Using The SL2 for Street Photography

[johnbuckley]

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This morning I published an essay on using the SL2 out on the street. It's a quick read and I hope you like it.

Rethinking the SL2 As a Camera for Street Photography.

It's not a review, it's an essay about how my thinking has changed. As a longtime M shooter who in 2016 added an SL to the arsenal, mostly for landscape photography, I'm suddenly rethinking the SL system.

I will admit that, almost as important as the upgrade in capabilities the SL2 brings to the party, the release by Sigma of their quite capable $500 45mm f/2.8 shows the way to optimizing the SL system for the street. I dearly hope that Leica, over time, adds an Elmarit series of lenses to their SL roadmap, because having a small, light autofocus lens on the SL2 means I can, when I want, use it in a very similar fashion to the way I go out in the streets with my M10 or Monochrom.

I don't think I'll ever give up my attachment to the M system. But using a small autofocus lens with the SL2 opens up a world of possibilities.

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[michali]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience. I agree with you about not giving up on the M system. I've always used the M for general travel and street shooting, and the SL primarily for wildlife and some landscape work.  However with the addition of the Sigma 45mm and it's compact size, I've also found myself rethinking how I use the SL (I haven't  ordered an SL2 yet, possibly in the new year), and as you say, new possibilities open up.

Best,

Mike

[johnbuckley]

We think alike! The Sigma is a really good lens. Still glad I have all my M lenses...

[michali]

BYTW John I neglected  to mention that you've got some great pics on both your SL2/Sigma essay as well as the Iceland write up.A couple of years ago I did some aerial shots of Iceland from a helicopter with my M9 & Hasselblad 503CW and CFV-50 digital back Iceland from the Air -Hasselblad 503CW & M9 what an amazing place.

 

Edited December 8, 2019 by michali

[bags27]

Great review and wonderful photography: thank you. Given the SL2s capabilities, the one thing missing on the Sigma as the perfect travel lens is weathersealing. 

[Ko.Fe.]

For me, here is currently none of EVF which does support panning or even slight moving of the camera. I'd rather sell all of my RF gear to get used M10 with nothing, but Jupiter-12 and Canon 50 1.8 left than one kg camera with EVF. One kilo camera, yet, battery capacity is as for my M-E. Not something I need for street photography. IMO. 

[johnbuckley]

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43 minutes ago, michali said:

BYTW John I neglected  to mention that you've got some great pics on both your SL2/Sigma essay as well as the Iceland write up.A couple of years ago I did some aerial shots of Iceland from a helicopter with my M9 & Hasselblad 503CW and CFV-50 digital back Iceland from the Air -Hasselblad 503CW & M9 what an amazing place.

 

Oh, those are gorgeous, Mike. Iceland is pretty incredible -- no matter where you are, or the time of year. And thank you!

[Jeff S]

42 minutes ago, bags27 said:

Given the SL2s capabilities, the one thing missing on the Sigma as the perfect travel lens is weathersealing. 

B&H lists the Sigma 45 as weather sealed.

Jeff

[Chaemono]

While I don’t disagree with John’s arguments, I doubt Leica will add an Elmarit series for the L-mount, simply because these slower lenses won’t sell well and Leica won’t want to cannibalize the M.  For size/weight in street situations there are the wonderful TL lenses like the 23/2.8 and the 50/1.4.  For street shooting 47 MPx aren’t necessary.

vor 8 Minuten schrieb Jeff S:

B&H lists the Sigma 45 as weather sealed.

Jeff

It’s not fully weather sealed.  See here: https://www.thephoblographer.com/2019/11/07/review-sigma-45mm-f2-8-dg-dn-contemporary-almost-a-leica/

I’d rather use the SL2 with the 50 Summicron-SL.

[bags27]

Seems as if it's only somewhat weathersealed and certainly not up to the SL2's own weathersealing. OTOH, it's not a terribly expensive lens, so if the expected drizzle suddenly turns into a downpour, it might become a loss, but not one to pull one's hair out over.

[SrMi]

31 minutes ago, Chaemono said:

While I don’t disagree with John’s arguments, I doubt Leica will add an Elmarit series for the L-mount, simply because these slower lenses won’t sell well and Leica won’t want to cannibalize the M.  For size/weight in street situations there are the wonderful TL lenses like the 23/2.8 and the 50/1.4.  For street shooting 47 MPx aren’t necessary.

It’s not fully weather sealed.  See here: https://www.thephoblographer.com/2019/11/07/review-sigma-45mm-f2-8-dg-dn-contemporary-almost-a-leica/

I’d rather use the SL2 with the 50 Summicron-SL.

Sigma 45mm has weather sealing at the mount end. It is branded as having dust and splash-proof structure. Summicron is three times as heavy as Sigma and more than twice as long. I think I will have both lenses and use them in different situations.

Good point about using the excellent and light TL lenses for street photography.

[Chaemono]

vor 27 Minuten schrieb SrMi:

Sigma 45mm has weather sealing at the mount end. It is branded as having dust and splash-proof structure. Summicron is three times as heavy as Sigma and more than twice as long. I think I will have both lenses and use them in different situations.

Good point about using the excellent and light TL lenses for street photography.

The weight of the 50 Summicron-SL doesn't bother me a bit and its length makes it ideal to hold the combo by the lens and carry it this way.  The slim SL2 body allows for the pinky to slip underneath the camera.  Does 'twice as long' make the SL2 with the 50 Summicron-SL less discrete for street photography?  I don't feel it does but others may differ.  John used the 35 Summicron-SL for street, too.   I'm not sure if in the case of wanting a more compact combo, I would prefer the Sigma 45 or the 35 Summilux-TL.  The nice thing about this TL lens is that it can be shot wide open with no regrets, apart from the PF which can easily be dealt with in post, and that it blurs the background like an f/2 lens on the SL2.  The Sigma 45, on the other hand, seems to be a bit soft wide open and it's f/2.8.  For street, the lenses will be stopped down in most cases anyway, so no biggy, I guess.  

[Boojay]

An enjoyable read with some really nice photography - thank you.  

[jonoslack]

1 hour ago, Chaemono said:

While I don’t disagree with John’s arguments, I doubt Leica will add an Elmarit series for the L-mount, simply because these slower lenses won’t sell well and Leica won’t want to cannibalize the M.  For size/weight in street situations there are the wonderful TL lenses like the 23/2.8 and the 50/1.4.  For street shooting 47 MPx aren’t necessary.

It’s not fully weather sealed.  See here: https://www.thephoblographer.com/2019/11/07/review-sigma-45mm-f2-8-dg-dn-contemporary-almost-a-leica/

I’d rather use the SL2 with the 50 Summicron-SL.

Hi there

That's my feelings as well. Sadly I don't think many people bought into the Summarit idea (even though they are wonderful lenses) so it's hard to see Leica going down that route again.

On the other hand the SL summicrons are just wonderful - and not that bulky either. The 50 SL Summicron would be my choice as well. 

[Chaemono]

vor 49 Minuten schrieb jonoslack:

Hi there

That's my feelings as well. Sadly I don't think many people bought into the Summarit idea (even though they are wonderful lenses) so it's hard to see Leica going down that route again.

On the other hand the SL summicrons are just wonderful - and not that bulky either. The 50 SL Summicron would be my choice as well. 

I took the SL2 with the 50 Summicron-SL to busy street markets over the last ten days and I kept telling myself that people weren’t bothered by it because it looked so elegant, not because it was stealthy, and, therefore, less obtrusive.  People ignored me, sort of in a way they tend to ignore those taking pictures with a cellphone.  There was only one instance where a kid saw me taking a picture of a scene and posed in order to look good in the photograph.  I usually refrain fron photographing children but this one had caught my eye because of a tall red and white elf hat that he was wearing.  I anticipated his mom’s stepping away to clear the view and thanks to the fast and precise AF system of the SL2, it only took a fraction of a second to acquire focus and take three shots (in the last one his mom had cleared the line of sight).  I actually only realized afterwards that the kid had posed with a big smile. 😁  ‘Nice kiddo,’ I thought.

[johnbuckley]

I understand. There are all sorts of public events and situations where an SL with a Summicron can work just fine. But there are a lot of situations in the street - or at least the streets where I live and work - where you need something far more discreet. Thank God for the invention of the Leica M. And I thank my lucky stars that there are smaller lens that work with the SL - including the T lens you recommended, which makes great sense.

[Likaleica]

47mp is more than I need for street, so I am thinking about the 23mm Summicron-TL.  I would use the full frame for everything else.

 

[johnbuckley]

The more I think about it, the more that 23mm Summicron-TL makes sense.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica L-Mount

[panoreserve]

What‘s about the tiny TL 18mm (27mm FF)? Leica’s MTF looks great (better than e.g. 23mm)!

[johnbuckley]

I'm going to look at both -- and the 35mm TL. My instinct is the 23mm likely hits the sweet spot -- faster than the TL 18mm, less expensive than the 35mm TL.