I love my SL2-S it’s the perfect compliment to my Q2! As a former Sony shooter the simplistic nature of this camera and the look of my images straight out of camera sold me! Shoot what you like or can afford but for me this is perfect!
@@Efecc1902 Image quality is great, but it is a lower resolution and you can’t really crop as much as you can with the Q2. However, I’m happy with this as I don’t normally need to crop as much with the SL2-S as I tend to use it with longer lenses than the 28mm of the Q2. If you still think you’ll need to aggressively crop your shots then you might be better off with the regular SL2.
This comment is well timed for me. I’m a dedicated Q2 street shooter and bought the SL2 a year ago. But even with the Summicron 35SL APO it didn’t inspire me. So I just traded it in for the SL2-S. I’m hoping for low light and Astro performance plus more pleasing color than the Sl2. And as mentioned here I already have my Q2 for high res.
Even if this system is to expensive to work for my business, I just love this camera. For me, it’s the most beautiful ilc body out there. They don’t have to have the newest af system, they don’t have to be the fastest in fps, what I expect is, a perfect body in terms of quality and it has to work perfectly in it‘s range. I think, they made every checkmark ✅.
So I come at this from a slightly different perspective. I am a photographer that has shot Leica gear almost exclusively for years. I don’t work for, nor do I endorse Leica. I simply love the build quality and more than anything the best optics, period. I mostly shoot the M monochromes all 3 generations, I don’t have a favorite except I use my 2 M10Ms paired with the 75 Noct (best Leica glass ever..) and the other paired with the new 50APO Cron.for the bulk of my work. I also have an SL2 and a bunch of the SL glass. It’s a work of art and the best (NB) performing (NB) glass on the market. BUT, it’s weak on the autofocus esp 50mm and up, and the buffer just plain sucks. The white balance has been all over the place in low and mixed light. I think the camera and glass are simply to much for its sensor - think about that - the 47mp sensor is simply half-baked, unrefined, choppy inconsistent color, far beyond my editing skills. I’m guessing its a rush to market with many other great features, but not all working together as a complete professional product. I think the 24mp BSI may well be a ‘salvation patch’ of sorts. It, along with enhanced firmware is promising to produce a better workflow with Cap 1 - v21, a truer Leica and MUCH better color gamut in general. Smoothy silky accurate colors well-rendered, probably what the SL2 SHOULD HAVE BEEN. I’ll keep both for now, and I appreciate your candid assessment that I largely agree with. Thanks for the great review!
i had the choice to opt between the S2 and the Sl2s and opted for the latter. Doing a lot of events, I prefer the 24MP, and I do love the output of that sensor..
People who are saying that this is just a Panasonic camera don’t know what they’re talking about. The Leica SL do use the Panasonic focusing and IBIS system. However, the Leica SL series of cameras has a thinner cover glass on the sensor than any of the Panasonic cameras and allows it to shoot M lenses almost as well as an M camera. The menu system and controls of the camera are completely different than any Panasonic camera. The Leica SL2-S has a new BSI sensor not found on any Panasonic camera.
Same BSI sensor as in the S1, S5, S1H with a different cover glass, same video modes except different codecs and Log profile. So let's just say it is closely related, and downsizing this camera to the S5 level would have been much more desirable to use with those small M lenses - but they don't want it to interfere with their upcoming CL2 APS-C model or even their M line of cameras. A bit of a shame.
@@lezbroz You can see sensor measurements, RAW sample files, etc. the SL2-S sensor is pretty much the same as the 24MP Panasonic cameras apart from the cover glass Maybe they do not use BSI designation for the Panasonic cameras to make the Leica *seem* more upmarket but they are suspiciosly like the IMX410 or some version of it.
The Leica SL2-S is more expensive, but as a system, lenses paired with the sensor, it is unrivaled in the resulting images, both in quality and rendering. The BSI sensor and the resulting range, make this a key driver if you shoot in low light. The AF is sub-optimal for certain kinds of work, but if you don't shoot sports, you won't suffer. I owned Nikons, Fujis for years, but I find that Leica focusses on refinement and results. There are surely some who buy the brand as a symbol of status, and it's hard to get into Leica if you don't have the cash. But I think you will find that your desire to upgrade at every new introduction is also diminished because the product as is delivers such satisfaction - and the glass will last you forever.
@@TaipeiGeek I have the R5 and the M240 and I disagree about the look, it is not the same at all (I showed pictures to some people and even they say that) and they are totally different to use. And yes the Noct 58 0.95 is much sharper than the Noctilux 50 0.95 it is much newer and it weighs three(!!!) times as much, so overall really does not correlate as "better" they are just different and I wouldn't mind using either one, they are more than capable of producing amazing images - but if I was given a choice, I would probably choose the "inferior" Leica, which I can use on any mirrorless camera and it is light and compact enough to be used any day. The 58 0.95 is just a bit too silly, it would have been better if they just remade / tweaked the original Noct-Nikkor 58/1.2 that is a real gem of a lens, small and light with a lovely character and adaptable to pretty much anything out there.
@@TaipeiGeek thanks for educating me about Leica fans and our ignorance. Glad you set me straight. So, on the one hand you accuse me of making a statement of false fact, while at the same time, making your own heady assertions of fact about the Nikkor .95 destroying the Leica Noctilux - both lenses I have not used or owned, so can't comment but I did see the video. He does great work. But I have been lucky to use an SL2-S while here in Korea and plan on purchasing one, which is the basis for my comment. It's great how you engage though, by denigrating people whom you don't know at all - relegating their experience and preferences to mere snobbery and delusion. There are lots of lovely systems and cameras, and clearly the SL2-S is not for you, nor is Leica, nor Leica fans. Lenses are indeed subjective, and like paint brushes, pencils, etc. are just mediums for getting a desired outcome. I am glad you love your D810 - I sold mine, along with my Fuji GFX50, and elected to go Leica - not because I am delusional or that Nikon is a bad system - and it clearly makes you happy, as people making statements of preference of joy about the tools they love infuriates you for some unknown reason. I own lots of 3rd party glass, including Zeiss, Light Lens Lab, Voiglaender. I use those lenses to get desired looks which when needed, I prefer over their Leica equivalents. As for look creation - it's true that if you spend lots of time with your calibrated tools and software, you can approximate many things, but you still have to have the data from which to make the manipulation and the Leica sensors on the M10M, which I own, and SL2-S which I have used, give you much more to work with from the outset. When the data isn't there, you can't manipulate it into being so. Good luck on your journey.
@@TaipeiGeek this is the second thread I found you pounding on fellow artist. Shame. Please don’t troll my friend. Leica fans need no sway at all on how they create and spend. Leica to myself is the pinnacle of refinement coupled with technology. I don’t need the most cutting edge of autofocus or dynamic range. I need a feeling when I hold it to my eye. A sense of accomplishment when I master toneh and contrast in my rendering. Everything is subjective in art. Let me know when you are able to understand people who drop $12 million on a Andy Warhol Torn Soup Can Label. The nerve of Geek Taipei.
You generally don’t buy Leica if you’re concerned about value for money or on a restricted budget. I’m fortunate enough to be in the position of money being a secondary concern when I chose Leica, but realise I’m in the minority. Leica are unashamedly a luxury brand these days and market/price their products as such. They’re not trying to be a mass market manufacturer. I think you miss the point of the SL2-S; not everyone wants or needs the high resolution of the SL2 and the associated large files. Also, as a lower resolution camera, the SL2-S is more suited to video than the SL2. I bought the SL2-S for the image quality, video capability as a hybrid camera, simplicity of use and satisfaction of using a quality bit of kit. Coming from shooting on Sony the simplicity of the controls and menu system of the Leica is a breath of fresh air!
People bash Leica for the expense not realizing that the company only employs approximately 1200 people. Also most of their cameras are hand assembled from completed parts from Portugal. Of the Germans built this from ground up it would be even more money. I love my SL2 and plan to keep this in my arsenal for a very long time.
I had various cameras; Canon 80D, Nikon D750 (which I still have and like), Fuji X-T20 (my hiking gear), GFX 50s I and finally the SL2-S. It was love a the first click! Yes, there are cameras with better specs, BUT at the end of the day, you should enjoy using this tool which provides you to implement the final image. With 24 MP, you have less noise on video, less data size and you can take a multiple shot to get a 96MP image (which I often use for stills). Nowadays, you can also improve your image in post, with Topaz Labs! ;-)
I think it is a great package. Especially when considering the adoption of legacy glass (M/R/F, etc...). All the Leica SL bodies are equipped with the best EVFs ever made even the Typ 601 is still class leading.
Last part of 2020 I’ve been extensively testing a few high res cameras side-by-side. Mostly for fashion and make-up portraits. I decided to buy the Z7II based on image quality (also of the lenses), build quality, handling and versatility. I was tempted to go with the SL2 as I already have an M7 and a Q2 monochrome. Unfortunately there’s no Profoto support for the SL2 for shooting high speed TTL (which I sometimes have to do). Otherwise the SL2 is a great camera with only one flaw (next to price): at high ISO it is not as clean as the Z7II or the A7RIV. The SL2-S addresses that but unfortunately at 24mp only. It should be possible for Leica to improve the high ISO performance of the SL2 as the Panasonic S1R which basically the same sensor performs better at high ISO
@@frankwieczorek5112 usually a hi-res sensor camera is not as good in low light/high ISO situations as a standard-res camera such as the Z6II. However, of all the high-res cameras I’ve tried the Z7/Z7II (there’s no difference in this aspect) is IMO clearly the best. Up to 12800 is very useful and even 25600 is still quite good. Probably 1 stop better than the A7RIV and the S1R and perhaps 2 stops better than the SL2 (all at acceptable noise levels for a 40x60cm). Next to that the Z7II has a very agreeable noise that feels quite natural compared to the Sony and the Panasonic. The SL2 has a higher noise level at high iso, but like the Z7 it is a very natural noise, close to film grain. The AF of the Z7II is definitely a bit better than the SL2, but the A7RIV is slightly better than the Z7II. For my work the Z7II has a good enough AF. Esp. the eye-AF is much improved over the Z7. For sports/action the Z6II is probably slightly better. All in all, we’re talking nuances here. All of these cameras are great to work with. For me the handling, grip, menus, EVF, LCD and Profoto support of the Nikon were decisive factors along the great image quality. PS. if you already own an A9 (and some lenses) perhaps staying in the Sony system makes a lot of sense. There’s an A7IV coming up (next week or so) and that will definitely be a step up from the A7III.
@@jacobh5817 thank you so much, yes I will wait for those new Sonys including the A9III, but Nikon seems to have some new cams coming too. Let's wait and see... Currently I still have 5 lenses for Sony and any change will be painful. However with the Leica SL system my lenses will be useless, whereas with Nikon I think I can adapt them...
@@frankwieczorek5112 Hi Frank, I'm not sure whether you can adapt E-mount lenses to Z-mount. Both systems are mirrorless and have within a few mm the same flange-distance (mount to sensor). That doesn't allow for an adapter to be in between the lens and the body. Too little 'space' left. Usually you can adapt DSLR lenses to mirrorless because you have the depth of the mirrorbox to be used for an adapter. For mirrorless to mirrorless you don't have that space. There's one exception: the M-mount. Though essentially also mirrorless, the M-cameras have a larger flange distance than these new mirrorless systems. Hence the many M-adapters (such as for Fuji X-mount).
No batterie door. Fixed screen. So fixed screen is not a question of weather resistance. Just look at the Panasonic S5. It's like if fixed screens were a starting point for Leica. Can't understand that choice, especially for the oriented video SL2-S, but also for the oriented street photo Q2. But most of all, I'd better go for a GFX 50 r than a SL model, because of the quality / price ratio of Fuji's excellent MF lenses and the perfection of its colors (even B&W with the Acros mode). So for the price of your 75mm manuel focus Noctilux (12K€), I can buy all my GFX gear (body + 23 + 32-64 or 45-100 + 50 or 63, + 110 or 250). However, this SL2-S is very attractive and with Sigma lenses (e.g. 65mm f:2 dg dn) that'll be enough to my happiness !
8000 dollars from your store! Man thats some serious money. For that I could get a fuji gfx. Time people paid for what they get and not the brand name or logo. Yup even the fuji is expensive but way better. Love the videos you guys do. I bought a pentax based on your review. I could be happier. This brick will live with me forever. But I love it. Used to have nikon but they are just not floating my boat anymore.
Speak for yourself. A brand name has earnt its brand and thats the reason why we buy it. Leica has been around for years and for those of us that have the money, they pay for themselves. We dont want what everybody else has.
Except technology is one of the fastest depreciating commodities. And this camera is already generations behind. Will be further behind in just a year.
I would only buy a film Leica. The build quality and design on these digital Leica cameras really is beautiful, but what good is build quality when the technology inside will become obsolete in only a few years? Technology and longevity are contradictory terms.
Has the original SL. Terrific camera. Maybe the best I've owned. Sold it due to the weight (I'm too old to schlep around approximately 4 pounds of camera body + lens). I keep hoping Leica will make one of these bodies from carbon fiber. That might shave maybe a pound from the body. One can dream.
I really like your video including the headwear in this wintery landscape. I would add that Leica is not unique in providing an IP rating, even though I like the fact. To my knowledge Olympus has had cameras rated as well.
Hi Dave, I wouldn't buy another Leica. I tend to select my camera system based on great lens technologies first, then sensor/body. Interesting video, love the tuque!
Somehow that textured material they are using on their bodies now is creepy. Though it probably offers a good grip, it's too geometric and plasticky. Anybody else feel that way?.
This Panasonic OEM camera with a Leica logo that comes with poor AF is not worth 4895 USD, I'm sorry. I'm not willing to pay so much for the logo, and how the camera "looks" on the outside.
I also thought that it‘s an overpriced luxury item (like the ridiculous Hasselblad Sony RX100) until I bought the SL2 and 3 Summicron SL lenses. The image quality of that combo is just phantastic (won’t detail here). I own Sony, Fuji, Panasonic cameras etc and so far the Sony GM 135mm f1.8 on my Sony A7rIv came close and the Fuji GF 110mm on the GFX50R may even be slightly better. Well, yes I agree that it‘s a beautiful luxury irem too. But I like beautiful things and the end result is justifying the price - to some degree.
@@Alexandrosflower "until I bought the SL2 and 3 Summicron SL lenses" - But still, it's all subjective. These lenses are great, but so are some Nikon, Canon, Zeiss and Sigma lenses. Look at the new Nikon 50mm 1.2 Z lens, it's extremely sharp at 1.2, no focus breathing, basically it's flawless. But it costs over 2000 USD and it's big and heavy. Or the Zeiss Otus 55 mm 1.4 - An amazing lens with near perfect color reproduction and extremely sharp wide open. All these high end super corrected lenses are amazing in their own way, there's no point arguing about them. For example, I love the bokeh by the old Nikkor 50mm 1.8 E-Series lens that can be get by 80 USD on eBay. It's not a good lens, but for certain situations in a very specific way you can get great results. This consumerism Leica (and the RUclips advertising machinery) keep promoting is just out of hand. It makes no sense considering the times we live in. You can't imagine how many guys I saw with camera gear way over 10,000 USD taking the most mundane and mediocre snapshots.
@@TaipeiGeek hard to give now an answer which does not get me into ‚I am right, you are wrong‘. Because it‘s not about that. For me it‘s all about the journey, about trying things out, settling for a while with a few things I like and sometimes about moving on. I like cameras and lenses for many reasons and some combinations excite me, some not. A Sony A7riv + Batis 40mm produces a strikingly different rendering compared to a SL2 with a summicron SL 35mm. You refine your view on those nuances over time (for good or for bad) and start to appreciate these differences from an artistic perspective. What shall I say ? Maybe only, make your own experiences. Oh yes, Leicas are expensive, right. But I rather spend my money on a company which creates a special product than on a company which creates a mini computer with viewfinder and a clinically sharp lens. I unfortunately see the difference.
@@Alexandrosflower "start to appreciate these differences from an artistic perspective" - That's all subjective. I know Leica sells you on the brand's history, it's pretty much the same with luxury watch brands, but the difference with those is, at least with a Rolex or a Patek you get an original inhouse movement. With these digital Leicas you get a Panasonic OEM camera with a Sony sensor. There's nothing special about them. Film Leicas are different, and those hold value. Also Leica glass, the older one. It holds value, because it's mechanical and because it's durable as well as performs great. My point is, you can pair a 1700 USD Nikon Z6 with a Zeiss lens and you will get similar if not better results than with a digital Leica and an old manual lens. The difference is, you fell for Leica's marketing, and you think their products are so superior to anything else in the market. You think paying 10,000 USD for the SL2-S with the Summicron SL 35mm will give you better results than a 4000 USD kit with the Z6 and the 50mm 1.2 Z lens. You think the results are more artistic, and worth to pay 2.5 times the premium for that. I can tell you that there's very little difference between these two, and most of it is subjective. What's more, I can recreate a digital Leica result with a much cheaper kit, probably with less than 2000 USD, pairing an old Nikon FF camera with a great manual focus Zeiss lens. Of course if one has disposable income to waste 10 grand on a camera, go for it. I don't want to spend that much money on a hobby. I feel the 2 grand I paid for my D810 was a huge amount of money already.
@@TaipeiGeek wishing you all the best and the D810 will be a phantastic tool. Happy to get your message when you‘ve dared to buy your own Leica. The whole thing triggers something in you, doesn‘t it ? 😘🎁
This camera has something it’s ‘competition’ does not have: Leica colour science If you want images that have stunningly neutral colour with life like skin tones on people and simply a gorgeous feel, then this is the price. The ‘competition’ does not have this at any price
You love that battery but how about the life? I spend 3 hours straight customizing it to my liking. My man, I last longer in bed compare to this battery life.
@@georgfritz No need to knock when you cant afford the camera. Millions do that. This camera if for those that can afford to buy high end products. For pros like me, I can pay for this Leica in less than 2 weeks and it will last me years. If you just shoot cats and dogs then use your phone. You are jealous thats all.
@@georgfritz Yes, we are a better class than you and we charge for our work. Before we had these small hybrid cameras we had to pay $16,000 for a small shoulder mount and $17,000 for a 24mm lens. The price of these mirrorless hybrids are cheap as chips.
I love my SL2-S it’s the perfect compliment to my Q2! As a former Sony shooter the simplistic nature of this camera and the look of my images straight out of camera sold me! Shoot what you like or can afford but for me this is perfect!
Exactly - I also got an SL2-S to compliment my Q2!
Do you see a resolution difference when you compare it with Q2. I currently have Q2 but cant decide between sl2-s and sl2.
@@Efecc1902 Image quality is great, but it is a lower resolution and you can’t really crop as much as you can with the Q2. However, I’m happy with this as I don’t normally need to crop as much with the SL2-S as I tend to use it with longer lenses than the 28mm of the Q2. If you still think you’ll need to aggressively crop your shots then you might be better off with the regular SL2.
This comment is well timed for me. I’m a dedicated Q2 street shooter and bought the SL2 a year ago. But even with the Summicron 35SL APO it didn’t inspire me. So I just traded it in for the SL2-S. I’m hoping for low light and Astro performance plus more pleasing color than the Sl2. And as mentioned here I already have my Q2 for high res.
Even if this system is to expensive to work for my business, I just love this camera. For me, it’s the most beautiful ilc body out there. They don’t have to have the newest af system, they don’t have to be the fastest in fps, what I expect is, a perfect body in terms of quality and it has to work perfectly in it‘s range.
I think, they made every checkmark ✅.
So I come at this from a slightly different perspective. I am a photographer that has shot Leica gear almost exclusively for years. I don’t work for, nor do I endorse Leica. I simply love the build quality and more than anything the best optics, period. I mostly shoot the M monochromes all 3 generations, I don’t have a favorite except I use my 2 M10Ms paired with the 75 Noct (best Leica glass ever..) and the other paired with the new 50APO Cron.for the bulk of my work. I also have an SL2 and a bunch of the SL glass. It’s a work of art and the best (NB) performing (NB) glass on the market. BUT, it’s weak on the autofocus esp 50mm and up, and the buffer just plain sucks. The white balance has been all over the place in low and mixed light. I think the camera and glass are simply to much for its sensor - think about that - the 47mp sensor is simply half-baked, unrefined, choppy inconsistent color, far beyond my editing skills. I’m guessing its a rush to market with many other great features, but not all working together as a complete professional product. I think the 24mp BSI may well be a ‘salvation patch’ of sorts. It, along with enhanced firmware is promising to produce a better workflow with Cap 1 - v21, a truer Leica and MUCH better color gamut in general. Smoothy silky accurate colors well-rendered, probably what the SL2 SHOULD HAVE BEEN. I’ll keep both for now, and I appreciate your candid assessment that I largely agree with. Thanks for the great review!
i had the choice to opt between the S2 and the Sl2s and opted for the latter. Doing a lot of events, I prefer the 24MP, and I do love the output of that sensor..
People who are saying that this is just a Panasonic camera don’t know what they’re talking about. The Leica SL do use the Panasonic focusing and IBIS system. However, the Leica SL series of cameras has a thinner cover glass on the sensor than any of the Panasonic cameras and allows it to shoot M lenses almost as well as an M camera. The menu system and controls of the camera are completely different than any Panasonic camera. The Leica SL2-S has a new BSI sensor not found on any Panasonic camera.
Same BSI sensor as in the S1, S5, S1H with a different cover glass, same video modes except different codecs and Log profile. So let's just say it is closely related, and downsizing this camera to the S5 level would have been much more desirable to use with those small M lenses - but they don't want it to interfere with their upcoming CL2 APS-C model or even their M line of cameras. A bit of a shame.
@@p_adam19 S1, S5 are not BSI Sensor. Or if you have the information i want it.
@@lezbroz You can see sensor measurements, RAW sample files, etc. the SL2-S sensor is pretty much the same as the 24MP Panasonic cameras apart from the cover glass
Maybe they do not use BSI designation for the Panasonic cameras to make the Leica *seem* more upmarket but they are suspiciosly like the IMX410 or some version of it.
@@p_adam19 I will check this information, thanks.
@@lezbroz 核查结果出来了吗？
The Leica SL2-S is more expensive, but as a system, lenses paired with the sensor, it is unrivaled in the resulting images, both in quality and rendering. The BSI sensor and the resulting range, make this a key driver if you shoot in low light. The AF is sub-optimal for certain kinds of work, but if you don't shoot sports, you won't suffer. I owned Nikons, Fujis for years, but I find that Leica focusses on refinement and results. There are surely some who buy the brand as a symbol of status, and it's hard to get into Leica if you don't have the cash. But I think you will find that your desire to upgrade at every new introduction is also diminished because the product as is delivers such satisfaction - and the glass will last you forever.
"as a system, lenses paired with the sensor, it is unrivaled in the resulting images" - No, it's not, stop it. It's all subjective.
@@TaipeiGeek I have the R5 and the M240 and I disagree about the look, it is not the same at all (I showed pictures to some people and even they say that) and they are totally different to use. And yes the Noct 58 0.95 is much sharper than the Noctilux 50 0.95 it is much newer and it weighs three(!!!) times as much, so overall really does not correlate as "better" they are just different and I wouldn't mind using either one, they are more than capable of producing amazing images - but if I was given a choice, I would probably choose the "inferior" Leica, which I can use on any mirrorless camera and it is light and compact enough to be used any day.
The 58 0.95 is just a bit too silly, it would have been better if they just remade / tweaked the original Noct-Nikkor 58/1.2 that is a real gem of a lens, small and light with a lovely character and adaptable to pretty much anything out there.
@@TaipeiGeek thanks for educating me about Leica fans and our ignorance. Glad you set me straight. So, on the one hand you accuse me of making a statement of false fact, while at the same time, making your own heady assertions of fact about the Nikkor .95 destroying the Leica Noctilux - both lenses I have not used or owned, so can't comment but I did see the video. He does great work. But I have been lucky to use an SL2-S while here in Korea and plan on purchasing one, which is the basis for my comment. It's great how you engage though, by denigrating people whom you don't know at all - relegating their experience and preferences to mere snobbery and delusion. There are lots of lovely systems and cameras, and clearly the SL2-S is not for you, nor is Leica, nor Leica fans. Lenses are indeed subjective, and like paint brushes, pencils, etc. are just mediums for getting a desired outcome. I am glad you love your D810 - I sold mine, along with my Fuji GFX50, and elected to go Leica - not because I am delusional or that Nikon is a bad system - and it clearly makes you happy, as people making statements of preference of joy about the tools they love infuriates you for some unknown reason. I own lots of 3rd party glass, including Zeiss, Light Lens Lab, Voiglaender. I use those lenses to get desired looks which when needed, I prefer over their Leica equivalents. As for look creation - it's true that if you spend lots of time with your calibrated tools and software, you can approximate many things, but you still have to have the data from which to make the manipulation and the Leica sensors on the M10M, which I own, and SL2-S which I have used, give you much more to work with from the outset. When the data isn't there, you can't manipulate it into being so. Good luck on your journey.
@@TaipeiGeek this is the second thread I found you pounding on fellow artist. Shame. Please don’t troll my friend. Leica fans need no sway at all on how they create and spend. Leica to myself is the pinnacle of refinement coupled with technology. I don’t need the most cutting edge of autofocus or dynamic range. I need a feeling when I hold it to my eye. A sense of accomplishment when I master toneh and contrast in my rendering. Everything is subjective in art. Let me know when you are able to understand people who drop $12 million on a Andy Warhol Torn Soup Can Label. The nerve of Geek Taipei.
@@robertstacy8438 LOL. Just got my SL2S last week. waiting for a 24-90. Hope you get yours soon, you'll love it, cheers!!
You generally don’t buy Leica if you’re concerned about value for money or on a restricted budget. I’m fortunate enough to be in the position of money being a secondary concern when I chose Leica, but realise I’m in the minority. Leica are unashamedly a luxury brand these days and market/price their products as such. They’re not trying to be a mass market manufacturer.
I think you miss the point of the SL2-S; not everyone wants or needs the high resolution of the SL2 and the associated large files. Also, as a lower resolution camera, the SL2-S is more suited to video than the SL2. I bought the SL2-S for the image quality, video capability as a hybrid camera, simplicity of use and satisfaction of using a quality bit of kit. Coming from shooting on Sony the simplicity of the controls and menu system of the Leica is a breath of fresh air!
People bash Leica for the expense not realizing that the company only employs approximately 1200 people. Also most of their cameras are
hand assembled from completed parts from Portugal. Of the Germans built this from ground up it would be even more money. I love my
SL2 and plan to keep this in my arsenal for a very long time.
I had various cameras; Canon 80D, Nikon D750 (which I still have and like), Fuji X-T20 (my hiking gear), GFX 50s I and finally the SL2-S. It was love a the first click! Yes, there are cameras with better specs, BUT at the end of the day, you should enjoy using this tool which provides you to implement the final image. With 24 MP, you have less noise on video, less data size and you can take a multiple shot to get a 96MP image (which I often use for stills). Nowadays, you can also improve your image in post, with Topaz Labs! ;-)
Very nice knitting pattern on the "toque" =))
I think it is a great package. Especially when considering the adoption of legacy glass (M/R/F, etc...). All the Leica SL bodies are equipped with the best EVFs ever made even the Typ 601 is still class leading.
Last part of 2020 I’ve been extensively testing a few high res cameras side-by-side. Mostly for fashion and make-up portraits. I decided to buy the Z7II based on image quality (also of the lenses), build quality, handling and versatility. I was tempted to go with the SL2 as I already have an M7 and a Q2 monochrome. Unfortunately there’s no Profoto support for the SL2 for shooting high speed TTL (which I sometimes have to do). Otherwise the SL2 is a great camera with only one flaw (next to price): at high ISO it is not as clean as the Z7II or the A7RIV. The SL2-S addresses that but unfortunately at 24mp only. It should be possible for Leica to improve the high ISO performance of the SL2 as the Panasonic S1R which basically the same sensor performs better at high ISO
And how good is the z7ii in low light,
I own a A9 and consider to either SL2S or Z6ii, and AF is another driver,
Can you help please
@@frankwieczorek5112 usually a hi-res sensor camera is not as good in low light/high ISO situations as a standard-res camera such as the Z6II. However, of all the high-res cameras I’ve tried the Z7/Z7II (there’s no difference in this aspect) is IMO clearly the best. Up to 12800 is very useful and even 25600 is still quite good. Probably 1 stop better than the A7RIV and the S1R and perhaps 2 stops better than the SL2 (all at acceptable noise levels for a 40x60cm). Next to that the Z7II has a very agreeable noise that feels quite natural compared to the Sony and the Panasonic. The SL2 has a higher noise level at high iso, but like the Z7 it is a very natural noise, close to film grain. The AF of the Z7II is definitely a bit better than the SL2, but the A7RIV is slightly better than the Z7II. For my work the Z7II has a good enough AF. Esp. the eye-AF is much improved over the Z7. For sports/action the Z6II is probably slightly better. All in all, we’re talking nuances here. All of these cameras are great to work with. For me the handling, grip, menus, EVF, LCD and Profoto support of the Nikon were decisive factors along the great image quality.
PS. if you already own an A9 (and some lenses) perhaps staying in the Sony system makes a lot of sense. There’s an A7IV coming up (next week or so) and that will definitely be a step up from the A7III.
@@jacobh5817 thank you so much, yes I will wait for those new Sonys including the A9III, but Nikon seems to have some new cams coming too.
Let's wait and see...
Currently I still have 5 lenses for Sony and any change will be painful.
However with the Leica SL system my lenses will be useless, whereas with Nikon I think I can adapt them...
@@frankwieczorek5112 Hi Frank, I'm not sure whether you can adapt E-mount lenses to Z-mount. Both systems are mirrorless and have within a few mm the same flange-distance (mount to sensor). That doesn't allow for an adapter to be in between the lens and the body. Too little 'space' left. Usually you can adapt DSLR lenses to mirrorless because you have the depth of the mirrorbox to be used for an adapter. For mirrorless to mirrorless you don't have that space. There's one exception: the M-mount. Though essentially also mirrorless, the M-cameras have a larger flange distance than these new mirrorless systems. Hence the many M-adapters (such as for Fuji X-mount).
I used both cameras and own the SL2-S. The Leica is better than the Z7ii in high ISO performance.
Nice location - Winter Wonderland
Hdw ist the grip in this cold situation without gloves ?
No batterie door. Fixed screen. So fixed screen is not a question of weather resistance. Just look at the Panasonic S5. It's like if fixed screens were a starting point for Leica. Can't understand that choice, especially for the oriented video SL2-S, but also for the oriented street photo Q2. But most of all, I'd better go for a GFX 50 r than a SL model, because of the quality / price ratio of Fuji's excellent MF lenses and the perfection of its colors (even B&W with the Acros mode). So for the price of your 75mm manuel focus Noctilux (12K€), I can buy all my GFX gear (body + 23 + 32-64 or 45-100 + 50 or 63, + 110 or 250). However, this SL2-S is very attractive and with Sigma lenses (e.g. 65mm f:2 dg dn) that'll be enough to my happiness !
Could SL2s users advice if it is suitable n discrete for street photography and responsive for wildlife and bird photography?
8000 dollars from your store! Man thats some serious money. For that I could get a fuji gfx. Time people paid for what they get and not the brand name or logo. Yup even the fuji is expensive but way better. Love the videos you guys do. I bought a pentax based on your review. I could be happier. This brick will live with me forever. But I love it. Used to have nikon but they are just not floating my boat anymore.
Speak for yourself. A brand name has earnt its brand and thats the reason why we buy it. Leica has been around for years and for those of us that have the money, they pay for themselves. We dont want what everybody else has.
I’ve printed out a copy of that selfie and taped it up behind the blinds by my front door
such a wonderful review to watch! thank you!
Naughty naughty hat (Toque). So THAT's how you stay warm in the cold. =P
I don't even have money to buy any Leica camera, but I can't ignore how much the body of this camera looks like something 3D printed.
Love the tuque
When you buy Leica you buy quality and longevity, something that'll last forever!
Except technology is one of the fastest depreciating commodities. And this camera is already generations behind. Will be further behind in just a year.
That's true for old film Leicas, but not for these digital Panasonic OEM versions.
I would only buy a film Leica. The build quality and design on these digital Leica cameras really is beautiful, but what good is build quality when the technology inside will become obsolete in only a few years? Technology and longevity are contradictory terms.
@@robbie154 let’s see if future firmware updates can at least let the SL2 and SL2-S keep pace.
@@robbie154 If its like that then I will just buy another Leica. It will pay for itself inside of 2 weeks work. 100% tax deduction as well.
Has the original SL. Terrific camera. Maybe the best I've owned. Sold it due to the weight (I'm too old to schlep around approximately 4 pounds of camera body + lens). I keep hoping Leica will make one of these bodies from carbon fiber. That might shave maybe a pound from the body. One can dream.
Did you try the Q2. Might be a bit lighter with the fixed lens.
I really like your video including the headwear in this wintery landscape.
I would add that Leica is not unique in providing an IP rating, even though I like the fact. To my knowledge Olympus has had cameras rated as well.
I learned what toque means. The hat is not unique to Canada but the name is 😃
Thank you! Cool as always!
Hi Dave, I wouldn't buy another Leica. I tend to select my camera system based on great lens technologies first, then sensor/body. Interesting video, love the tuque!
Nice job good sir, & team
😂😂😂 the pattern, omg Dave, that’s great.
The reindeer look like good friends
Your son looks fearless. 4:21. 😮
He is a bit of a wild man!
Somehow that textured material they are using on their bodies now is creepy. Though it probably offers a good grip, it's too geometric and plasticky. Anybody else feel that way?.
Is this Leica good for weddings?
Any Leica is good for weddings. The question is “is any photographer good for a wedding?”
Damned by faint praise - _"the dynamic range is quite nice"_ & _" the high ISO performance is quite good"._
Barrett .50 cal of cameras.
Yay, another camera I can’t afford!
the hat is cute, the camera is too refined
Should have a flip screen 🤔 🙄
This Panasonic OEM camera with a Leica logo that comes with poor AF is not worth 4895 USD, I'm sorry. I'm not willing to pay so much for the logo, and how the camera "looks" on the outside.
I also thought that it‘s an overpriced luxury item (like the ridiculous Hasselblad Sony RX100) until I bought the SL2 and 3 Summicron SL lenses. The image quality of that combo is just phantastic (won’t detail here).
I own Sony, Fuji, Panasonic cameras etc and so far the Sony GM 135mm f1.8 on my Sony A7rIv came close and the Fuji GF 110mm on the GFX50R may even be slightly better.
Well, yes I agree that it‘s a beautiful luxury irem too. But I like beautiful things and the end result is justifying the price - to some degree.
@@Alexandrosflower "until I bought the SL2 and 3 Summicron SL lenses" - But still, it's all subjective. These lenses are great, but so are some Nikon, Canon, Zeiss and Sigma lenses. Look at the new Nikon 50mm 1.2 Z lens, it's extremely sharp at 1.2, no focus breathing, basically it's flawless. But it costs over 2000 USD and it's big and heavy. Or the Zeiss Otus 55 mm 1.4 - An amazing lens with near perfect color reproduction and extremely sharp wide open. All these high end super corrected lenses are amazing in their own way, there's no point arguing about them. For example, I love the bokeh by the old Nikkor 50mm 1.8 E-Series lens that can be get by 80 USD on eBay. It's not a good lens, but for certain situations in a very specific way you can get great results. This consumerism Leica (and the RUclips advertising machinery) keep promoting is just out of hand. It makes no sense considering the times we live in. You can't imagine how many guys I saw with camera gear way over 10,000 USD taking the most mundane and mediocre snapshots.
@@TaipeiGeek hard to give now an answer which does not get me into ‚I am right, you are wrong‘. Because it‘s not about that. For me it‘s all about the journey, about trying things out, settling for a while with a few things I like and sometimes about moving on. I like cameras and lenses for many reasons and some combinations excite me, some not.
A Sony A7riv + Batis 40mm produces a strikingly different rendering compared to a SL2 with a summicron SL 35mm. You refine your view on those nuances over time (for good or for bad) and start to appreciate these differences from an artistic perspective.
What shall I say ? Maybe only, make your own experiences.
Oh yes, Leicas are expensive, right. But I rather spend my money on a company which creates a special product than on a company which creates a mini computer with viewfinder and a clinically sharp lens. I unfortunately see the difference.
@@Alexandrosflower "start to appreciate these differences from an artistic perspective" - That's all subjective. I know Leica sells you on the brand's history, it's pretty much the same with luxury watch brands, but the difference with those is, at least with a Rolex or a Patek you get an original inhouse movement. With these digital Leicas you get a Panasonic OEM camera with a Sony sensor. There's nothing special about them. Film Leicas are different, and those hold value. Also Leica glass, the older one. It holds value, because it's mechanical and because it's durable as well as performs great. My point is, you can pair a 1700 USD Nikon Z6 with a Zeiss lens and you will get similar if not better results than with a digital Leica and an old manual lens. The difference is, you fell for Leica's marketing, and you think their products are so superior to anything else in the market. You think paying 10,000 USD for the SL2-S with the Summicron SL 35mm will give you better results than a 4000 USD kit with the Z6 and the 50mm 1.2 Z lens. You think the results are more artistic, and worth to pay 2.5 times the premium for that. I can tell you that there's very little difference between these two, and most of it is subjective. What's more, I can recreate a digital Leica result with a much cheaper kit, probably with less than 2000 USD, pairing an old Nikon FF camera with a great manual focus Zeiss lens.
Of course if one has disposable income to waste 10 grand on a camera, go for it. I don't want to spend that much money on a hobby. I feel the 2 grand I paid for my D810 was a huge amount of money already.
@@TaipeiGeek wishing you all the best and the D810 will be a phantastic tool. Happy to get your message when you‘ve dared to buy your own Leica. The whole thing triggers something in you, doesn‘t it ? 😘🎁
The files look like HDR
This camera has something it’s ‘competition’ does not have: Leica colour science
If you want images that have stunningly neutral colour with life like skin tones on people and simply a gorgeous feel, then this is the price. The ‘competition’ does not have this at any price
You love that battery but how about the life? I spend 3 hours straight customizing it to my liking. My man, I last longer in bed compare to this battery life.
Have you wanted to buy a Lumix at double the cost with a fancy red badge? Boy do I have the camera for you!
I think you did not get the point
Nice
It's a Leica.
At first I thought it was a canon sl2.. lol..
Canon are always trolling Leica with their model names lol
@@fellowcitizen I left Canon. So glad too. SL2 for life.
Overpriced with bad features compared to other compatible camera....and I will keep my wife
Overpriced for whom? Don’t count peoples pockets my friend. And what are the bad features? Let me see your review video so I can comment.
I'm not your friend you patz, keep your 5000 dollars hipster toy shit .
@@georgfritz No need to knock when you cant afford the camera. Millions do that. This camera if for those that can afford to buy high end products. For pros like me, I can pay for this Leica in less than 2 weeks and it will last me years. If you just shoot cats and dogs then use your phone. You are jealous thats all.
My point exactly, Snops
@@georgfritz Yes, we are a better class than you and we charge for our work. Before we had these small hybrid cameras we had to pay $16,000 for a small shoulder mount and $17,000 for a 24mm lens. The price of these mirrorless hybrids are cheap as chips.
I just can't watch these CameraStore videos anymore. They used to be so great. Now they are just....pointless.