SL2 or SL with Leica Lens

[Flyer]

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I have tried the M10 but couldn't get on with the rangefinder experience and I must say all the advise I received on the Leica Forum was outstanding and had a significant impact on my decision to buy Leica. 

I am now looking at the SL range which will meet my needs better, I have looked closely at the specs and the SL meets the essential criteria but the SL2 has the bells. 

My dilema is I can't afford the SL2 with Leica Glass, so it would mean initially using say the Sigma 24-70 f2.8 or the Panasonic, as I don't think Canon with an adaptor works very well. 

The second option would be a used SL and the Leica 24-90? 

Any advise appreciated 

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[caissa]

Use your current lenses adapted to the SL2. Even older high quality lenses are nice to use, like M, R or Contax. Then buy a Sigma 45mm to see how native AF is. And by the way Canon EF lenses work quite ok when adapted with MC-21. It all depends on your expectations.    Then wait until you find a used SL 24-90.

Edited August 7, 2020 by caissa

[RagingCANE]

Is there confirmation that the Canon EF lenses do work with the MC-21? I only need it to work with manual focus TSE lenses. I ordered the discontinued NOVOFLEX EF-L on eBay but will cancel if someone has tested the MC-21. I considered going with a Canon R5 but I would much rather use the SL2.

[Jk1002]

Would you keep an M lens? 
Personally I chose the SL since I want the 24-90 and Summicron 50 and giving that Sl3 probably materializes around the end of ‘23 I felt SL was the way to go.

Sl went from 8000 to 6000 to now preowned 2000$, will you get that much out of the SL2 features?

I looked carefully at it but stabilization and the nicer Menu / UI didn’t pull me over since in near future with travel restrictions it wont get that much use to begin with.

Only thing I really miss is the USB C.

Cheers

JK

 

[Jared]

4 hours ago, Flyer said:

I have tried the M10 but couldn't get on with the rangefinder experience and I must say all the advise I received on the Leica Forum was outstanding and had a significant impact on my decision to buy Leica. 

I am now looking at the SL range which will meet my needs better, I have looked closely at the specs and the SL meets the essential criteria but the SL2 has the bells. 

My dilema is I can't afford the SL2 with Leica Glass, so it would mean initially using say the Sigma 24-70 f2.8 or the Panasonic, as I don't think Canon with an adaptor works very well. 

The second option would be a used SL and the Leica 24-90? 

Any advise appreciated 

I think I’d go with the SL2 and some non-Leica glass until budget frees up for lenses later.  That assumes budget WILL free up at some point.  If this is an end point rather than a starting point I’d swap my recommendation.

While the SL is no slouch in terms of handling or capabilities, the SL2 builds upon it significantly.  It’s not just menus, either. The grip is much more comfortable in the hand. The viewfinder is improved—something I think is vastly underrated in importance. The autofocus is significantly improved, and IBIS is very helpful in some situations. I also LOVE the fact that I can turn off long exposure noise reduction, though that will be of limited utility to most. Even the extra megapixels are occasionally helpful with cropping.

If you don’t expect you can afford Leica glass in the moderately near term I’d probably stick with the SL and get the 24-90.  While I personally never bonded with the 24-90, it is a seriously good lens. Enough range to be useful, would provide you with OIS, and a truly robust build quality. It’s great, even if I don’t rave about it often. The two together are a heck of a bargain right now.  OK, maybe not a “bargain” per se. This is LeicaLand, after all. But within the context of all things Leica it would be a good way to go if you don’t expect to be able to continue to expand your system. 

[John Schell]

7 hours ago, RagingCANE said:

Is there confirmation that the Canon EF lenses do work with the MC-21? I only need it to work with manual focus TSE lenses. I ordered the discontinued NOVOFLEX EF-L on eBay but will cancel if someone has tested the MC-21. I considered going with a Canon R5 but I would much rather use the SL2.

Can 100% confirm Canon EF lenses work with the MC-21 adapter. Yesterday on a shoot, I used a combination of my Sigma 35mm L Mount, Sigma 50mm Art, Canon 24-70 f/2.8 Mark II, and Canon 70-200 f/2.8 Mark II with no issues whatsoever (the L mount didn't need the adapter, obviously.) 

[chris_tribble]

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10 hours ago, Flyer said:

I have tried the M10 but couldn't get on with the rangefinder experience and I must say all the advise I received on the Leica Forum was outstanding and had a significant impact on my decision to buy Leica. 

I am now looking at the SL range which will meet my needs better, I have looked closely at the specs and the SL meets the essential criteria but the SL2 has the bells. 

My dilema is I can't afford the SL2 with Leica Glass, so it would mean initially using say the Sigma 24-70 f2.8 or the Panasonic, as I don't think Canon with an adaptor works very well. 

The second option would be a used SL and the Leica 24-90? 

Any advise appreciated 

It depends... if you still have M lenses then I’d recommend SL2.  IBIS makes all the difference with longer lenses and IQ is stunning.  If you have no Leica glass, have limited budget and care more about the image than a red dot, I’d buy into another system.  If you want L mount get an S1. If that’s not really the issue there’s a host of systems that let you make great, saleable prints.

re Canon lenses on the SL2, my experience is not brilliant (they work, but not as well as on native mount) and I’ve now sold my Canon system and will run a mixed M and L mount system into the future.  Because of earlier investment that will include WATE through the to 135 A-T M glass, with new spend on a mix of Sigma and Panasonic AF lenses.  If I can get a good price Leica 24-90 I will, but for less used focal lengths I’m brand agnostic... and then there’s the stunning L mount Sigma 45 as a walk about, go anywhere lens.

I hope this helps.  The best advice I ever had was that lenses are investments but bodies are business write offs.

[scroy]

I've used Canon-L glass on the the SL/SL2 and unfortunately my results have been less than stellar, perhaps the issue is the novoflex adaptor. My results using  native L-glass (Leica/Sigma), and adapted Leica M-/R- glass gave me much better results.

[Guest]

Just for a different perspective on SL vs SL2 - I'm lucky enough to have both, but have begun to use the SL more than than SL2. I honestly can't see a difference in the viewfinder, and nor do I find the new grip a significant improvement. 24mp is easily enough for me, because I don't crop. Even IBIS, while undoubtedly very cool, I tend not to miss, because I have many years of shutter speed muscle memory, and I can easily get high enough shutter speeds for 90mm, which is my longest focal length (the very occasional wildlife session apart, when the SL2 with a long zoom definitely wins). I also much prefer the design of the original, even down to the GPS hump! It's a real shame in my view that they went they way they did with the strap lugs, hot shoe, and body covering.

[Flyer]

Thanks to everyone so far for your advise, interesting opinions. I have the chance of a used SL in pristine condition with box etc for £2249 that's 3k less than a new SL2 and would get me a used 24-90 and say the sigma 40mm L mount.  The other option is SL2 and Panosonic 24-105. My head just doesn't like the idea of putting Panasonic on a Leica, maybe it's because I have a Panasonic vacume cleaner😂

Maybe I don't have enough cash to play with the Elite (6k) and would be better spending less a body (Sony) and some nice Zeiss glass. At the end of the day the last thing I want is a show piece that doesn't allow me to be a creative photographer. Mainly Landscape and travel. 

I have looked closely at the CL but thought the lenses were slow and felt the body was void of any heft. If I am honest once you have held the M and the SL the CL feels rather hollow. 

 

Edited August 8, 2020 by Flyer