Nikon Z6, Z7 and Leica SL ..... (merged)

[jplomley]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I don't think Leica has a choice but to up the ante on the SL2, otherwise they will quickly become outpaced. Don't expect Canon to be resting on its laurels.....

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[thighslapper]

Pedestrian camera, or shall we say pedestrian system?

 

Access to native tilt/shift

Access to native long telephoto plus tele convertors

Access to first class native flash system

No need to mention choice of 24 and 45mp sensors...8-)

 

I assume this camera is purely to stop the drift of Nikon users to Sony and Fuji ..... it really offers very little more than any other mirrorless out there 

[mmradman]

I assume this camera is purely to stop the drift of Nikon users to Sony and Fuji ..... it really offers very little more than any other mirrorless out there

 

I think SL system is lagging in more than just megapixels.

For a starter I would like to losslessly compress my raw files.

How about LENR

If I use off camera flash it is Nikon with cheap an£ reliable third party trigger.

 

Actually I like heft and shape of SL and hope it serves me well for a long time, it was expensive purchase after all, but I have no illusions about camera and Leica system shortcomings even if I don’t use all the features.

[jplomley]

I still maintain that if they had gotten the SL glass out the door faster than a snails pace, it would have made all the difference to the success of the product. To introduce a 75 and 90 prime before the 35 and 50 Cron IMHO was a big mistake. They should have done 35/75 or 50/90 instead of that 50 Lux behemoth. Also, the 16-35 should have been one of the first lenses launched, its the one every landscape photographer was waiting for, but noooooo, lets leave that as one of the last, you know, when people start to leave the system. Absolute clusterfuck on the roll out of lenses IMHO.

[Ouroboros]

I assume this camera is purely to stop the drift of Nikon users to Sony and Fuji .....

 

There would be little point in Nikon being a camera manufacturer, otherwise!

 

One of the key factors for Nikon's direction is in the Z mount.  It opens up a number of possibilities for future developments with  larger sensors and more new wide maximum aperture lenses to follow the  55mm f.95

 

There are a multitude of compatible legacy and 3rd party lenses that the mount adapter can take advantage of, including t&s lenses, which is a prime interest to me.

 

The main disappointment in the spec so far for me is the single card slot.  I don't know what Nikon were thinking of.

[FlashGordonPhotography]

If the lens adaptor works properly then these cameras will be a huge success. It's trivial to add a body to an existing arsenal of glass. Plus they have a roadmap. Would it kill Leica to release one of those, or put out feelers for what people want? The three year roadmap just gives people a clear vision of how they're going to gradually offload their existing glass as the new stuff arrives.

 

I also like the flippy screen. The flash thing I don't care about. I shoot flash in all manual in studio and in TTL with just a couple of hot shoe guns. Leica does that now. I prefer the focal range of the Leicas (except the 16-35) 24-90 and 90-280. The 50SL is my favourite 50 ever. I can easily use TS lenses on the SL. Not a big deal.

 

Right now I have the SL and Sony systems. One I like but I'm hobbled by LENR and mandatory auto-review. The other has poor weather sealing and iffy handling. I'll be looking at a Z7. The SL is my preference but without those two things fixed I won't be investing in any more SL gear.

 

Gordon

[darylgo]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Ordered mine also, the camera has great potential but could the lens take advantage of a 45mp sensor.  Leica lenses spoil us, a Nikon lens (24-70mm) for $1200 will be Nikon good, but not Leica good (SL 24-90).   

[Jon Warwick]

On waiting list too for a Z7 given I print very large and the 45mp sensor will be invaluable compared to the low megapixel offerings from Leica.

 

Sure the Leica lenses are great, but I also thought some initial images I’ve seen online (even though just out of camera JPEG’s) with Nikon’s Z 35mm prime had very decent micro contrast.

[darylgo]

I haven't heard much talk (rumors) of a SL2 replacement at photokina.  The S system rumors are numerous and getting quite old.  I am guessing the S will get updated moving the MP higher and then the SL2 to follow to avoid competing systems.  We'll see.  

 

I don't understand postings that refer to the new Nikon as a me-too Sony.   Specs alone don't make a camera, Leica owners know this better than anyone, there's more to IQ etc. than data sheets quantify.  There's so much to this new camera, I am quite anxious to try it out.   Having left Nikon and invested heavily in Leica I am wishing for the Nikon to be exceptionally good and at the same time I hope it falls short so I don't feel compelled to leave Leica.... and these great forums :-) 

[earleygallery]

I'm not ordering or even pre-ordering one.

[jaapv]

On waiting list too for a Z7 given I print very large and the 45mp sensor will be invaluable compared to the low megapixel offerings from Leica.

 

Sure the Leica lenses are great, but I also thought some initial images I’ve seen online (even though just out of camera JPEG’s) with Nikon’s Z 35mm prime had very decent micro contrast.

 

And what will you do should Leica announce a 50 MP  SL2 at Photokina? -Not to start a rumour, just mentioning a hypothetical possibility.

[IkarusJohn]

And what will you do should Leica announce a 50 MP  SL2 at Photokina? -Not to start a rumour, just mentioning a hypothetical possibility.

Toss all my toys out of the cot, and sell all my Leica equipment in disgust after expressing my rage here, of course!

[Martin B]

Today I had a look at Z7 and only one word describes it - wow!! Z7 has top display like SL and a great EVF like SL. A beautiful screen and a superb menu. Results from few pictures I tool were brilliant. I am pre-ordering!!

 

I am reading the first news about the Z7 with interest - can't wait to see reviews about the performance of M mount lenses on this camera with suitable adapters when available. I don't expect the same performance (especially for wides) as compared to Leica cameras with thinner sensor glass cover, I am just curious if it is worse, better, or the same compared to the Sony A7R series. In case it is better, I would be really interested in the Z7. 

[Jeff S]

I’ll wait for the SL2-P.2.

 

Jeff

[Martin B]

And what will you do should Leica announce a 50 MP  SL2 at Photokina? -Not to start a rumour, just mentioning a hypothetical possibility.

 

Hypothetical answer: the SL2 for > $7K, and the Z7 for $3.4K - even with only an okay performance of M lenses on the Z7, my decision would be easy which digital model I would choose. If suddenly for some weird and unlikely reason Leica decides be become price-competitive with competitive models out there, oh yes, then - but only then - I would grab the SL2. 

Edited August 24, 2018 by Martin B

[darylgo]

Hypothetical answer: the SL2 for > $7K, and the Z7 for $3.4K - even with only an okay performance of M lenses on the Z7, my decision would be easy which digital model I would choose. If suddenly for some weird and unlikely reason Leica decides be become price-competitive with competitive models out there, oh yes, then - but only then - I would grab the SL2. 

 

Nikon adapter will take AF-S lens, they don't appear to be creating a path to other manufacture lens adaptation.   

[Martin B]

Nikon adapter will take AF-S lens, they don't appear to be creating a path to other manufacture lens adaptation.   

 

Same will happen as with Sony E-mount adapters earlier - Chinese brands will jump on this bandwagon quickly. Love Fotga and Fotasy for this! No biggie to make these simple metal adapters for manual lenses. Even if this takes a month or so, I don't mind waiting. 

Edited August 24, 2018 by Martin B

[sillbeers15]

With a successful z7 and a8, I hope there is enough pressure to Leica to come up with a AF capability comparable SL2. I don’t care so much about higher pixel and price.

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica L-Mount

[Mr.Q]

Not that I shoot action, but PDAF, eye AF, and faster AF in general would be nice.

 

But I'd like Leica to stick to their strengths and improve upon the already stellar EVF and handling/ergonomics.

[Vieri]

I think that long gone is the era in digital when technology advanced so rapidly, and existing models where so lacking, that it kinda sorta made sense to switch to the newer and better from a different manufacturer - if there ever was such a time when this REALLY made sense, but that's a different topic.

 

About the new Nikons, to me the question for SL users is not what the Z6 / Z7 have, specs or anything. The question is what makes the SL different, or what makes the SL unique (what makes the SL the SL, so to speak), and why did you choose in the first place. After that, one might ask oneself if the new camera offer a quantum leap of improvement, or a feature that you really needed and the SL doesn't have (and if that is so, why didn't you choose and use a different camera already, with all the offer out there?).

 

To me, what makes the SL different and unique for my work, what makes the SL the SL is:

 

- Amazing body built, weather-resistance and resistance to anything I threw at it during the last 2.5 years (and I went everywhere, deserts, salt deserts, from Iceland's winter cold to Italy's summer heat, windstorm, rainstorm, snowstorm, sea sprays, etc, my SLs saw it all!);

- Amazing reliability (so far at least), there are no known issues with the SL and no problems whatsoever with either cameras or lenses;

- Two card slots, fundamental to backup my images in the field;

- Amazing EVF, still best in class both for specs and, most importantly, implementation: I am talking about an EVF which makes my landscape photography work a quantum leap or two easier than anything else out there;

- Extremely simple and intuitive UI, with the four assignable soft buttons, which is great in the field, especially when using gloves, or when under bad weather, or hen seeing which button you are pressing is difficult / impossible (camera placed in some strange places, low / high / aside a cliff / etc);

- Some unique features for tripod-oriented landscape work, such as focus distance on the top screen, real-exposure in the EVF, AF on the back joystick in manual focus, and most of all long exposures up to 30 minutes available in M mode WITH WORKING METER and with delayed release, no need for B mode, cable releases, etc;

- Amazing, best in class zoom lenses;

- Great battery life, I have NEVER depleted a full battery during one day of work, not even in Iceland in winter; I work professionally with the SL since February 2016 and I only carry ONE extra battery together with the ones in each of my SL bodies; by the way, I am still using the original batteries, and they still keep their charge just fine after 2.5 years of use, with a minimum of six months on the road each year;

- Phone App working great both to control all functions in the camera and as screen to compose / focus / review images, making the need for a tilting screen disappear;

- Amazing compatibility with pretty much any lens out there, Leica or otherwise.

 

Does the new Nikon Z offers me anything I need that the SL doesn't give me, or anything that betters any of the points above?

 

Well, at the moment I only would love to have more resolution, which for us landscape photographers is always good to have. That said, I have now an exhibition open with images the smallest of which has 60x90 cm of printed area, mostly done with the SL and none of which made me wanting for more pixels to get the prints to look great. Resolution aside, anything else in the new Nikons is either a deal breaker (single card? Only XQD cards? 300 shots per charge?) or less suitable for my use (body size / UI ), or - for things such as lens quality, long exposure implementation, etc - it's an unknown quantity yet but I seriously doubt it will be any better than the SL lenses, or than the SL universality.

 

So, I am definitely keeping the SL, no doubt in my mind. The Z7 is not even close to make me think about the possibility of switching, and I will be waiting for the SL 2 whenever that comes: it will most likely have a higher Mp count sensor (no rumor, no insider information, just what makes sense to me), and - if I know how Leica operates - it will probably retain all the features of the present SL which made me choose it. If it does not, I'll have the possibility of keeping using my SL, which works just great and will keep working great, or move to a different system.

 

Of course, this is just what works for me and for my work - Fine Art Landscape Photography. I don't need IBIS, I don't need a smaller body, I don't need faster AF, and so on - so, as always, YMMV. 

 

Best regards,

 

Vieri