has an optional Visioflex that allows you to use focus peaking. 

 

For my type of photography, the M is enough camera for my needs. I do not want more, especially when "more" comes with more weight to carry around. 

[Chaemono]

See my post at the bottom of page 190 here:

 

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/253192-leica-sl-image-thread-post-your-examples-here/page-190?do=findComment&comment=3333833

[250swb]

I tried an SL and was smitten by the quality of the sensor, so I sold my M240 and bought one, with the intention of swapping again when the planned 'M10' became available. But within a few days of the official announcement of the M10 the waiting list had gone up to six months and I'm still waiting (allegedly it will be September). But in the meantime I'm bonding more and more with the SL. It's a heavier beast, but I used my M240 on a tripod most of the time anyway, and with the M lens adapter (I don't have any SL lenses) it feels like a very flexible camera, easy to use and the viewfinder is amazing and most importantly accurate.

 

I wouldn't want to sway you either way, but suggest making a list of pro's and con's. There is a lot to be said for a smaller camera, but also consider the ability of the SL to exploit auto focus with it's native lenses, and you have a difficult choice to make.

[Jeff S]

 But within a few days of the official announcement of the M10 the waiting list had gone up to six months and I'm still waiting (allegedly it will be September).

 

Calling around, especially to small dealers, will land an M10 in no time.  I found 2 in a day, with the second dealer willing to trade my M240.  And that was when availability was even tighter than now.

 

 

Jeff

[paulsydaus]

I think that ultimately the decision should come down to the OP's eyesight. If it is only fair or likely to get worse depending on age, go for the SL. Otherwise I would go for the M10.

 

 

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[jimleicam3]

I ended up with the SL, very heavy, and a tad more complex to use.  We will see how it performs on my vacation!  

 

Thanks for all the advice.

 

Cheers,

 

Jim

[steppenw0lf]

The SL is probably the best tool for reportage - at least it is very close to the "classic" SLRs used for it.

For me it is interesting that now also some "prominent" reporters are beginning to use it.

By chance I saw the add for the latest report about Cuba from Markus Lanz (who is well-known in german speaking parts of the world, maybe less in the english speaking parts). And he is using a SL with the 24-90.   https://www.zdf.de/gesellschaft/markus-lanz

While in earlier reports he used a M10 and before mainly Canon DSLRs.

 

For me this is a pleasure to see its success. (If you want to call this "success", if it get's more popular.)