Leica SL upgrade

[Enbee]

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I have had the SL since its inception. I have enjoyed growing with this system.

Two Questions:

I was wondering if I should wait for the SL3 or get the SL2? 
 

I am also ok to part from the SL - any thoughts on what other systems can I look at? 

I have recently bought a Sony and I feel the colors are much better with SL - but the ease of use, the night photography, the speed all of it was better in Sony. 

 

Thank You!

[jaapv]

The most obvious parallel to an SL  is a Panasonic S series camera. 

[Enbee]

Just now, jaapv said:

The most obvious parallel to an SL  is a Panasonic S series camera. 

Thank you so much. Will take a look. 

[Stuart Richardson]

52 minutes ago, Enbee said:

I have had the SL since its inception. I have enjoyed growing with this system.

Two Questions:

I was wondering if I should wait for the SL3 or get the SL2? 
 

I am also ok to part from the SL - any thoughts on what other systems can I look at? 

I have recently bought a Sony and I feel the colors are much better with SL - but the ease of use, the night photography, the speed all of it was better in Sony. 

 

Thank You!

Well, the original SL is a camera from 2015, so more recent Sony cameras will certainly have some advantages. Since the SL2 is at the end of its life, the SL3 is likely to come out with advantages in terms of dynamic range, high ISO performance and resolution. Ease of use, speed and night photography are all likely to be better on the SL3 than on the SL2. The SL2 will remain an excellent camera, however. In general, the 24mp cameras (Leica SL2S and Panasonic S1, S5 and S5II) will give you better performance in low light, while the SL2 (47mp) and SL3 (looks like it will be 60mp) give you more resolution.

The Panasonic S series shares the mount with the SL series, so all your existing lenses L mount lenses would work the same. The Panasonic bodies do not work as well with Leica M or Leica S lenses, however, so if you are reliant on those it is better to stay with the SL line.

[Enbee]

11 minutes ago, Stuart Richardson said:

Well, the original SL is a camera from 2015, so more recent Sony cameras will certainly have some advantages. Since the SL2 is at the end of its life, the SL3 is likely to come out with advantages in terms of dynamic range, high ISO performance and resolution. Ease of use, speed and night photography are all likely to be better on the SL3 than on the SL2. The SL2 will remain an excellent camera, however. In general, the 24mp cameras (Leica SL2S and Panasonic S1, S5 and S5II) will give you better performance in low light, while the SL2 (47mp) and SL3 (looks like it will be 60mp) give you more resolution.

The Panasonic S series shares the mount with the SL series, so all your existing lenses L mount lenses would work the same. The Panasonic bodies do not work as well with Leica M or Leica S lenses, however, so if you are reliant on those it is better to stay with the SL line.

Thank You - these are excellent suggestions. I will wait for SL3 - to see what it offers and then take a call. 

[Luke_Miller]

I have and enjoy the M240, the SL and SL2. and have pretty much reached the point of sufficiency. with my Leica cameras.  That is, my M240 meets my needs and the newer M models offer nothing additional that I want. Likewise, my SL2 is in the same position.  The upcoming SL3 will reportedly offer higher resolution and better autofocus, but I am happy with what my SL2 provides.  The SL2 bodies do offer features over my SL that are important to me.  If I buy another SL it will likely be a SL2-S trade-in on an SL-3.  I have gotten to the place in my photographic journey where mastering what I have offers greater improvement in my images than purchasing the next new model.

[AdjusterBrett]

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Have both the SL and the DC-S1 - and for features and MOST definitely low light - the S1 wins.  My S1 with a fast 50 (58/1.2 or 1.4) can shoot in the dark, period.  ISO 6400 with the same lens / setting between the S1, SL, A7III, Fuji, etc- the S1 literally blows them away.  HOWEVER - I prefer the experience with the SL, and I find that literally every lens I adapt takes on a new character with the SL (versus my X-T1/2/4, S1, and so on).  I've gone from having another Rokkor popped onto the fuji or the pana, to "can't wait to see what this does"...   Might just be me - but I also have the TL2 with the Visoflex - and notice vintage just turns out better on the older Leica processing.  HOWEVER, if you are primarily an autofocus person - then I can see where the SL is a letdown in comparison.  Sony with a native GM or even a native Sigma will BLOW AWAY a Leica, Panasonic, and fuji in a dynamic test of the autofocus (faster moving) – it’s not even a contest (done it a million times).  As to features - there is almost NOTHING a current Sony Alpha had that the AGED panasonic S1 doesn't - aside from fast autofocus - literally nothing - but there is a crapload the S1 has that the new Sonys do not - so on feature/capabilities buy yourself a CHEAP (grand) S1 used and wait till Leica brings something you think you can live with.   Until then...   Questions (and answers)...    First - vintage?  If you shoot vintage much - then the SL2S isn't going to give you anything beyond multi shot, IBIS, and an ever so slightly higher res EVF (both of which are on the S1).  Second - static or dynamic focusing - fast moving or simply slow moving or still for photos.   Taking pics of kids on a roller coaster or flying bird - get a Canon/Nikon or especially a Sony with native glass - Leica (and panasonic and fuji) will simply NEVER catch Sony.  I have stood side by side with the same DG DN 100-400 at cedar point - and the guy with the Sony will win (by double anything I might get) and still beat out the Nikon and Canon - real world - multiple times.  Video - don't waste time arguing - S1 will beat even the current Q3 or the forthcoming SL3 and its six years old...   LOOK - The SL2 didn't render much different than the SL did (in fact I preferred the SL AND the TL2 vs the SL2 in BRIGHT light, and most definitely the SL for B&W).  New Sony, Canon, Nikon, Pana, Fuji will not match your SL.  FEEL - this is a big one - REALLY big if you do manual focus vintage.  I learned to fight and live with some of the SLOWEST cameras on the planet - thereby I look, frame, focus, re-frame, validate focus, shoot.  Patient..   Most spray and pray.  My first real camera was a circa 2005 Sony DSC-R1 (APS-C fixed to zoom Zeiss, a magical piece of glass - and from an era Sony color science wasn't clinical) - 10 mega pixels - burst rate of 3 shots in 10 seconds (and 34 seconds to clear the buffer) - but averages 15-18 second per shot to write a >20mb raw to the CF card - TEACHES you to plan your shot...  In this case - with vintage (manual focus) - the SL is the best I've ever used, period...   I bought the Pana S1 for the ridiculous EVF at the time - but the SL vs. the S1 for EVF - just not enough my olden eyes can tell the difference - however they are both much better than my Fuji X-T4.

What is it that the SL is missing???

Autofocus is something you will NEVER catch Sony on - in real world - so put that out of mind.  Is the SL2 that much better than the SL - I'll leave it to the crowd -but you need to tell us what you are missing with the SL that you are hoping to catch with the SL2/SL3 - and they can tell you if it will accomplish that.

Low Light - although claims have been made - my S1 with a Rokkor or Mamy/Sekor 1.4 will blow away all (I really believe this)...   Not in a chart, but in real life.  

Ease of Use???   With vintage - there is almost nothing as easy as an SL or an X-T1 (fuji), and I have both but prefer the SL over anything (except TL2 with EVF).

I'm 75% vintage - and with native glass - I prefer the SL over the S1.  Sony's shoot like crap - clinical boxes with no soul (my RX1 and R1 included).  Fujis are fun - but just not that much more fun - the SL in hand is really to my liking...  YMMV.  Personally with an autofocus lens - I much prefer my TL2 - I can access the few things I need faster.  The S1 has specifically dedicated buttons and dials - BETTER than Fuji - but beyond the basics WB/ISO/EV/etc - the pana has far too many buttons...   Sony - BLAH...

Real world - I have the sigma DG DN 85/1.4, the DG HSN 105/1.4 (both bokeh kings) - and I prefer what I get form a Topcor RE 100 and most definitely LOVE the Pancolar 1.8 (2.0 isn't as good) or even the Rooskie 44m2 when using a puffy clouded brightly lit/reflected sky (it starts to swirl with variable contrast form the subject spiraling outward)...   More than three grand in bokeh monsters - and the vintage wins every time, but ONLY on the Leicas due to their older color science/rendering (I think)...

I tend to NOT have time to perfect the setting - have to eye it through the EVF (impatient wife/child)  - so I find the SL or the TL2 MUCH faster from turn on to end product vs. even the S1 or anything else.   It taught me to not mess with much - set the triangle, WB, and shoot.

If all you want is IQ and you do not do much dynamic tracking (fast track autofocus) and want nothing to do with vintage - get a Q3 - or first try an older RX1 (slower focusing but great IQ) before plunking down a ton of money on an SL3.  At this price range and without knowing your usage - TRY BEFORE YOU BUY and while doing so - make a list of what is missing from the SL and the Sony and then see if the new one fills it...  Just my $0.02 from the cheap seats...

 

 

[jaapv]

On 2/3/2024 at 10:49 AM, Enbee said:

I have had the SL since its inception. I have enjoyed growing with this system.

Two Questions:

I was wondering if I should wait for the SL3 or get the SL2? 
 

I am also ok to part from the SL - any thoughts on what other systems can I look at? 

I have recently bought a Sony and I feel the colors are much better with SL - but the ease of use, the night photography, the speed all of it was better in Sony. 

 

Thank You!

I had a Panasonic S5 as backup to my SL. I replaced it with an S5 ii. It has pushed my SL into the background.

[ynp]

12 hours ago, jaapv said:

I had a Panasonic S5 as backup to my SL. I replaced it with an S5 ii. It has pushed my SL into the background.

Same here. I am keeping the SL 601 as a backup for my S3. Unfortunately the Panasonic doesn’t support the S-L adapter. 

[Stuart Richardson]

53 minutes ago, ynp said:

Same here. I am keeping the SL 601 as a backup for my S3. Unfortunately the Panasonic doesn’t support the S-L adapter. 

Do you have the S5? I have the S1 and it does work with the S adapter L. It does not autofocus, but it does transmit information and stop down the lens automatically etc. It just functions as a manual focus lens, otherwise it works...does the S5 not do that?

[ynp]

33 minutes ago, Stuart Richardson said:

Do you have the S5? I have the S1 and it does work with the S adapter L. It does not autofocus, but it does transmit information and stop down the lens automatically etc. It just functions as a manual focus lens, otherwise it works...does the S5 not do that?

I have not checked yet. Thank you for the information!

I just assumed that the adapter would not work altogether. I have just bought the S5ii and I am  trying to learn the camera. Thank you 🙏 

[jaapv]

10 minutes ago, ynp said:

I have just bought the S5ii and I am  trying to learn the camera.

So have I... 😇