In praise of the SL2

[chris_tribble]

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I know it's not got a tilting screen.  I know it's a 6 year old model.  I know it's performance isn't supposed to be a patch on the latest and greatest - but it's still a remarkably good camera.  I've been using it for the last four our five days for a local Opera festival, covering rehearsal and dress rehearsal, and I really can't fault it.  With the workhorse 24-90 in use most of the time, and with the 90-280 in use 70 Apo on the second body, I really can't imagine what else I'd want from it.  Since the latest firmware update Face recognition AF works REALLY well, and whether the images are rendered in colour or B&W I'm happy, my client is happy, and the young professional singers are happy.  Some examples from the dress rehearsal ofr The Marriage of Figaro are on my website (https://www.ctribble.co.uk/galleries/THEATRE/COG_Marriage_of_Figaro/) and a couple more examples from the Figaro Dress and a studio rehearsal (Turn of the Screw).

If you were thinking of getting rid of your SL2 because it's a bit long in the tooth - maybe reconsider?  There's life in the old dog yet!

I'd be interested to hear other long term users' experiences ...

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Edited August 23 by chris_tribble

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[Jeff S]

My workhorse, along with 24-90, when I’m not using an M. Serves me well (except for torn covering near grip, discussed elsewhere).

[darylgo]

Best ibis of any camera with R lenses, it brought new life to some old but great optics, 100 macro, 70-180 and 280/4.  

[LocalHero1953]

The SL2-S is my workhorse, for similar subject matter, with the 24-90 and 90-280. I did buy the SL2, but 'downgraded' to the SL2-S when it was launched 3 months later (Leica were happy to just swap the bodies with no money changing hands). I found the colours and low light performance, to my eye, to be better, and prefer working with the reduced number of pixels. I also bought the 24-90 when I got the SL, and the 90-280 when it launched. The whole system has been bullet-proof, without any babying at all, and the results speak for themselves. I also use it for video recordings of performances; I would like the SL3/3-S flip screen for this, but not enough to make a change.

[chris_tribble]

40 minutes ago, Jeff S said:

My workhorse, along with 24-90, when I’m not using an M. Serves me well (except for torn covering near grip, discussed elsewhere).

Did you get the cover sorted out? Mine was fixed by Leica and now both bodies live in excellent Chinese made leather half cases.  No more concerns on that count. 

[Jeff S]

20 minutes ago, chris_tribble said:

Did you get the cover sorted out? Mine was fixed by Leica and now both bodies live in excellent Chinese made leather half cases.  No more concerns on that count. 

Leica NJ said they would replace it, and clean sensor (not requested), for $40. Fair, but the wait was quoted as likely 2-3 months, which I wasn’t willing to suffer. Not a big deal, as merely cosmetic, but would be better for any eventual trade or sale.  I hate cases.

[chris_tribble]

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57 minutes ago, Jeff S said:

  I hate cases.

Fair enough - but this one improves the body for me.  A trifle more heft - and no more worries about eventual (??) resale value. 
https://ebay.us/m/xiWqMv

[Markey]

I`ve just swapped my 2470 for a 2490 and that with my 70280 and SL2s will be my full frame system

I`ve added an Oberworth half case although the camera covering is already scratched I`m afraid .

I like half cases and have one on both my CL and 246 although the Oberworth design on the SL2s isn`t as elegant as the other two .IMO

[chris_tribble]

You won’t regret the 24-90. The extra reach makes such a difference, and though it’s not an Apo lens, the OOF can be lovely.  Really precise rendering without being overly clinical.  It’s big and heavy - but it does the job!

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PS. I’ve never been persuaded that Oberwerth was worth the money. £78 on eBay was fine by me. I don't really like cases, but given the problems with the SL2’s cover material it was a sufficient investment 😉 

Edited August 23 by chris_tribble

[Markey]

20 minutes ago, chris_tribble said:

You won’t regret the 24-90. The extra reach makes such a difference, and though it’s not an Apo lens, the OOF can be lovely.  Really precise rendering without being overly clinical.  It’s big and heavy - but it does the job!

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PS. I’ve never been persuaded that Oberwerth was worth the money. £78 on eBay was fine by me. I don't really like cases, but given the problems with the SL2’s cover material it was a sufficient investment 😉 

I`ve been considering a 2490 for a while but the crunch came earlier this week when I bumped in to a photographer using one on an SL2 .

I was impressed by the results straightaway and promptly ordered one .

Night and day as it were.

[Markey]

Re the Oberworth. Bought mine second hand and its ok.

Not as nice as the Leica half case for the CL or the Very Release (it looks like) on my 246.

I was surprised how clumsy the Oberworth fastening is at the back and it protrudes a fair way out from the back of the camera .

[Stuart Richardson]

I have been using mine since I bought it used in 2020. I have not had a single problem with it in that time with it being my main professional camera. It has never stopped working or produced unacceptable results for me. Obviously, it is more limited in high ISO than the SL2S or SL3, but it is still eminently usable. It is still the highest resolution camera Leica has ever made, as they have not brought multi-shot to the SL3. I find the color to be very very pleasing, and I love the natural feel of the files and high acutance of the detail. I typically make very high demands out of my gear -- little problems annoy me, I really want things to work perfectly and be seamless. The only digital cameras I have had that feel similarly rock solid in results and performance were the S006, M9 (in file quality at low ISO at least), and the M10M. Even with those cameras, I had little problems here and there. The SL2 has been the first Leica I have ever had for a long period of professional use with literally no faults. I am not sure if it has even ever frozen. Maybe once or twice, but a quick pop out of the battery and it was fine. This is having made tens of thousands of images, mostly out in the cold and wet climate of Iceland. Of all the cameras I have ever had, I think it is the one that is the most trustworthy and consistently high quality. Focus is always spot on, WB is good, the lenses are impeccable and it just does everything right. As an exhibition printer, the files are superb and frankly, at 47mp with APO Summicrons, even 100x150cm prints are tack sharp and leave very little to be desired...multishot pushes the quality even higher.

Because of how incredibly high a bar it has set, I have had no interest in the SL3 (I don't like the changes, especially regarding form factor, power button and display interface). I suspect I will be using the SL2 for years to come. 

Edited August 23 by Stuart Richardson

[Virob]

Bought a used  SL2 4-5 years ago. It does what I need. Been problem free, takes fantastic images and is far more capable than I. I’ve considered the SL3 and S1Rii. Sure, the improved dynamic range, cleaner high ISO and AF would be nice, but if I’m honest with myself, wouldn’t improve 99% of the images I currently take. It will be my main camera for sometime yet.

[hansvons]

16 hours ago, Stuart Richardson said:

I suspect I will be using the SL2 for years to come. 

Same here, only the SL2-S. At some time in the future, Leica might add a new S to their line-up and that might be the point for upgrading. Or not.

[pgh]

17 hours ago, Stuart Richardson said:

I suspect I will be using the SL2 for years to come. 

I feel the same, got mine in 2022. 

It's the most rock solid Leica I've owned. I don't own any SL lenses (only Sigma L mount and then an M to L adapter), and I still prefer using the M's, but the SL2, especially at lower ISOs is so good. Camera tech in general - especially sensors - has evolved so slowly the last few years this camera does not feel at all dated to me, not for my uses at least. My only minor complaint is battery life, and sure higher ISO, but that's not a big deal for how I use it, and the battery was helped with the newer battery released. 

[Stuart Richardson]

Yeah, the battery has not been a bit barrier to me, but I think that is a function of how I shoot. I tend to not take a huge volume of photos, and I turn off the camera in between shots for the most part. I have noticed it being a bit annoying in studio use where I am doing repetitive work for long periods, such as documenting books or art objects. But with a spare battery or two it is no great challenge for me. I agree with Hans...I think the only thing that could tempt me at this point would be a well-designed S4, and even then probably only after it has been out long enough to make it slightly more affordable. I would likely have to sell things to make it worth it for me, but the idea of an SL with a larger sensor would be the kind of thing that might compel me to upgrade, especially as I still have my S lenses. 

[pgh]

20 minutes ago, Stuart Richardson said:

Yeah, the battery has not been a bit barrier to me, but I think that is a function of how I shoot. I tend to not take a huge volume of photos, and I turn off the camera in between shots for the most part. I have noticed it being a bit annoying in studio use where I am doing repetitive work for long periods, such as documenting books or art objects. But with a spare battery or two it is no great challenge for me. I agree with Hans...I think the only thing that could tempt me at this point would be a well-designed S4, and even then probably only after it has been out long enough to make it slightly more affordable. I would likely have to sell things to make it worth it for me, but the idea of an SL with a larger sensor would be the kind of thing that might compel me to upgrade, especially as I still have my S lenses. 

Yea, I could be tempted too...I'd be selling off my x2d, SL2, and then some though, so we'll see. But, I'd be happy to have everything under one roof again and not have to deal with hasselblad's proprietary raw files. 

[Photoworks]

I still have 2 SL2 working side by side on the SL3

SL2 is still a workhorse and often more intuitive to use than SL3

6 years and going strong!

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Hallo,

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[chris_tribble]

2 hours ago, Photoworks said:

I still have 2 SL2 working side by side on the SL3

SL2 is still a workhorse and often more intuitive to use than SL3

6 years and going strong!

Good to hear.  Having the two matched bodies is essential for my kind of work - and a further disincentive against “upgrading”.
As things stand, I only have the one M10R now - and it gets little use these days as the Q3 43 has become the travel / trekking companion of choice these days.  However - with all this new fancy kit it’s interesting to look back at what I was doing with a couple of M9s + 28 cron asph and 50 lux asph. It’s a bit off topic, but it’s good to remember what we could do with our obsolete cameras!  Some examples from a documentation of a production of Trainspotting  

https://www.ctribble.co.uk/galleries/THEATRE/KH_Trainspotting/index.html

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[Jeff S]

5 hours ago, Stuart Richardson said:

...I think the only thing that could tempt me at this point would be a well-designed S4, and even then probably only after it has been out long enough to make it slightly more affordable. I would likely have to sell things to make it worth it for me, but the idea of an SL with a larger sensor would be the kind of thing that might compel me to upgrade, especially as I still have my S lenses. 

+1

Although the soon to be released X2D2 will provide similar temptation, especially with the companion 35-100 f/2.8-4 zoom, and likely a much lower price point.