Backup Body for the SL2-S

[Almizilero]

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I'm looking for a second body for my SL2-S, mostly for my stage photography endevours. During portrait sessions, I always have the time to change a lens. So far, I've used the M10 as backup, but due to the manual focus that's more of a safety net. I keep switching lenses on the SL2-S. So I'd like to have one body for the 90 APO and one for the 35/1.2 Sigma. I guess the best solution would be a second SL2-S or SL2, but that is out of reach financially. I'm actually looking for a “cheap“ solution.

Contenders are: Panasonic S5, Leica SL 601 and Leica CL.
The S5 would be the reasonable choice. It the cheapest and newest of the bunch, has IBIS and is rather lightweight. The perfect backup body? Problem is I already tried a loan S1 and didn't like the Panasonic body/menu at all.
The SL is available at an interesting price right now. It should be closest in image quality to the SL2s (?) and shares the same batteries which is always nice. This would be my hearts choice right now.
The CL comes in as it should provide Leica image quality in a very small camera. I could live with the APS sensor as it would give the 90mm even more reach which is always nice. Surprisingly, it's the most expensive at the moment.

Or ... all of this might be unneccessary if Samyang provides the 35-150 anytime soon. I could live with that one lens on the SL2-S and a nice prime on my M10.

 

 

[Olaf_ZG]

30 minutes ago, Almizilero said:

I'm looking for a second body for my SL2-S, mostly for my stage photography endevours. During portrait sessions, I always have the time to change a lens. So far, I've used the M10 as backup, but due to the manual focus that's more of a safety net. I keep switching lenses on the SL2-S. So I'd like to have one body for the 90 APO and one for the 35/1.2 Sigma. I guess the best solution would be a second SL2-S or SL2, but that is out of reach financially. I'm actually looking for a “cheap“ solution.

Contenders are: Panasonic S5, Leica SL 601 and Leica CL.
The S5 would be the reasonable choice. It the cheapest and newest of the bunch, has IBIS and is rather lightweight. The perfect backup body? Problem is I already tried a loan S1 and didn't like the Panasonic body/menu at all.
The SL is available at an interesting price right now. It should be closest in image quality to the SL2s (?) and shares the same batteries which is always nice. This would be my hearts choice right now.
The CL comes in as it should provide Leica image quality in a very small camera. I could live with the APS sensor as it would give the 90mm even more reach which is always nice. Surprisingly, it's the most expensive at the moment.

Or ... all of this might be unneccessary if Samyang provides the 35-150 anytime soon. I could live with that one lens on the SL2-S and a nice prime on my M10.

 

 

What instead the samyang not the Panasonic 24-105?

[Almizilero]

vor 26 Minuten schrieb Olaf_ZG:

What instead the samyang not the Panasonic 24-105?

Because the Panasonic is F/4 and the Samyang is F2-2.8. And has the perfect focal range for my needs. When I still used Sony, the Tamron 35-150 was a dream come true lens for my stage photography. If the Samyang clone is anywhere near as good, it's a must buy for me once it's available for the L-Mount.

[robb]

I’d stick with Leica menus with your backup.  Prices will be dropping soon because of future SL3 so I’d wait and pick up a second sl2-s.  That’s the best solution followed by SL 601.

Robb

[jaapv]

Or if you don’t want a heavy backup a CL 

[Almizilero]

vor 1 Stunde schrieb jaapv:

Or if you don’t want a heavy backup a CL 

Yeah, that's on the list, but currently in place 3 since it's hard to find used at the moment and if it pops up it's the most expensive of the three.

[huwm]

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I rebought and resold a CL recently.

My idea was to use it as mainly as a teleconverter for the 70-300 but I found it too small to confidently handle now that I've got used to the SL2/S.

Unexpected, as it was a combination I had used in the past with no problems.

[LocalHero1953]

I am going through the same thought processes, but also to have two video-capable cameras for stage productions. My choices are a second , and second-hand, SL2-S or a new S5ii. I would rather keep the low light performance, so the SL and CL are not on my list. I have never actually handled a S5ii. I'm hoping the SL3 comes out before I have to make a choice, when I could have the SL2-S and SL3 together.

[Almizilero]

I'm hoping to make the decission before a possible SL3 can tempt me, because I'm expecting it to be very interesting but also very expensive.

[LocalHero1953]

As it happens, I was in town this afternoon, so dropped into Wex to play with their display S5ii. I'd just spent an hour and a half using the SL2-S: in comparison the S5ii felt OK in the hand - perhaps a bit smaller and less easy to grip (needed for big L-mount lenses). The shutter is noisy, which I didn't expect - the SL/SL2-S is much better damped. EVF fine and clear. The buttons and menu system are intimidating, but after working through the menus, I reckon I could live with it, especially for video where I'd likely set it up once and forget about it. I'm more likely to make changes on the fly for stills.

[jaapv]

The nice thing about the S5 -and I suppose S5ii- is that you can set up custom user profiles and change them with the control wheel without dipping into a menu  The main drawback for me is the plethora of customizable buttons-some of them virtual-  I can never remember which is which. 

[FlashGordonPhotography]

Panasonic menus suck. But the S5ii is a sensational camera and worth putting up with them. Set up a couple of custom settings and then you can mostly avoid them and just enjky the camera. 

Gordon

[algrove]

Just started reading this thread. My suggestion get another SL2S used. Then you have 2 bodies with identical menus and setup. That's what I did and it works beautifully especially with Profiles saved to SD card that you then import into a second body.

Edited September 19, 2023 by algrove

[Almizilero]

vor 24 Minuten schrieb algrove:

Just started reading this thread. My suggestion get another SL2S used. Then you have 2 bodies with identical menus and setup. That's what I did and it works beautifully especially with Profiles saved to SD card that you then import into a second body.

Yeah, that would be ideal, but I don't feel like spending the money. Photography is only a very occasional side job for me and the second L-Mount body is just a convenience. I'm actually confident I could finish a job with the M10 (my current "backup") if the SL2-S should fail me. I'd just feel better if instead of switching lenses I could just grab the second body and of course there's always the fear of a failed SDcard and the M10 only having one card slot. So I'm not going for the best solution (which would be the second SL2-S) but for something that fits my needs AND my purse
For my private shoots I could live with only having one body (plus the M10).

[jaapv]

If you want to go cheap and good get a TL.

[algrove]

If you want to go SL cheap get a 601. They sell in the US for about $2k.

[chris_tribble]

After my recent SL2 problem I picked up a second hand S1r.  A third of the price of a used SL2 and surprisingly ok.  It took me a day to work out controls / customisation (🥹) but I’ve got it behaving almost exactly like the SL2 in P and M modes (my main uses) and find it works really well with the SL zooms and APO primes.  I’d feel perfectly confident swapping between the two bodies in a complex shoot (as I do when working with SL and M bodies).  Just my 2 cents 🙂

Edited November 2, 2023 by chris_tribble

[graeme_clarke]

Hello,

 

I have my old SL601 bought in 2016  backing up an Sl2-S I bought 2 years ago.  One great advantage is they use the same batteries and charger but the menu buttons are different. I set up the same profiles in each to make switching easier.  I also have the CL that I use occasionally with a 90-280 to give "greater reach". The menu and top buttons are not too dissimilar to the SL2-S, the crop factor is 1.5 but the batteries and charger are different.  Both 601 and CL do not handle noise at low light levels as well as the SL2-S so if low noise is a must then a 2nd hand SL2-S might be the the way to go but yes, it will cost more.  I cannot help with any thoughts on makes other than these 2 Leica bodies as I've never owned any.  Apart from the TL that Jaap suggested, I guess a decent 601 is the next cheapest option linked to using noise reduction software such as the latest Lightroom or Topaz to improve the images.

Good luck with your quest,

Graeme

[LocalHero1953]

4 hours ago, chris_tribble said:

After my recent SL2 problem I picked up a second hand S1r.  A third of the price of a used SL2 and surprisingly ok.  It took me a day to work out controls / customisation (🥹) but I’ve got it behaving almost exactly like the SL2 in P and M modes (my main uses) and find it works really well with the SL zooms and APO primes.  I’d feel perfectly confident swapping between the two bodies in a complex shoot (as I do when working with SL and M bodies).  Just my 2 cents 🙂

How do you find the shutter noise, Chris? As I wrote above, I found the S5ii surprisingly loud after the SL2-S.

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[chris_tribble]

I've not done a sde-by-side, but I don't find it objectionable.  There are somethings I actually like (having dedicated buttons for focus mode + the switch for shutter mode). and I also prefer the joy stick position and functionality to that of the SL2 (viz instantly recentering the focus spot)!  Will I be cast out of the Leica fold for this heresy!