leica sl2 New Leica SL2 User - initial thoughts

[Siran]

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I’ve just got my Leica SL2. Truly a beautiful camera!

FWIW my thoughts on the camera after a few hours use are:

- The initial start up animation is very classy

- Really simple menu system, which is very welcome after using the Sony A7R3

- Coupled with 24-90 lens it was more heavy than I had imagined. Add an on camera flash and you get a really good arm workout

- The grip is really good!

- The top dial will take some getting used to, again because I’m coming from a Sony

-  Top plate display is excellent quality with info clearly displayed, however I got most of my info from the back lcd so not sure how much I will use it

- Shutter sound is lovely

Things I noticed:
-  When I zoom into an image to see if it was in focus (particularly when using m lenses), the initial magnification point is never on the spot that I focused on. Very frustrating!

- IBIS does not work with non Leica m-mount glass 

Other stuff:
- I decided to get some Godox flash system equipment to use with the camera. I was told from an existing user that this system in a canon fit works very well with the SL2. Has anyone else had any experience? 

I’m going to start using it tomorrow I hope  New year, new photography tool! 🙂

Happy new year all!

 

 

 

 

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[hillavoider]

Ibis will work with anything just set the lens selection to a m lens similar to the one you want to use

[spassig123]

„Things I noticed:
-  When I zoom into an image to see if it was in focus (particularly when using m lenses), the initial magnification point is never on the spot that I focused on. Very frustrating!“

Can You explain more details.

i don’t understand it clear.

(I’m not a native English speaker)

Jochen

[Siran]

3 hours ago, hillavoider said:

Ibis will work with anything just set the lens selection to a m lens similar to the one you want to use

Can’t believe I didn’t think of that, thank you!

[Siran]

6 minutes ago, spassig123 said:

„Things I noticed:
-  When I zoom into an image to see if it was in focus (particularly when using m lenses), the initial magnification point is never on the spot that I focused on. Very frustrating!“

Can You explain more details.

i don’t understand it clear.

(I’m not a native English speaker)

Jochen

Yes of course. Sorry I wasn’t very clear. 

Basically when I take a photo and want to review it afterwards by zooming in, the point where the image is magnified is not where the original focus point was. So I have use the joy stick to scroll around the image to get to the point of focus. 

[Siran]

Another thing I’ve noticed is that AF is not great sadly, particular portraits where face detection doesn’t quite get the eyes in focus.  Hopefully firmware will make things better.

Also images in low light (iso 3200 upwards) look very noisy. 

I’m hoping it’s because I’m still adjusting settings and learning how to use the camera. The photos on these forums look amazing so I’m clearly doing something wrong! 😝

Edited January 1, 2020 by Siran

[spassig123]

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vor 2 Minuten schrieb Siran:

Yes of course. Sorry I wasn’t very clear. 

Basically when I take a photo and want to review it afterwards by zooming in, the point where the image is magnified is not where the original focus point was. So I have use the joy stick to scroll around the image to get to the point of focus. 

Thanks.

I understand it yet.

First you see an overview of photo, right?

Than You use Zoom with 100%, right?

Then You must go to the focus point, right?

Did You see the focus point as mark in the EVF or screen?

Jochen

 

[Siran]

6 minutes ago, spassig123 said:

Thanks.

I understand it yet.

First you see an overview of photo, right?

Than You use Zoom with 100%, right?

Then You must go to the focus point, right?

Did You see the focus point as mark in the EVF or screen?

Jochen

 

Yes to all you points except the last one. There is no focus point on the screen. I’m currently using a manual lens so not sure if that is the issue?

[spassig123]

vor 2 Minuten schrieb Siran:

Yes to all you points except the last one. There is no focus point on the screen. I’m currently using a manual lens so not sure if that is the issue?

OK, thanks.

I ask because I'm willing to buy a SL2.

Jochen 

[albireo_double]

I have been shooting with the SL2 since the launch date. I like the camera overall, especially the new ergonomics, but will concede that the face / eye focus does not work very well. So I am back to field AF, as with the original SL, which works fine for me, even for portraits. On the other hand, I have an observation and a concern, the former a matter of settings and the latter a bit more serious. I find that I have to be careful with IBIS as to the slowest shutter speed that the camera is allowed to set. It is too easy to get motion blur resulting from subject (rather than camera) movement, when left in the Auto mode. With the original SL (and with the S), in the absence of IBIS, I used to set the slowest shutter speed to 1/2 of focal length, or even shorter and accepted the resulting higher ISO and grain. With the SL2, it is too tempting to leave the camera to decide, and end up with nice grainless images, but with the subject blurred from motion. Of course, this is a matter of adjusting one’s shooting habits to the new possibilities - I have been shooting in the dark churches in Jerusalem in the past week and have a lot of great images thanks to the IBIS. But also a bunch of blurred shots from the streets where I should have turned the IBIS off. Aside from that, my concern is that the camera has already restarted itself unexpectedly several times or froze during shooting. Typically when the battery was less then 1/4 charged. On one occassion, the EVF stopped showing adjustments to exposure compensation - I could see the image moving but it remained dark no matter what I did with the exposure comp wheel. Had to restart the camera to get it working properly again. I hope these things get fixed through firmware updates. Never had such issues with the original SL.

Edited January 1, 2020 by albireo_double

[rim_light]

20 hours ago, albireo_double said:

[...] but will concede that the face / eye focus does not work very well.[...]

 According to my observation the eye autofocus is very good, only the markings are more confusing than helpful. At least if you have just one face you want to photograph. Please be aware that it works in AF-C mode best.

[deekay]

I am interested to know whether you are happy with your move from the A7R3 given that some of the issues you're having with the SL2 you were not having with the A7R3. How much of an issue is the size/weight?

I ask because I am thinking of switching from an A7R4. The Sony is a supremely competent camera but I don't love using it like I love using my Q2. The size/weight thing worries me.

[Siran]

9 hours ago, deekay said:

I am interested to know whether you are happy with your move from the A7R3 given that some of the issues you're having with the SL2 you were not having with the A7R3. How much of an issue is the size/weight?

I ask because I am thinking of switching from an A7R4. The Sony is a supremely competent camera but I don't love using it like I love using my Q2. The size/weight thing worries me.

As it’s early days I’m still very much learning about the camera. I’m using capture one which doesn’t have an SL2 profile yet, and I wonder if that isn’t helping with the image quality being the best it can be. Focussing is a concern for sure - I truly hope firmware will help with this. 

In regards to weight, with a manual lens it’s not a problem. With the SL lens, it is heavy, but in time I will get used to it. 

On the flip side I enjoy using the Leica far more than the Sony. I switched to Leica because of the simplicity and more importantly I hated the Sony colours. The colours coming out of this camera are superior.

[thighslapper]

7 hours ago, Artin said:

Mirrorless cameras I have tried 

1st one was the Olympus Pan ..  tried it for about 3 months could not stand it hated the micro 4/3 format

2nd was Fuji xpro 1. Novelty wore off in about 2 months and off to sale it went

3 rd I purchased the Sony A7 R. ... that did not last more then 3 weeks 

4 th Tried Sony again A7R 2. .. 2 weeks got my full refund back from henry’s Toronto 

5 th Nikon Z7. 14 days and I could not stand it  got full refund back again from Henry’s 

then finally came the SL2. And I could not be happier. There is something about the feel the interaction and specially the way it handles with the R lenses that makes this Camera just a joy to play with.. the last time I felt like this about a Camera when I got my hands on the Nikon F4s,  after resisting autofocus offerings from Minolta Canon and the first batch of Nikon’s for at least 5 to 6 years  the F4s just felt right to me. Now same way the SL2 just feels right 

Are you sure your real name isn't 'Neil' and you are using a fake leica identity ?

Anyone who has been here a while will know what I'm alluding to ...... 😉

[spassig123]

vor 49 Minuten schrieb Siran:

I’m using capture one which doesn’t have an SL2 profile yet, and I wonder if that isn’t helping with the image quality being the best it can be. Focussing is a concern for sure - I truly hope firmware will help with this. 

 

Hello

I'm use a trial of COP20 yet.

You are right.

I see two settings in COP20.

1) Lens > Lens Correction > Profil > Manufacture Profile.

2) Color > Base > ICC Profile > DNG File Neutral.

By supported cameras like Sony ILCE-7RM4 I see there:

11) Lens > Lens Correction > Profil > Zeiss Batis 1.8/85.

21) Color > Base > ICC Profile > Sony A7RM4 Generic.

Did you mean if COP would support SL2 the picture is better or other in COP?

Did You mean You see the different?

What is the different between non support 2) and support cameras 21) for the picture I see in COP?

Jochen

[scott kirkpatrick]

3 hours ago, thighslapper said:

Are you sure your real name isn't 'Neil' and you are using a fake leica identity ?

Anyone who has been here a while will know what I'm alluding to ...... 😉

I don't think the real Neil would ever achieve such a mellow state.  He can be reached over at the Getdpi forum for comment. 

[Siran]

3 hours ago, spassig123 said:

Hello

I'm use a trial of COP20 yet.

You are right.

I see two settings in COP20.

1) Lens > Lens Correction > Profil > Manufacture Profile.

2) Color > Base > ICC Profile > DNG File Neutral.

By supported cameras like Sony ILCE-7RM4 I see there:

11) Lens > Lens Correction > Profil > Zeiss Batis 1.8/85.

21) Color > Base > ICC Profile > Sony A7RM4 Generic.

Did you mean if COP would support SL2 the picture is better or other in COP?

Did You mean You see the different?

What is the different between non support 2) and support cameras 21) for the picture I see in COP?

Jochen

Hi Jochen

Yes I think when Capture One releases a profile for the SL2 the photo will be better. I don’t know the details but essentially I think the profile presents the photo optimally with the colour, sharpness and noise reduction, drawing on the strengths of the sensor etc 

[Jeff S]

5 hours ago, thighslapper said:

Are you sure your real name isn't 'Neil' and you are using a fake leica identity ?

Anyone who has been here a while will know what I'm alluding to ...... 😉

Neil would never have bought all those ‘ugly’ cameras.

Jeff

[Jeff S]

5 hours ago, Siran said:

As it’s early days I’m still very much learning about the camera. I’m using capture one which doesn’t have an SL2 profile yet, and I wonder if that isn’t helping with the image quality being the best it can be. Focussing is a concern for sure - I truly hope firmware will help with this. 

In regards to weight, with a manual lens it’s not a problem. With the SL lens, it is heavy, but in time I will get used to it. 

On the flip side I enjoy using the Leica far more than the Sony. I switched to Leica because of the simplicity and more importantly I hated the Sony colours. The colours coming out of this camera are superior.

Simple to make your own custom profile (ColorChecker Passport, etc) and use that as your default.

Jeff

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica L-Mount

[thighslapper]

2 hours ago, Artin said:

Lol who is this Neil ? 

An incorrigible Scotsman who was/is an oil rig worker who has deep pockets and never seemed to keep a camera for more than a few months before changing to something new and even more expensive. Fond of using auto-complete on his phone with the result that many of his posts were littered with unintentionally amusing spelling errors. He's on the Leica S forum and has given up on us in steerage class. I couldn't locate any recent post from him so either his Thai wife is making sure he takes his medication or he's back on the rigs.