Leica SL2 camera

[Danilo Del Tufo]

<<Leica has announced the new SL2, the latest version of its full-frame mirrorless camera system.

The new SL2 succeeds the SL from 2015 and introduces a higher-resolution sensor, upgraded construction, a new touchscreen, and an upgraded electronic viewfinder.>>

The specs are very similar to Panasonic S1H, it will be available starting on November 21st for $5,995. The rear LCD is not orientable, the weight also very similar to S1H.

What do you think about this camera?

 

[filmguy123]

How much of the Leica look comes down to the sensor? I don’t think much, other than maybe their noise pattern? I was always under the impression it’s the Leica lenses that contribute mostly to this which can be adapted anywhere.

Leaving us with the body, which would appeal to a certain type of person I know here in Portland. All about hip aesthetics.

On a tech spec sheet it seems like it’s a fusion of the S1H features and S1R higher res sensor. So it’s unique in that way, but then, kind of an odd blend.

The price is very high.

For me personally my vote is, looks nice, but... why?

 

[Sttratos]

How much of the Leica look comes down to the sensor? I don’t think much, other than maybe their noise pattern? I was always under the impression it’s the Leica lenses that contribute mostly to this which can be adapted anywhere.

Leaving us with the body, which would appeal to a certain type of person I know here in Portland. All about hip aesthetics.

On a tech spec sheet it seems like it’s a fusion of the S1H features and S1R higher res sensor. So it’s unique in that way, but then, kind of an odd blend.

The price is very high.

For me personally my vote is, looks nice, but... why?

Judging things by spec sheet is why this industry is going down the drain. Use the camera first and then speak. Or at least study footage from it. If spec sheet was any meaningful the Alexa would not be top of the food chain. But it is.

 

[filmguy123]

Judging things by spec sheet is why this industry is going down the drain. Use the camera first and then speak. Or at least study footage from it. If spec sheet was any meaningful the Alexa would not be top of the food chain. But it is.

I watched all the footage online and hands on review from DP Review prior to commenting. I stand by what I said, but if you have something specific to point out, I am all ears.

 

[Samuel H]

It's not for me: huge body (very similar to the old one), too expensive, too few buttons.

I love my Leica-R lenses, but as filmguy123 said, I can use them in other bodies.

This is the SL, not the SL2, but they're very similar in size:

 

[Tamerlin]

How much of the Leica look comes down to the sensor? I don’t think much, other than maybe their noise pattern? I was always under the impression it’s the Leica lenses that contribute mostly to this which can be adapted anywhere.

I like Leica, but I think I'd still rather get back into 4x5 for landscapes.

 

[filmguy123]

Ohh the downvotes, lol. The irony is that almost everything in my post was qualitative in nature and non-spec sheet based (the source of the leica look being @ the sensor level vs lens level; and the pleasing leica noise pattern). The only spec sheet based comment was prefaced by pointing such out, and neutral at that (the observation it appears to have a high res S1R sensor w/S1H feature set, giving it a unique market position).

My mistake for offering speculative thoughts on a camera that no one can buy yet... in a thread that asked us our speculative thoughts on the announcement of a camera. Clearly, I have brought our industry further down the drain.

Samuel - You have an R lens set? I have perpetually had a set on my dream list but I've never had a good time to drop the $$$ for one (and I'm a little overstuffed with lenses as is). I'm more than a little jealous.

 

[Samuel H]

Samuel - You have an R lens set? I have perpetually had a set on my dream list but I've never had a good time to drop the $$$ for one (and I'm a little overstuffed with lenses as is). I'm more than a little jealous.

Yes, and I have a very complete one as well: 24mm f/2.8, 35mm f/2.8, 50mm f/1.4, 60mm f/2.8 macro, 90mm f/2.8, 135mm f/2.8, 180mm f/2.8. The good ones are the 35, 50 and 90: the others are kind of soft by today's standards. The bokeh is absolutely delicious, and handling is good. I got them before prices got crazy: I paid $500 for that summilux-R 50mm f/1.4 in 2011, it goes for $1400 now.

But don't buy all the hype: I also got the summicron-C 40mm f/2.0, and it was absolutely awful. I sold it after a month. It had such a twisted focus plane (strong V shape) that it made videos really distracting: subject would be in focus, background out of focus but only in some areas, others were completely in focus too! Really horrible lens, and it wasn't cheap either. Yet the Leica fans said it was GREAT. Anyway, I got a similarly tiny $25 Industar-61 instead, and it's A LOT better.

Also: *some* modern lenses are very good too, and they provide AF. Whenever somebody comes with an APS-C camera with awesome AF (like the a6600) and shooting really good video (like the p4k), I'll switch to the Sigma APS-C lenses I use for photography (16mm f/1.4 and 56mm f/1.4, plus the 30mm f/1.4 that I'd have to buy) and the Leica-R ones will hardly ever see the light of the day again (which is what's already happening to my 24, 60, 135 and 180).

 

[Razz16mm]

It is not any more expensive than top of the line Canon or Nikon DSLR’S. It is more of a stills camera though, not so much for video.

 

[jcs]

Just tried the SL2 + 24-90 2.8-4: best VF I've ever seen, including high-end ones for cinema cameras. 5 axis IBIS and they said it has phase detect pixels (need to verify online). The continuous AF in video mode was very smooth (and slow- perhaps adjustable). Will bring a memory card next time and record some 5K 10-bit video. I'm only looking at cameras with >= Canon color science for skin tones (if only ARRI made a hybrid stills + video camera; perhaps partnered with Leica).

If I worked full-time in photo+video I could justify the business purchase to replace the 1DX II & EOS R. At around $5K per lens (e.g. 24-90 2.8-4), that's getting into the cinema lens realm and is harder to justify at this time (maybe in the future). Absolutely beautiful lens and body, Apple level simple clean and elegant menus dials etc. Industrial design could use more style, though good for what it is. Other than lens cost this looks more appealing to me so far vs. what I've heard for the 1DX III.

EDIT: the SL2 uses the same Tower Jazz sensor as the Panasonic S1x, with improved microlenses. The Leica-custom microlenses/CFA + Leica color science is really impressive- perhaps the closest to ARRI color for still cameras I've seen so far. For those willing to make the spend, this is looking like the best FF stills camera for detail and SOOC skin tones. A shame it doesn't appear to have phase detect pixels (has contrast based continuous AF). Unless aided by AI perhaps, contrast AF is an underspecified optimization problem- we need another variable (e.g. phase or TOF (time of flight: 3D depth) pixels). That said, I didn't notice any hunting/shimmering through the VF (which is apparently the same EyeRes unit used in the S1x and A7RIV). One other missing item for video is a flip out screen- super useful. To be able to get super-detailed ARRI like color with some of the best lenses available in a fairly small package is pretty cool (ARRI has no AF at all).

 

[Danilo Del Tufo]

A shame it doesn't appear to have phase detect pixels (has contrast based continuous AF). Unless aided by AI perhaps, contrast AF is an underspecified optimization problem- we need another variable (e.g. phase or TOF (time of flight: 3D depth) pixels).

In this video you can notice various problems with focus (assuming it's autofocus) and stabilization: