Totally convinced SL user. Happy to have met you, Leica!

[hansvons]

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A few recent threads give the impression that Leica in general, and the SL line in particular, have quality issues and perform mediocre compared to the competition. Often in these threads, the term professional is used. I am a professional and amateur because, as it happens, I also use the camera for pure joy.

I never did that with any other camera I owned (Ikegami HLV-55 never had any issues for five years of heavy battering in ENG. Arri SR-2 once had to revive the batteries, still own it. Many rental Arris in different flavours, 35mm to Alexa. Only one 435 died on me when cranking it up. Two sensors failed in a Red Epic that I owned for eight years.)

And since 1 ½ years, the SL2-S.

I can say this. It's my daily companion. It motivates me terribly. It produces the colour closest to Arri I ever saw on any other camera (before I purchased it, I test drove the usual suspects). The viewfinder is on par with what Arri offers for more money (only the EVF, of course). Its IBIS opens new possibilities, and the sensitivity is a godsend, as is its compatibility with M lenses. 

I feel right at home in every means.

Could it die on me? Perhaps. I saw cameras bricking and backups brought in place. But that happened only three times in a long career. And only one time, the result was a showstopper. I even never lost one single byte of data.

Would I be frustrated when it dies? Yes. But I would go out immediately to the next Leica shop, get another copy, sort the repair stuff etc... out later.

For me, Leica totally nailed it.

For others, not so much. But there are choices out there. Just use them and stop complaining about AF and service. Leica is partially bad in these areas; we got it. Eventually, they might fix that in the future.

 

Happy summer, everyone!

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[oldwino]

I just picked up a used SL, after thinking about buying one for years and years. I was put off repeatedly after reading about how "big" the camera is, and how "heavy" it is, and how "brutalist" the design is...Let's not even mention the "poor" autofocus...

I am very late to the party, but I find the SL big, but not oversized. It its comfortable to hold. It is heavy, but so are all Leicas for their sizes. I find the design rather attractive; I enjoy the minimalism of the device. 

And, most importantly, it does exactly what I need it to do - I can easily focus all my old film-era lenses, it makes an image file that is lovely to look at, and so far (knock on wood) it hasn't failed me yet. I wish I had made the purchase decision much earlier. I may even buy an autofocus lens for it now. 

[OR120]

I've used Leica cameras on and off since the 70's. My father gave me his Leica IIIF w/Summitar in the 60's. He was the enabler. My last M body was a digital ME240. I like fast lenses. The ME240 became bulky with the added finder. It was no longer that small M that I loved. The added finder made the photo process slow. Not the easiest to use with my older eyes. When I tried my first SL in a local Leica store I could not believe how bright and clear the screen/view was - using my fastest M lenses wide open was a breeze. Then the SL2-S was announced. That's the camera I went for - just perfect. I was using all my old M and R lenses along with some older Nikon and Zeiss glass. In my hands the SL2-S reminds me of my old Leicaflex SL2 - the size and weight. I've had zero problems with my SL2-S. It is a pleasure to use with my M and R lenses. I've used Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax (35 and 6x7), Hasselblad and Linhof cameras. They were all very good cameras with few problems in the filed. Two cameras that did give me problems were Leica R3 and R4. My Leica SL2-S is a joy to use and has proven it's reliability to me day after day. It is the perfect camera for my needs.

[Anakronox]

Here’s an observation I’ve made after 20 years in IT - users don’t call you to compliment service reliability and quality.  That said, I don’t discount the forum members that have experienced poor service and technical problems - those need to be fixed.  

[IkarusJohn]

I’m off to Fjordland in December to explore Dusky Sound.  Not a shred of doubt in my mind, I will be taking my SL(601), 21 Summilux-M, 24-90 zoom, APO Elmarit-R 180/2.8 (and APO 2x extender), and for those more intimate images where I want a fast lens, a 50 Noctilux 0.95.  I may add the 28 Summilux-M if I can be bothered carrying it.

When my SL dies, I will almost certainly get whatever Leica offers as a replacement.  The M system is my favourite for what it is (21-75, in my case), but the SL covers so much more …

[hansvons]

8 hours ago, IkarusJohn said:

I’m off to Fjordland in December to explore Dusky Sound.  Not a shred of doubt in my mind, I will be taking my SL(601), 21 Summilux-M, 24-90 zoom, APO Elmarit-R 180/2.8 (and APO 2x extender), and for those more intimate images where I want a fast lens, a 50 Noctilux 0.95.  I may add the 28 Summilux-M if I can be bothered carrying it.

 

What a dish. Delicious.

[toyfel]

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18 hours ago, hansvons said:

 

For others, not so much. But there are choices out there. Just use them and stop complaining about AF and service. Leica is partially bad in these areas; we got it. Eventually, they might fix that in the future.

Really? Everybody has the right to express their opinion and experience about anything including camera gear. You wouldn't like anybody to tell you what to do or not to do, or would you? 

[Herr Barnack]

Quote

...And since 1 ½ years, the SL2-S.  I can say this. It's my daily companion. It motivates me terribly...

...I feel right at home in every means...

...For me, Leica totally nailed it...

 

An SL shooter who is actually happy with the camera.  Good God Almighty, I didn't think such a thing was possible! 😳

Edited June 28, 2022 by Herr Barnack

[huwm]

I love my SL2 too

[Aperture 2]

I love my SL2 too, too (and my M10, Q2M and CL) 🥰

[Darrell]

I love my M10 and SL(601). My collection of M, LTM and R lenses love the time they get to spend on the SL and the M lenses get especially excited when they see me pull out the M10 because they know they’ll have me all to themselves. Ahhhh, good times 🥳

Some of my old Canon lenses are still around and get to enjoy some camera time with the SL as well. I can’t imagine a better camera for my needs.

[chris_tribble]

We’ll, I don’t want to pile in, but… 

1. I didn’t like the original SL - ergonomics, functionality with M lenses - I didn’t buy into L glass at that point… I tried it twice - and sold out each time…

2. I really like the SL2 - ergonomics, functionality with M glass (because of IBIS) - and this time I sold out of my Canon professional kit and  bought L zooms (24-90 / 90-280).  These are the best zooms I’ve ever owned - and I now have the stellar 35 and 75 APO.

3. I then got a second SL2…

Along with the Q2 and my rather less used M10-R and M lenses I have the tools I need for the work I do and couldn't be happier…

[robb]

I am a happy customer approaching a year.  Still going strong working with them every week.

Same lineup as Chris above.  75 is my favorite lens ever.  24-90 is also epic on what it can do.  M glass not getting as much use, but it’s ready on the bench when called on.  
sharing batteries with Q2 is kind of icing on the cake.  Wish the m11 also shared the same battery.

Robb

[Slender]

Nearing 2 years with SL2+24/90.... Added recently a couple Topcon Lenses (Incredible lenses, look it up) and next a Leitz Summaron 35 2.8 for fun and EDC. There was a couple of glitches recently: camera froze. Taking battery out and in again solved it, althought I must point out it happened thos two times with FW 4.0.... I will update to 4.1 tmr.... got a bit pissed having images counter reseted to O with last update, but I am over it now.

But yeah its the first Leica camera I confidently use for my pro stuff, in photo and video. Used to have a M9, but AF and 2 SD card coupled with the great 24-90 make the job much much easier in most situations. I would use smaller lenses for intimate stuff, and nothing replaces RF cameras but.... its really good.

 I love it, even more so as it became clearer Leica was (is) serious about further improving it with FW updates. I used to have dark abcesses of GAS when SL2s came out, but I came to realize SL2 fits the bill better for me at least. All we would need for video is a dummy battery solution. I like the fixed screen design.

I am seriously thinking about a TL2 (18and35) as a lightweight-always-in-da-bag-backup for it. Pretty sure it's gonna become a classic digital Leica like X1, Digilux and M9M - after all we owe the T for bringing up the L mount in the first place.




 

[Virob]

Thankfully I don’t make a living from my photography. After many years with 4/3 and m4/3, I got an SL2 over a year ago. I’m impressed with the output and enjoy the handling and simplified interface. I assumed I would get several SL primes starting with a 21 SL but that lens has yet to materialize.  Instead, I find myself enjoying the 20/35/65 Sigma C trio. I may eventually try an SL lens but it will be hard to give up the haptics of the C lenses. I will never understand why Leica decided not to include an aperture ring on the SL lenses.