Why would I buy an SL2-s when I already have an SL2?

[Patrickfoley@mac.com]

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I’ve had an SL2 since they first were launched. I use both SL and M glass. I am now thinking about buying the SL2-s as a second body. No interest in video, so what would the SL2-s offer me apart from smaller files?

[Sohail]

Much better noise handling in low light situations.

[Patrickfoley@mac.com]

1 hour ago, Sohail said:

Much better noise handling in low light situations.

Thank you Sohail. But I guess I could get that at much lower cost with the LUMIX S5, which reportedly shares the same sensor. 

[insomnia]

I agree, for a backup a S5 would make more sense to me.

If the backup should handle exactly the same as your primary body, it should have different strengths (resolution vs. noise) and cost is not so much an issue --> SL2-S.

[Stuart Richardson]

My answer to that question is "nothing". Sounds like it is for you too. The S5 is a totally different camera and company, however, and while they may share a sensor which has broadly similar characteristics, and S5 is not equal to an SL2S...it is a totally different camera with its own strengths and weaknesses. I would say that unless you are struggling with missing the last bit of high ISO performance, then there is no real compelling reason to get an SL2S if you own an SL2 and are happy with it. But if you are just looking for a second body, the SL2S would compliment the SL2 as a camera that is better in low light. The S5 would also offer that advantage, and is much cheaper if you do not really plan on using it as anything more than a backup. That said, it cannot use the M lenses nearly as well as the SL2S, particularly anything 50mm or shorter. 90mm and 135mm lenses will work great, however. 35mm-75mm can be very good to bad, depending on the lens construction and how much off-access light there is. In my experience the 50mm Summilux ASPH and 75mm APO Summicron show more edge softening on an S1 than I would like, while a 35mm 1.4 FLE is a bit soft in the edges at wide apertures, but is otherwise quite usable. Obviously you have to test to see what is acceptable for you, but the SL2S will be much better for M lenses, since it is designed to accommodate them. 

Edited August 11, 2022 by Stuart Richardson

[Patrickfoley@mac.com]

11 minutes ago, Stuart Richardson said:

My answer to that question is "nothing". Sounds like it is for you too. The S5 is a totally different camera and company, however, and while they may share a sensor which has broadly similar characteristics, and S5 is not equal to an SL2S...it is a totally different camera with its own strengths and weaknesses. I would say that unless you are struggling with missing the last bit of high ISO performance, then there is no real compelling reason to get an SL2S if you own an SL2 and are happy with it. But if you are just looking for a second body, the SL2S would compliment the SL2 as a camera that is better in low light. The S5 would also offer that advantage, and is much cheaper if you do not really plan on using it as anything more than a backup. That said, it cannot use the M lenses nearly as well as the SL2S, particularly anything 50mm or shorter. 90mm and 135mm lenses will work great, however. 35mm-75mm can be very good to bad, depending on the lens construction and how much off-access light there is. In my experience the 50mm Summilux ASPH and 75mm APO Summicron show more edge softening on an S1 than I would like, while a 35mm 1.4 FLE is a bit soft in the edges at wide apertures, but is otherwise quite usable. Obviously you have to test to see what is acceptable for you, but the SL2S will be much better for M lenses, since it is designed to accommodate them. 

Thank you Stuart. Very helpful, especially your comments on using M lenses with the S5. I think you might be right that I should just stick with the SL2, at least for now. I suspect there will be a new camera (or cameras) coming out of the Leica/Panasonic L2 alliance in 2023. Perhaps I should wait and see...

[frame-it]

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26 minutes ago, Patrickfoley@mac.com said:

in 2023

prolly the 60MP SL3 by 2023

 

[Geoff C. Bassett]

Better dynamic range, better low light, sometimes you really don't need the extra megapixels. I own both and prefer the SL2s for event photography, SL2 for more artistic shoots where I'm not shooting hundreds of photos. When I'm using both I have a longer lens on the SL2s and a wide angle on the SL2. 

I really hope they bring the multiple megapixel option of the M11 or their other cameras. I would actually pay for the firmware to be able to do it on the SL2.

Edited August 11, 2022 by Geoff C. Bassett

[satijntje]

….or get a SL for 2k?
Same IQ as the Sl2-s but without IBIS.

[LocalHero1953]

First question: why do you want a second body? This is the question that is rarely answered in such threads.
As I'm not a fast moving event photographer who needs two bodies with two different lenses ready to hand, nor would I lose money in the remote chance that my SL2-S failed, I can think of many more things I would rather do with my money.

I have two L-mount cameras: a SL2-S and Sigma fp. I bought the second because I do use both at the same time for video recording performances. But the Sigma and the Leica give me different functionality; if I only need one camera (for video - I don't use the Sigma for stills), then I will pick either, depending on the needs of the moment.

1 hour ago, satijntje said:

Same IQ as the Sl2-s but without IBIS.

I disagree, unless you define IQ only in terms of pixels. I've owned both, long term - chalk and cheese (colour, noise, DR, low-light colour, usable high ISO).

[Jeff S]

Situation addressed by rental..

Jeff

[frame-it]

3 hours ago, satijntje said:

Same IQ as the Sl2-s

the SL601's IQ is nowhere near the SL2S.

[Jeff S]

49 minutes ago, frame-it said:

the SL601's IQ is nowhere near the SL2S.

Both capable of lovely images, you wrote…

Jeff

[frame-it]

16 minutes ago, Jeff S said:

Both capable of lovely images, you wrote…

Jeff

 

i said "when a new version is released the old version doesn't magically disintegrate via some hidden firmware on a timer..it still works fine and produces lovely images [depending on the photographer of course] "

but not IQ, perhaps i should have clarified not better IQ in extreme lighting conditions [for the argumentative members]

 

[Jeff S]

‘Lovely images’ refers to image quality IMO, notably in typical shooting conditions.  As you wrote, much depends on the photographer (including understanding of shooting conditions).  It’s clear that low light shooting is a strength of the SL2-S; doesn’t mean that the SL 601 image quality is otherwise ‘nowhere near the SL2-S’, as you wrote. For me, the print tells the story.  I don’t own either, but I suspect that if I made fine prints of worthy pics from both, under my typical shooting conditions, viewers could not distinguish (since they can’t with my other gear). 

Jeff

[frame-it]

13 minutes ago, Jeff S said:

I don’t own either,

like you said, you never owned the SL601..i've shot over 90,000 pics with the SL601, and around 40,000+ with the SL2S..lets leave it at that and move on

[Jeff S]

7 minutes ago, frame-it said:

like you said, you never owned the SL601..i've shot over 90,000 pics with the SL601, and around 40,000+ with the SL2S..lets leave it at that and move on

Let’s not yet, before you at least give your thoughts on how, in what respects, the SL2-S significantly exceeds the image quality of the SL, other than in low light. Just curious, and will help clarify your earlier statement.

Jeff

[LocalHero1953]

25 minutes ago, Jeff S said:

‘Lovely images’ refers to image quality IMO, notably in typical shooting conditions.

I couldn't disagree more. "Lovely images" have very little to do with IQ, and virtually all to do the the photographer.

[Jeff S]

1 minute ago, LocalHero1953 said:

I couldn't disagree more. "Lovely images" have very little to do with IQ, and virtually all to do the the photographer.

I mostly agree. But still looking for a simple clarification of post #12. Maybe Santijntje will be curious enough to ask, as otherwise ‘frame-it’ is silent other than mentioning extreme lighting conditions.

Jeff

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Hallo,

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[beewee]

Regarding S5 vs SL2-S as a second body to an SL2, personally, I’d prefer a consistent interface between the two cameras so if money isn’t a limiting factor, I’d prefer to have a SL2 + SL2-S combo rather than an SL2 + S5 combo. It will allow you to easily share and apply user profiles across both bodies so they operate the same and you don’t have to re-learn the haptics of a camera or consciously think about what camera you’re using and where the settings you need are.