Use T(701) as SL(601) Backup?

[SonomaBear]

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The SL is my primary work horse for everything that I shoot - but I can not afford buying another for backup.

It looks like the original T can use all of my lenses while having a simple interface.  Plus it is small enough to take on places.  16mp should be enough.

Am I going on the cheap here?  Tell me about your experiences with the T...

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[wda]

A used CL might give you a shooting experience closer to the bigger SL. If that is beyond your budget, of course the T could cover while your SL is out of action.

[Reggie]

I love my TL2 for its compactness and simple ergonomics. However, its user interface and menu structure is totally different from the SL/CL. If you’re okay with learning a new setup procedure on the T then go for it. Once you have the menus set, it’s pretty much ‘set and forget’.
 

The image quality is proper Leica - there’s nothing cheap about it. In fact, the RAW and JPEG performance is supposedly one of the best OOC. The one area in which the T-series lags other Leicas is AF performance so you need to decide how important that is to you. Given how cheap a used T is these days, you might as well try one and see how you get on with it. If you don’t like it, I don’t think you’d lose much on resale. 

[nicci78]

CL would be way better. 
Almost no IQ difference between CL and SL. 
Operation speed is similar too. 
 

There is a world apart between T/TL vs SL/CL. High ISO will be worst, AF will be über slow. Operation speed is slow too. User interface will be very different too. 
 

T IQ is superb under ISO 1600. But  it is a very frustrating camera to used. 

Edited January 31, 2021 by nicci78

[jaapv]

I bought a like-new TL as backup for my CL for a few hundred Euro. It took me about 10 minutes to figure out the UI and I cannot complain about the IQ. Low light performance is quite acceptable too. It has encroached on my iPhone as "notebook" camera.

[nicci78]

Let’s say that T and TL are far from being flawless. 
Some of their many flaws can be a deal breaker for you. 
If you can work around them, you will be rewarded with superb vibrant photos.

Best is to try them for long period of time. 
I also got a T for 6 months after listening to people raving about it being so good for so cheap. 
Despite it’s low price I could not bear its slowness and other quirks. And got rid of it as fast as I can. 

 

[J12]

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I have a TL and TL2 to compliment the SL. I use the TL2 as a second body to the SL. Mainly with adapters and M and R lenses. I chose it because it shares the same lens mount as the SL and the sensor is also 24mp. Being APS-C the crop factor gives a bit more reach without sacrificing resolution when swapping full frame (M, R or L mount) lenses between the two cameras.

I think the TL2 is a great camera and very overlooked. While the UI / menu screen differs to the SL, it’s so simple and intuitive to use it doesn’t even require learning. So the difference is a non-issue.

I use both the SL and TL2 in manual mode. And only use manual focus lenses on the TL2 together with the optional EVF. It works fine for this style of shooting. It would be nice if the EVF was higher resolution and had little less lag, but it’s workable.

I might be in the minority, but I chose the TL2 over the CL because it moved the design of digital cameras in a very forward thinking direction. Yet, it still offers basic physical controls to shoot manually as you would on any other camera.

I hope Leica continue to develop the TL series. It would be great to see one with a built-in EVF. As that’s what it really needs. It can get a bit fiddly attaching and removing the optional EVF. It’s a bit delicate to leave permanently attached when putting the camera in a bag or carry case etc.

IQ from the TL2 is fantastic given the price point of the camera. The build quality and design is also second to none. It’s a beautiful camera and a joy to use.

As for the TL, I keep that purely for the pop-up flash. Which can be handy sometimes. The TL is a little slower in operation and I use it on its own rather than pair with the SL. 

[Louis]

They do use the same lenses, but SL is a full frame and T is aps -c with 16 MP.

I do have the original T and I love it. I use it as my CL backup as both are aps -c; and, although CL has 24 MP, I still get really nice shots with T.

So, SL and T are in different categories, but you can still use T as a backup camera if you wish. 

[jaapv]

On 1/31/2021 at 2:02 PM, nicci78 said:

Let’s say that T and TL are far from being flawless. 
Some of their many flaws can be a deal breaker for you. 
If you can work around them, you will be rewarded with superb vibrant photos.

Best is to try them for long period of time. 
I also got a T for 6 months after listening to people raving about it being so good for so cheap. 
Despite it’s low price I could not bear its slowness and other quirks. And got rid of it as fast as I can. 

 

The TL is considerably faster than the T.

[nicci78]

With the latest firmware update T and TL are exactly the same. Except : 
- 32GB of internal memory instead of 16GB. 
- chamfered edged    
- TL is also available in Titanium finish.  
 

 

[Torpille]

The Leica T/TL is a camera, apart from all the others:

- In terms of image quality, it offers thanks to its sensor images a magnificent rendering. Personally I prefer them to the rendering of the CL.  (I shoot Raw only)
- It allows a different approach of the photography and its interface is really very intelligent.
- It has a flash 
- it is very cheap
- It allows the use of the Summicron TL 23, probably the only lens I will continue to use with the Leica T. But it also allows the use of the very cheap Sigma lenses.

What I really appreciate : it allows to slow down, to take its time to build its images because it is a rather slow camera. A bit like a Leica M ?  No, not really
The only real criticism that can be made is its relative slowness, but for me I see it rather as an advantage ... and once you know the camera, you can anticipate.

As a complement to the SL then why not, but as a back up I'm not sure.

My choice remains this: 

For fast subjects, the SL.
With SL lenses, the SL
With M lenses, the SL
The T with the TL 23mm for the pleasure of taking pictures differently with a reduced volume. (The Iphone is also an alternative but I don't like the 28mm.)