Use cases for SL next to your M camera?

[kiwidad]

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On 12/12/2024 at 10:42 AM, Jeff S said: like my SL2 and struggle to see benefits of SL3 for me, except perhaps size/weight reduction. I can’t imagine print quality (at my modest sizes) would improve, but I haven’t used the SL3 at all, so maybe I’m missing something.

Jeff

I see people mention weight and size but seriously 69 grams! And size is a couple of millimeters here and there. Amusingly if you double the weight difference and subtract it from sl3 weight it’s about what a black m11 weighs.

I just got a Leica recertified SL2 for under US$3K.  So far a few quirks with memory cards but I am impressed. Those Panasonic primes (speaking of the 50mm f1.8) for very little money are amazing! 

Would I like a SL3? Sure, but the weight and size are not a consideration.

Someone mentioned the Hasselblad X2D 100C … almost pulled the trigger on that but I just loved my red dots too much lol

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[Jeff S]

14 minutes ago, kiwidad said:

I see people mention weight and size but seriously 69 grams! And size is a couple of millimeters here and there. Amusingly if you double the weight difference and subtract it from sl3 weight it’s about what a black m11 weighs.

 

For me it’s not about the specs, but the actual handling, ergonomics and balance, which can often surprise and can vary by individual (and lens).  A friend is bringing his SL3 next weekend, so I’ll get a real life comparison.

[DadDadDaddyo]

Several folks have alluded to the roles they've adopted for the SL series vs. the M series, captured perfectly in the phrase "SL for what I have to do, M for what I want to do."

I maintained both systems for a long time.

The rangefinders are what I've been using since the '60s. In terms of "muscle memory," "kinetic aesthetics," or whatever one wants to call it, they have no equal for me. 

The SL and SL2 I had were utterly reliable in terms of getting the shot, every time. The lenses were superb. The 24-90 was simply the single most useful zoom I've ever encountered, a true "bag of primes." The primes themselves were out of this world in terms of optical performance. 

What changed was me. Long ago, in the 1970s already, it was apparent to me, and others, that I probably could have made a go of it as some kind of professional photographer, but that my work also showed characteristics of "Fine Art photography," however the heck we might want to define it.

Looking back, one of the single (and unknowingly) wisest things I ever did was to decide, in my 20s, not to pursue photography for a paycheck. As a result, it never became a job for me. I never had to do school portraits, or weddings, or ambulance chasing. Instead photography was what I turned to when I wanted to and when I could, to be an outlet, a release, a relief. Hooray!

I'm in my 70s now, and I look back and say, "Not bad, kid!" to my younger self! 

So for all these years, photography has been something to do because I want to, and I've kept doing it, in formats from subminature to 8x10 inch. The single greatest constant throughout? The Leica Rangefinder, followed, perhaps, by a regard for medium format film in interchangeable film backs, thus enabling the Zone System. Large Format is there too, for when I want deep immersion in deep craft. 

Sometime in the last few years I realized I was tired of hauling out the SL2 and the 24-90, along with a bunch of primes already encompassed by the 24-90, simply because I didn't want to miss a shot. 

The M11 or M11M with a prime, that's my cup of tea. Tuck a few extra primes in a pocket or two, or a small bag, and I'm ready for anything. 

My "hit rate" with an M body is every bit as high as one would hope for when one has used a system for over 50 years; and my satisfaction level in doing what I've loved all these years is beyond anything I could have hoped for, or even knew was possible, lo those many years ago. 

 

Edited January 1 by DadDadDaddyo
small typo

[jhonzatkl]

Thank you all for your advices and insights! SL2-S has been at home for over a month and I still haven't found any meaningful use for it. I always prefer to reach for the M11-P in the end. 
Since I can't seem to find a suitable use for it, I think it would be more sensible to sell it.
Still, I am glad for this experience and the opportunity to try the SL series.

[Eoin]

I’ve been primarily a M user for the past 20 years and recently jumped into the SL system with the intention of using my M lenses along with a few SL primes. That didn’t last long once I got used to the quality and handling of the APO SL lenses and I’ve duplicated most of my focal ranges in both systems.

If your photography hobby is anything like mine, I can pick it up on a whim and just as easily go without taking an image for months because “ life’s day to day distractions” rob me of the time I should be spending relaxing and enjoying with my photography.

I agree fully with the phrase "SL for what I have to do, M for what I want to do”, the M system makes me work for what I want to achieve and when achieved touches my photography soul. The SL on the other hand feels like cheating, but with my deteriorating eyesight, I also have to be realistic and accept sometimes the SL system is the better tool.

I’m fortunate that I have both systems and feel no guilt if they sit unused for months on end. What is important to me, that when the need or free time is there, I can pick up either system and enjoy my life long photography hobby again.

As I begin 2025, I’ve set myself some photography projects I want to achieve with time lines. Hopefully life won’t throw too many curveballs.

[BruceRH]

17 hours ago, jhonzatkl said:

Thank you all for your advices and insights! SL2-S has been at home for over a month and I still haven't found any meaningful use for it. I always prefer to reach for the M11-P in the end. 
Since I can't seem to find a suitable use for it, I think it would be more sensible to sell it.
Still, I am glad for this experience and the opportunity to try the SL series.

I just took mine on a short trip along with my M11-P but forced myself to mainly use the SL2-S to give it a fair shot. It is bigger and heavier than I would like but to be honest, I enjoyed using it with my M lenses, more than I thought I would. I ordered a used Sigma 35/2 and a used Panasonic 20-60 for some AF options but I plan to mainly use it with M lenses. I really like the bright viewfinder and focusing is very easy with magnification. It is not going to replace my M11-P but I can see using it with the AF Sigma and in low light situations where I know I will be pushing the ISO. I think it is a nice compliment to the M cameras. 

[JoshuaR]

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Twice since buying the SL2-S, in August, I've started to set up a sale for it. Mainly because it almost never leaves the house—it crosses a weight threshold for me where it's just too heavy and bulky, compared to my M cameras. When I look at the pictures I've gotten with it, inside, in color, in low light, I reconsider. But then, except for some low light performance, I can get almost every shot I get with the SL2-S with my M10-R. So it's really a dilemma!

Right now, I have the SL2-S included in a sale of rarely-used camera equipment to MPB. If I include the camera, I can raise enough money for a Q3, or an MP. Or just for a nice vacation with my family. The SL2-S is among the most enjoyable cameras of its type that I've used, but at the end of the day I'm not sure that owning one to use it as a big EVF for M lenses makes sense. I'm strongly considering just putting it in the box and taking everyone to Florida.

Meanwhile, I almost have to hide the camera from myself, because it's so nice that, when I pick it up, I want to keep it!

I think I'm probably going to send it off tomorrow.

Edited January 12 by JoshuaR

[JoshuaR]

On 1/12/2025 at 5:24 AM, JoshuaR said:

I think I'm probably going to send it off tomorrow.

I couldn't do it! The camera is just too nice to shoot with. It's too fun. 

I may use the proceeds from the rest of the sale to buy a single really good autofocus lens. Maybe the 35 APO . . . .

[BruceRH]

On 1/12/2025 at 4:24 AM, JoshuaR said:

Twice since buying the SL2-S, in August, I've started to set up a sale for it. Mainly because it almost never leaves the house—it crosses a weight threshold for me where it's just too heavy and bulky, compared to my M cameras. When I look at the pictures I've gotten with it, inside, in color, in low light, I reconsider. But then, except for some low light performance, I can get almost every shot I get with the SL2-S with my M10-R. So it's really a dilemma!

When I got my SL2-S a few weeks ago, I felt the same way about the weight and to the size compared to my M11-P. That is why I decided to take it with me last week on the road. The size and weight were not as big of an issue as I thought it would be and the images more than make up for the negative IMHO. The only negative for me is the lack of cropping ability that I have gotten used to with the M11-P, but then on the other hand, the files are gorgeous. I would suggest making yourself take it out of the house without your M camera. I bought a Sigma 35/2 and the Panasonic 20-60 (both used) to keep native lens size/weight down. I do see using the SL2-S mainly with my M lenses due to their size and quality and the nice EVF makes it pretty easy to manual focus but I did want to have a couple of AF lenses. I agree that it is just too nice to shoot with, better than I thought it would be!

[FlashGordonPhotography]

On 12/30/2024 at 8:05 AM, kiwidad said:

I see people mention weight and size but seriously 69 grams! And size is a couple of millimeters here and there. Amusingly if you double the weight difference and subtract it from sl3 weight it’s about what a black m11 weighs.

I just got a Leica recertified SL2 for under US$3K.  So far a few quirks with memory cards but I am impressed. Those Panasonic primes (speaking of the 50mm f1.8) for very little money are amazing! 

Would I like a SL3? Sure, but the weight and size are not a consideration.

Someone mentioned the Hasselblad X2D 100C … almost pulled the trigger on that but I just loved my red dots too much lol

It’s not the numbers. The SL3 feels lighter in hand and better balanced, to me. I still have my SL2 and the difference is *huge* to me. ZI could tell the difference blind folded.

Yet others feel the opposite. The SL3 is too small.

Just preference. But they definitely feel different.

Gordon

[Markey]

12 minutes ago, FlashGordonPhotography said:

It’s not the numbers. The SL3 feels lighter in hand and better balanced, to me. I still have my SL2 and the difference is *huge* to me. ZI could tell the difference blind folded.

Yet others feel the opposite. The SL3 is too small.

Just preference. But they definitely feel different.

Gordon

That`s very good to hear.

I`ve said it before on this board that my SL2s feels unnecessarily heavy .

Over engineered for the sake if it .

Enough so that it stays at home more often than not.