SL compact autofocus primes

[The206]

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I am relatively new to the SL format, just wondering is it just me or is it odd that a camera that was introduced in 2014 still lacks a series of compact autofocus primes??? How is it possible that the Q has the best compact autofocus prime, which means they have a full frame compact prime lens technology and optics yet have failed to port that over to a SL lens??? They have the 18 and 23 for the TL system but our only options for the SL are not even a Leica lens but rather the inferior Sigma 45 2.8??? The current primes are bulky. Give us that 28 1.7 Leica

[Guest]

The honest answer IMHO...  Leica really wants you to buy a CL or a Q (or an M) in addition to the SL...

It seems to be the way Leica designs its systems, if you want a professional system and ultimate image quality go for the S or the SL, no walk around carry everywhere lenses.

If you want lightweight and street go for the CL/TL2 or the Q or the M.  

 

Edited February 10, 2020 by Guest

[caissa]

If you need a single compact lens, you can use the TL 18mm (equivalent to 28 mm). 
The Sigma 45 is not really inferior, it is just different wide open. But I would really like to get a 28mm 1.7 for L-mount. If they would transfer the lens in the Q or Q2, that would be great. Or even better a Summicron 2/50 like the Summicron-R 50mm. But probably Mr. Karbe does not want to produce anything like that (no apo, how disgusting). Maybe later ....  (in a few years ?)

[tom0511]

The Summicrons SL are not bulky - they fit the SL2 body size very well. They are expensive though

[scroy]

I'm anxious to see updates to both the SL+TL roadmap.

The SL and TL primes are fantastic and balance well on the SL2 body.

$0.02 Having a bit slower glass [lighter, cheaper :)] to pair together with SL2 would be something I would like (sigma 45mm f/2.8 is very nice) , but also something at other end (400mm) or a 1.4x - 2x adaptor for the 90-280mm (truly wonderful lens) would be great to round out the longer end of the line.

 

[Guest]

11 hours ago, caissa said:

Maybe later ....  (in a few years ?)

Unlikely I feel, Jono also hinted at this once referring to the apparently not entirely convincing sales figures of the cheaper and slower Summarit lens line for the M.  

Always ready to be pleasantly surprised though.  

[digitalfx]

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The TL 18, 23 and 35 primes are all compact options, for that matter Sigma and Panasonic make nice compact primes for the L mount...not to mention you literally have dozens of MF options in M and R lenses.

But if you really want to take advantage of the SL, the new SL Summicrons are a perfect match to the large SL body.

[CharlesL]

Here are a couple of "street photography" photos taken with the TL-23 on the SL.

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... and this one through a window.

[CharlesL]

The TL 23/2 mounted on the SL (warning: camera porn).

 

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[bags27]

I, too, wish there were smaller L lenses. But Peter Karbe is pretty clear that the economy (are we allowed to use "economy" on the LUF?) of scale demands that the L primes are produced from the same shell. And I believe the Q/Q2 Lux can be designed as it is because it's integral to the body, and as the only lens, the processor does a lot of in-camera correction.

[Simone_DF]

Maybe Sigma will produce more lenses like its 45mm?

[markforce]

Used to be my major concern coming from the M. Fat, heavy, and the 50 felt like 10x as big as the Lux I used to own. Having moved over, the first impression is that the SL‘s grip is phenomenal. Body bigger/heavier yes but not by much. Add the Cron lens and almost gone is the nagging impression that this is a monster combo (well it is but in a different sense... 😈). Won’t deny the attraction of a CL sized solution but frankly, say seeing a 28 elmarit I used to own on the SL feels unbalanced. Imagine something like the 24-90 on the M.... (as in, unbalanced, just the other way around).

Oh and I never bought into the notion that the M is oh-so-unobtrusive (never will - and I can say that after 10 years of exclusive M shooter). So between, say the M and a 90 Cron and the SL with the same, but native, pretty much a toss and one that will be noticed somehow.

Anyway just rambling but I find the fact that all Crons are (going to be) of the same size to be remarkable!

[LocalHero1953]

4 minutes ago, markforce said:

..............................

Oh and I never bought into the notion that the M is oh-so-unobtrusive (never will - and I can say that after 10 years of exclusive M shooter). So between, say the M and a 90 Cron and the SL with the same, but native, pretty much a toss and one that will be noticed somehow.

...........................

I agree. Unobtrusive these days is a smartphone, because everyone is using one. Almost anything else is obtrusive because unusual, both as an object, and because for some reason you have to push it at your face in order to use it 😉 - which just looks, well, odd.

[NRKstudio]

I read that the lens on the Q/Q2 was developed and patented by another camera manufacturer group.  A Fred Miranda post linked a Nokoshita page from when the lens was first patented.  Thus, they would have to license the tech from the interchangeable lens, and it doesn't seem like it would make much sense to develop a stand-alone lens that includes the added cost of technology licensing.  Lenses are a major source of profit for Sony, Leica, Nikon, Canon, etc., as they are value-add products.  They are mostly made in-house and their profit margins are larger than the cameras which cost more to develop, and often contain parts and pieces not made in house.  If Leica releases a lens, they would want to develop/manufacture it in house and capture those greater margins.  

[Guest]

8 hours ago, NRKstudio said:

Lenses are a major source of profit for Sony, Leica, Nikon, Canon, etc., as they are value-add products.  They are mostly made in-house and their profit margins are larger than the cameras which cost more to develop, and often contain parts and pieces not made in house.  If Leica releases a lens, they would want to develop/manufacture it in house and capture those greater margins.  

The fact that Leica hasn't released a TL-lens since 2017... and the fact that Leica has once more delayed its SL-lens rollout (with the 21mm and 24mm now in 2021) makes me assume though that these lenses might not be selling as much as Leica had hoped for, and that it takes Leica a long time to recover its R&D costs.  Call me a cynic but I believe that if these lenses were really selling well we would see a lot more of them on the market and at a faster pace.  

Edited February 13, 2020 by Guest

[caissa]

21 hours ago, bags27 said:

I, too, wish there were smaller L lenses. But Peter Karbe is pretty clear that the economy (are we allowed to use "economy" on the LUF?) of scale demands that the L primes are produced from the same shell. And I believe the Q/Q2 Lux can be designed as it is because it's integral to the body, and as the only lens, the processor does a lot of in-camera correction.

The SL2 has a faster processor (Maestro III). So it could easily do the same corrections or even more.

Edited February 13, 2020 by caissa

[caissa]

11 hours ago, markforce said:

Used to be my major concern coming from the M. Fat, heavy, and the 50 felt like 10x as big as the Lux I used to own. Having moved over, the first impression is that the SL‘s grip is phenomenal. Body bigger/heavier yes but not by much. Add the Cron lens and almost gone is the nagging impression that this is a monster combo (well it is but in a different sense... 😈). Won’t deny the attraction of a CL sized solution but frankly, say seeing a 28 elmarit I used to own on the SL feels unbalanced. Imagine something like the 24-90 on the M.... (as in, unbalanced, just the other way around).

Oh and I never bought into the notion that the M is oh-so-unobtrusive (never will - and I can say that after 10 years of exclusive M shooter). So between, say the M and a 90 Cron and the SL with the same, but native, pretty much a toss and one that will be noticed somehow.

Anyway just rambling but I find the fact that all Crons are (going to be) of the same size to be remarkable!

It’s remarkable, especially for video. But not very clever for 50 and 35 and maybe also 28mm. It helped to get everything Apo. But I would prefer a simpler smaller lens without Apo for daily use.  (For many tasks my old Summicron R 50 is still good enough and nicer to hold.)

Hasselblad and Fuji have a different strategy - that is closer to practice.

Edited February 13, 2020 by caissa

[bags27]

12 minutes ago, caissa said:

The SL2 has a faster processor (Maestro III). So it could easily do the same corrections or even more.

Thanks. My point was that with a single fixed lens, corrections could effectively be hardwired because there are no other variables. 

[caissa]

Software is the magic word. No hardwiring anymore.  🤓

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica L-Mount

[Guest]

On 2/12/2020 at 9:57 AM, Simone_DF said:

Maybe Sigma will produce more lenses like its 45mm?

This is the 2020 roadmap:

https://www.panasonicff.com/updated-sigma-l-mount-lens-roadmap-through-2020-july-2019/

Nothing lightweight as far as I can see.

Edited February 14, 2020 by Guest