[Leica] The SL

[alal at nyu.edu (Akhil Lal)]

Thanks for the kind words Jim, Doug and Gene.
Doug and Gene, I'd go for the camera if I were you; try it you might
actually like it.

IMHO, while this camera might not have the immediate technical appeal of an
A7 RII, it might actually prove to be a better platform for R and M lenses.



On Tue, Oct 27, 2015 at 1:45 PM, Gene Duprey <geneduprey2015 at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Same here as Doug, although my wife also hates you for this report. ;)
>
> On Tue, Oct 27, 2015 at 11:09 AM, Doug Herr <wildlightphoto at 
> earthlink.net>
> wrote:
>
> > Thanks for your observations, my wallet hates you :)
> >
> > Doug Herr
> > Birdman of Sacramento
> > http://www.wildlightphoto.com
> > http://doug-herr.fineartamerica.com
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > >From: Akhil Lal <alal at nyu.edu>
> > >Sent: Oct 26, 2015 6:07 PM
> > >To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org>
> > >Subject: [Leica] The SL
> > >
> > >I had a chance to play with the SL at the Leica booth at PhotoExpo 2015.
> > >Based on a brief encounter, some thoughts below.
> > >
> > >1.  Compared to my D800 + 24-70/2.8 G lens the SL was lighter and
> > >(slightly) smaller. Remember Leica is positioning this as an alternative
> > to
> > >the big boy DSLRs, not the A7/ Olympus/Fuji cameras.
> > >
> > >Also note that  the 28-90 Leica R  and the Contax- Yashica 28-85 zooms
> > were
> > >not small and light.  At the present state of the art, small size is
> > >incompatible with top quality optics intended for use on digital
> sensors.
> > >See the new CZ lenses and the latest primes from Nikon. Or note the
> sizes
> > >of the now discontinued Olympus Pro lenses for the 4/3rds system,
> > >
> > > 2. AF was lightening quick with the 24-90 zoom. As good as, if not
> > better,
> > >than my D800E under the same conditions.
> > >
> > >3. The 4MP finder was a surprise. Not as contrasty or clear as an
> optical
> > >finder, but more than merely adequate. I predict that when EVFs reach
> 8-16
> > >MPs optical finders will be a thing of the past.
> > >
> > >4. Manual Focusing was VERY easy on this finder, even without focus
> > peaking
> > >(which was outstanding).  I was able to focus a 35 /2 Summicron M,
> > mounted
> > >via the T adapter, very quickly, even at a working aperture of f8.
> Faster
> > >in fact, than I can do it now on an M, given my eyesight. This was
> without
> > >using  focus peaking!  FWIW, under the same ambient light conditions I
> had
> > >much more difficulty  manually focussing my D800E with the zoom set to
> 70
> > >mm.
> > >
> > > It was quite interesting to close down the lens from f2 to f8 and see
> the
> > >changes in DOF on the EVF. The viewing brightness was adjusted
> > >automatically.
> > >
> > >IMHO, the EVF is a non-issue.
> > >
> > >5. Did not pay attention to shutter noise or vibration, but it did not
> > >obtrude.
> > >
> > >6. The R adapter will be just a tube, no auto-stop down with R lenses.
> The
> > >attitude was if it focuses with M lenses at f8 it will do the same with
> R
> > >lenses. On the plus side focus  shift, e.g. Noctilux  f1,will not be an
> > >issue when lenses are focussed at working aperture.
> > >
> > >IMO, a purchase decision will come down to how well this camera works
> with
> > >M lenses. If it is at least as good as an M9 when used with M
> wide-angles,
> > >with none of the corner smearing or colour casts produced by other full
> > >frame mirror-less bodies, then it might serve as a suitable platform for
> > >both R & M lenses  and would be worth considering.
> > >
> > >Leica missed a trick by not using body based anti-shake.
> > >
> > >Akhil
> > >
> > >_______________________________________________
> > >Leica Users Group.
> > >See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
>
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