Leica SL2-S: A photographer's review
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- čas přidán 27. 06. 2024
- We finally talk about the Leica SL2-S Reporter Edition that I've had for over half a year. This review is specifically for the photography features. Let me know if you want to know more about the camera!
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#photography #leica #leica #leicasl2s
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My search for cameras ended Dec. 2017 when I bought the Leica CL (APSC) with 2 lenses (23mm Summicron & 60mm Macro Elmarit). Image quality, size, weight and ease of operation has satisfied my photographic needs to this day. I have got a number of other camera systems which I hardly ever use anymore. I learned how to keep it simple with less gear.
Same. Only got the 56 1.4 Sigma instead of the 60 2.8 Elmarit. CL and 23 Summicron are great.
Its a hard system to get out of .I have an SL2s and three M bodies but keep picking up my CL. The 23 ,35 and 60 are lovely. The 55 -135 just enough for the sports shots.
Truly one of the cameras of all time.
well said
An absolute photographic device.
I think buying a camera because it looks cool isn't something to be ashamed of.
❤
Now this is the kind of support I want ;) lol
Canon users left the chat
Totally agree! If the camera makes you want to pick it up and go shooting, be it because of how it looks, how it feels or whatever… that's a win for me
In the end we should also enjoy our time, and having a camera that looks cool can definitely impact this factor
Yes, not at all the reason I got the Fujifilm X100-V.....i wouldn't..
I truly believe you are one of the best street photographers out there. I have used your work as inspiration for my own, and I admire your work very much. I love your content and I thank you for all the earlier videos where you gave tips about street photography, I didn't like doing street photography, mainly because I am very introverted so pointing a big camera at people's faces wasn't really my thing, but after watching your videos and your work I've let myself go on the streets and shoot more often than I would before.
Greetings from Mexico!
頑張って！
I have the ol’ SL2 with a 50 Lux that’s pretty much glued to it - despite the size, is my all purpose camera for any time and weather. It’s the most comfortable body to hold and hardy. I have a M that is a bit temperamental- the SL keeps on going. It’s gonna rain ☔️a lot for monsoons- and this is the only camera I can use with no hassle. 😊
Thanks for the review Ulysses! Love the photos you took with this camera. Also appreciate you going into the downsides of owning it
watching your videos are always such a highlight - loved this one man!
The quality of your videos are awesome. I hope you comeback uploading more content soon. Best wishes from Mexico. 🇲🇽✌🏽
So happy to see a new video from you man! Love the vibes :)
As a professional fashion and beauty photographer, I mostly use the X1D/X2D and the SL2 in the studio. Together with the APO-SL lenses and the 50 Lux-SL it’s a great system producing excellent images.
For personal work though, I prefer my SL2-S. I’m not using my SL lenses, because they’re indeed bulky to carry around. I use the Lumix S f1.8 lenses. I find these to be a perfect fit. Not as good as the APO-SL lenses of course, but they’re at a fraction of the price. They even perform great on the SL2 with 47MP. Another option is the 16-28 and 28-70 Sigma f2.8 zoom lenses or the Sigma i-Series lenses. These are lightweight and compact and produce excellent image quality. Again, not as good as the 24-90 SL or APO-SL lenses, but close enough considering the cost.
What drives me towards the SL2-S is the low light/high ISO capability. It is phenomenal and images at ISO25000 are as clean as my SL2 at 3200. By the way, EXIF info from manual lenses to new mirrorless bodies is generally an issue for all brands. Not only for the SL2-S. In fact, the 6-bit coding of Leica M lenses is perfectly transferred to the SL2-S. You don’t get that on any other brand…
Nice review. I started with the SL2 system and started using M lenses because I wanted a lighter setup. Ended up going full in with the M system and love the analog and small feeling with the M body.
To be fair, it's not like the Sony or Canon lenses are that much smaller/lighter. The Canon 24-70 weighs 1.98 lbs/4.95 inches and the Leica 24-70 is 1.88 lbs/4.8 inches.
What is 1.98 lbs?
What is 4.8 inches?
The actual lens
@@ivanfenenko
It's glad to see people still make new review of SL2-S in 2023.
I bought SL2-S and Voigtlander Nokton 50/1.5 II a few months ago, and still trying to take better photos with them.
By the way, I live and work in Japan now.
Maybe we will run into each other on the street when taking photos. :D
I owned the SL2-S for a few months and I had a lot of the same feelings that you had. And then I got rid of it and have regretted it ever since.
I agree with your observations about the lenses issue. Thanks. You confirmed my experience.
I really liked the composition and rich colors in the sample photos you displayed. I would be great if you did some more videos showing your process, or just talking through some images and what you were thinking when you took it.
Love the colour grading in this video, great stuff man.
Sigma fp L is the most sensible Leica purchase you can make
When I owned an SL my compromise autofocus lens was the Sigma 45mm 2.8. It's about the most compact 'standard' L lens out there.
Good video. I have the exact camera and love mine but I'm also 187 cm and 90 kilos. If you end up keeping it and want autofocus lenses, the 1.8 lumix series is underrated beyond belief, super light, great for video and inexpensive. These lenses are so good that Leica repackaged the 35 and 50. The only downside is they don't look as nice as the Leica counterparts. The other thing is are you up to date on firmware (for some reason think my reporter came preloaded with 5.1 and assume yours' would as well)? The 5.1-5.2 really improved the autofocus performance, added eye/animal detect and I hit 95% of my shots. Love this camera with the color skopar 35/2.5 and recommend that combo as well.
I had Sony system with A7S3, A74 but finally I sold them all for Leica system, It's good camera but I not joyful to used them. Finally I bought M10, Q and SL2s with some lens, They're a look so simple with design and I really love to carry them out everyday.
Review appreciated. It's so easy to get lost in the fantasy of owning this camera.
As many have mentioned in the comment, Sigma makes some very compact i-Series Contemperary lenses, like the 24mm f2, 35mm f2, 50mm f2, and 65mm f2. Even the 85mm f1.4 Art is nice and compact. They all balance very well with the SL series cameras. Also I got the Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 I-Series Contemperary lens and it’s really sharp and resolves extremely well even on higher resolution sensors. Lastly Leica’s new SL 35mm f2 and SL 50mm f2 ASPH (NON-Apo) are optically really nice. Some say they are rehoused Panasonic lenses, but I think they are a little more than that based on what I’m seeing. But most importantly they are really light and compact, and also do not cost as much as the APO equivalents.
I got the Panansonic 50mm f/1.8S and it's also a great nifty fifty.
That rainy EOS R5 shot is fantastic. 9:01
Having just got to shoot the Canon R5 (loaner at a workshop) vs my SL2-S, the R5 is more advanced in so many ways, but I think that the SL2S haptics and IQ still pleases me more. As for size of lens, I think the Sigma iSeries primes are the way forwards for L mount - sharp, small and light (not as small as a M lens of course), but excellent in every other way.
Sigma 90mm 2.8 is perfection
Yes the sigma ones are great. The 45mm F2.8 is lovely for street. Wish I kept the 35mm as now liking that focal length more
Funny you should say that it makes you want to use the AF lenses for the system. For me it was the opposite. I got rid of all my AF SL lenses in favor of shooting manual M lenses on my SL2-S. For me, it’s been wonderful. The lenses are much smaller and lighter and with this viewfinder I can focus much faster than I did on the M system. It’s been great.
Missing your videos - hope you’re well!
Thanks for the vid love your work and most of your newsletters.
Disclaimer, I own one and I love it so was a bit upset with your findings, but I respect they are yours and you have a right to love or hate this camera…
, but a few things:
-you say m lenses (non coded) are not recognized automatically, well they are not on any camera, m or other, nothing new here. If you shoot a digital M you have to also switch lens profiles. I Suggest you use one of the front two buttons next to the lense mount and assign one to lens profiles, works wonders.
-you complain about l mount lenses being heavy, have you tried the 1.8 panasonic primes or the sigma i series primes, light and great IQ and cheap. And frankly the SL APO primes are not that bad, even to carry all day and that IQ is amazing…
-I saw you had a panasonic zoom lens mounted on it in IG, frankly this is not going to weigh any different to an E mount equivalent or R mount.
-customization and menu Of this camera like any leica are great compared to sony/canon (cant speak for fuji/nikon).
-I agree with your pros about the camera, and compare any m glass lense on this vs a fuji/sony/canon, it seems the consensus is that it will be better
thanks again, Suggest you really try the customization buttons. Check out Lukas Van derlende ‘s youtube he has a good customization vid.
Have a good one!
Hey thanks for the great insight! I have to admit, I'm very technically un-savvy and really bad at customization.
I have a Pana zoom lens on it now to test out, I'm renting it. As you say, it doesn't weigh that much more than other lenses from other brands, but when you factor in body weight + lens most of the SL offerings end up being heavier than the competition. Maybe I should've explained this a bit better. And for the bit about weight + quality of images... I think I was a bit bitter because the cost of everything gets stuck in the back of my mind :)
I also mentioned the M lenses thing because Leica specifically markets the SL system to be very "compatible" with M lenses. In reality, it doesn't really make a difference- you just slap on an adapter. If you have the recent M lenses that cost a fortune, paired with the M adapter that also costs a fortune, then yes, they communicate with each other... but not many people will have access to that unfortunately.
Overall I agree with your points though! And I need to look into better customization and sit with this camera more. Thank you!
Brought the SL2s to compliment the Q2. I've stuck a 50 f2 on it and the images for me are wonderful. In pursuit of optical perfection A Leica SL lenses are too large and too heavy. Using the adapted M lenses as per my intention seem just fine. I suspect the SL3/3s will offer flippy screen and larger sensors. I won't sell my SL2s. I love it. Finally as others have said you showed some images in the video but please share some more because what I saw were quite beautiful. Please do a vid just on the images if you have time.
Bro, you should definitely show more of your recent photos. The shots in the videos look too good to just put it in a video.
Overall, I found myself echoing many of your sentiments. I initially bought in with the expectation that it would serve as a compelling alternative to the a7Siii. I have to admit I was quite disappointed when I discovered that the rec709(2020) LUTs for L-log had been discontinued. It wasn't until the introduction of iDR that I began to see it as a viable option for video work. Though in my case, autofocus became much more crucial as I wanted to purpose it for streaming/conferencing, which led me back to Sony in the end. Wonderful stills camera though! I ran it with a Contax 90mm f/2.8 Sonnar(converted). I couldn't be happier with those results.
Hi. I took the SL in my hand (previous version I think) when I was at the Rencontres de la Photographie in Arles a few years back. I thought it weighed a ton and felt like a brick (and cost much more than I could afford anyway). I use a Sony a7r3 which is fairly old now, but still yields top notch images even in APS-C mode , but I have my eyes on the Q3 now for it’s size, it’s resolution and cropping capabilities, it’s built, it’s look and it’s price which is more into my price range anyway.
I’ve been shooting with Contax Zeiss glass, and prefer it to AF. in fact, I’ll be selling my SL 35 ‘cron. I have forgotten to change lens profiles a few times, but getting better about that.
I'm really liking the sigma I series lenses. It's still a brick, and the sigmas are still bigger/heavier than M lenses, but they are very nice, and imho the perfect size/weight/performance compromise for the SL body. I'm still waffling about getting the 28-70/2.8 as a Just In Case I Need It backup. I got an SL2-S to shoot manual focus (voigtlander) lenses, but it is such a brick that I don't actually use it much. I told myself for months that I had to just get rid of it (purchased used, btw), but I couldn't bring myself to let it go. Despite the weight, it's just so nice. That's when I broke down and got the 50mm/f2 sigma. I think I'm stuck on it now.
Great combo with the 50 Summicron. You should be able to keep take portrait in lower light at iso 1600 and 125/second even before stabilization is turned on.
Sold my SL2-S as I could never see myself carrying two of them due to the size and weight; used to two M bodies with e.g. 28,50. Bought two X-T5s a big step down in build, but ergonomics and the tilt screen make them more enjoyable to use. VC XF native MF 27/2 is brilliant. Still hanker after a small FF for ultra-fast primes like 40/1.2 and cine lenses.
Thanks for your review, for some reason I tought the experience of using m lenses and switching between them was easier 😅
Off topic, nice watch and strap!
It is easy. Just select the lens profile and go. Not a reason to not get into this system
Thanks for the review and can’t wait for the part Ii. Two thing I want to mention: 1, isn’t canon R is one of most “unsuitable “ for M lens adapting (?) 2, wish sl3 not as bulky. Thanks.
I have the Panasonic S5 and have the Sigma 45mm 2.8 and 7Artisans 35mm f5.6 as the two compact lenses for a small native footprint. Sigma MC21 and the Canon 40mm 2.8 is another small but powerful setup.
i will stick to my g7x ii you inspired me to buy right away
Man, I still love and use that camera to death. Ironic that I use the G7xii so much even after buying this (overly) expensive camera
Can I ask what camera strap that is? Looks so good
Clean 🔥
I have a Leica SL2, but it takes film. Built like a tank.😎
Love your videos as always. The design of this camera is amazing, but I just keep thinking... I could literally pay 500 dollars or less and hit the streets with an ancient Nikon DSLR, say the d610 or a d800, and I would have essentially the exact same thing with maybe a very high quality Voigtländer lens...
I agree 100 percent that the Leica bodies are top of the line in terms of design and build quality, don't get me wrong. But I mean... I personally could just never justify that price difference. But to each his own 🙂
u could even drop 300 dollars get a d700 and u get basically low res this imo nikon dslrs are the best deal on the market rn
@@Atokinox True about the d700. Once the d850 hits reasonable second hand prices it's going to be the best deal for quite a while I think
I agree man. Actually the Canon 5dIV and Nikon D850 are very, very tempting now.
Your photos are fantastic! I would like to say though that everyone's needs are different. You're not wrong, because your experience is true to you. Though I have a different take.
I'd say that although you mention getting into the system, you haven't really done that. You're adapting other systems. Which is great, I have a few lenses that I adapt from M and R mount. I can totally understand not wanting the SL lenses for price and size reasons. I have the 35mm APO-Summicron-SL and 75mm APO-Summicron-SL, as well as a slew of Sigma and Panasonic lenses. The 35mm Leica pretty much lives on the body. I find it to be perfectly balanced, but I haven't used a rangefinder in quite a while. The images, though, I can't find anything that compares. From the fact that I NEVER see any chromatic aberration, to the great close focus distance, to the solidity and durability of the lens, I find I can confidently use it anywhere.
As for why the body itself compares favorably to other systems like Canon and Nikon, for me it's the simplicity. I currently own 4 L-mount cameras. The SL2-S, a Lumix S5II, a Lumix S5 and a DJI Ronin 4D. The SL2-S is the only one I take photographs with, the other are all just for video. Even when I'm photographing wildlife on my 600mm lens, I use the SL2-S instead of the S5II which has more reliable and consistent phase detect autofocus (and even animal detection!), because the handling and the intuitiveness and simplicity of the body, buttons and menus is just so enticing for me. I am not a Leica-only shooter, and until last year I still owned a very comprehensive Canon RF system, with the R5 and R6 bodies as well as a half dozen L-series RF lenses. Moving to the Leica SL system did not end up weighing more or being bigger! If you're shooting with the small lenses from Canon then sure, but then you could look at the many very small, light, and fantastic lenses from Sigma and Panasonic for your camera. The Sigma Contemporary primes are just fantastic, and the Panasonic S primes are beloved by everyone for their price, size and performance ratio. If you're looking instead at Panasonic S Pro lenses or Sigma Art lenses, then those are more comparable to Canon's L-series or Sony's G Master lenses, which aren't small or light either.
I would highly recommend you check out one of the new Leica Summicron ASPH lenses. They are smaller, lighter, and even have faster autofocus than their APO counterparts. They're also less than half the price. If you want Leica glass but don't want the size of the APOs (which again, CANNOT be beat for their image quality) and still want excellent performance... one of those might be exactly what you're looking for.
I using sigma I series lens they are light weight and good looking, fit very nice with SL2s
Still waiting for part 2 - hope you are are doing well buddy!
Thank you for the review. I bought the SL2-S with the much more lighter SL Summicron 50&35, this would also my recommendation. Currently Leica has lowered the price for this combo in the price. I also see that the SL works the best with SL lenses, this is what they made for. For video I use some M lenses. There are always back and forth but at the end, the files out of the SL2-2 especially in black and white a remarkable. Cheers from Switzerland, Marco
I like the color grade on this video.
Try the new 35mm Summicron SL lens. It’s not heavy, and is less expensive than the APO 35 SL
i had one , the files were super nice. The AF was not amazing and i was missing a flip screen, i ended up getting an R5 for my commercial work instead
Thank you for your very honest review. Most of the overrated reviews I see are made by Leica “snobs” who think they are a breed apart from everyone else because they are holding a Leica. Your point that you see no better difference in image quality as compared to the Canon R5 other than you felt the R5 looked better shows that you know more about photography and image quality than the Leica braggers. I borrowed a Leica for two weeks and came to the same basic conclusion as you. I couldn’t understand what was I “missing” which turned out to be nothing. I shoot with a Nikon, BTW.
The same reason why after owning Leicas M’s and Q I think that the Leica journey ends right there. Every time I borrow an SL2 or SL2S I feel this camera is trying to be something that is not yet.
They price and huge size of the lenses seemed like a bit of a burden to me. Also the fact that they only have contrast detection is a no go for a hybrid camera. However I am excited for what the SL3 would be all about. For Af I stick to my Sonys and for the Manual experience, my M11 fulfill that needs completely.
I find myself thinking, you could buy a second hand Panasonic S1 for like, $800 with the vlog upgrade included and just have a much more functional video and stills camera which has the same mount and therefore access to Leica glass natively. But Leica's aren't really a practical consideration or value proposition. I have an M6 and I've tried to convince myself to sell it so many times, but I just can't. Buy what makes you want to shoot, isn't that the whole point.
Love the strap. Does anyone know where it is from??
I have an SL2 and the true quality of the system comes from the SL lenses. I wouldn’t really recommend it unless you are wanting to deal with the costs and weight of those big lenses. The 35 Summicron SL APO and other Summicron are light enough for me to enjoy street but I can definitely see why they wouldn’t be for others.
Love the strap! Where from?
If you think Leica is expensive, you have to factor in the depreciation you will experience when you go to sell your other brand. A Leica product will hold its value better and may even increase in value.
I've not really seen any SL cameras actually increase in value. They depreciate quicker than any other Leica Camera. If you're looking specifically at their M cameras, sure a few, very rare M's may increase in value, but overall they all depreciate.
Holding it's "value" better is more or less opinion. Sure, you may get 6,000 for your M11, however you paid 9,000 plus tax for it. So I wouldn't say an over 3,000 dollar loss after a couple of years is a slight depreciation.
I agree with the comment though. Leicas are great because they generally don't depreciate too much so there is some ease of mind... But as Andrew said here, when it comes to mirrorless, it's not that simple!
Depreciation is a question of timing. Leica X series digitals hit peak depreciation a couple of years back, and have almost doubled since.
The SL series might go the same way, but could be a while to wait yet
Try the 24-90
It's a work out but worth it.
What strap is that? Looks & feels comfy.
I owned this camera twice and ultimately moved on. To your point the AF lenses are too big outside of the Sigma iSeries lenses. The manual focus experience is okay but it makes you just wish you had an M camera. No flip screen sucked for video and the AF is unreliable.
However, the build is top notch, the evf is amazing , ergos are great, and the colors are great.
What happened to the Hasselblad X12Dll? Don’t use it?
Sigma makes less bulky L mount lenses. SL2-S is more than twice than Panasonic S5 II. And SL2-S batteries are 170 USD.
I suspect that you wouldn't feel satisfied with the Canon, even if you got better photos with it. Sounds outrageous, but you have to be in the mood to take the photo in the first place, and you - it seems - enjoy beautiful cameras with the finest sort of build quality... or let's just call it: luxury quality. That's not at all the knock the Canon - it's well made to a different set of priorities. My question is - did you enjoy shooting with the SL2 more than with the X1D II?
By the way - some really really beautiful photographs in this video. Keep up the great work.
When the camera is set up it's beautiful. I have a few different user profiles set up for each lens I use, 35 and 50. I recently updated the firmware and the camera reset itself, which is very annoying, but I just set it up again.
I'd agree that the R5 is the better camera in every way except design. The image quality and performance is what I'd expect from the Leica, it's a shame that something this expensive is so outdated when it comes to Autofocus, and the lack of the tilt screen really sucks. I think the SL3 will address these issues, but also expect that to be a bit of a hike in price.
Get some Leica APO-SUMMICRON-SL (AF) lenses: small, light and best quality money can buy (used 😉)
What’s your strap name ?
The review is as good as usual from you, although I'm not a fan of the colour grading in this video. Highlights are way too blown, everything looks hazy and indistinct, and it looks oddly unfinished. The colour grading in your recent Leica Q review is much, much better.
Is the Leica SL2 a APSC Camera or Full Frame camera
Full frame
I am the guy that asks Leica owners "is that a Leica?" With no intention to buy one he he.
I could have bought a Panasonic S5mk2 for much less and get better performance but I bought the SL2S reporter because its Green hahahaha....
hahaha yes!!!
did you stop making videos?
I would agree that Leica is pricey and should not be asking for more money for less of a camera. I disagree with your statement about image quality, it’s here I think you are totally wrong. I own one Leica SL lens and have not used it once, like you I use my M lenses instead. Weight is big thing with me right now because of my heart failure problems. I wish I could get my SL2S features into the new SL3 body. SL2S resolution is enough for me. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about the SL2S camera.
Its absolutely huge and will make the owner look like a creep. Can't see a problem with it. 😄
I find myself doubting this camera can do anything more special than the Panasonic S5iix. As much as I love Leica, the SL just feels like a SUV that every supercar brands have to come up with these days.
oof. that's a great comparison.......
no more hassy?
It must really suck being young and having everything. You really can’t appreciate the nicer things in life like a handmade high-quality Leica camera.
I don’t like or will use Canon, the cameras look like a 90’s Honda Accord. Plain,boring and too common.
hahaha I agree. Leica (besides Sigma, different story though) is the only brand that seems to care about aesthetics and usability. If only the other brands cared just a bit more.
In 2023 there's no reason to spend 5,500 on a camera when you can get a great camera for 3k less and then use the money you saved to buy a lens. Leica is pointless in todays world cuz other cameras are so good that it no longer makes a difference in picture quality if you buy an over priced camera.
Love the strap! Where from?