Output from SL vs S1

[Porchpockler]

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I've read a few conflicting sources...I was wondering how much difference there is in terms of "color science" and any other qualities between the SL and Panasonic's S1?  I have an S1 and am still kind of curious about the SL (primarily because I also own a TL2 and love the output from it...both in terms of jpegs and dng files).

 

Also, is the quality of the build much better than the panasonic or about the same?

 

Thanks for any input....I know there are a few threads on it, but information seems to be conflicting among users.

[Stuart Richardson]

They do have notable color differences. I will see if I can post some shots later today from where I compared them. I have the SL2 and S1, but I had borrowed a friends SL to compare them. All three cameras produced some of the most pleasing color I have seen from digital cameras. The S1 feels like a solid, well made camera. I would say that it feels like a pro or prosumer Nikon body. Same sort of high quality grip, good switch gear etc. The SL and SL2 feel a step up from that. They feel like more metal is used in construction and the components feel a bit more refined. There is nothing in the Panasonic that feels flimsy or poorly made, but the Leica build feels more luxurious. To me, the S1 feels better in the hand since it has a more ergonomic and secure grip. If I recall correctly, I preferred the EVF and screen on the S1 to the SL. The SL2 is comparable, and in my opinion, a good upgrade over the SL. The original SL has a nicer interface, to my mind, but I am coming from the S system, so it is more closely related. The SL2 improved the grip compared to the SL, so I think it fits better and more securely in the hand, but it is still not quite so secure as the S1 with its oversized grip and large finger stop.

Regarding color, I recommend setting the "Camera Natural" profile in the S1, which gives you a more subtle and natural rendering. You have to select it again in Lightroom, but if you do, I think it gives a very nice rendering. Overall, the S1 has superb output. If you are planning on using M lenses, however, the SL or Sl2 will be a much better choice, as they have offset microlenses that keep the corner performance much higher.

[Daedalus2000]

5 hours ago, Stuart Richardson said:

 

Regarding color, I recommend setting the "Camera Natural" profile in the S1, which gives you a more subtle and natural rendering. You have to select it again in Lightroom, but if you do, I think it gives a very nice rendering. Overall, the S1 has superb output. If you are planning on using M lenses, however, the SL or Sl2 will be a much better choice, as they have offset microlenses that keep the corner performance much higher.

I found exactly the same with the S5 in the limited time I have it. I was shooting some test scenes under mixed light, shooting to check for skin color and I found the the "Camera Natural" was giving a very good result in combination with very good auto white balance. 

[Clactonian]

I have both the SL601 and the S1R and agree that whilst there are colour differences they both produce great results, the S1R probably having slightly more punch even on the 'Camera Natural' setting; or maybe it is just that the Leica is more subtle.

Apart from my 'M' lenses I have the V/Elmarit 24-90 and the Lumix S 70-200 f2.8 both of which perform brilliantly on each camera. The 'M' lenses tend to be used on the SL and are great, but then I'm not a pixel peeper.

I bought the S1R rather than exchange the SL for the SL2 because I much prefer the interface and was sad to see Leica drop it, neither do I need the extra pixels for much or my photography.

Stuart is right about the build quality. The S1R is tank-like ( but to my mind cluttered ), yet the SL still feels better made and more sophisticated. The Leica menu is much easier to navigate whereas the Lumix just has too many options, most of which I will never use.

I enjoy using them both but if one had to go it would be the Lumix.

[Porchpockler]

Thanks for the input...Any examples of differences would be appreciated....

[Stuart Richardson]

These are both taken on the 50mm APO Summicron. SL1 and S1. The SL was at 1/1000th and the S1 at 1/800th, both at f4. WB at the same place, Adobe Color for the SL1 and Camera Natural for the S1. As you can see, it is not a drastic difference, but there is a difference, particularly in the sky. The other two are shot into a darkened room with a bright highlight on the wall. Then both were processed so that highlights were -100 and shadows +100. This looks bad, obviously, but shows DR. The S1 is slightly ahead and has slightly cleaner shadows, but both are very good at ISO 100. Same profiles.

The files are labeled, but I guess it does not show up. The top one of the gallery is the SL, the second the S1 (the sky is a bit more magenta).

In the DR test, the flatter, greener file is the S1 and the other is the SL.

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Edited December 30, 2020 by Stuart Richardson

[Stuart Richardson]

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Here are two more taken out the window (forgive these boring photos. I just did this for myself and used things at hand...was not planning on posting them). They are both white balanced on the same place. In this case, the lenses are different. The 50mm APO Summicron on the S1, which is the second photo, and the 24-90 zoom at 51mm with the SL, which is the first photo with the car. The 50mm APO summicron is the sharper of the two, unsurprisingly (you can see at 100%, probably not here). I am not sure if any color variations are due to the lens, but I would imagine the main difference would be the bodies. Still, you can see how it is mostly irrelevant for this photo.

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Edited December 30, 2020 by Stuart Richardson

[Porchpockler]

Thanks so much for this!  That's really helpful.  Those differences seem pretty negligible (to me anyway).  Are skin tones also similarly similar?

[Stuart Richardson]

I have not seen another person since I bought the SL2, so I cannot really say. Sorry. Seriously though, I don't really photograph people much, and I did not compare. But I have taken portraits with the S1 and they looked quite good. But my primary subjects are landscape and architecture.