Is there really a difference?? Leica SL3 vs. Sony a7R5 - Final Thoughts 

Maybe I should have clarified a bit more- I think Nikon has nice color for objects, but their skin tones aren’t as good as Leica or Canon. Is that your experience as well?

Awesome, so glad to hear it!

Yep, if the SL3 were the same (or close) to the same price as the a7R5, it would be a different story. But since it's so much more expensive, I agree, the way to go for pure shooting experience is the M11 over the SL3 (and something like the R5 as a workhorse).

100%. I bought an SL3 on launch day. After a few shoots, I realized this camera is deeply flawed. I seriously regret selling my SL2 for this.

Yep, it should be the same or similar to the a7R5...but somehow it's worse...

@@c141charlie can you still return the SL3? The best thing about the SL3 might be that it has driven down SL2 prices considerably- thinking about getting a silver SL2 just for pairing with M lenses (since the AF is basically unusable in that camera)!

@@MarcAdesso it's the processor, 100%. Sony has a better processor that gets that data through quicker.

@@eanmillerphotos ah, that makes sense!

That makes a lot of sense to me- have thought about getting a silver SL2 just for pairing with M lenses!

Thanks- yes, they are the best FF options on the market and I was indeed surprised how close they are in many aspects, most of all image quality. In terms of what you wrote, if money is not a huge consideration, I think you will like the SL3 better. The image coming straight out of camera with no editing is far more pleasing in most cases, the menus are waaayyyy easier to navigate, and the build quality is in line with the SL2. And then of course, Leica glass is the best in the world, right up there with like ARRI and Cooke. The only way I’d suggest Sony based on what you wrote is if money were tight and/or you’d have to buy several of them. Hope that helps, and let me know what you ultimately decide!

@@MarcAdesso yes that helps , thank you. Money is an issue, but all of what you mentioned is as well. I’ve used both systems before extensively, but I always feel like I get more for my money with Leica. which is odd because most of the people out there see that Sony is more bang for your buck. I don’t necessarily agree. Leica vs Sony is basically like Apple versus PC

@@dr.travisrader5788 Yep, agreed on that analogue of Apple vs. PC. You will want to reach for the Leica, you will only reach for the Sony when you havre to.

Yep, agreed- unless you are shooting super fast subjects like race cars or need super stable IBIS like in the Panny cameras, the a7R5 is great for video!

That’s a bit of a tricky question - I have a video comparing the GFX to the SL3, so check that out, with the caveat that the tests in this video made me rethink my choice and I actually ended up selling the SL3 in favor of the GFX 100SII. I’ll be making a video soon about the S100II so stay tuned! That said, Leica glass is the best in the business. But Fuji has the MF sensor and thus bigger, MF lenses. So if you could somehow adapt the Fuji lenses to a FF camera, or vice versa, then I’d pick Leica every time. This is also why I’m so interested to see what Leica will do with its MF system when it gets officially announced next year. But since you can’t (at least in 2024), I’d say pretty comparable as a result of the sensor and lens size differences.

@@MarcAdesso how about x2d 😉

Agreed!

@@gurugamer8632 Don't know. I use an R5. Totally different machine.

hahaha

I ultimately sold all my XCD stuff, but my favorite V-series was the 55mm, and the old 80mm is magic. I’ll make a video about this, but I eventually decided if I was going to spend that much money on slow medium format, I’d rather put those funds into Phase or maybe the older H series

@@MarcAdesso Agreed! The PhaseONE XF system with those blue-ring lenses are outstanding, I hear. And PhaseONE's approach to colour is just beyond anything out there.

@@---us7qf Indeed- my challenge now is that no one in Austin, TX rents the Phase One equipment, and I want to try out a bunch of stuff before I buy into the system...

@@MarcAdesso Wait, What!? Austin Texas, no PhaseONE rental houses? I can hardly believe it. I would have thought PhaseONE would be everywhere in the US. Good luck Marc! I have my Hasselblad 503Cx (my dream camera); alongside 3 lenses: 80mm f/2.8 Planar, 50mm f/4 Distagon, and the 120mm f/4 Makro-Planar. The final lens in the system that I want, will be the 180mm f/4 Sonnar. I hope to pick this up in a few months. For the ones I already have, they are all CF. The 180, will also be CF. I will also look into the 907X CFV100c , as we head nearer to year end. I can't wait to see what sort of images I can create with the older lenses and this new back. Muahahahahaha! Cant afford those new XCD lenses, so will stick with these old Zeiss ones.

@@---us7qf yeah, I was surprised too - plenty of high-quality rental houses here for filmmaking, but none carry a phase (or really any high end photo gear).

Yeah, until Leica and Panny fix the exposure preview getting blown out when half-pressing the shutter, there is a lot of good with the Sony, that might even put that system above the others, even in terms of certain user experience/utility factors. I just wish Sony would pick up on its software quirks/missing photo features like highlight blinkies, customizable level horizon, and proper distance scale (in feet) for manual focusing! Seems like it would be a simple firmware update, but they never do it. Until them, I'm also keeping my eyes peeled for the Lumix S1R...hoping they give an update at tomorrow's GH7 launch!

I totally get it. I purchased the a7s3 on release and there were some odd missions that made me sell it. One being the lack of tap to focus using the app in picture mode. Wotht t hat said I still have my A7r3 that I purchased on day one. It's such a gem. Lumix is definitely the way to go for video, absolutely love it. Just wish they had the lens selection and Auto focus like sony. A Lumix s1r II with a stacked sensor would be sooooooo epic

@@AllCarsUnited Totally agree!!!! I wish camera companies would focus more on these little (software) user experience points, but at the same time, yes stacked sensors make a huge difference- one of the few areas with mirrorless where a change in hardware actually makes a significant change!

Why?

Right on, that's an interesting take. Do you think you could go just GFX and be okay? Or is it still too slow for you?

Me too! A7r5 and 100s, couldn’t be happier

@@Mattross52 this seems like a trend- wonder if this is the perfect combo for most photo gear heads these days! If Sony had put a joystock and better EVF on the a7CR, I would probably be rocking that with the GFX with no complaints. For me, the things that keep me from Sony cameras o/w are the ergonomics, and some missing photo features like highlight blinkies and a solid MF experience.

@MarcAdesso slow?¿? Gfx 100ii 5mm 1.7 wr super fast global shutter!!

For video, for sure!

Hahaha