I own two SL2 bodies. New SL3 just came out - so I bought an R9

[trickness]

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I absolutely love the SL2, the EVF, IBIS, the native lenses, adapted lenses too. So the SL3 came out, flip screen, 60 megapixels...but I just couldn't get excited about more of the same, I'm covered by the SL2, 20 more megapixels or a bit less noise isn't going to make pictures LOOK different. I've been browsing hunchbacks for the past couple of months, I do mostly portraiture and shoot 50mm and above and usually with faster glass. So the R9 appealed more than an M body, especially the 1/8000 shutter speed. Found a tested package deal on eBay (seller with great feedback) and just pulled the trigger on an Anthracite R9 in mint boxed condition with the winder and 50mm Summicron ROM. 

Shot a little bit with a C3 I found under the bed and really liked the tones, but hated not having creative control with a point and shoot, hence the R9.  I'm looking forward to complimenting my digital work with film - I know how expensive it all is, I'm going to scan at home to save some $$ - got a 100MM 2.8 APO R and a Leica R to L adapter coming too, hopefully that will be suitable.

Fingers crossed the camera will be as promised, if not I think the lenses will be fun on my SL2. I'll bring both systems out when I shoot (we'll see how that idea works I guess!) Really looking forward to being a "hybrid shooter" 😂

 

Edited March 28, 2024 by trickness

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[Stuart Richardson]

The R system is great, so as long as you enjoy 35mm film, you will enjoy it. The 100mm 2.8 is fantastic and will still be so on the SL2. It was my favorite lens in the R system along with the 50mm 1.4 Summilux E60. I sold the R kit when going to the S2, but still miss it. I did find that, while the motor drive was quite bulky, I preferred the ergonomics to the R9 alone. I did not try the winder. At least the shutter position felt better with the motor drive, and it was helpful for verticals. It balanced better with some of the bigger lenses like the 180mm Elmarit. I would encourage you to expose some slides like E100 or Provia. The R9 has good metering and the lenses have superb color. Scanning slides is easier too. If you use the 100mm 2.8 and the SL2 with a good light source and masking, you are likely going to get better results than using a consumer film scanner.

[tritentrue]

The better R lenses are the crack cocaine of photography.  And a natural option for the SL2.  Happy shooting!

[trickness]

3 hours ago, Stuart Richardson said:

The R system is great, so as long as you enjoy 35mm film, you will enjoy it. The 100mm 2.8 is fantastic and will still be so on the SL2. It was my favorite lens in the R system along with the 50mm 1.4 Summilux E60. I sold the R kit when going to the S2, but still miss it. I did find that, while the motor drive was quite bulky, I preferred the ergonomics to the R9 alone. I did not try the winder. At least the shutter position felt better with the motor drive, and it was helpful for verticals. It balanced better with some of the bigger lenses like the 180mm Elmarit. I would encourage you to expose some slides like E100 or Provia. The R9 has good metering and the lenses have superb color. Scanning slides is easier too. If you use the 100mm 2.8 and the SL2 with a good light source and masking, you are likely going to get better results than using a consumer film scanner.

Cheer for this Stuart. I haven't shot slides since Kodachrome was everywhere! But I'll give it a try. I've looked at a lot of videos online about scanning and it seems to be pretty easy to get in to, but will take time to master - like everything else it seems.

Looking forward to trying the 100 2.8 on the SL2 for sure!

[trickness]

2 hours ago, tritentrue said:

The better R lenses are the crack cocaine of photography.  And a natural option for the SL2.  Happy shooting!

Yeah I'm pretty excited to try some new (old) glass on the SL2. Will post when I do!

[trickness]

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R9 just arrived today. Feels seriously impressive in the hands, especially with the winder attached. Focusing is really interesting, almost like some weird cousin of a rangefinder. 50 Cron is really small. Won’t get to put a roll through it until Tuesday at the earliest but man, am I looking forward to it.

[trickness]

50 Cron R, f/2 Tri-X box speed 

I LOVE this camera. More than I thought I would.

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[TomB_tx]

3 hours ago, trickness said:

I LOVE this camera. More than I thought I would.

I picked up an R8 a few years back when they were cheap, and it was so much bigger and heavier than any of my SLR collection I didn't do much with it. But lately I've been using it to test different film types and developers, and suddenly I really like it. Might have to add an R9 if a good one comes along.

[trickness]

19 minutes ago, TomB_tx said:

I picked up an R8 a few years back when they were cheap, and it was so much bigger and heavier than any of my SLR collection I didn't do much with it. But lately I've been using it to test different film types and developers, and suddenly I really like it. Might have to add an R9 if a good one comes along.

I shoot with an SL2 so the weight of the R9 is nothing to me. And I love how it's different to the M thing. I've never seen anyone shooting on the streets here in NYC with an R8 or R9.

[thebarnman]

I have a R9 also, and I know this is not the SL thread, but didn't I read that the R lenses work with the SL system, particularly like on the SL3?  

[masjah]

4 hours ago, thebarnman said:

I have a R9 also, and I know this is not the SL thread, but didn't I read that the R lenses work with the SL system, particularly like on the SL3?  

All my SL2 lenses are R ROM lens via the Leica adapter; I find they perform very well, and I can focus more easily than on my R8/R9 cameras. (However almost all of my subjects are static. The two tips in this regard are (i) use focus confirmation with the aperture wide open to minimise the range of "acceptable" sharpness; only then stop down, and (ii) use the image magnification facility.)

 

[thebarnman]

2 minutes ago, masjah said:

All my SL2 lenses are R ROM lens via the Leica adapter; I find they perform very well, and I can focus more easily than on my R8/R9 cameras. (However almost all of my subjects are static. The two tips in this regard are (i) use focus confirmation with the aperture wide open to minimise the range of "acceptable" sharpness; only then stop down, and (ii) use the image magnification facility.)

 

Hi there, it's been a while...I think I recognize your avatar.  In any case, that's nice to learn that the SL series does accept the R lenses!  I thought so but it's been a couple years or so since I read that about the SL series. 

That's interesting to learn how it's easier to focus with the SL.  I generally don't photograph static subjects but I take it it's still easier to focus in general.  Thanks!

[trickness]

2 hours ago, thebarnman said:

Hi there, it's been a while...I think I recognize your avatar.  In any case, that's nice to learn that the SL series does accept the R lenses!  I thought so but it's been a couple years or so since I read that about the SL series. 

That's interesting to learn how it's easier to focus with the SL.  I generally don't photograph static subjects but I take it it's still easier to focus in general.  Thanks!

You need an adapter - the Leica one is excellent, but it’s also like $1000 new 😬

But R glass on the SL is really great.

[thebarnman]

4 hours ago, trickness said:

You need an adapter - the Leica one is excellent, but it’s also like $1000 new 😬

But R glass on the SL is really great.

I knew it would need an adapter but I was thinking more like in the $300 to $400 range.  Oh well.  

With the adapter, is there any crop factor? 

[thebarnman]

7 hours ago, masjah said:

(i) use focus confirmation with the aperture wide open to minimise the range of "acceptable" sharpness; only then stop down, and (ii) use the image magnification facility.)

 

The R9 with my R lens, the aperture is automatically opened up all the way and automatically closes down when the shutter is pressed.  With the SL system, I take it you have to close the aperture down manually?  Is that how it works?

 

[masjah]

2 minutes ago, thebarnman said:

The R9 with my R lens, the aperture is automatically opened up all the way and automatically closes down when the shutter is pressed.  With the SL system, I take it you have to close the aperture down manually?  Is that how it works?

 

Yes, there is no aperture connection between the SL2 body and the lens. 

[thebarnman]

10 minutes ago, masjah said:

Yes, there is no aperture connection between the SL2 body and the lens. 

It's been a while but I forgot about that.  Well, I guess that could slow me down even more.  Does the viewfinder on the SL compensate for the loss of light if for example if I have the aperture closed down to f8?  In other words, would I be looking at a dim image through the viewfinder?  

Edited April 13, 2024 by thebarnman

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[trickness]

3 hours ago, thebarnman said:

It's been a while but I forgot about that.  Well, I guess that could slow me down even more.  Does the viewfinder on the SL compensate for the loss of light if for example if I have the aperture closed down to f8?  In other words, would I be looking at a dim image through the viewfinder?  

It's a manual focus lens system - if you're looking to do things fast, that's not an inherent strength of this setup. Lens character and image quality are.

No dimming when you stop down on the SL in my experience. 

[TomB_tx]

35 minutes ago, trickness said:

No dimming when you stop down on the SL in my experience. 

Same thing with R lenses adapted to my Sony A7 - finder is always bright even in dim light or stopped down., so you can see the image - but stopped down increases DOF so it's hard to judge exact plane of focus. Even so I agree I can focus better on an EVF than most SLRs.