Sl3 in combination with M adapter

[Hendrikus]

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I see some members here using a SL2/Sl3 in combination with M lenses and M adapter. I am not familiar with that, I use my SL3 only with Sigmas lenses, but I wonder how that works that combination, can one still use the SL autofocus system or is it complete manual focusing as by using the M system?  This question comes to my mind by reading the articles about the new

M EV I and his EVF. 

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[PhotoCruiser]

AFAIK, there are no M Lenses with autofocus.
I tried manual focus on my SL2 with my old LTM lenses and once in the Leica Store with a M Lens and found it rather difficult to focus.
If you have already M lenses then you may buy first a inexpensive M to L adapter to conduct some tests if you can get used to it.
There is also a recent tread discussing the optical quality of M and L lenses and as far i remember most state that the SL lenses are optically superior.
I also have only Sigma lenses for my Sl2 and there is not really something to complain, they are simply excellent for their cost.
Chris

[LD_50]

Leica adapter for M lenses provides no autofocus. It’s basically the same as an M camera with EVF. 

The only systems for autofocus on M lenses are adapters that move the entire lens back and forth rather than using the focus ring. These are suboptimal for any FLE lenses. They exist for Sony and maybe other mounts. 

[jaapv]

All M lenses are full manual.  No chance of AF on any camera... Unless you get the rather kludgy Techart contraption. 

[Jean-Michel]

4 hours ago, Hendrikus said:

I see some members here using a SL2/Sl3 in combination with M lenses and M adapter. I am not familiar with that, I use my SL3 only with Sigmas lenses, but I wonder how that works that combination, can one still use the SL autofocus system or is it complete manual focusing as by using the M system?  This question comes to my mind by reading the articles about the new

M EV I and his EVF. 

As noted by others, M lenses are strictly manual focus. If you happen to already own M lenses buying an adapter may make sense. I own one for use with my SL2; I already had a number of M lenses. Frankly, I rarely see a reason for mounting my M lenses on the SL2.

With an adapter, your SL3 would pretty much duplicate what a M-EV1 offers, but you would also have the advantage of IBIS. 

[jaapv]

I like using some of the modern wideangle lenses on my SL cameras. Older ones are not telecentric enough and may give corner and edge problems I am happy with my Summilux 24, Super Elmar 18 and Superwide Heliar 12. Maybe not quite 100% in the far corners but more than close enough for wideangle compositions. Much smaller and lighter than SL lenses and obviously manual focus is a non-issue. . The SL sensor is designed for it. 

[GFW2-SCUSA]

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If you have M lenses then I think it makes sense to use the Leica M to L adaptor on the SL. However if you do not own any M lenses, I'm not at all sure you gain anything other than the small size by spending the money on M lenses. I use M lenses on my SL2 with the adaptor a lot and have no problem focusing. But I own the lenses already and use them also on my M10 R. 

[Hendrikus]

Thank you all for the response, considering all the comments, I stick by the SL 3 and the Sigma lenses.

[jaapv]

Some  (quite a few actually) M lenses have no Sigma counterpart.

[Jon Warwick]

17 hours ago, jaapv said:

I like using some of the modern wideangle lenses on my SL cameras. Older ones are not telecentric enough and may give corner and edge problems 

For those with a subscription, the recent Reid Reviews that compares “challenging rangefinder lenses” on both an SL3 versus an M-EV1 is a good read. I think that Leica improved the sensor on the SL3 (maybe driven by the BSI sensor as you mentioned in a prior post to me) that has helped edge performance, even with dedicated SL lenses like SL50 APO that I’ve tried on both the SL3 and SL2. It’s plausible by extension that the newer sensors in the SL3 series help edge performance too on M lenses?

[jaapv]

BSI sensors seem to have fewer problems in this respect.

[Jon Warwick]

1 hour ago, jaapv said:

BSI sensors seem to have fewer problems in this respect.

Yes, perhaps also underscored by the tech camera guys that use movements, with them finding the benefit of the IQ150 (a BSI sensor) in terms of less cross-talk across the sensor wells etc.  One can perhaps imagine the possibly related benefit of BSI technology in terms of non-telecentric M lenses also more accurately getting light into the individual wells.

As a slight tangent, my personal observation is that I saw better edge performance off my M240 than I do my M11, but I wonder if smaller and smaller pixels don’t help in achieving light pouring fully accurately into the sensor light wells, regardless of the benefits of BSI vs front illuminated sensors. In some ways, I see more “bite” in the images off both my SL2-S and M240 than I do off my (smaller pixel pitch) M11 or GFX100, but that’s perhaps another thread in itself.

Edited 12 hours ago by Jon Warwick

[Jeff S]

22 minutes ago, Jon Warwick said:

As a slight tangent, my personal observation is that I saw better edge performance off my M240 than I do my M11, but I wonder if smaller and smaller pixels don’t help in achieving light pouring fully accurately into the sensor light wells, regardless of the benefits of BSI vs front illuminated sensors. In some ways, I see more “bite” in the images off both my SL2-S and M240 than I do off my (smaller pixel pitch) M11 or GFX100, but that’s perhaps another thread in itself.

The M240 (and M246 Monochrom) share sensor architecture with the S007 (much like the S3 shares with the M10-R and M10M).  This old article from Red Dot Forum provides some interesting details about technical innovations that were incorporated and went beyond just pixels and pixel pitch, etc.

https://www.reddotforum.com/content/2014/11/why-leica-is-staying-at-37-5mp-for-the-s-typ-007/