[Leica] The SL

Paul Roark roark.paul at gmail.com
Tue Oct 27 16:36:18 PDT 2015


How it handles the M wides and even 50mm optics is a huge advantage over
the Sony approach for those who have a good collection of M glass.

On Tue, Oct 27, 2015 at 1:40 PM, Tina Manley <tmanley at gmail.com> wrote:

> I like this comment from the PC review:  "All in all, the SL is an
> excellent camera, and we're rating it as such. If you're sensitive to
> price, any Leica product is going to be a nonstarter. But if you can afford
> it, there are certainly reasons to consider the SL instead of the Alpha 7
> II (our current Editors' Choice) or the Alpha 7R II, especially if you have
> an investment in Leica M or R lenses, or if you prefer the more minimalist
> control scheme that the SL offers."
>
> I'm all for minimalist control scheme!
>
> Tina
>
> On Tue, Oct 27, 2015 at 4:17 PM, Akhil Lal <alal at nyu.edu> wrote:
>
> > 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
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > Leica Users Group.
> > > > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
> > > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Leica Users Group.
> > > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
> > >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Leica Users Group.
> > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Tina Manley
> www.tinamanley.com
> tina-manley.artistwebsites.com
>
> http://www.alamy.com/stock-photography/3B49552F-90A0-4D0A-A11D-2175C937AA91/Tina+Manley.html
>
> _______________________________________________
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>


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