SL2 with M lenses, the pros and cons?

[beewee]

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Both M and SL bodies use the same technique to estimate aperture by using a small external light meter. On the SL/SL2/SL2-S, it is the little dark rectangular window on the opposite side of the red Leica logo. One of circles in the rectangular window is for the focus assist light, and the other is the external light meter. On the M bodies, it’s a small circular window on the top plate near the shutter speed dial. By comparing the difference in brightness between the external light meter and the internal metering, either through the sensor or using the light meter pointed on the M’s shutter, the camera can estimate what aperture is used based on the light loss from closing down the aperture.

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[2M6TTLs]

On 8/22/2021 at 12:24 PM, beewee said:

Both M and SL bodies use the same technique to estimate aperture by using a small external light meter. On the SL/SL2/SL2-S, it is the little dark rectangular window on the opposite side of the red Leica logo. One of circles in the rectangular window is for the focus assist light, and the other is the external light meter. On the M bodies, it’s a small circular window on the top plate near the shutter speed dial. By comparing the difference in brightness between the external light meter and the internal metering, either through the sensor or using the light meter pointed on the M’s shutter, the camera can estimate what aperture is used based on the light loss from closing down the aperture.

Wow! You would think they would have a more sophisticated and accurate method  than guesstimation!  in 2021.

Somehow, this actually comes as a bit of a shock.

So let me get this straight. You mount the lens with the adaptor, set the correct profile ( my M lenses are not coded) stop the lens down to the desired aperture ( viewfinder darkens maybe? ) and the camera best guesses the shutter speed and aperture? This all sounds very 1960's.

[LEICAKS]

The M lenses work so good on the SL2, but it's a different experience vs the Rangefinder experience. In the end I went M9 for the M lenses and native SL lenses on the SL2.

If for some reason diminished eyesight is an issue SL & SL2 have a built in diopter adjustment from -3 to +3. My eyesight is at -2.25 so the M9 must be used with contact lenses whereas the SL2 is a quick adjustment and good to go no matter if I have contacts or not. Also the EVF, focus peaking and focus zooming is amazing.

SL1&2 are extremely comfortable for manual lenses of all sorts other than M & R, notably for me old Nikon or Takumar M42's have been fun.

 

[BernardC]

4 hours ago, 2M6TTLs said:

So let me get this straight. You mount the lens with the adaptor, set the correct profile ( my M lenses are not coded) stop the lens down to the desired aperture ( viewfinder darkens maybe? ) and the camera best guesses the shutter speed and aperture? This all sounds very 1960's.

You are confusing two things: the actual exposure selected by the camera and the F-stop saved in the image data (EXIF).

Exposure is done through the lens, as it is with any other lens (and with most Leica cameras since the M6). Nothing unusual about that.

The f-stop number saved in EXIF is an estimate. M lenses don't have contacts or levers that relay aperture information to the camera body, so the camera takes a guess. Here's how that's done: the camera has a small light sensor, so it knows the amount of ambient light. It compares that with the amount of light coming through the lens. The EXIF aperture information is only used for one thing: as a guide to lens correction in post-processing. Some lenses vignette more wide-open, and some lenses display more aberrations wide open. Basically, all the software needs to know is "was this shot near maximum aperture or not?". An approximate f-stop value is fine for this purpose, and you can change the way the DNG is processed if you want.

Many M lenses don't need any additional correction at wide apertures, so the estimated f-stop is ignored.

The viewfinder doesn't darken when you stop-down, by the way. It's an electronic viewfinder, it stays bright at any aperture.

[ahl]

The latter point is important as it is possible to set an approximation of the actual exposure on the SL2 in the viewfinder but that can often make the whole viewing experience and subsequent focusing rather difficult. Not many owners go down this route on the SL2 settings.

[IkarusJohn]

On 8/27/2021 at 12:31 AM, BernardC said:

…

The viewfinder doesn't darken when you stop-down, by the way. It's an electronic viewfinder, it stays bright at any aperture.

It does with exposure simulation - a useful feature, which obviates the need for metering.

Edited August 28, 2021 by IkarusJohn

[BernardC]

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14 hours ago, IkarusJohn said:

It does with exposure simulation - a useful feature, which obviates the need for metering.

Correct, but that's a simulation. It does the same thing with auto aperture lenses, and when you change shutter speed or ISO.

[trickness]

On 5/7/2020 at 4:46 AM, eev776 said:

Being an owner of 5 major M lenses I'm planning to purchase SL2.

What would be the pros and cons of using M lenses on SL2 body, share your experiences.

The thing that I love most about using M lenses on the SL is That it feels a little bit like an M camera. I love the ability to manually focus on exactly what I want, so if I want something to be a little bit out of focus, or sharp, I can control it exactly. I do not really enjoy focusing the SL lenses manually… I use back button focusing for SL glass, You can manually focus with those lenses but it’s not a strength. It’s an absolute joy putting a tiny M lens on the SL2 and using the EVF - it really is the answer to anybody who wants an M body camera with an EVF built-in. It might not be the answer they think they want, but I think it’s the closest we’re going to get and it’s a joy to use with M glass.

[Jeff S]

On 9/5/2021 at 5:56 PM, trickness said:

I use back button focusing for SL glass, You can manually focus with those lenses but it’s not a strength. 

I use SL lenses on my SL2 with back button AF along with magnification by a manual tweak of the focus ring if needed.  Works very well for me, as I primarily shoot static or slow moving subjects. M lenses work fine on my M cameras and focus just where I intend, but all are 28, 35 and 50mm, no Noctiluxes.  Different strokes…

Jeff

[trickness]

1 hour ago, Jeff S said:

I use SL lenses on my SL2 with back button AF along with magnification by a manual tweak of the focus ring if needed.  Works very well for me, as I primarily shoot static or slow moving subjects. M lenses work fine on my M cameras and focus just where I intend, but all are 28, 35 and 50mm, no Noctiluxes.  Different strokes…

Jeff

I didn’t say that manually focusing SL glass doesn’t work, just that it wasn’t a “strength”.

I think almost anyone who is used to manually focusing M lenses (on either the M or an SL) will find manual focusing with SL lenses to be a less satisfying experience by comparison. Not to mention the fact that there’s no DOF markers on the barrel of the SL lenses.

 

 

[Jeff S]

16 minutes ago, trickness said:

I think almost anyone who is used to manually focusing M lenses (on either the M or an SL) will find manual focusing with SL lenses to be a less satisfying experience by comparison. Not to mention the fact that there’s no DOF markers on the barrel of the SL lenses.

 

 

Hence my strong preference for using M lenses on an M body.  And SL lenses primarily with back button AF on the SL2.  Different tools for different uses, and experiences, for me. 

Jeff

Edited September 8, 2021 by Jeff S

[trickness]

11 minutes ago, Jeff S said:

Hence my strong preference for using M lenses on an M body.  And SL lenses primarily with back button AF on the SL2.  Different tools for different uses, and experiences, for me. 

Jeff

Yeah but the OP is asking for pros and cons of using M glass on an SL, not for the pros of not using M lenses on an SL.

For me there are no cons using M glass on the SL, in fact, there are at least a few lenses in the M portfolio that (perhaps) work better on the SL, notably the Noctis 

Edited September 8, 2021 by trickness

[Jeff S]

5 minutes ago, trickness said:

..in fact, there are at least a few lenses in the M portfolio that (perhaps) work better on the SL, notably the Noctis 

Hence my earlier comment about the Noctiluxes.

Jeff