Leica CL or Fuji ?

[bruniroquai]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hi there guys!

I've been using and blown away by the X100V lately, due to I much prefer focal fixed lens cameras but miss some focal lenses I'm thinking bout in change my system or simply add new one.

I own Q2, RX1r II for Full Frame and X100V and GR3 for APS-C, alongside my beloved Sigma DP3 Quattro for tele and close up, product.

I'm thinking get rid of all APSC (possibly not the Sigma), and change the path for an only system like CL.

Love Fuji JPG output even printed, but dislike too many buttons and menu options. 

How good is the EVF in CL? and how good are 18/2.8 and 23/2? Also the 60 macro, or maybe better add a micro nikkor or something cheap for product photography and "tele portraits". I presume battery life is better than Fuji system. AF is fast and reliable?

Other choice would be XPRO 3, but is too large and heavy. 

As much as I loved M system, is no longer for me, heavy and expensive and Manual Focus... and what I loved was my old trust film MP, so not into conversation. 

Resume: I don't like big cameras/lenses.

Thank U all!

PS: Forgot to mention my all time fav was the X2, simple and small.

Edited November 2, 2020 by bruniroquai

[jaapv]

i find the EVF more than adequate, The Q2 and SL2 may outperform it, but in use the difference is not significant The 18/2.8 I bought with some trepidation as a compact lens on my TL, but in practice it turned out to be far better than some reviews suggest.
The same goes for the 18-56 A must-have lens on the CL IMO. Far better than some reviewers would have us believe, it makes for a first class general purpose lens.

AF is quite good, but not the best there is - Leica always seems to be a bit behind in this department. Having said that, I have never missed a shot, not even in difficult circumstances, but tracking focus can be dodgy. Having said that, I can reliably get shots like this one (Sigma 100-400)

 

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[tommonego@gmail.com]

I really like my CL, really nice EVF, the 23 Summicron is an excellent lens, the 35 and 60 are stellar from what I have heard of them. I have 4 macro lenses I use with the camera, 40mm Makro Kilar, mostly use it on a copy stand, a 55 f2.8 micro Nikkor, my least used macro, a 105 f2.8 micro Nikkor one of my favorites even if it is a little big, and a Leica 65 f3.5 Elmar, just picked up the lens and it seems nice. I also have a small 55 f1.4 7 Artisans L mount which is a nice lens for little $. I generally have the 23 on my CL and other lenses for what I need. I was in Costa Rica with the CL an 11-16 Tokina, the 23, the 55, 105 mico Nikkor and a Leica 200 Telyt all in a back pack that worked well, though 3 of the lenses are large and a little heavy. 

I do use DNG RAW all the time, requires very little processing and the images are great, firm believer in using 16bit files in digital. I started using RAW and JPG but stopped using the Jpg files when I found how easy it was to work with the DNG.

 

[ramarren]

The CL replaced my M cameras. It's just a little smaller and a good bit lighter. The controls are simple: easy to figure out and remember, sensibly arranged. I fitted a Leica M Adapter L and use my favorite M and R system lenses on it. The viewfinder is very good, almost the equal of the SL (no experience with SL2). Leica's lens profiles ensure the rendering with Leica lenses is almost identical between M, CL, or SL bodies. 

Due to the APS-C format, if using M lenses just drop one focal length down in the Leica M lens line for normal ... use 35 instead of 50, 24 instead of 35, 50 instead of 75, 90 instead of 135. The TL series 18mm is your 28mm and TL 11-23 mm net the wide and ultra-wide category. (I use a Voigtländer 10mm for 15mm FF ultra wide; superb imaging and reasonable price!) Easy. 

Very happy with the CL. Two plus years since I bought it: it remains inspiring to use and enjoy. 

G

[Le Chef]

I can’t remember who said it but “You marry a lens system and have affairs with cameras” seems to be a good line of thought to remember. I bought a CL two years ago on the basis of lens reviews, and learning that more L-mount lenses would be coming. I’m now looking to add a TL 55-135, and a Sigma 56mm to the 11-23, 23 and 18-56. The balance of quality and size is just about perfect for me.

Now the next question will be whether to add a CL2 whenever that turns up...

[bruniroquai]

Thank U all guys.

Do You think is better to wait till CL2 shows up?

[jaapv]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Which CL2?  It is nothing more than a glint in Leica's eye. It might be in one year or three, who knows?  Nor do we know what the difference might be. I would not make that a consideration. Are you going to wait for the CL3 after the CL2 comes out?

[jaapv]

1 hour ago, Le Chef said:

I can’t remember who said it but “You marry a lens system and have affairs with cameras” seems to be a good line of thought to remember. I bought a CL two years ago on the basis of lens reviews, and learning that more L-mount lenses would be coming. I’m now looking to add a TL 55-135, and a Sigma 56mm to the 11-23, 23 and 18-56. The balance of quality and size is just about perfect for me.

Now the next question will be whether to add a CL2 whenever that turns up...

That would be a good moment to buy a used CL  

[didier]

5 hours ago, bruniroquai said:

Hi there guys!

I've been using and blown away by the X100V lately, due to I much prefer focal fixed lens cameras but miss some focal lenses I'm thinking bout in change my system or simply add new one.

I own Q2, RX1r II for Full Frame and X100V and GR3 for APS-C, alongside my beloved Sigma DP3 Quattro for tele and close up, product.

I'm thinking get rid of all APSC (possibly not the Sigma), and change the path for an only system like CL.

Love Fuji JPG output even printed, but dislike too many buttons and menu options. 

How good is the EVF in CL? and how good are 18/2.8 and 23/2? Also the 60 macro, or maybe better add a micro nikkor or something cheap for product photography and "tele portraits". I presume battery life is better than Fuji system. AF is fast and reliable?

Other choice would be XPRO 3, but is too large and heavy. 

As much as I loved M system, is no longer for me, heavy and expensive and Manual Focus... and what I loved was my old trust film MP, so not into conversation. 

Resume: I don't like big cameras/lenses.

Thank U all!

PS: Forgot to mention my all time fav was the X2, simple and small.

It is a very nice camera. Perfect ergonomy, I find the EVF very good. If you are shooting a lot high-iso a SL or another FF would be better. Otherwise, a great device !
The 18/2.8 is low contrast which can be surprising, but it has a very good resolution. Add a metal lens hood, and you’ll have an efficient and very nice system  

The 11-23 is great.

What I like as well is putting my M-lenses on it, with the magnification, focusing works great !

 

 

 

[Sjz]

I tried for years to really appreciate my Fuji x100T.

I purchased the CL (with 18m) and was immediately happier.  It is a great combination and fits in a coat pocket the way the Fuji does.  

I have added the two longer zooms, both impress.

I have not felt the need to try any non TL lens’ on it.  The TL range on the CL is a fantastic solution that never fails to impress me.

[ramarren]

8 hours ago, bruniroquai said:

Thank U all guys.

Do You think is better to wait till CL2 shows up?

I don't see much need, the current CL is a very very good camera. The only thing on the current CL that I miss is a port for a hard-wired remote, I have to use the remote operation tools in Leica FOTOs from my iPhone to remotely trigger the shutter. Not a big deal.

[lct]

On 11/2/2020 at 12:54 PM, bruniroquai said:

Love Fuji JPG output even printed, but dislike too many buttons and menu options. [...]

The CL has less buttons but its jpeg outputs are not the same, at least compared to my X-E2. I don't like much Fuji colors personally but i shoot raw so it is less of a problem for me. 

Edited November 3, 2020 by lct

[bruniroquai]

there is a website fuji recipes or something like that which turns jpg in our fuji cameras into an amazing box of rolls of film

Anyways, I need a 28, 35 and 50 or 75/85 for closeups, foto product and portraits; wide angle lenses obviously for street, daily.

I need to downsize, maybe keep things in one system is better for my mind. And light! cause X-PRO system and lenses are way too large, I can stand with it for the macro/tele not for the rest.

[bruniroquai]

btw: if You wanna have a look to my IG, www.instagram.com/brunogracianet

[SoarFM]

Well, this morning I was reviewing some old shooting. I just felt like I needed to stop in to the Leica Forum and share thoughts on the CL.

For starters, I shoot with multiple systems.

Leica Q2, Hasselblad 907x CVFII 50c, Fuji MF (GFX50s and GFX 100) and the Leica CL.

All the Fuji stuff is for sale. Not because it isn't good, it's really great stuff at a great price point. Despite what everyone says about the great interface on the Fuji (Q menus, film simulations, etc...)--I just don't like it. 

I just like the interface on the Leica and Hasselblad stuff so much more. And I really don't need 100 megapixels (seemed like a good idea at the time...)

 

But every time I review what I shoot with the CL, I am blown away at how much goodness is in that small package. I use the 18-56, 23 and 35.

 

P.S.  Always shoot raw, if you don't, you are crippling your camera output.

 

 

 

Edited November 4, 2020 by SoarFM

[didier]

When I want an easy combo, with versatility, high portability, high quality, and unobtrusiveness, nothing beats the CL + 11-23 and summilux-M 50 ASPH