Super combination deals on SL with 24-90 lens

[budjames]

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B&H Photo and the Leica store in SoHo, NYC are offering a tremendous deal on the current SL with the Leica 24-90 zoom for $7,995, a savings of $3,375 off of the combined $11,370 list price.

Since the Leica 24-90 lens current sells for $4,950, the bundle means that you can get the SL for $3,045.

I was wondering if the deal was worth it if you plan to trade the current SL in for the SL2 when it becomes available later this year?

Regards,
Bud James

Please check out my fine art and travel photography at www.budjames.photography or on Instagram at www.instagram.com/budjamesphoto.

[darylgo]

Hi Bud,

This combination continues to give me great images despite it's aging specs.   After comparing the SL images to the Panasonic S1R at almost twice the Mp count I found the differences minimal and returned the Panasonic.   I am awaiting the SL2 but with several attempts using higher Mp cameras it is not apparent to me that the differences are easily seen.  So, I think the purchase you suggest is a great deal and you have the option to upgrade.    

[ron777]

I guess that you do not crop, because if you did the difference between 24mp and 47mp would immediately become apparent.

[darylgo]

1 hour ago, ron777 said:

I guess that you do not crop, because if you did the difference between 24mp and 47mp would immediately become apparent.

Hi Ron,

With a zoom lens attached I normally would crop to fill the frame as much as possible.  Lately, I have found stitching to be valuable and 24mp becomes super resolution when combining several frames into one.  If 90mm is not enough the 90-280mm zoom is available.  Do I ever wish I had greater resolution?  Absolutely, however Mp is only one part of the equation, the lenses have to be up to the task, few are, Leica is the real standout in this regard and we see other manufacturers scrambling to get their lens line up to speed, many failing miserably because they produce to a price point, those that succeed are getting closer to Leica prices.    Leica has said for many years 24mp full frame is ideal,  I dismissed this as justification for the lack of higher Mp bodies but after several attempts using 40+ Mp cameras I agree with their claim.   Could 24Mp be the sweet spot?  The major manufacturers produce them and continue to introduce new state of the art bodies at this resolution or thereabouts.  Apologies for the rambling post, perhaps you could tell the OP the other side of the coin, good input is the strength of the Leica community gathered on these boards.  

Edited June 17, 2019 by darylgo

[frame-it]

26 minutes ago, darylgo said:

 we see other manufacturers scrambling to get their lens line up to speed, many failing miserably because they produce to a price point,

Im Curious... which other manufacturers lenses fail miserably at 40mp or more ?

Stitching is very valuable, i do it too for the occasional landscape shot..but how do you stitch street shots with humans? moving cars? traffic? wildlife? air-shows? etc..

because 24mp works for one person, doesn't necessarily mean its going to work for another person with a different style of photography

 

 

 

Edited June 17, 2019 by frame-it

[ru2far2c]

10 hours ago, budjames said:

B&H Photo and the Leica store in SoHo, NYC are offering a tremendous deal on the current SL with the Leica 24-90 zoom for $7,995, a savings of $3,375 off of the combined $11,370 list price.

Since the Leica 24-90 lens current sells for $4,950, the bundle means that you can get the SL for $3,045.

I was wondering if the deal was worth it if you plan to trade the current SL in for the SL2 when it becomes available later this year?

Regards,
Bud James

Please check out my fine art and travel photography at www.budjames.photography or on Instagram at www.instagram.com/budjamesphoto.

I just purchased a SL in Munich trading a ASP-C on a trade deal they had here. They gave me 1200€ toward the purchase of SL body 5900€. They said deal here were good till stock was depleted. They could not say if the deal would be around when the new SL2 hit the market. 

I’m very content at 24 megapixels with FF. 

Plus the SL had been on my wishlist for a while anyway. Price point was right for me and M->L adaptor for all my M lenses. SL feels great in hand and so I’m very happy with it. Still need to use it some more and finish setting it up. Just pick it up Friday and back to Ecuador tomorrow. 

Good luck in your decision buy now or waiting. 

[geddon_jt]

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We sprung for the SL with the 24-90mm zoom at the reduced price. So far it's a fantastic camera, we couldn't be happier. The zoom is a downright amazing lens and using a Noctilux on the SL is so much easier than with an M camera, among other things. Value wise, I figured the zoom lens is a $5k lens new by itself that will be just fine to last for the next-gen sensors whenever that happens, and if you think about it that way the SL body brand new at $3k seems like a reasonably good value.

[ChicagoMatthew]

I read the current lenses will hold up easily to 100mp... considering that you could just pick this combo up and keep the lens when its upgrade time.

[budjames]

The SL and 24-90 is a beautiful piece of engineering, but the size and weight is discouraging. After using Canon pro SLRs, DSLRs and "L" lenses for 25+ years, then moving to mirrorless to relieve my back and shoulders from carrying heavy bags, moving to Leica M10 was an increase in weight over Fuji-X. I'm not ready to move back to gigantic cameras anytime soon. The M10 and a few Leica lenses already pushes the weight scale for me.

Nonetheless, the SL is still awesome. I'm interested so see what the new Leica SL2 will bring us.

Regards,
Bud James

Please check out my fine art and travel photography at www.budjames.photography or on Instagram at www.instagram.com/budjamesphoto.

Regards,
Bud James

Please check out my fine art and travel photography at www.budjames.photography or on Instagram at www.instagram.com/budjamesphoto.

[Fedro]

The SL still is a fantastic camera, and if weight is a concern it can be used with M lenses too (I have some really nice pictures taken with it in this set up)

Especially if you like fast short teles or for your noctilux

The 24-90 is amazing, but yes real heavy. Especially in the range of a walk around zoom. Great for landscapes and I imagine studio work though

 

[budjames]

I want to thank everyone for their responses to my initial post. Very insightful.

My "long lens" camera system is my Fuji X-T3 with the excellent Fuji XF 10-24, 16-55, 50-140 and 100-400 zooms. I also own the excellent, small and light Fuji XF f2 primes - 23, 35 and 50.

After using the Leica M10 with the various Leica primes, my opinion of the Fuji XF primes I own is not as high was it was prior my owning a Leica. My favorite Leica primes are the Summilux 35, APO Summicron 50 and APO Summicron 75. This has become my new travel kit. Using my Billingham Hadley Pro with insert, the Lieca kit weighs 3.168kg or 7.0 lbs. My Fuji X-T3 with equivalent Fuji primes weighs 2.301kg or 5.1 lbs. The weights include the bag, wrist strap and 2 batteries for each system. Although very compact, the Leica system has a definite weight penalty as compared to the equivalent Fuji system. Aaah, but that Leica image quality.

I built a spreadsheet to easily compare weights between my two systems. Attached is the comparison for the above systems for your amusement.

Regards,
Bud James

Please check out my fine art and travel photography at www.budjames.photography or on Instagram at www.instagram.com/budjamesphoto.

Leica - Fuji equipment weight comparison.pdf

[Chaemono]

vor 55 Minuten schrieb budjames:

I built a spreadsheet to easily compare weights between my two systems. Attached is the comparison for the above systems for your amusement.

You show that the M10 body includes a thumb grip, the XT3 doesn't. 

vor 57 Minuten schrieb budjames:

After using the Leica M10 with the various Leica primes, my opinion of the Fuji XF primes I own is not as high was it was prior my owning a Leica.

Did you try the M lenses on the XT3 to compare?

vor 58 Minuten schrieb budjames:

Although very compact, the Leica system has a definite weight penalty as compared to the equivalent Fuji system.

Part of the weight penalty is the slightly heavier sensor of the M10.

[budjames]

11 hours ago, Chaemono said:

You show that the M10 body includes a thumb grip, the XT3 doesn't. 

So? That's how I use it.

Did you try the M lenses on the XT3 to compare?

Yes, with the Fuji adapter. Soft edges, definitely lesser IQ.

Part of the weight penalty is the slightly heavier sensor of the M10.

It's a combination of heavier body and lenses, all around.

 

[Chaemono]

I disagree with Bud. I think the best travel combo is the SL/S1/S1R with the Super VE 16-34 and the 75 Summicron-SL (others have suggested this) complemented by the M10 + APO Summicron-M around the other shoulder (the 75 is light and stays in the bag). I don’t have a spreadsheet on the weight difference. But with Bud’s M combo one cannot go below 35 mm. I prefer the S1 because it’s a low light monster, pleasing high ISO noise and very rich colors at the same time.

Edited June 22, 2019 by Chaemono

[Fedro]

3 hours ago, Chaemono said:

I disagree with Bud. I think the best travel combo is the SL/S1/S1R with the Super VE 16-34 and the 75 Summicron-SL (others have suggested this) complemented by the M10 + APO Summicron-M around the other shoulder (the 75 is light and stays in the bag). I don’t have a spreadsheet on the weight difference. But with Bud’s M combo one cannot go below 35 mm. I prefer the S1 because it’s a low light monster, pleasing high ISO noise and very rich colors at the same time.

that sounds good .. but in that case I would rather have a 90 for the SL. 16-35 and 75 works on its own (and even better with a Q/Q2 on top)

[budjames]

12 hours ago, Chaemono said:

I disagree with Bud. I think the best travel combo is the SL/S1/S1R with the Super VE 16-34 and the 75 Summicron-SL (others have suggested this) complemented by the M10 + APO Summicron-M around the other shoulder (the 75 is light and stays in the bag). I don’t have a spreadsheet on the weight difference. But with Bud’s M combo one cannot go below 35 mm. I prefer the S1 because it’s a low light monster, pleasing high ISO noise and very rich colors at the same time.

I have a Super Elmar 18 when I think that I will be shooting interiors, churches, etc.

Regards,
Bud James

Please check out my fine art and travel photography at www.budjames.photography or on Instagram at www.instagram.com/budjamesphoto.