Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2017/02/05

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Subject: [Leica] SL redux, end of story
From: jhnichols at lighttube.net (Jim Nichols)
Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2017 22:23:42 -0600
References: <18276705.9806.1486354479578@elwamui-karabash.atl.sa.earthlink.net>

I'd say you have given the SL a fair shake, Doug.

Gotta love that owl's face.  Great shot, regardless of the camera in use.

Jim Nichols
Tullahoma, TN USA

On 2/5/2017 10:14 PM, Doug Herr wrote:
> My month with the loaner SL+90-280 APO is up and I've sent the camera 
> back.  Unlike a year ago the camera is nearly within financial grasp and 
> for a while I was tempted to ask about $pecifics, but I ran afoul of too 
> many roadblocks.
>
> in a nutshell: the 90-280 APO is a fabulous lens.  I found no weak spots, 
> the resolution and color richness are spectacular, possibly too good 
> because aliasing with the non-AA filtered 24MP sensor is a constant 
> problem with fine feather detail.
>
> The optical stabilization works quite well.  Leica says it automatically 
> distinguishes between panning and unintentional wobble.  But what about 
> intentional wobble?  When I follow the random motions of a critter with 
> the camera and the field of view lags because the OS thinks what I did was 
> unintended.  The image slowly drifts to where I pointed the camera while 
> I'm trying to follow the animal's head with the focussing point.   
> Meanwhile the animal has moved again.  ARGGH!  Once I get the focussing 
> point on the animal's head (and there are no foreground weeds or 
> higher-contrast limbs right behind the bird) focus is quick, nearly silent 
> and precise, but when it picks the wrong object it's maddening to get it 
> back on subject.  Why does anyone put up with this AF bullsh!t?
>
> As reported earlier, the viewfinder reverts to automatic brightness after 
> each exposure.  This function misses out on one of the really great 
> advantages of a mirrorless EVF camera, the added WYSIWYG dimension of 
> real-time exposure confirmation.  The M(262) allows full-time exposure 
> simulation mode, why not the SL?  At least Leica is now aware of my 
> complaint and I was told it should be possible to add this feature in 
> firmware.
>
> IMHO the 24MP sensor is an image-quality bottleneck with this 90-280 APO.  
> When using the 280/4 APO on the 24MP Sony a7II I sometimes see color moire 
> but because of the Sony's AA filter it's far less frequent than with the 
> SL and 90-280 APO
>
> I've recently added a used Sony a7rII to the toy box.  With this camera 
> and the 280/4 APO aliasing is very rarely a problem and I suspect the 
> 90-280 APO would also benefit from this 42MP sensor.  The Sony's sensor is 
> also stabilized, so it works with the 280/4 APO.  It also works with the 
> FD 500mm L, the 100 APO and the 60 Macro.  It doesn't try to detect 
> unintentional wobble.
>
> http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/mimidae/oreoscoptes/sathra05.html
> http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/emberizidae/melospiza/lispar01.html
> http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/strigidae/athene/buowl10.html
>
> I'll still keep an eye on SL system developments but for now the Sony 
> bodies will be the digital backs for my R and other lenses.
>
> Doug Herr
> Orangevale, Sacramento County
> http://www.wildlightphoto.com
> http://doug-herr.fineartamerica.com
>
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>



In reply to: Message from wildlightphoto at earthlink.net (Doug Herr) ([Leica] SL redux, end of story)