Well that's why we ask Peter the professional what he thinks. Isn't that why we ask professionals? Their opinions and thoughts are vital in any beginners or even other professional photographers.. Peter you're the best. Love your work. Ur inspire me to be better...
I love the shirt photos! I think that last photo in this video was my favorite! FYI, I think the girl with the glasses is amazing, too. I love to see more shoots with her!
I really like hearing your thoughts on what your looking for in your renderings. I appreciate someone reviewing the image quality versus basing a purchase on the specs. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for not pixel peeping Peter, honestly half the time with reviews I can’t see the point and who cares if a lens isn’t razor sharp in the corners in the real world ? Completely agree, your camera has to feel good in the hand and be easy to use.
Agreed. I am currently using Sony A6400 bodies mated to old Nikon F lenses via an adapter for my portrait shooting and it has given me great results. The A6400 may not be considered a 'pro' camera due to the APS-C sensor by those who use a full frame unit but the weight and ease of handling suit my needs.
Peter, having spent over 25 years working and managing pro camera stores I think if anyone is looking to add or switch to a new camera manufacturer that going to a good camera store where you can see and handle multiple cameras, lenses, accessories within a short time frame is ideal. It's so easy to pick up one camera, see something you like or don't like about it, grab a different camera and quickly compare them. Also in your particular instance where you want to use vintage lenses, a store with a good used department can make your decision easy. Well, easier. For most photographers who live in major cities there are usually one or more stores that fit the criteria. Those in smaller towns and rural areas might see if there's a local camera club where you can find members who might let you come over to see their gear.
I love sticking vintage glass on digital bodies. I bought a cheap apsc mirrorless a couple of years ago just shoot my collection of pre war and post war rangefinder commie glass. I went cheap so i didn't get a model with a view finder. i worked with a tripod. The way your working it looks so easy and natural. I've had an rp for months and never thought to try and shoot like that. I bought that rp just so my 20 year old 85mm would have a full frame home. I did the same thing in 2017 for a 25 year nikon 85mm with a used full frame nikon dslr. I've lusted after those two german lenses for almost 20 years. There is all ways a bit of kit that i need more than vintage german glass. Such delightful imagery. I'm going to change my outlook. Set up a swear jar for a sumicron. shouldn't take long i was in the army.
Great video. Love the content and the shots. Rara is a beautiful subject. I totally agree with your thought to rent the gear before buying it. I was thinking about buying a cinema camera for my business. Rented it over a holiday weekend. So for a one-day rental fee, I got to use the camera for four days. By the end of the test my conclusion was this cinema camera is very heavy and I am tired of carrying it around. Better to rent it for each job, hire someone to lug it around rather than purchase it. I understand why Leica gives you the look you want. It is great kit. Canon meets my needs so I am sticking with it. One thing you don't mention is support. In my opinion, the best thing about Canon is Canon Professional Services. You have to pay for the service but it is money well spent. Real human beings answer the phone, service your gear, and repair if necessary. Can't say enough good things about Canon Professional Services.
The Panasonic S1R uses the same sensor and EVF as the SL2 (albeit without fine-tuning for M lenses). It was a special project by Panasonic before they sold their sensor business. I was going to go for the 24mpx S1 as well, but the rendering of the S1R just amazed me -- especially when I saw the first images with the 50mm S PRO. I never got the S PRO lens, I got the Sigma 40mm ART instead, but I LOVE the S1R, and I'll try and get an SL2 as well in a few years when the prices are much lower.
Peter and Bec , exellent work as always and I appreciate simplicity of presentation. We all admire your hard work Peter and constantly learn from you. Many of modern cameras are like mini computers without any soul. Camera manufacturers are catering mass markets and most people want features which they never need or never use . I picked up SL2 2 years ago and fell in love with everything. Looking forward to see more and more photoshoots .
Thanks Peter, I totally agree with Bec , camera reviews shall never be used as a tool to buy something based on someone else's opinion. Go to the store, rent it out, find someone who has it it and try and see . It also comes down to personal liking, all digital cameras take great pictures these days . Finally thanks for not showing brick walls and cats and zooming in 4000% on image corner and trying to explain how many ants one can count on A camera and how many with B Camera 😜Leica SL2 is beautiful , it's just a beautiful tool
Thanks for sharing Peter..... interesting video - some great shots with different gear....I am only a hobbyist but I enjoy seeing good videos on gear & their results... thanks to the model for her quality work.... cheers 😀
Wow, that was a great video as I love how you just took their beauty of there skin and made it just be the beauty of which you seen in the lens no photoshoping or changing them just pure beauty out of the lens. Rah Rah was looking so beautiful in the white slip at the beginning I hardly recognize her till I seen those beautiful eyes. She must have let her hair grow out or something but she was looking even more beautiful in this shoot as all these would make great shots of the beautiful woman she is. The Lecia SLR did do a beautiful job of showing her natural glowing beautiful skin that looked so pure and natural and without the shimmering glow that so many other photographers I see that feel those are the better photos of their models. Kudos to Rah Rah for looking so pure and naturally beautiful in these photos as truly a lot of keepers for her portfolio. Thanks again Peter for another great video and the tips of on lens and for the beautiful Rah Rah and Bec's lovely modeling in this shoot.
I love seeing what others like. I also have peculiar taste and am lucky my assistant has tons of cameras and lets me play with them. I plan on trying an H2D when it comes to the Philippines unless my assistant buys one first. That SL2 looks awesome
Good advice. After owning a camera (or system) for a while, you generally have an idea of what you need & want in your next system. Downloading & looking thru the owners/user/operation manual before renting can help also. I would think once you custom the camera with the buttons for the features you use, the Sony would be pretty easy to use. Keep in mind, this is coming from a guy who hasn’t set up @ny of the 4 shooting/menu banks on a camera I have owned for 6.5 yrs.
I couldn’t afford Leica. Ended up with the Lumix S1R(all most same camera, give it a try) and I am so happy with it. And I could recommend the Lumix 50 1.4 and the 85 1.8. Give them a try if you can get one. They fit on the Leica. I promise, you will be happy with the results. Great video again! Thx!
Those are some really nice shots of bec. Whether it’s the lens, wide aperture, Leica, way you are feeling or bec is or all those things together just lovely pix 👍🏻 Sony I think doesn’t use a low pass filter in front of sensor so tends to look slightly more digitally sharp.
If I could afford one of those bodies I might have bought one because I also like vintage lenses. Although, I'm not using lenses like you have here. They are out of my budget. I ended up with a Fuji XT-3. It was the most bang for the buck based on my budget. It's been a lot of fun. Just bought my first Fuji prime. Waiting for it to arrive. Have a great week!!
Look out for Panasonic S1R deals - that's what I did, and I love it -- same sensor. I am a Fuji shooter as well, but since getting the S1R and firesale Leica TL2 I'm using L-mount mostly. Panasonic and Sigma also have sophisticated film simulations, though not to the same extent as Fuji.
So true of 'equipment'. An important video. I could never get on with Canon SLR gear. Even when I started in the 70s. Just felt 'wrong'. Now, more so with digital Canon.
Love the approach and yes it is absolutely right there is not one camera for everything as well a camera might be technically superior from the specs if it feels not comfortable the pics will not be as good as with a camera which fits.
Great video you two (Peter & Bec ) make a wonderful team! Having shot thousands of photographs with a Sony A7R4. I have to compare it to another similarity of like working on a Windows PC for hours sure gets the job done but from a technical standpoint you get to experience more of its technology then completed the task at hand. Perhaps why I always edit my photographs on a Mac, I want to spend time working on the photographs not the operating system. That's the same exact comparison I have to make with my Leica SL2, I get to focus on the photography not the tool. I'm in 100% agreement I have never use the camera platform in the digital age that makes it so easy to manually focus.
You know what they say about, gear doesn’t matter and generally that’s true until it does. I’ve been very lucky in that for the most part I was able to try the gear I have before buying it and that is a big plus when you are changing makes of cameras or one that you’ve never used. Lovely images. I wish I had your level of comfort working with the models. I’ve mostly shot sports , animals and landscapes and have always been a lot self conscience about pointing my camera at people.
Great video, shows real life working in the out doors with a wide variety of dynamic range & how the camera's handled it.... A very interesting video.. 🤗
I use and love the SL2. I've used SL601, M10, M9M, even Fiji GFX100, but I have found the images to be exquisite and amazing from the SL2. My go to lens is the Sigma 85mm f1.4 (or the Sigma 105mm f1.4). I also use the TTA 90mm f1.25, 7A 75mm f1.4 and TTA 59mm f0.95. Cannot ask for a system to do more
I switched away from Sony a little over a year ago. If you think there is "something missing" with Sony in B&W try the same test in color. I love everything about Sony except the final results. I could absolutely see what you were talking about comparing the Sony and SL2 B&W files.
Interesting. Didn't know they made cameras that could do B&W in the viewfinder but that type of camera is probably well above my price range. A camera with a flippy back display would help me with some of the outdoor shots I take. Are the vintage lenses ones you have for the camera you were considering buying or did you need to use adapters to mount the old lens to a new body? Having gone digital the one thing I miss from film days is split screen and micro-prism to help with manual focus.
All modern mirrors cameras can do black-and-white in the view finder and have a thing called focus peeking that shows you what's in focus when your manual focusing
Interesting insights, thanks for sharing! Only one remark: This seems to be the 7 Artisans 50mm f/0.95, not the TT Artisans 50mm f/0.95. Is that right?
Did you notice less CA and better color rendition on the Leica SL, when using the Sonnar 50mm F1.5, compared with the Sony? I never used M-mount lenses but while I was testing the Leica SL with some Leica R lenses, I saw a huge difference in terms of CA and color rendition when comparing it with the Lumix S1/S5. The SL was a pure joy to use it and it's probably the best camera I tried...one day I'll buy one. Great video as always, ciao!
Nice video. You are right on the blacks rendered by the cameras, or I am very suggestible. I think it is you are right. I am with you on the Sony vs Leica. I have the M8.2, M9 and M240. I favor the M9 with retro lenses. a '42 5cm/1.5 CZJ, '57 KMZ 5cm/2.0 J8, Cooke 2" Amotal and a nice Skyllaney Bertele Sonnar. I do have a 35/2.0 LTM Canon but am mostly with the 50's. As for camera hand feel and comfort/confidence I agree, Sony > Leica > X2D HB. I still shoot crap but do it with better cameras now. ;o)
Thanks for sharing! You mentioned you enjoy shooting on some vintage lenses. You specifically mentioned a couple of Leica M lenses. I wonder if you ever shoot on Leica R lenses and if you have any feedback on your perspective between the two. Additionally whats been your experience with the Leica R lenses specifically on the sl2/s
I'm not familiar with the Sony system, does it tend to naturally over saturate the blacks even when you change lenses? The big difference that I saw was that the Leica had much more natural darker hues where the Sony's shots seemed as you said to be darker. Over all I thought your decision on the Leica SL2 coming down to a personal choice on how you feel shooting with the set-up, it's ease of use and how it was working with your selection of vintage lenses was inspired. When I left working in Television I knew I wanted a fairly decent camera, but had a very limited budget to play with. I tried a friends Nikon, a make I usually love but I was maybe expecting too much coming from my film cameras and never seem to capture the essence of what I wanted to see. I also used an EOS Canon system and found it better in the way it carried itself in the hand, but it was also quite heavy. My least favourite of the bunch was lighter and the images I took looked like I expected them to look, so for my meager budget of about $850 CDN I chose the Olympus OM-D E-M5 with 2 Zuiko lenses to start with, a 12-50mm 3.5-6.3 and a 40-150mm 4.0-5.6. I know the lenses aren't very fast but I'm also not a highly regarded Fashion/Glamour Photographer with a good whack of years experience behind him. I shot news on big old Betacam and other Sony/Ampeg professional ENG units, and this has been a very interesting switch. I'm very interested in looking at Medium Format Digital cameras or Medium Format with a Digital Back in place of a traditional film back, which would give me the ability to shoot digital or shoot film. It's just a goofy idea I have which affords me an excuse to build a darkroom and a studio in my basement. Being an amputee sucks, but having a great "hobby" or I think I like, Source of inspiration and reason to get out of bed, much better. Thank-you so much for all your videos!! This was a great episode with a load of information in it, as are all your videos. Be well - Dave from Canada.
canucklehead, you may be interested in videos by Justin Mott. He has videos on Hasselblad and Leica cameras. Like Peter Coulson, he's only doing videos on cameras he uses in his professional work. He is not a RUclipsr who reviews dozens of random cameras.
I always like the portraits you take and the way your work comes out, it has a consistent look which is your style. As per gear lt is important to have that feeling. My Sony is usually best for my images but somehow my Fuji film XT series feels great to use and very good images with vintage lenses 🙂🇦🇺📸
Great review Edward! If budget is not a criteria to differentiate the systems and dynamic range is important, why not going with a medium format for BW portraiture? Beautiful models in the review as well.
Try the Techart pro adapter for Sony or Megadap MTZ for Nikon if you're into vintage lenses. You can adapt manual focus lenses to work with autofocus and is perfect for portraits (too slow for sports and wildlife though). I love manual focus lenses but I don't always get the focus correctly, the techart pro adapter (old version) solved that issue for me. I hear the new version is even better. Both only work if your camera has phase detect AF though.
I once watched an interview with a German WWII ace on the BBC. Its a very long time ago and his name alludes me. He said that although the Spitfire was technically a better warplane than the ME109, for him the 109 was The Plane, because it fitted him like well made glove. I guess it is the same with cameras. Persoanlly, I prefer cameras that give me a good feeling when I shoot them, even though all my digital cameras are atleast 7 years old. I too, do not care about all this mega pixels, Focus Modes, Two thousand focus points, 25K video, etc etc. I still use a lot of film in all formats. My old eyes are beter than any auto focus system. I love my Nikon F3& F4 becaus eof the viewfinders, WYSIWYG. Very good advice Mr Coulson and lovely photography.
I shoot film since 77 and I just purchased my first digital camera it's also several yrs old . I didn't like the small square e-mounts camera's so I went with the sony a77ll I like the full slr feel. It's very similar to my minolta alpha 9 35mm camera. Added benefit all my minolta lense fit.
@@jerryrichards8172 My 2nd digital camera was a Sony, it was a bod joke. Sony was not a camera manufacturer. They were a giant electronics company. They didn't know a thing about cameras untill they acquired Konica Minolta in 2006, who had lost their way and gone bad in pursuit of updating their cameras in the 90s and the run up to digital. That is why your Sony feels like a Minolta. It is actually a Minolta camera with Sony electronics. Konica Minolta now manufacture textile printers.
@@lensman5762 well that clears up why the cameras are so much a like. It's only 24 mega pixels. I think that's all I need. I took a few sample shots with it was very happy with them. Small dogs on the floor 10 ft away in a dark house with my old minolta lenses. I can only wonder how sharp a newer sony lense must be like ? The eyes are every sharp the hair around the eyes very sharp. You can see the multiple layers down behind the retna. With on bord flash! Getting ready to order stands and 2 godox AD200 strobes. OK not me but my wife at x-mas. Trying to learn flash from @peater coulson I like his style of work there always professional pluss good times. Thank you all for responding.
Peter since you have discussion and questions about how you capture sharp picture with RaRa constantly moving, can you tel us what was your exposure speed on that session? That is more important then manual focus...
Really cool to get this peek into your process, Peter. I'm curious why you don't consider the Leica M 11 vs. the SL2, especially since you enjoy the classic M-mount lenses. I get that the rangefinder experience is inherently different (and maybe that's a good thing) but the Leica Visoflex EVF would seem to do what you're after, as well. Thanks for what you do.
@@PeterCoulsonPhotographer Peter, it’s not so much the focusing, which in itself is remarkably accurate; but the shutter speed being able to capture sharp photos with hardly any pausing in between shots, that I could notice. I don’t believe I could capture any good shots with a model like RaRa constantly moving. With flash yes, but not without.
@@PeterCoulsonPhotographer I've used to shoot Formula 1, cars, boats, even planes with manual focus... It's odd how people believe that life without AF is impossible... It is, very much...
Interesting to see through your eyes Pete - if you like the 90 cron in M - do yourself a favour and try the SL version - Bec's expressions never fail to deliver the 'wow' factor. btw - welcome to the Leica fanboy Club Carlo at the store is not a bad shooter himself. atb Pete
Sony just looks more digital! I think that's it... And that's one of the reasons of why I use Canon instead of Sony. I now want a Leica SL2 for personal art 😍
Hi Peter - Always enjoy your videos, and it was especially refreshing to see you shoot outdoors in natural light here. One thing I wanted to know, since you were comparing the density of the shadows between the Sony and the Leica and such, was whether you had the cameras set to shoot in black and white or were you using a conversion formula to obtain the monochrome images? If the latter, then can't the settings be tweaked a tad to open up or darken shadows to achieve the same look no matter which camera you used? If so, then it comes down to personal preference for which camera is more fun or easy to use.
@@PeterCoulsonPhotographer Hi Peter. That doesn't answer my question, which is how did you get the black and white images 1) in camera or 2) using a conversion software (like Silver EFX Pro or (Alien Skin) Exposure, etc.
@@milesian1 sorry I have dyslexia and if you write too much I get lost and lose my concentration and I didn't get down to the black-and-white conversion part. Sony A1 and Leica SL2 doesn't shoot black & white raws, I don't use plug ins.
I know you like to focus manually and, obviously, doing so doesn’t slow you down much, but I’m curious as to why you would want to deal with manual focus. Is it just because these old lenses don’t have AF? Are these old lenses really that much different and better?
Models don't like sharp skin. That takes me back to when a Leaf of Nikon digital back alone was a $40K conversion to your camera. High res'n digital had arrived. There was a period of backlash in the Toronto fashion imaging community at least, because the cameras picked up so much detail, the retouchers were working overtime to get rid of all the pores and follicles that were now obvious on the originals. Product photographers; no complaints as they could rattle off shots direct to computer in short order that transformed consumer goods into dazzling temptations. Be careful what you wish for I suppose.
The SL2 's are great but get your hands on some Voigtlander lenses and do it again. You get $ 5K lens performance under $ 1K. Nice to see you do something different. Have you already seen the new X2D 100, that camera is amazing and you can use Phocus developer. Karl Taylor did some side by side shots with his H6D, amazing results. Check him out. Thanks for sharing
I liked the H6D shoots better the X2D looked like over sharpened crap, I think that was put in Karl's Post production, I will let you know my thoughts when I can get my hands on one.
If only the Leica SL had a mirror inside, otherwise a brilliant camera, the viewfinder is the best of all the mirrorless cameras, yet my biggest creature comfort is looking into reality through a mirror while I shoot, I just can't seem to shake it.
@@PeterCoulsonPhotographer haha I feel you on that, it does look leagues better than anything else, and I love the handy dandy things you can set for the viewfinder.
"Just make sure you're not buying dumb shit." Best closing line in any photo gear review, ever.
thanks, I have to tell myself that everyday
Funniest line, ever.
Well that's why we ask Peter the professional what he thinks. Isn't that why we ask professionals? Their opinions and thoughts are vital in any beginners or even other professional photographers.. Peter you're the best. Love your work. Ur inspire me to be better...
Wow thank you
Agreed
Damn, that model is fantastic. She moves wonderfully.
I love the shirt photos! I think that last photo in this video was my favorite! FYI, I think the girl with the glasses is amazing, too. I love to see more shoots with her!
Thanks we have heaps of videos of Bec on RUclips
@@PeterCoulsonPhotographer Nice! Thank you!
I really like hearing your thoughts on what your looking for in your renderings. I appreciate someone reviewing the image quality versus basing a purchase on the specs. Thank you for sharing.
Awesome, thank you!
Thanks for not pixel peeping Peter, honestly half the time with reviews I can’t see the point and who cares if a lens isn’t razor sharp in the corners in the real world ? Completely agree, your camera has to feel good in the hand and be easy to use.
we should never look at art & photography like that
Agreed. I am currently using Sony A6400 bodies mated to old Nikon F lenses via an adapter for my portrait shooting and it has given me great results. The A6400 may not be considered a 'pro' camera due to the APS-C sensor by those who use a full frame unit but the weight and ease of handling suit my needs.
I know professionals using APS-C cameras they are awesome
Peter, having spent over 25 years working and managing pro camera stores I think if anyone is looking to add or switch to a new camera manufacturer that going to a good camera store where you can see and handle multiple cameras, lenses, accessories within a short time frame is ideal. It's so easy to pick up one camera, see something you like or don't like about it, grab a different camera and quickly compare them. Also in your particular instance where you want to use vintage lenses, a store with a good used department can make your decision easy. Well, easier. For most photographers who live in major cities there are usually one or more stores that fit the criteria. Those in smaller towns and rural areas might see if there's a local camera club where you can find members who might let you come over to see their gear.
I love sticking vintage glass on digital bodies. I bought a cheap apsc mirrorless a couple of years ago just shoot my collection of pre war and post war rangefinder commie glass. I went cheap so i didn't get a model with a view finder. i worked with a tripod. The way your working it looks so easy and natural. I've had an rp for months and never thought to try and shoot like that. I bought that rp just so my 20 year old 85mm would have a full frame home. I did the same thing in 2017 for a 25 year nikon 85mm with a used full frame nikon dslr.
I've lusted after those two german lenses for almost 20 years. There is all ways a bit of kit that i need more than vintage german glass. Such delightful imagery. I'm going to change my outlook. Set up a swear jar for a sumicron. shouldn't take long i was in the army.
Great video. Love the content and the shots. Rara is a beautiful subject. I totally agree with your thought to rent the gear before buying it. I was thinking about buying a cinema camera for my business. Rented it over a holiday weekend. So for a one-day rental fee, I got to use the camera for four days. By the end of the test my conclusion was this cinema camera is very heavy and I am tired of carrying it around. Better to rent it for each job, hire someone to lug it around rather than purchase it. I understand why Leica gives you the look you want. It is great kit. Canon meets my needs so I am sticking with it. One thing you don't mention is support. In my opinion, the best thing about Canon is Canon Professional Services. You have to pay for the service but it is money well spent. Real human beings answer the phone, service your gear, and repair if necessary. Can't say enough good things about Canon Professional Services.
So many great lenses and photos. Was surprised the TT 0.95 wasn’t terrible.
Ra Ra's hair looks AMAZING!!!
I always learn something from your videos. Glad things are picking up. Kudos to you and your team.
Much appreciated
You have managed to capture some stunning images of Becca !
The Panasonic S1R uses the same sensor and EVF as the SL2 (albeit without fine-tuning for M lenses).
It was a special project by Panasonic before they sold their sensor business. I was going to go for the 24mpx S1 as well, but the rendering of the S1R just amazed me -- especially when I saw the first images with the 50mm S PRO. I never got the S PRO lens, I got the Sigma 40mm ART instead, but I LOVE the S1R, and I'll try and get an SL2 as well in a few years when the prices are much lower.
Really nice shots, of both Bec and RaRa, Peter!
Peter and Bec , exellent work as always and I appreciate simplicity of presentation. We all admire your hard work Peter and constantly learn from you. Many of modern cameras are like mini computers without any soul. Camera manufacturers are catering mass markets and most people want features which they never need or never use . I picked up SL2 2 years ago and fell in love with everything. Looking forward to see more and more photoshoots .
Glad you enjoyed it thank you
Thanks Peter, I totally agree with Bec , camera reviews shall never be used as a tool to buy something based on someone else's opinion. Go to the store, rent it out, find someone who has it it and try and see . It also comes down to personal liking, all digital cameras take great pictures these days . Finally thanks for not showing brick walls and cats and zooming in 4000% on image corner and trying to explain how many ants one can count on A camera and how many with B Camera 😜Leica SL2 is beautiful , it's just a beautiful tool
Thanks for sharing Peter..... interesting video - some great shots with different gear....I am only a hobbyist but I enjoy seeing good videos on gear & their results... thanks to the model for her quality work.... cheers 😀
Glad you enjoyed it
Wow, that was a great video as I love how you just took their beauty of there skin and made it just be the beauty of which you seen in the lens no photoshoping or changing them just pure beauty out of the lens. Rah Rah was looking so beautiful in the white slip at the beginning I hardly recognize her till I seen those beautiful eyes. She must have let her hair grow out or something but she was looking even more beautiful in this shoot as all these would make great shots of the beautiful woman she is. The Lecia SLR did do a beautiful job of showing her natural glowing beautiful skin that looked so pure and natural and without the shimmering glow that so many other photographers I see that feel those are the better photos of their models. Kudos to Rah Rah for looking so pure and naturally beautiful in these photos as truly a lot of keepers for her portfolio. Thanks again Peter for another great video and the tips of on lens and for the beautiful Rah Rah and Bec's lovely modeling in this shoot.
Thanks for your support Steve
I love seeing what others like. I also have peculiar taste and am lucky my assistant has tons of cameras and lets me play with them. I plan on trying an H2D when it comes to the Philippines unless my assistant buys one first. That SL2 looks awesome
Thanks for sharing, what a beautiful dress (Becky). I loved the images as allways.
Glad you enjoyed it
"I like wine." best gear review ever!!
She's special
Good advice. After owning a camera (or system) for a while, you generally have an idea of what you need & want in your next system. Downloading & looking thru the owners/user/operation manual before renting can help also. I would think once you custom the camera with the buttons for the features you use, the Sony would be pretty easy to use. Keep in mind, this is coming from a guy who hasn’t set up @ny of the 4 shooting/menu banks on a camera I have owned for 6.5 yrs.
I couldn’t afford Leica. Ended up with the Lumix S1R(all most same camera, give it a try) and I am so happy with it. And I could recommend the Lumix 50 1.4 and the 85 1.8. Give them a try if you can get one. They fit on the Leica. I promise, you will be happy with the results. Great video again! Thx!
If I get the chance I will give them a try
Those are some really nice shots of bec. Whether it’s the lens, wide aperture, Leica, way you are feeling or bec is or all those things together just lovely pix 👍🏻
Sony I think doesn’t use a low pass filter in front of sensor so tends to look slightly more digitally sharp.
Totally agree!
If I could afford one of those bodies I might have bought one because I also like vintage lenses. Although, I'm not using lenses like you have here. They are out of my budget. I ended up with a Fuji XT-3. It was the most bang for the buck based on my budget. It's been a lot of fun. Just bought my first Fuji prime. Waiting for it to arrive. Have a great week!!
Look out for Panasonic S1R deals - that's what I did, and I love it -- same sensor. I am a Fuji shooter as well, but since getting the S1R and firesale Leica TL2 I'm using L-mount mostly. Panasonic and Sigma also have sophisticated film simulations, though not to the same extent as Fuji.
To answer at 1:10 Nikon, Nikon, Nikon and Nikon...everything else is just secondary!
So true of 'equipment'. An important video. I could never get on with Canon SLR gear. Even when I started in the 70s. Just felt 'wrong'. Now, more so with digital Canon.
Always something to consider, thanks guys enjoy the week
Our pleasure thanks
Love the approach and yes it is absolutely right there is not one camera for everything as well a camera might be technically superior from the specs if it feels not comfortable the pics will not be as good as with a camera which fits.
Thanks agree
Really nice model. She is a pro indeed! Love her! Subscribed!
Thank you very much!
Whoa! I love that dress Bec! Seriously. I believe it is a dress.
I should also say that one of my favorite videos is the Bec in Boots video, you in the leotard. But this dress? Tops that.
Great video you two (Peter & Bec ) make a wonderful team!
Having shot thousands of photographs with a Sony A7R4. I have to compare it to another similarity of like working on a Windows PC for hours sure gets the job done but from a technical standpoint you get to experience more of its technology then completed the task at hand. Perhaps why I always edit my photographs on a Mac, I want to spend time working on the photographs not the operating system.
That's the same exact comparison I have to make with my Leica SL2, I get to focus on the photography not the tool.
I'm in 100% agreement I have never use the camera platform in the digital age that makes it so easy to manually focus.
Thanks Michael
I'm also preferring the SL-2....and I'm a Sony shooter! Great portraits, I especially liked the ones of Bec.
You know what they say about, gear doesn’t matter and generally that’s true until it does. I’ve been very lucky in that for the most part I was able to try the gear I have before buying it and that is a big plus when you are changing makes of cameras or one that you’ve never used. Lovely images. I wish I had your level of comfort working with the models. I’ve mostly shot sports , animals and landscapes and have always been a lot self conscience about pointing my camera at people.
The more you do it the better you get
The images from the 90mill on the Leica were stunning
Yes I love that lens
Great video, shows real life working in the out doors with a wide variety of dynamic range & how the camera's handled it.... A very interesting video.. 🤗
Glad you enjoyed it!
I use and love the SL2. I've used SL601, M10, M9M, even Fiji GFX100, but I have found the images to be exquisite and amazing from the SL2. My go to lens is the Sigma 85mm f1.4 (or the Sigma 105mm f1.4). I also use the TTA 90mm f1.25, 7A 75mm f1.4 and TTA 59mm f0.95. Cannot ask for a system to do more
Great to hear!
I switched away from Sony a little over a year ago. If you think there is "something missing" with Sony in B&W try the same test in color. I love everything about Sony except the final results. I could absolutely see what you were talking about comparing the Sony and SL2 B&W files.
Thanks Nick
Thanks for always giving practical and useful information!
My pleasure!
I have the SL2S sand I love it especially with M Lenses. What is your favorite this far? I use my canon R5 for most pro work.
Leica Summilux-M 1:1.4/75
adapters for old lenses nice to play with
Interesting. Didn't know they made cameras that could do B&W in the viewfinder but that type of camera is probably well above my price range. A camera with a flippy back display would help me with some of the outdoor shots I take. Are the vintage lenses ones you have for the camera you were considering buying or did you need to use adapters to mount the old lens to a new body? Having gone digital the one thing I miss from film days is split screen and micro-prism to help with manual focus.
All modern mirrors cameras can do black-and-white in the view finder and have a thing called focus peeking that shows you what's in focus when your manual focusing
Interesting insights, thanks for sharing! Only one remark: This seems to be the 7 Artisans 50mm f/0.95, not the TT Artisans 50mm f/0.95. Is that right?
no its the TT Artisans 50mm f/0.95, the 7 Artisans 50mm f/0.95 is APSC
Did you notice less CA and better color rendition on the Leica SL, when using the Sonnar 50mm F1.5, compared with the Sony?
I never used M-mount lenses but while I was testing the Leica SL with some Leica R lenses, I saw a huge difference in terms of CA and color rendition when comparing it with the Lumix S1/S5.
The SL was a pure joy to use it and it's probably the best camera I tried...one day I'll buy one.
Great video as always, ciao!
I didn't dee any difference with the CA between the cameras with the Zeiss Sonnar 50mm f1.5
I would love to hear your take on your medium format camera.
coming soon
This was great info. Thanks! Simplicity is best!
Glad you liked it
AMAZING WORK GUYS!
Thanks so much!
Always learn something, thanks to RaRa & Bec
Our pleasure!
Nice video. You are right on the blacks rendered by the cameras, or I am very suggestible. I think it is you are right. I am with you on the Sony vs Leica. I have the M8.2, M9 and M240. I favor the M9 with retro lenses. a '42 5cm/1.5 CZJ, '57 KMZ 5cm/2.0 J8, Cooke 2" Amotal and a nice Skyllaney Bertele Sonnar. I do have a 35/2.0 LTM Canon but am mostly with the 50's. As for camera hand feel and comfort/confidence I agree, Sony > Leica > X2D HB. I still shoot crap but do it with better cameras now. ;o)
RaRa's hair is stunning.
If you could have only one lens to mount on the SL2, which lens would it be ?
I think the Noctilux-M 1:0.95/50 ASPH
@@PeterCoulsonPhotographer one of their cheaper lenses ....🤣🤣🤣
@@PeterCoulsonPhotographer I was thinking you were going to say the 75mm 1.25
Thanks for sharing!
You mentioned you enjoy shooting on some vintage lenses. You specifically mentioned a couple of Leica M lenses. I wonder if you ever shoot on Leica R lenses and if you have any feedback on your perspective between the two. Additionally whats been your experience with the Leica R lenses specifically on the sl2/s
I haven't use the R lenses sorry, I love the M lenses and thats predominately what I use on the SL and more so the antique
@@PeterCoulsonPhotographer thank you once again for the info and quick response!
Hi Peter I’m Alex I’m from Mexico and I love tequila and photography, I think that’s what we have in common 😊happy new year !
Thank you! You too! Tequila and photography ❤️ 🥰
The SL2 does seem smoother
I'm not familiar with the Sony system, does it tend to naturally over saturate the blacks even when you change lenses? The big difference that I saw was that the Leica had much more natural darker hues where the Sony's shots seemed as you said to be darker. Over all I thought your decision on the Leica SL2 coming down to a personal choice on how you feel shooting with the set-up, it's ease of use and how it was working with your selection of vintage lenses was inspired. When I left working in Television I knew I wanted a fairly decent camera, but had a very limited budget to play with. I tried a friends Nikon, a make I usually love but I was maybe expecting too much coming from my film cameras and never seem to capture the essence of what I wanted to see. I also used an EOS Canon system and found it better in the way it carried itself in the hand, but it was also quite heavy. My least favourite of the bunch was lighter and the images I took looked like I expected them to look, so for my meager budget of about $850 CDN I chose the Olympus OM-D E-M5 with 2 Zuiko lenses to start with, a 12-50mm 3.5-6.3 and a 40-150mm 4.0-5.6. I know the lenses aren't very fast but I'm also not a highly regarded Fashion/Glamour Photographer with a good whack of years experience behind him. I shot news on big old Betacam and other Sony/Ampeg professional ENG units, and this has been a very interesting switch. I'm very interested in looking at Medium Format Digital cameras or Medium Format with a Digital Back in place of a traditional film back, which would give me the ability to shoot digital or shoot film. It's just a goofy idea I have which affords me an excuse to build a darkroom and a studio in my basement. Being an amputee sucks, but having a great "hobby" or I think I like, Source of inspiration and reason to get out of bed, much better. Thank-you so much for all your videos!! This was a great episode with a load of information in it, as are all your videos. Be well - Dave from Canada.
Thanks Dave the best CAMERA is the one that makes you feel the best when you're using it
canucklehead, you may be interested in videos by Justin Mott. He has videos on Hasselblad and Leica cameras. Like Peter Coulson, he's only doing videos on cameras he uses in his professional work. He is not a RUclipsr who reviews dozens of random cameras.
@@Smoothblue90 Thank-you I will definitely check him out!
Yes, on the equipment and all…but I’m stunned by how the outdoors & daylight make RaRa (sp?) incredible. I didnt think that was possible.
I always like the portraits you take and the way your work comes out, it has a consistent look which is your style. As per gear lt is important to have that feeling. My Sony is usually best for my images but somehow my Fuji film XT series feels great to use and very good images with vintage lenses 🙂🇦🇺📸
Awesome, thank you!
Hello! Have you ever shoot using the screen instead of the electronic view finder?
No I can't do it
Nice video Peter I like the older lens but my favorite lens is my 85mm and my 50mm keep up the great work rara is a beautiful young woman ❤️ Paul
Thanks so much
Great review Edward! If budget is not a criteria to differentiate the systems and dynamic range is important, why not going with a medium format for BW portraiture? Beautiful models in the review as well.
I use a Hasselblad H6D 50 in the studio but I prefer the mirrorless out on location
Try the Techart pro adapter for Sony or Megadap MTZ for Nikon if you're into vintage lenses. You can adapt manual focus lenses to work with autofocus and is perfect for portraits (too slow for sports and wildlife though). I love manual focus lenses but I don't always get the focus correctly, the techart pro adapter (old version) solved that issue for me. I hear the new version is even better.
Both only work if your camera has phase detect AF though.
But I don't like autofocus
@@PeterCoulsonPhotographer oh in that case nevermind! I thought I saw you use autofocus in a couple of videos, that's why I posted the suggestion :)
Can't afford any of this gear but I always learn something from Pete. Nice to see a model who isn't all tatted up.
I once watched an interview with a German WWII ace on the BBC. Its a very long time ago and his name alludes me. He said that although the Spitfire was technically a better warplane than the ME109, for him the 109 was The Plane, because it fitted him like well made glove. I guess it is the same with cameras. Persoanlly, I prefer cameras that give me a good feeling when I shoot them, even though all my digital cameras are atleast 7 years old. I too, do not care about all this mega pixels, Focus Modes, Two thousand focus points, 25K video, etc etc. I still use a lot of film in all formats. My old eyes are beter than any auto focus system. I love my Nikon F3& F4 becaus eof the viewfinders, WYSIWYG. Very good advice Mr Coulson and lovely photography.
Thank you so much 🥰
I shoot film since 77 and I just purchased my first digital camera it's also several yrs old . I didn't like the small square e-mounts camera's so I went with the sony a77ll I like the full slr feel. It's very similar to my minolta alpha 9 35mm camera. Added benefit all my minolta lense fit.
@@jerryrichards8172 My 2nd digital camera was a Sony, it was a bod joke. Sony was not a camera manufacturer. They were a giant electronics company. They didn't know a thing about cameras untill they acquired Konica Minolta in 2006, who had lost their way and gone bad in pursuit of updating their cameras in the 90s and the run up to digital. That is why your Sony feels like a Minolta. It is actually a Minolta camera with Sony electronics. Konica Minolta now manufacture textile printers.
@@lensman5762 well that clears up why the cameras are so much a like.
It's only 24 mega pixels. I think that's all I need. I took a few sample shots with it was very happy with them. Small dogs on the floor 10 ft away in a dark house with my old minolta lenses. I can only wonder how sharp a newer sony lense must be like ? The eyes are every sharp the hair around the eyes very sharp. You can see the multiple layers down behind the retna. With on bord flash! Getting ready to order stands and 2 godox AD200 strobes. OK not me but my wife at x-mas.
Trying to learn flash from @peater coulson I like his style of work there always professional pluss good times.
Thank you all for responding.
Rare looked great
Nice I wish I would have gotten a full frame camera instead of gh6..
Peter since you have discussion and questions about how you capture sharp picture with RaRa constantly moving, can you tel us what was your exposure speed on that session? That is more important then manual focus...
1/100 to 1/250 sec
@@PeterCoulsonPhotographer Short enough to be safe from motion blur. Thanks for info! RaRa is doing her job beautiful. Must be joy to work with her...
M-mount lenses are unmatched.
Really cool to get this peek into your process, Peter. I'm curious why you don't consider the Leica M 11 vs. the SL2, especially since you enjoy the classic M-mount lenses. I get that the rangefinder experience is inherently different (and maybe that's a good thing) but the Leica Visoflex EVF would seem to do what you're after, as well. Thanks for what you do.
I first tried the M10 and hated the focus on the eyes then recompose, I missed so many shots, also the SL2 has the best viewfinder in the world :)
Peter,
How on earth do you manage to get a sharp picture when RARA was constantly moving during the Leica test shoot?
I've shot manual focus for over 40 years now so I'm pretty used to following on model
@@PeterCoulsonPhotographer Peter, it’s not so much the focusing, which in itself is remarkably accurate; but the shutter speed being able to capture sharp photos with hardly any pausing in between shots, that I could notice. I don’t believe I could capture any good shots with a model like RaRa constantly moving. With flash yes, but not without.
@@PeterCoulsonPhotographer I've used to shoot Formula 1, cars, boats, even planes with manual focus... It's odd how people believe that life without AF is impossible... It is, very much...
I never have a problem with motion blur and I train the models to move a lot because I hate that posy look
I love my Sony A7R3 I get stunning photos with it I use a Sony 55mm on it
Yessssss. I concur
love this guy .. proper pro
Thanks Colin
Interesting to see through your eyes Pete - if you like the 90 cron in M - do yourself a favour and try the SL version - Bec's expressions never fail to deliver the 'wow' factor. btw - welcome to the Leica fanboy Club Carlo at the store is not a bad shooter himself. atb Pete
Thanks , looking at the 90 and 24-90 for a different look
How did you focus at 1.5 without zoom in? Only with peaking? For me is impossible on my A7rII with the Sonnar 1.5 ZM
set the peaking level to low then focus on the catch lights in the eyes
Sony just looks more digital! I think that's it... And that's one of the reasons of why I use Canon instead of Sony.
I now want a Leica SL2 for personal art 😍
Totally agree
Hi Peter - Always enjoy your videos, and it was especially refreshing to see you shoot outdoors in natural light here. One thing I wanted to know, since you were comparing the density of the shadows between the Sony and the Leica and such, was whether you had the cameras set to shoot in black and white or were you using a conversion formula to obtain the monochrome images? If the latter, then can't the settings be tweaked a tad to open up or darken shadows to achieve the same look no matter which camera you used? If so, then it comes down to personal preference for which camera is more fun or easy to use.
To me the Sony files felt more digital thats why I prefer the Leica for my portraits
@@PeterCoulsonPhotographer Hi Peter. That doesn't answer my question, which is how did you get the black and white images 1) in camera or 2) using a conversion software (like Silver EFX Pro or (Alien Skin) Exposure, etc.
@@milesian1 sorry I have dyslexia and if you write too much I get lost and lose my concentration and I didn't get down to the black-and-white conversion part. Sony A1 and Leica SL2 doesn't shoot black & white raws, I don't use plug ins.
Outside photography 😀Great video 👏 Make more please 🙏
Thank you! Will do!
Thanks for another great video. The shooting experience should always trump the tech specs.
100% agree thanks
Peter, if I can. Those are wonderful professional cameras but, I want to know what kind of work can you do with a cellphone camera?
the same but less control and quality
How does the Leica menu compare to the Hasselblad menu? They both seem minimal compared to Sony.
the Hasselblad's menu is slightly better than the Leica but they both leave the Sony for dead
Many thanks for this new backstage session!
Our pleasure!
Are these pictures straight out of the two cameras or any photoshop being applied?
Processed in Adobe camera raw, turn off sharpening, set to green channel black-and-white then export as 16-bit tiff, that's it
"Make sure you are not buying dumb shit" WORDS TO LIVE BY
on my computer screen every day, stop buying dum shit 😁
That new Hasselblad XD2 100 MP surely would be a camera worth considering??
I haven't seen or touched one yet
I know you like to focus manually and, obviously, doing so doesn’t slow you down much, but I’m curious as to why you would want to deal with manual focus. Is it just because these old lenses don’t have AF? Are these old lenses really that much different and better?
With manual focus I decide what I want to be in focus not the camera and I love the older lenses because they have soul then not so flat and digital.
I love your job
Much appreciated
Great vid
Thanks
SL2 😎👍Who ever said the most expensive isn't the best 🤔
Models don't like sharp skin. That takes me back to when a Leaf of Nikon digital back alone was a $40K conversion to your camera. High res'n digital had arrived. There was a period of backlash in the Toronto fashion imaging community at least, because the cameras picked up so much detail, the retouchers were working overtime to get rid of all the pores and follicles that were now obvious on the originals. Product photographers; no complaints as they could rattle off shots direct to computer in short order that transformed consumer goods into dazzling temptations. Be careful what you wish for I suppose.
The SL2 's are great but get your hands on some Voigtlander lenses and do it again.
You get $ 5K lens performance under $ 1K.
Nice to see you do something different.
Have you already seen the new X2D 100, that camera is amazing and you can use Phocus developer.
Karl Taylor did some side by side shots with his H6D, amazing results.
Check him out.
Thanks for sharing
I liked the H6D shoots better the X2D looked like over sharpened crap, I think that was put in Karl's Post production, I will let you know my thoughts when I can get my hands on one.
@@PeterCoulsonPhotographer Yes I get your point, Karl is more into commercial shooting, just other needs.
What about Leica M?
I first tried the M10 and hated the focus on the eyes then recompose, I missed so many shots, also the SL2 has the best viewfinder in the world :)
Thanks for sharing.
I seriously hope there aren't idiot's messing with bec or your models.
Thanks, yes the models are getting a bit of crap
@@PeterCoulsonPhotographer you work is fantastic your models are beautiful.
I hope the ladys understand these are just mental ugly trolls.
Hasselblad X2D 100C?
I haven't seen or touched one yet I don't know if we even have any in Australia
If only the Leica SL had a mirror inside, otherwise a brilliant camera, the viewfinder is the best of all the mirrorless cameras, yet my biggest creature comfort is looking into reality through a mirror while I shoot, I just can't seem to shake it.
The Leica SL2 has the BEST view finder that I have ever used mirror or mirrorless, thats my opinion 😁
@@PeterCoulsonPhotographer haha I feel you on that, it does look leagues better than anything else, and I love the handy dandy things you can set for the viewfinder.
such a pretty dress, bec
¡ Good Idea!
Thank you! Cheers!
RaRa is absolutely perfect.... :)
SL2👌
👍