An amateur is hit by a meteor – aka the Leica SL

[colonel]

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So yes, I just have my first thoughts on a camera released in 2015, which will have a new version within 6 months . Comedy is all about timing .....

I'm not normally late, its probably a generation X problem. Wait until its bedded down and other people smooth out the wrinkles, or was it the cost ? Being a M shooter and being asked to pay the same price for an AF body was a psychological gulf. And then there are the lenses, the cheapest scores any 1.4 M lens ... what was Leica thinking ?

The game changer for the platform is of course the L mount alliance. Panasonic lenses look interesting, a reasonable 24-105 f4 kit, but not for me, I am not a zoom person. Sigma's roadmap of primes looks stunning though, and it is the 45mm f2.8 which has finally introduced me to the SL platform. More primes will be in my future, and yes, a Leica 35mm f2 APO sometime soon no doubt .....

I have to admit that I haven’t been so excited about a camera since my first Leica, the M8 (yes – even before my film ones). There was something about the M8 which was so totally alien to my previous SLRs. Firstly it appeared to weight so much, but really this was an illusion caused by the compact shape and its density. Secondly its almost featureless body was a shock, and lastly the whirr of the shutter was so bizarre. It felt like I was picking up a component of first world war artillery. The real shock was of course when I saw the pictures. I think, along with the Canon 5D, this was the most surprising camera I had up to that point in terms of IQ. The 3D popiness of the photos, something I still can’t scientifically define, has never really been bettered. The M9 retaining some of the character but turning it down a notch, and the M240 seeming to loose this aspect of IQ.

Of course my theory is that its something to do with the filter glass as well as the sensor. In fact I have seen this since, on a Sony Nex. I kid not, Ming took off all the filter glass (including the bayer filter) and the results were interesting to say the least:
https://blog.mingthein.com/2013/01/06/the-multispectral-nex/

Actually IMHO, the SL at its new and second hand price, is still very relevant in the market today, even on a spec check list. Lets consider, back in the day, it was not compared to the A7 or the D850, rather the D4 and 1DX. Its focus - the professional. In fact, like most Leica projects, it was a first. Although the M series had first introduced a compact FF camera, and Sony had introduced the world to an AF FF mirrorless, in the world before the A9, Leica had introduced the worlds first professional mirrorless AF FF camera.
https://www.ephotozine.com/article/leica-sl--typ-601--expert-review-28314/verdict

Features like dual SD card are expected, but its the potential 11 fps, GPS, fantastic EVF, no AA filter (still rare for 24mp), video facilities and connectivity is still up there. And, hey, the Q2 gets to use the battery, ensuring longevity of the design (even though the capacity ain’t great - although I’ll take the less weight compromise any day).

Where the SL really shines for me, is the combination of speed and quietness of operation. It really feels like complete silky quality. The shutter is solid but well dampened, in a way I have only ever seen on professional models (e.g. the X-H1 is the only Fuji with a properly dampened shutter).

The other aspect, that seals the deal, is the build and handling. Leica fully understanding the jewellery like qualities it is expected to exude.

So there you have it. What you get from the A7 iii & Z6 are better ISO and cheaper lens (and some damn good ones), with the Sony providing state of the art focus, including eye and face detect, and eye start. The SL comes to additionally provide the handling, build, quietness, speed and slickness towards the ultimate experience for 35mm mirrorless AF. 

This experience has been out of the range of the normal photographer, until today. Due mainly to the amazing Sigma 45mm f2.8 lens. This is really a trans-formative lens for the system. Not only does it make the camera largely comfortable to carry around all day in the hand for travel, it provides a taste of the IQ available from the system, and somewhat compliments the build quality in a full metal jacket. Lastly providing its enigmatic draw, super sharp with creamy bokeh. 

So there we have it. Whilst the M240 still provides the best value platform for digital M shooting, and indeed, with the range of 7artisans, Voigtlander, Zeiss and other lenses available, can be used to build a not very expensive system at all. We now have the SL at a level, with Sigma and Panasonic, that can provide a great value base for a professional AF FF kit. 

It still competes well with the 5D and 1Dx, apart from sports tracking, and IMHO make a great alternative to the standard FF mirrorless quartet for the discerning photographer looking for something a little different, a little more satisfying, and, dare I say it, a little more fun …. 

Edited August 20, 2019 by colonel

[RoySmith]

Welcome to the SL group. Your images with the 45mm/2.8 are excellent. The SL’s ability to work well with Leica M , R, and S lenses, Canon & Nikon lenses, and now the SL alliance offerings make the SL extremely versatile. Personally it’s major shortcoming is autofocus tracking for action photography. 

Cheers,

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[rfunnell]

This was a great read and I have come to the same conclusion since receiving my Sigma 45 lens last week.

Great images.

Ross

[jonoslack]

Haha - great post - I've been shooting with the SL for a while now (5 years? not sure). But your observations still ring absolutely true for an old hack like me . .  I just love it, even though I don't have the Sigma 45 . . I'll just have to put up with the 50 APO summicron SL!

[jankojanko]

Always great to hear someone liking the SL. When it was introduced not a lot of people did. I've been shooting with it since 2016 and I love it. Just got myself a Sigma 45mm and it's a great lens on the SL. Sizewise it's like shooting with a M-lens but with auto-focus. 

[caissa]

Sorry, wrong thread.    Can be deleted.

Edited August 22, 2019 by caissa