SL-M - An M lens optimized SL body?

[beewee]

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I’m just throwing it out there in the hopes that the Leica designers are snooping around here.

Seeing how Leica makes different variants of the same camera body with different sensors (ex. M10/-R/-M, SL2/-S, Q2/-M), it suggests that if there’s a business case for it, Leica can also put an M-optimized sensor (i.e. one from the 40 MP M10-R) into a SL2 body or a future SL body.

Currently, according to Leica, the best body to shoot M lenses is an M body due to the sensor being optimized fully, without compromises, for M lenses. Although some accommodation is made for the SL bodies, the best performance of an M lens, especially in the corners, will still be from an M body. However, there’s definitely appeal for shooting M lenses on an SL body because of the amazing EVF, image stabilization, and better video/low light capability, while maintaining the advantages of the look of certain M-lenses and the compact nature of M lenses compared to L-mount lenses. I get that the M10 has an optional external EVF but it pales in comparison with the SL2’s integrated EVF in frame rate, resolution, and overall quality. 

I think if Leica already has an M optimized sensor available and also a SL body available, it would make sense that with low development effort, Leica and produce and M lens optimized SL body for those that prefer the SL shooting experience with M lenses, without the optical compromises made when using M lenses on an SL body.

[Mr.Prime]

if it were lighter and smaller it could be v interesting

[darylgo]

There's talk of an M body with a built-in evf, rumors would be a description for it, other tales say this will never happen and the M will continue as a rangefinder.   The detachable evf has it's pluses and minuses, the big plus is the 90 degree rotation for use at low angles.  

[padam]

I would say no to this one.

The sensors in the SL series are designed more for mirrorless cameras, e.g. they have a faster readout which enables higher quality live-view, with the M series, live-view is lower quality and video has been left out (which I think is very important) which is the price to pay to have those sensors.

They simply need to shrink down the SL series even further, but that would interfere with their CL line of cameras (CL2 just around the corner) so disappointingly, a smaller mirrorless FF Leica might still be some ways off.

[Stuart Richardson]

I kind of agree with padam in that I do not see this happening. But one thing I think does need to be done and could somewhat mitigate this: update the visoflex EVF! It is now ancient tech. The M series deserves a better evf attachment. But perhaps it is the sensor that is the issue, more than anything. As Padam said, the M and S sensors are not designed for full time readout. That said, I am also not sure of what benefit they gain from that. My experience is that the SL2 sensor performs better than the sensors in the S3 and M10 (better color, less banding at high ISO and during push processing), so I am not sure what they gain by using this kind of sensor.

I am also interested to know if the reason for the better performance of M lenses on the M is solely due to stronger offset microlenses, and what the negative is having them on the SL. My guess is that the SL series does better with M lenses than other companies primarily because it has as thin a cover glass as possible. Do we know that it has offset microlenses? I would be inclined to believe that it does not, and that those microlenses might interfere with its native lenses, which is why they are omitted. 

Edited February 1, 2021 by Stuart Richardson

[padam]

They will do the updates "together", e.g. new EVF, new processor, new sensor in the M11.

I think most of (if not all) mirrorless cameras have the offset microlenses, but the M baffle provides the most optimal path for the light to get onto the sensor with the thinnest cover glass. which has the drawback of making dust spots more visible or easier to damage during cleaning. The upside to the L-mount with M glass is the added flexibility of a close focusing adapter.

But the main takeaway from all this: the SL series or cameras are more than good enough with almost every M lens that it does not warrant a separate SL model without the AF, video, etc. adapted manual lenses already "benefit" from the absence of phase-detect AF on the sensor with less artifacts and lower noise.