SL3 Rumors

[Simone_DF]

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18 minutes ago, frame-it said:

love reading about the never ending "Sony menu excuses"

on ANY camera, once the menu functions are setup properly, one rarely needs to dive into the menus, the SL menus are equally deep like the Mariana Trench

Yes, once the user set a list of favorite menu items in the favorite list, there's no need to dive into the menu anymore. Not to mention that Sony has improved the menu quite a lot recently. 

Also, to add to the list of "why Sony for manual glass", both Voigtlander and Zeiss have lenses in native Sony mounts, so no need to spend an extra 300€ for the L-M adapter, not to mention that those lenses are also optimized for use on Sony bodies. 

[BernardC]

5 hours ago, Simone_DF said:

Because on both Sony and Canon you can reassign the magnifier button to any button, so you can have it conveniently placed next to your thumb if you so wish, so your second point is moot, and because of the following:

With a joystick to move the magnified area around the frame? That must be new, it wasn't the case when I first bought into the SL system. 

I am not a target customer for AF adapters, but I know that a Nocti or a 135/2.0 are beyond their maximum recommended weight (around 500g last I saw). I do use my Zeiss 135/2.0 on the SL, it focuses beautifully. 

I agree that focus peaking is useless, on any camera. I mostly focus with the full screen, only zooming-in to check if my eyes are getting tired, or if I've placed a significant bit of detail at the edge of the frame. 

My main point was that the SL system makes it incredibly easy to use manual lenses. You can throw anything at it: M/screw mount rangefinder, SLR lenses, medium format, even cine lenses. It produces great images with all of them, with no fuss, and with a consistent interface. That was not my experience with other systems. Other photographers may have had a different experience, of course. 

[Olaf_ZG]

I don’t get this sony/canon/leica discussion. If you want any other brand than Leica, buy it and move on.

 I bought the SL for lenses which are not available on a small kit like the M: tele(zoom), tilt/swift as well as evf.

Having bought (expensive) m lenses already, I want to use them on another system as well: the SL is the best option for that.

Having one brand is a delight for PP. I cannot imagine doing an event and mix and match different brands. 
 

but then, that’s just me…

[Simone_DF]

32 minutes ago, BernardC said:

With a joystick to move the magnified area around the frame? That must be new, it wasn't the case when I first bought into the SL system. 

I am not a target customer for AF adapters, but I know that a Nocti or a 135/2.0 are beyond their maximum recommended weight (around 500g last I saw). I do use my Zeiss 135/2.0 on the SL, it focuses beautifully. 

I agree that focus peaking is useless, on any camera. I mostly focus with the full screen, only zooming-in to check if my eyes are getting tired, or if I've placed a significant bit of detail at the edge of the frame. 

My main point was that the SL system makes it incredibly easy to use manual lenses. You can throw anything at it: M/screw mount rangefinder, SLR lenses, medium format, even cine lenses. It produces great images with all of them, with no fuss, and with a consistent interface. That was not my experience with other systems. Other photographers may have had a different experience, of course. 

Yes, the Sony has a joystick. It was introduced with the A7III. The Canon R5 has also a joystick. Don't know about the rest. 

The Techart supports up to 700g, according to their faq page. It also works with lenses above that weight, but you risk straining the motors.

All mirrorless cameras make it incredibly easy to focus manual lenses, regardless of the brand. The SL has some strengths like the viewfinder, other cameras have other strengths like AF support or better manual AF assist, there's no inherently "better" platform for that, it's just a matter of picking what works best for your personal use case, but that doesn't mean that other brands are not good because they are not Leica.  

[Planetwide]

4 hours ago, Simone_DF said:

Yes, the Sony has a joystick. It was introduced with the A7III. The Canon R5 has also a joystick. Don't know about the rest. 

The Techart supports up to 700g, according to their faq page. It also works with lenses above that weight, but you risk straining the motors.

All mirrorless cameras make it incredibly easy to focus manual lenses, regardless of the brand. The SL has some strengths like the viewfinder, other cameras have other strengths like AF support or better manual AF assist, there's no inherently "better" platform for that, it's just a matter of picking what works best for your personal use case, but that doesn't mean that other brands are not good because they are not Leica.  

100% Agree

[trickness]

21 hours ago, Planetwide said:

Not sure I understand your comment. Are you referring to M mount vintage lenses? The SL was only designed to work with Leica SL & M mount lenses. If you are talking about off brand vintage lenses, well the SL has no real advantage over the Pana S series, Sigma 's FP, Sony's Alpha or Canon R camera's. 

If you are NOT shooting M mount lenses, then the Panasonic S1r is a significantly better sensor and value over the original SL. 

But then again, who really gives a dinosaur turd?

[fotonutzz]

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I hope they'll bring back the GPS module on SL3

[BernardC]

16 hours ago, Simone_DF said:

Yes, the Sony has a joystick. It was introduced with the A7III. The Canon R5 has also a joystick. Don't know about the rest. 

The Techart supports up to 700g, according to their faq page. It also works with lenses above that weight, but you risk straining the motors.

All mirrorless cameras make it incredibly easy to focus manual lenses, regardless of the brand.

I should make it clear that I have used other brands. I'm not a big fan of contortionist finger positions. Having a button that is easily accessible with my size of hand is important to me. I tried the Canon way and the Sony way, and it was all very clumsy. Of course we are all different, not sure why others are upset that I find the SL comfortable for all-day use.

I wouldn't think that I am unusual in being a "visual photographer," but apparently I am. I find that the quality of the viewfinder image matters most to me, and the other helpers are of secondary importance. Unless they create distractions, of course, in which case I look for a way to turn them off.

By the way, Techart's web site claims 500g for their current EA9 model, and 300g max for the previous EA7. I imagine that parallelism is problematic beyond that point.

[Simone_DF]

12 minutes ago, BernardC said:

By the way, Techart's web site claims 500g for their current EA9 model, and 300g max for the previous EA7. I imagine that parallelism is problematic beyond that point.

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

They repeat the 700g in the FAQ section too.

Apart from parallelism, the main problem is that the adapter's motors are small and are not designed to move lenses that heavy, and in the long run the motor will break.

Who knows, maybe now that the L mount has PDAF, maybe Techart will release the adapter for us too. It is also available for Nikon Z mount.

Edited May 23, 2023 by Simone_DF

[BernardC]

10 minutes ago, Simone_DF said:

They repeat the 700g in the FAQ section too.

This is the one I saw on their site:

https://techartpro.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/05_Techart-LM-EA9_Cmpare-LMEA7.jpg

It's odd that they would publish two different sets of numbers.

[Simone_DF]

8 minutes ago, BernardC said:

This is the one I saw on their site:

https://techartpro.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/05_Techart-LM-EA9_Cmpare-LMEA7.jpg

It's odd that they would publish two different sets of numbers.

I think that one is outdated. It was published right before the new model was introduced. Maybe they didn't bother to remove it. But even in that case, it looks wrong. 500g was the limit on the first version, I think I still have the original FAQs saved somewhere in PDF format for quick consultations. I used the first version consistently with the Lux 50mm, the Zeiss 35mm Distagon and other lenses above 300g. 

[rcusick]

I just bought an R6.2.  Amazed at how small it is.  How about an sl3 of the same size?

[Vlad Kuzemchik]

So, in light of Q3, what do we think?

Will Leica cheap out and use the same sensor across the line or there is a chance for stacked sensor in SL3?

[Virob]

4 hours ago, Vlad Kuzemchik said:

So, in light of Q3, what do we think?

Will Leica cheap out and use the same sensor across the line or there is a chance for stacked sensor in SL3?

I hope not. I’m not very knowledgeable on the issue, but the sensor in the Q3 and M11 have a very slow readout speed, 1/10th sec?. Neither of these cameras are meant for action or serious video. The SL “should” be capable of more action type photography and is used with longer lenses where an electronic shutter has advantages. The SL3 will hopefully have a faster sensor as is the case for the Sony A1 or Nikon Z9 which have sensor speeds of 1/260 which helps with rolling shutter issues.

[AZN]

1 hour ago, Virob said:

The SL3 will hopefully have a faster sensor as is the case for the Sony A1 or Nikon Z9 which have sensor speeds of 1/260 which helps with rolling shutter issues.

It would be nice, but it is very unlikely.

I agree with what a a lot of people have already said - it will most likely be the M11/ Q3 sensor with the usual SL microlenses to allow M lens use.

Not at all shabby and a definite improvement over the current SL2, but cannot see it besting the Sony A1 sensor readout speed (or that of the mooted A1ii supposedly due next year)

[hansvons]

2 hours ago, Virob said:

I hope not. I’m not very knowledgeable on the issue, but the sensor in the Q3 and M11 have a very slow readout speed, 1/10th sec?. Neither of these cameras are meant for action or serious video. The SL “should” be capable of more action type photography and is used with longer lenses where an electronic shutter has advantages. The SL3 will hopefully have a faster sensor as is the case for the Sony A1 or Nikon Z9 which have sensor speeds of 1/260 which helps with rolling shutter issues.

Same here in terms of knowledge . The SL2 always has been about image quality and not so much about fast-paced photography/journalism. That’s the business of the S model. I’d think that the SL3 will be out by autumn and sporting the M11 sensor and colour science as that crucial part is already extensively beta tested in the field with great approval. With the SL APO primes this sensor will be a relevation. However, all of that isn't my sandbox. 

The SL3-S, however, has the potential to upgrade the already brilliant SL2-S, if video specs are convincing (6k ProRes 12bit/Raw at 30 fps full frame) and the sensitivity of the SL2-S sensor is at least retained. That can only be achieved with a new sensor that resolves considerably less than the M11 sensor. If they would take the S5II sensor, much of the dev is already done and the S model could be released together with the standard SL3.

But my gut tells me that Leica is following a new strategy with the S, placing it at its sibling’s side and not below it, meaning upgrading the price to 6k+. In order to make that work with their clientele, they need to bring it on a whole new level. That means a different sensor, new colour science etc. I think the -S will be out not before the summer of 2024, which goes well along with the recent price reduction, reporter model, etc, kind of protecting their customer's investment.

One question remains. Which model will be Leica’s entry drug, a role the SL2-S has played so well? I guess that will be the Q3’s role, which will be a tremendous success. 

Edited May 31, 2023 by hansvons

[LocalHero1953]

If, as rumours suggest, the SL3 is not launched till 2024 it would be surprising if it had a sensor from one of the current generation of Leica cameras - that in the M11/Q3 may have been first used in the Sony A7RIV in 2019. 

[Simone_DF]

I suppose we have to wait and see what happens on the Panny side of things too. Are there any news regarding a potential S1R successor? That would give us some hints.

[Stuart Richardson]

Personally I don't see the jump from the SL2 to the M11 sensor as that high. I think it would be hard to tempt me away from the SL2 sensor, which I think is one of the best Leica has ever fielded. I would rather they took their time and introduced a more noticeable upgrade. Or perhaps what I am really waiting for is an S mirrorless, not an SL...

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica L-Mount

[BernardC]

2 hours ago, Simone_DF said:

I suppose we have to wait and see what happens on the Panny side of things too. Are there any news regarding a potential S1R successor? That would give us some hints.

I suspect that Leica will release their high-megapixel camera first, given that Panasonic released their 24MP version first. Not only does it make sense from an Alliance perspective, it also makes sense in terms of marketing. Panasonic wants to sell their high-res camera as a "junior Leica," rather than the other way around.

Will the SL3 use the same sensor as the Q3? That is one option, but we know that they are working on something new for the medium-format market.