Making the shift to Leica - painful?

[Flyer]

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New to forum so not sure if this is the correct area?

 

 

I have been a photographer for over 25 years and mainly grown up with digital but used film for a few years and have owned many digital cameras.

 

I mainly shoot Landscapes, although for the past 2 years I have added some fun by dipping my toe into wildlife.

 

However my main focus now is to do Landscapes and street/city photography.

 

I have owned DSLR's like Nikon D810 and also some mirrorless like the Sony A7r MKII.

 

After many weeks of deliberation I ordered the SL and it arrived yesterday, however I am on a limited budget and therefore have limitations on my lens options. So I ordered the Novoflex adaptor and a Sigma 24mm f1.4 lens just to start. Needless to say it doesn't work very intermittently in terms of AF.

 

So my dilemma is:

 

OPTION 1      I buy manual focus lenses, but I am very used to fast focus, image stabilisation and zooms (is this a BIG change I can deal with)?

 

OPTION 2      I buy a second hand 24-90, seems like an obvious solution but boy thats one hunk of a lens at almost 1200g and I guess defeats the purpose of buying a mirrorless body.

 

Thing isi the SL is a gorgeous camera and I dont want to return it!

 

Any advise appreciated.

 

Flyer

[LocalHero1953]

I know this is water under the bridge, but why did you buy the SL and not a M if weight is an issue? I have both and IMO a bit of weight comes with the territory of being a SL owner, and if you're not using it with native lenses you're wasting all those aspects which make the difference between the M and the SL. You might as well have a M with an EVF. 

 

Personally I am happy with the SL and its zooms. I have carried the SL+24-90 around all day on a wrist strap and found it acceptable, though I would now choose to do this with the M, because I have both. I find the 90-280 too heavy for carrying around a lot, though I have carried it on and off at an event venue without thinking much about it.

 

Your options:

Option 1. It sounds like you don't really want manual lenses, so you're throwing good money after bad if you buy them. For a lightweight system you'd be better with a M and EVF.

Option 2. Don't grumble about the weight of the 24-90 until you've given it a good chance. Get it, then you don't have to worry about all the miseries of adapting lenses that are not designed to work with the SL. Plenty of people on this forum have no problem with the lens.

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[wda]

Welcome, Flyer.

Your post has the hallmarks of a rushed and rather rash investment. Did you spend any time with a dealer familiarising yourself with the SL system? It does seem rather late to rule out the excellent zoom lens having bought the body. I tried your chosen system at my dealer and within one minute I concluded that, excellent though it was, I could not see myself toting it around on my type of travel photography.

 

Where do you go from here?

 

Revisit your dealer and seek his advice. He might suggest the Leica Q which has similar view finding and focusing speed to the SL. That would cover your landscape and street needs, but not wildlife. Over to others for further help.

 

There is a solution, but seek informed advice from a trusted dealer. Don't try and solve it by mail order.

[jaapv]

Nor would an SL be my first choice for street/city. The Q, or TL2 seem to be  more suited in the AF cameras.

[LocalHero1953]

There seem to be two threads here: one in Digital Forum, one in Customer Forum. Can they be amalgamated? I thought my response had gone missing.

Edited August 26, 2017 by LocalHero1953

[wildlightphoto]

 

OPTION 2      I buy a second hand 24-90, seems like an obvious solution but boy thats one hunk of a lens at almost 1200g and I guess defeats the purpose of buying a mirrorless body.

 

I don't know that I can help much with your decision but there's much more to mirrorless camera bodies than small size: no mirror slap, WYSIWYG exposure preview, no AF micro adjustment, excellent manual focus capability and legacy lens adaptability for example.  OTOH I had the opportunity to handle a Nikon D810 a few days ago and it's huge.

[jaapv]

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I hadn't noticed. sorted. Thanks . Please do not double-post, it only creates work for the moderators.

[Volbeat]

For size, weight and cost considerations I think you could consider buying TL lenses. They work natively on your SL albeit only utilising part of your sensor. The optics are first class genuine Leica and the AF will work as intended. There are plenty used examples available for modest money. 

 

Welcome to the Forum

[Flyer]

I know this is water under the bridge, but why did you buy the SL and not a M if weight is an issue? I have both and IMO a bit of weight comes with the territory of being a SL owner, and if you're not using it with native lenses you're wasting all those aspects which make the difference between the M and the SL. You might as well have a M with an EVF. 

 

Personally I am happy with the SL and its zooms. I have carried the SL+24-90 around all day on a wrist strap and found it acceptable, though I would now choose to do this with the M, because I have both. I find the 90-280 too heavy for carrying around a lot, though I have carried it on and off at an event venue without thinking much about it.

 

Your options:

Option 1. It sounds like you don't really want manual lenses, so you're throwing good money after bad if you buy them. For a lightweight system you'd be better with a M and EVF.

Option 2. Don't grumble about the weight of the 24-90 until you've given it a good chance. Get it, then you don't have to worry about all the miseries of adapting lenses that are not designed to work with the SL. Plenty of people on this forum have no problem with the lens.

Many thanks for your advise.

 

Well there are many things I love about the SL   1.EVF     2. Grip    3.  Live View     4. LCD   5. Two Card Slots      6. GPS/WIFI   7. 4K Video  -   So there is plenty to like over the M range.  That said I guess its all about compromises and maybe I just need to bite the bullet and grab a 24-90?

[Flyer]

For size, weight and cost considerations I think you could consider buying TL lenses. They work natively on your SL albeit only utilising part of your sensor. The optics are first class genuine Leica and the AF will work as intended. There are plenty used examples available for modest money. 

 

Welcome to the Forum

 

 

Many thanks for your response.

 

The major problem with TL lenses is they only produce 10mp and I couldn't live with that!

[Flyer]

I hadn't noticed. sorted. Thanks . Please do not double-post, it only creates work for the moderators.

Sorry I should have read the rules in more detail, please accept my apologies.

[Flyer]

I know this is water under the bridge, but why did you buy the SL and not a M if weight is an issue? I have both and IMO a bit of weight comes with the territory of being a SL owner, and if you're not using it with native lenses you're wasting all those aspects which make the difference between the M and the SL. You might as well have a M with an EVF. 

 

Personally I am happy with the SL and its zooms. I have carried the SL+24-90 around all day on a wrist strap and found it acceptable, though I would now choose to do this with the M, because I have both. I find the 90-280 too heavy for carrying around a lot, though I have carried it on and off at an event venue without thinking much about it.

 

Your options:

Option 1. It sounds like you don't really want manual lenses, so you're throwing good money after bad if you buy them. For a lightweight system you'd be better with a M and EVF.

Option 2. Don't grumble about the weight of the 24-90 until you've given it a good chance. Get it, then you don't have to worry about all the miseries of adapting lenses that are not designed to work with the SL. Plenty of people on this forum have no problem with the lens.

 

I have never had a rangefinder camera and think it would be a bridge too far for soemone who has been a DSLR user for many years. The SL I saw as a compromise but I agree I need to accept the weight, maybe I just need to give the 24-90 a chance as it deliveries significant benefits and maybe, just maybe I will get used to the weight after a few weeks.

[Keith_W]

Welcome to the forum! 

 

If you mostly shoot landscapes and wildlife, I am guessing that you need these lenses: 

 

1. A wide angle lens

2. A telephoto lens

 

I shoot landscapes, but not wildlife. And if you are anything like me (i.e. not very fit), you would want to avoid carrying too much weight when you are out hiking. For me, this means no tripod, which in turn means that I need a fast enough lens to shoot handheld in dying light, or a tripod alternative. Recently I have been carrying a mini tripod and looking for suitable rocks to rest the mini tripod on. A mini tripod in turn means that it can not support a heavy lens/camera combo, which suits me fine because I hate carrying that extra weight anyway! 

Shooting landscapes also means I have no need for AF. Wildlife (which I don't do) is a different matter - you want a fast long lens with superb AF. I have no advice for you about such a lens, since I have no experience with it. 

 

For shooting landscapes, I did well for years with a Canon 16-35/f.28L zoom, and then a Sony 28 f/2 prime, and now a Leica Summilux-M 28/1.4 prime which I will receive next week (I am new to the Leica system). The Canon suited me well when I was younger, fitter, and more willing to carry heavy equipment. Now that I am less fit, I have had to rethink my photographic priorities, and what I am willing to give up. I don't mind giving up AF since I don't need it for landscapes, but I wanted the speed and the option of subject isolation that only a fast lens gives you, and I don't mind the cost. 

 

What suits you will depend on your balance of priorities. Good luck! 

[Ko.Fe.]

IMO, SL might be super camera for landscapes. If city/street is taken with same as landscape approach, no MF needed. If street is taken as "street candid" no MF and SL needed then (IMO).  

If you want to have solid Leica signature in your picture, them Leica lens is needed. Most. MF, AF doesn't matter.  

[earleygallery]

New to forum so not sure if this is the correct area?

 

 

I have been a photographer for over 25 years and mainly grown up with digital but used film for a few years and have owned many digital cameras.

 

I mainly shoot Landscapes, although for the past 2 years I have added some fun by dipping my toe into wildlife.

 

However my main focus now is to do Landscapes and street/city photography.

 

I have owned DSLR's like Nikon D810 and also some mirrorless like the Sony A7r MKII.

 

After many weeks of deliberation I ordered the SL and it arrived yesterday, however I am on a limited budget and therefore have limitations on my lens options. So I ordered the Novoflex adaptor and a Sigma 24mm f1.4 lens just to start. Needless to say it doesn't work very intermittently in terms of AF.

 

So my dilemma is:

 

OPTION 1 I buy manual focus lenses, but I am very used to fast focus, image stabilisation and zooms (is this a BIG change I can deal with)?

 

OPTION 2 I buy a second hand 24-90, seems like an obvious solution but boy thats one hunk of a lens at almost 1200g and I guess defeats the purpose of buying a mirrorless body.

 

Thing isi the SL is a gorgeous camera and I dont want to return it!

 

Any advise appreciated.

 

Flyer

Well buying into a Leica system and being on a budget is like taking up rock climbing when you have a massive fear of heights!

 

If you want autofocus lenses then you're going to have to stump up the cash for the SL lenses, but an SL and kit zoom isn't what I'd use for street.

 

I have to say I think you've made the wrong choices and need to go back to the drawing board.

[hteasley]

Well buying into a Leica system and being on a budget is like taking up rock climbing when you have a massive fear of heights!

 

If you want autofocus lenses then you're going to have to stump up the cash for the SL lenses, but an SL and kit zoom isn't what I'd use for street.

 

I have to say I think you've made the wrong choices and need to go back to the drawing board.

I don't know. It seems like there's an easy path of decisions here, to answer the original question.

 

The SL cam be great for street with an M lens. I'd try it with a 28 or 35 Summicron-M. If you're going to like manual focusing, that setup will be one to really let you know. Doesn't get much better than that.

 

Except with a M, in my opinion. If you don't like manual shooting, you can get out of it and sell the Summicron. You can get autofocus lens for the SL, and have an amazing camera.

 

Or, if you like it, you could then try an M and see if that fits you better.

 

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[IkarusJohn]

Well, I think you can spend too much time looking over the fence at what other cameras and systems have.

 

The SL is fabulous. You have an SLR background; the SL will be no problem for you. Get the 24-90, you won't look back.

[RoySmith]

Well, I think you can spend too much time looking over the fence at what other cameras and systems have.

 

The SL is fabulous. You have an SLR background; the SL will be no problem for you. Get the 24-90, you won't look back.

I agree fully. The 24-90 is a terrific lens, and you'll get AF, IS, and environmental sealing with it. As for carrying it, get a good strap, like the Harry Benz Brogue SL, or a Peak Design Sling Strap.

 

If you want to go small and light get a M lens as previously suggested. The SL does manual focusing very well.

 

Roy

 

 

 

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[jaapv]

New to forum so not sure if this is the correct area?

 

 

I have been a photographer for over 25 years and mainly grown up with digital but used film for a few years and have owned many digital cameras.

 

I mainly shoot Landscapes, although for the past 2 years I have added some fun by dipping my toe into wildlife.

 

However my main focus now is to do Landscapes and street/city photography.

 

I have owned DSLR's like Nikon D810 and also some mirrorless like the Sony A7r MKII.

 

After many weeks of deliberation I ordered the SL and it arrived yesterday, however I am on a limited budget and therefore have limitations on my lens options. So I ordered the Novoflex adaptor and a Sigma 24mm f1.4 lens just to start. Needless to say it doesn't work very intermittently in terms of AF.

 

So my dilemma is:

 

OPTION 1      I buy manual focus lenses, but I am very used to fast focus, image stabilisation and zooms (is this a BIG change I can deal with)?

 

OPTION 2      I buy a second hand 24-90, seems like an obvious solution but boy thats one hunk of a lens at almost 1200g and I guess defeats the purpose of buying a mirrorless body.

 

Thing isi the SL is a gorgeous camera and I dont want to return it!

 

Any advise appreciated.

 

Flyer

I would suggest that you use the SL for the purpose it has been designed for: a high-quality general-purpose camera.

If you go outside that envelope, for instance, small-discreet (street, etc.) the ideal thing would be to use a specialized camera. Of course, Leica would like you to get a Q, TL or M, but there are so many excellent more affordable choices on the market.

The same for wildlife. If you want to get into serious work, the system simply does not have the focal length, unless you use the beautiful manual R lenses from the used market, but there is no contest with the specialized DSLR options, however, many serious wildlife photographers are moving to more light, affordable and compact systems, like Olympus and Panasonic, especially with the fabulous Leica 100-400 (AKA 200-800) out there.

So my advice would be to hang on to the SL and get a 24-90 on to use it to the full of its potential and look for other modern options for your side-interests.

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[otto.f]

Maybe a bit harsh to say but meant on the matter of course and not on the person (welcome to the forum btw): send the SL back and change it for an M10 (lots of lenses to choose from, young old, light, heavy), or ask your money back and stick to your Nikon810, I bet you can attach some nice and cheap Leica R lenses to it. You've left a brand with hundreds of lenses to choose from, with legendary ones among them. Even the 50 for the SL is a hunk and now you can only choose between two lenses.

Edited September 19, 2017 by otto.f