TL lenses on SL-2

[Louis]

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Today, I borrowed a SL-2  from Miami Leica Store, to have a quick test around the block.  It was only a  20 minute test with only my 35mm TL and 55-135mm TL that  I  took  with me. I was quite please with the result and the weight/size of SL-2 didn't bother me at all.

Here are a few shots for those who may be interested.

First, with 35mm TL.

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[Louis]

And a few with 55-135mm TL.

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[MJB]

I agree that the TL lenses handle nicely on the SL, and are obviously much smaller (and cheaper!) than the native SL lenses.  But it's sort of hard to stomach 10MP files when I can get 24MP out of my CL, and the CL is just so much more comfortable to carry around all day.  I do hope that one day there is a future SL (or other FF L-mount body) that has an APS-C crop mode that exceeds the CL's IQ.  Ideally it would be a bit smaller and lighter than the SL/SL2-S.

[Louis]

1 hour ago, MJB said:

I agree that the TL lenses handle nicely on the SL, and are obviously much smaller (and cheaper!) than the native SL lenses.  But it's sort of hard to stomach 10MP files when I can get 24MP out of my CL, and the CL is just so much more comfortable to carry around all day.  I do hope that one day there is a future SL (or other FF L-mount body) that has an APS-C crop mode that exceeds the CL's IQ.  Ideally it would be a bit smaller and lighter than the SL/SL2-S.

These are with SL-2 and not SL. SL-2 has 47MP, which makes over 20MP with TL lenses. I am not sure if my CL 24 MP gives better images than SL-2 with over 20! 
actually I was very impressed by what I got with SL-2 and the two TL lenses that I had with me. I even think that the colors, contrast and overall IQ was maybe better than I could get withCL.

I just posted these images for those who are still wondering about this issue, following thousands of discussions we had before. This is just another possibility that deserves to be considered.

BTW, the RAW files I had with this combination were bigger than my files with CL.

Edited August 24, 2022 by Louis

[MJB]

2 hours ago, Louis said:

These are with SL-2 and not SL. SL-2 has 47MP, which makes over 20MP with TL lenses. I am not sure if my CL 24 MP gives better images than SL-2 with over 20! 
actually I was very impressed by what I got with SL-2 and the two TL lenses that I had with me. I even think that the colors, contrast and overall IQ was maybe better than I could get withCL.

I just posted these images for those who are still wondering about this issue, following thousands of discussions we had before. This is just another possibility that deserves to be considered.

BTW, the RAW files I had with this combination were bigger than my files with CL.

Oh, I misunderstood you - I thought you were using the SL2-S.

But I agree with your main point, that the TL lenses remain a viable option for L-mount cameras, even with no CL2 or TL3 on the horizon.

[frame-it]

14 minutes ago, MJB said:

TL lenses remain a viable option for L-mount cameras

and a 60mp SL3 will be even better

[rob_w]

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Great to hear, Louis.  This has to be the way forward if staying with Leica.  Lovely pics.  Great colours.  And as you say, Mp is not a problem with the SL2. 

[Shawn30]

I put the 18mm on the SL2 but decided it looked silly, but I've used all the other TL lens's I have. I especially like how light it makes the camera. 

[Kim Dahl]

On 8/24/2022 at 1:30 AM, Louis said:

And a few with 55-135mm TL.

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Hi, Interesting to hear you have tried the SL2.  As you know, I have also been critical that Leica will not make a CL2.  But that's how it is.  I have also tried my TL lenses on the Sl2.  (11-23 and 35 1.4 and 55-135) I have also tried the SL2 with my M lenses.  It works ok.  The quality is as good as TL2/CL.  (but not better) I think there is a big but and that is the price of the SL2 - SL2s are more reasonable.  CL size is better.  On the other hand, SL2 is better for M lenses (because you get FF) - So if there was a good "exchange price" for a TL2, I could also consider..

Nice pictures 📷👍🏻

[Louis]

19 hours ago, Kim Dahl said:

Hi, Interesting to hear you have tried the SL2.  As you know, I have also been critical that Leica will not make a CL2.  But that's how it is.  I have also tried my TL lenses on the Sl2.  (11-23 and 35 1.4 and 55-135) I have also tried the SL2 with my M lenses.  It works ok.  The quality is as good as TL2/CL.  (but not better) I think there is a big but and that is the price of the SL2 - SL2s are more reasonable.  CL size is better.  On the other hand, SL2 is better for M lenses (because you get FF) - So if there was a good "exchange price" for a TL2, I could also consider..

Nice pictures 📷👍🏻

CL still remains my favorite camera per size an IQ. I was just curious about SL2 that I had never tested before. The prize is, indeed, still very high, even the used ones. SL2-S is more reasonable but with TL lenses, the MP falls to around 10!…. Not vet appealing!

[bags27]

Lovely photos (of course!!), Louis.

As it happens, I rented a Panasonic S1r this past week, to see how it matched up to my medium format Fuji FGX-R for scanning negatives. (Short answer: very well, indeed). It's the twin to the SL2, except it has a bit more complicated UI (though I happen to like it) and doesn't play nearly as nice with wide M glass. But it has a multi-position tilt screen (for my purposes, essential). I took a 3 mile walk with it, and found it very comfortable. (Of course, that's after walking with my Hasselblad. 😀)  It can be had used for around $2000 (it is no longer made or supported). I put my TL 55-135 on it, but I can't say I produced anything as nice as Louis's, and I demur from posting. But the S1r's IQ is the equal to the SL2's, as can be seen on its thread.

When the SL2 first came out, I was in the first group offered to buy it. Twice I walked out of my Leica store and around the block with it, trying to convince myself to buy it. I could not. But the Panasonic has a much better grip and just seems balanced on my shoulder. I won't buy it for that; it'll be mainly for scanning film. But I wouldn't hesitate to make it my main digital camera.

Just a thought for those who want most of the SL2 for far less than 1/2 the price.....

[Louis]

Ken, your comments are very well taken and thank you for sharing them with us.

Panasonic seems helping Leica a lot; specially now with their collaboration as "L2"!...  I always wondered if SL2 was not a simpler ( in buttons and interface! ) version of Panasonic? But I just ( maybe stupidly ) prefer the simplicity, the interface,  the design and the quality of Leica!... All those buttons and options that Japanese cameras offer scare me like hell. I like to concentrate myself on the subjects rather than the electronics!... I even never learned how to use the wheels of my beloved CL and kept it only for the aperture!  

But I think the prize of SL2 may drop by the end of the year when, probably, Leica may introduce another camera!

[jaapv]

I can understand a mental block when confronted with a camera that presents controls like a church organ. It is intimidating at first sight. But with Panasonic I find that they were designed by photographers for photographers. With my Panasonic cameras I set up a few user profiles and all enable me to use the camera virtually like an analog one. I hardly ever need to go into the menu which, I must admit, is much easier to understand and use than Leica's menus, despite offering more options.

[jaapv]

On 8/27/2022 at 5:36 PM, Louis said:

. SL2-S is more reasonable but with TL lenses, the MP falls to around 10!…. Not vet appealing!

We were quite happy with photographs out of the DMR and M8... . And today we have Gigapixel and LR Enhance.

[tombre]

I have used my three TL zoom lenses on the SL2 and found the results to be excellent. The IBIS of the SL2 definitely makes the 55-135mm hit rate a lot higher for me.  I also went for the Sigma 35mm contemporary for when I wanted a faster lens that was still small (the L Summicrons are not small in my view).  So for those with TL lenses, an SL2 body does offer the versatility of APS-C and full frame shooting (I often don’t need 47MP) without the burden of huge lenses.

[swatch]

Would view of EVF to be reduced in size with TL lenses mounted on SL2?

[ruskkyle]

No

[Torpille]

For those who love the CL and T (I'm part of it) and who own many TL lenses (I'm also part of it) and who don't want to see their investment in the system decreasing day after day, there are in my opinion 2 possibilities: invest on a second CL body or complete with an SL or SL2 with or without S.
Why the sl(2)(s)?
The user experience. Of course the body is bigger but the lenses work perfectly and in my opinion give more beautiful results especially with the sl1 that I use since a few years.
If the 10 mxp limitation is not a subject for you then don't hesitate. The sl601 and the cl are currently at the same price on second hand.

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Hallo,

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