🔴 Bye Bye CL?? .. Leica SL vs Leica CL 

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I have had the Sl Q and TL2 and CL. Tbh there is almost no difference in image quality between these cameras. The TL2 is a better travel camera for its in body charging and 32 gigs of RAM on board. The CL focuses faster and more reliably over the TL and it’s better for flash use. The SL was awesome but too heavy to be practical for travel where your walking around / hiking, the q was awesome for travel but often is not wide enough at least for me and say interiors of churches in France. The CL is for me the best compromise for size and and functionality. It and the Fuji x100v are almost identical in size oddly enough with the 18 on it.

Matt, you've become "an institution" in sharing your photography knowledge and experience, DON'T STOP. Not only is it knowledge but even more so, the contagion of being a photographer. Your 15 min videos pack enough to make 115min videos of many other utubers. Thanks for doing what you are doing and if you are ever again somewhere in PL near Wroclaw, I'd love to buy you a coffee and pick your brain some more. Cheers.

An excellent synopsis Matt. I always enjoy your rapid-fire presentations. Faff-free. I bought my SL (601) first ( to digitize my M-glass), then picked up the CL as a 24MP backup and travel camera. One salient point you didn't mention is the CL uses the newer 3-button interface, common on the M10/11, Q series and SL2. Besides the physical buttons, the Leica CL also has the newer menu GUI with touchscreen, which is a drastic improvement to the older SL. Totally agree with your conclusion. The SL has been a tremendous FF EVF value for the last couple of years and is a true workhorse. The CL is an amazing travel camera, more true to Oskar Barnack's original vision.

I love my SL . Sometimes I wish, it was more compact. If they made a full frame CL, that would be awesome. Would you be interested to make a video about the sigma fp? I would love to watch that.

I really like the concept of the CL. It was just too expensive as a value proposition - too expensive within the Leica line-up that is. I'm sad the CL is being discontinued. I was hoping for a more appealing CL2 (weather sealing, IBIS). The SL body is just too large. The bodies, the lenses. It's too large as a camera I would lug around most of the time. Panasonic got it right with the size in the S5. Sony got it right with their A7 line and E Mount has a lot of high quality, small fast primes. L Mount does not (exception are the Sigma contemporary primes for L mount). I don't think there is any chance Leica will add a smaller SL body to the line up - it would not offer much of a benefit given how large the SL lenses are; they could not price it any cheaper without hurting their portfolio. I looked at the product shelf at the Leica store recently and confused the SL zoom lenses with Leica S medium format lenses, because they've put the lenses next to an S3 and the lenses matched the size of the body. Think about this: Leica, the pioneer of small, portable cameras is doubling down on large, heavy, bulky cameras and lenses which are larger in size and weight than anybody else's products in that format. I think the way to look at the SL portfolio: its targeted competitors are medium format cameras, not other 35mm small frame format cameras (yes, I am using the correct term, "full frame" is not the original, correct term for the 35mm format, Leica invented 35mm format as "Kleinbild", which means small frame). My Leica M bodies (M3, MP, M10) are as large as I am willing to go with a Leica body. A 35mm small frame camera should not be larger than a Sony A7, Panasonic S5 etc. - just my personal preference. I have no doubt the SL cameras are a joy to use - when you don't have to lug them around all day and you don't have to care about being candid that is.

Excellent video on 2 big winners.... I'll keep my CL as my small AF "go kit" as it does accept all my M, LTM and L lenses😊 and I 'll keep my SL2-S as my main AF kit. And I do not regret my M10P. And now for street photo I use my SL2S with a 28mm (Ultron or Summaron LTM) and sometime the TL18mm (APSC so 27mm) that make my SL2 even smaller, fast and sharp ...

Your example photos are so amazing. The Sigma 30mm DC DN you showed has character, more so than the TL 35 1.4 to me anyway. Not sure about the SL, but the SL2 is water resistant/proof, so that’s another reason to grab the bigger camera.

The CL has a newer sensor which makes the photos look more like the SL2/Panasonics (which I prefer). The CL batteries are much cheaper and you can buy clones from Panasonic, which is suitable for traveling. The CL has the new user interface from the SL2, which is a hughe improvement imho. Overall you get a better IQ in the CL, better image quality and a smaller size. The only downside is the smaller viewfinder, and that some of the Aps-c lenses are much to big. I use the CL as a back up and travel camera, with the 18 mm and 23 mm, but mainly with full frame lenses. The new ff Sigma Dg Dn are awesome and fit very well.

Nice video. I will stick with my CL for now. I like crop sensors as I can carry smaller lenses and all my kit fits in a small camera bag meant for one SLR body and one lens. That includes a charger, flash and a small LED light! The image quality is exceptional and the camera is easy to use especially with manual lenses.

I have swapped my M240 for an M10 now, but I still use my CL all the time! Can't see myself ever selling it, really. The lenses and image quality are just crazy good compared to the tiny size and light weight. I really hope they change their minds about crop sensor cameras. If not, I'll probably get another CL or a TL2 before they start going up in price on the used market :-)

I also have the SL (Typ 601) but for street, event, travel, landscape and architecture photography I slowly go back to my M8 and M9-P, they are simply more straight forward and easy to use with better image quality out of the box thanks to the CCDs and the great M lenses. Plus the M system is A LOT lighter and easier to carry around with a complete set of lenses.

Working with a borrowed Sony A7ii now matching nicely my old Minolta MD lenses. It is too small and awkward for my hands, but it gets the job done. Manual focussing a vintage lens on a mirrorless camera just has something fun to it as well, and I like being able to see the B&W preview. Maybe when I get some nicer lenses I will look into the SL, that viewfinder sure is something special from what I remember!

I'd like to mention that the SL has really solid 4K video as well. The caveats are horrible rolling shutter, crop, and no log format. But the colors are absolutely gorgeous so if you get your WB and exposure right in camera, you can just edit and export and it will be absolutely stunning.

Nice video. 👍 Sad to see the CL discontinued. But a full frame inside that body would be so nice…

Hi Matt, nice to hear from you again on Leica cameras and lenses. Just bought a brand new TL2 at a huge discount to pair with the tiny 18 mm Elmarit. Just for fun, I will try my 135 mm Tele-Elmar lens on it with the EVF.

I have the SL2S ,246 and a full CL kit. Just can`t get rid of the CL .I use it with my M lenses ,,,, nice and small and some extra reach . The SL2s was the biggest disappointment .Its heavy and the AF isn`t good enough for what I need .I only have two lenses for it . A Pany 70/200 and the 24/70 .The 24/70 gives me a useful range on the CL and today I`m going to see how the 70/200 performs on the CL. So apart from its lovely native lenses the Cl is also a very useful tele converter .

If jumped from one Leica, to another and then another, it clearly indicates what it doesn't matter which camera was in use. I was going to get SL in addition to M-E 220, but realized what old 5D MKII does it well too and for less :)

Thank you. I know what you mean by the colors. The CL colors are less accurate than the SL/SL2. I am on a trip and I decided to take the M10R and CL and left the SL2S at home so I agree with your recommendation. I dont think I will get rid of the CL. I like it so much. I ordered the 18mm TL lens. I can't wait to try it out for going on hikes or traveling about.

Why does Leica make the same mistake all over again? (It's almost as if history repeats itself.) Decades ago they discontinued the lovely and popular original (film) Leica CL in favour of the much larger and heavier Leica M5 and Leicaflex cameras, and the company almost went down the tubes! Now I keep seeing reports that they're discontinuing the brilliant (digital) Leica CL in favour of the grossly oversize and overweight Leica SL2 and SL2-S cameras (and their grossly oversize and overweight lenses) and Q2 cameras that, almost unbelievably for serious cameras, have a fixed lens. The current CL is simply the best camera Leica has ever made. Is it perfect? No, of course not. It's five or so years old and certainly could be improved (as per the SL-to-SL2 developments)---IBIS, weather sealing, higher resolution EVF, higher megapixel BSI sensor, and so forth. And, yes, it could have a full frame sensor. If the Leica Q2 and the Sigma FP cameras can sport full frame sensors, there's no reason why a Leica CL2 shouldn't have one. Just as the original Leica CL was pure joy to carry and use for film, the modern Leica CL is pure joy to carry and use today; and it is an unbelievable repeated stupidity for Leica to discontinue its CL camera line yet again, rather than move it forward with a new CL2 model and more of its superb lenses!

our thoughts go out to the original SL and CL - SL being an SLR 135 film camera (full frame) and CL being a full frame 135 compact regular M-mount rangefinder camera developed in collaboration with Minolta that launched a couple matching compact M mount lenses. The Leica CL was sold as Minolta CL in parts of the world. No, the SL did not have Leica M robustness/reliability. The CL however was a very neat thing

Hi Matt, great video, as always. I had a choice between the CL or the SL2, and I decided on the CL even though Leica will soon discontinue them. I'm a journalist and street photographer, so the lighter weight and much smaller size of the CL made the choice easy.

Great video ! The viewfinder on both are absolutely lovely. I'm fortunate to own them both but if I were a professional I'm sure the SL or SL2 would be the choice.

Great content as usual, Matt! Thanks for this video, as it really hits home. I love my CL (with grip and thumbsup) and plan to keep it as my travel/street camera (with Leica 21mm Elmarit f2.8 ASPH and vintage Summicron 40mm f/2), and I'm looking to get a used SL or SL2-S (perhaps SL2) as my main camera. I do mostly landscape, nature and astrophotography, so the SL format is much better suited for that type of work (remote shutter control, full frame sensor, etc). The two-camera setup is surprisingly accessible when shopping the used market, and since both cameras work well with the same lenses, it seems like a great setup. I only shoot manual glass (Leica, Voightlander), so AF is not on my radar. The focus assist on the CL is excellent. In time, I might replace the CL with an M10-R or base M10 (maybe an M-10D) to keep as my street/travel camera. One thing is for certain: I'm never leaving Leica. I can't quit you. :)

Very informative, clear, balanced, very helpful. Fantastic tone as well. Nice pictures

SL2s vs CL .... i would, for my use case, take the CL. Vactaion photos without the weight.

Hi Matt, any chance you could review the Leica TL2?

I have the CL and compensate for Bokeh by using F1.4 lenses with more shallow DOF, also helps cure lack of IBIS and slower high ISO low light. Matt, did you ever use a Contax 45mm F2.0 on a Leica via and adapter? Also, how does an SL2-s compare to an SL ?

Brilliant review! Right now I'm happy with the Leica CL. The SL looks wonderful.....perhaps some day!

素晴らしい写真とコンテンツをありがとうございます。私もSLを使っています。CLはコンパクトで良いですね！常にカバンに入れておいても苦にならない。

Matt - that was a super video. Thank you very much. I need to look for a second hand SL.

The CL has such a great compact design, I hope they are coming up with a CL2.

When I saw the title I assumed you were going to discuss the CL being discontinued. I think it's a shame, I'd been waiting around for an updated version and now Leica has squashed that idea. I think it's a nice, solid camera but it's fallen behind in some areas and I wouldn't pay their (new) asking price for 5 year old tech. Perhaps it's just not for me.

The LUMIX 50mm f/1.4 is supposedly so good it’s considered a ‘reference’ lens. Have you ever used it?

worth keeping the CL (travel and it's a "teleconverter") in my opinion.

Once again a great review. To the point.

Crazy question I’ve been hearing a Leica M with built in Evf and maybe ibis would you switch from the SL to the M if they built one curious

Very clear explanation. To me, definitely the Leica cl

Matt I am just hoping Leica will make smaller and more compact SL.

Matt, can you shoot this with monochrome setting in the viewfinder?

Another thing that is not so great by the SL (Typ 601) is the fact that it drains the battery completely within one to two weeks when left switched off. Annoying. The Ms don‘t do that.

I k now color is subjective, but I actually preferred the CL images as far a color!!!

I think Leica already said goodbye to the CL/TL Series recently. I still love my M Cameras, but I love the film Ms much more than my digital M10-P.

I will try SL and CL

Matt. What flash works on SL.

All these weight comparisons seem silly. I just carry them all.

Sl full frame. End of story. But the cl is a great PhD.. push here dummy..point and shoot cl. I'm old and raised on kchrome and dark rooms. Sl. If you know what your doing. .. my favorite pack was an m6, m3, 35 and 90 sumicrons a 21, and 20 kchrome 25 pro and 20 tri x.. This digital era has killed the art.

Over the course of nearly 60 days I just returned 3 brand new M-A's back because of dust in the viewfinder straight out of the box. Was told the replacement would be specifically checked by their technicians before sending out again. Their technicians must be blind -Never again - Luxury brand with dogshit QC - Refunding 15K - 35mm summilux and two bodies. The dream to own a Leica for 15yrs has just been crushed and all thanks to their absolutely disgraceful service. They couldn't give a toss - Never once with Canon/Olympus/Fujifilm have I experienced such shite from a manufacturer at a fraction of the cost. Glad now I've seen when they are like to deal with and how incompetent they are at correcting flaws.

It’s a pity when you realize that your perception towards the perfect camera is becoming a minority. The will to pay for a small size and high quality system is losing ground toward FF. Now I need to wait for the feeling that this camera is not good enough for me. I hope this will not happen soon.

Ryanair appearing on a Leica camera review, not judging, I’d travel in a bathtub if it meant I could afford a Leica 😂

i know that fealing i sold all my camera and now i shoot only with leica m4 ;3 Im amateur ;3

I traded my CL for an SL today!