Thanks for the feature updates on this beauty SL2: highly appreciated. How do you rate the SL2’s image quality in low light/high ISO conditions? How is the AF speed in normal and low light conditions? How would you rate the dynamic range of this new SL2? Could you give comparison information on this SL2 vs the a7 RIV? Have you been able to test the SL lenses vs M lenses on this new SL2?
excellent review.. thanks.. I tested this vs the GFX S and Hassey. I opted to save a few dimes by buying the SL, which has come down nicely in price. Love the Leica build and have been wanted one for a long time.
I was looking into a Hasselblad too even though the GFX has become ver affordble. However, the Hasselblad with its better viewfinder than the GFX accepts also Zeiss Milvus or Zeiss Otus lenses. So you are are not entirly bound on GFX glass.
SL2 is developed by Leica and made in Germany. L mount that SL, SL2 and CL using was co-developed with Panasonic and Sigma. It confirmed on Leica website and many other websites en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leica_SL2
Excellent presentation.The best I have seen. David, can you discuss the 20fps shooting for moving subjects? dpreview has come out openly saying that it is no good. Thanks.
Great video. Just got an A9II, and thinking of returning it, because of the poor touchscreen functionality, and I discovered a glitch in the OS, when programming the Cusotm Hold features, the DMF button cannot be used when accessing it from the programmed button. I called Sony and got the proverbial, “Oh, that’s how it was designed...yada” which is BS for - there is a glitch. So thinking about the switch. What is your thoughts on the focusing of the SL2, and the EVF? There were a few early reviews that were of a pre-production model that say the EVF is not good at all, and the focusing is slow, and not fast. Your thoughts? New sub.
I've found the EVF to be awesome on the SL2, especially as a long-time user of the SL (Typ 601), which already has a top-notch EVF. The SL2's finder is simply superior in every way. AF is a bit better than SL 601 and has worked well for my usage during my own testing. I'm mostly a landscape and travel shooter, not a wildlife or sports guy. So, take that for what's it worth. Generally, I set the camera in single field MF mode with the rear joystick set to AF-S On. I tap the rear joystick/button, lock focus and shoot. And for that way of working, it's spot-on. I need to play more with the Intelligent AF and tracking modes to get a better feel, but again, that's just not how I usually my cameras in my own photography. Stay tuned for more videos and for my full in-depth review on www.reddotforum.com.
You say that the Leica SL2 can accept Canon EF lenses with an adapter and be able to control aperture from the camera. What adapter is capable of doing that? I have a Canon24mm tilt shift and a Zeiss15mm Distagon that I'm reluctant to abandon, but neither has an aperture ring on the lens. It would be great to be able to use them on the SL2 and not have to shoot wide open. Please let me know.
The Novoflex SL-EOS adapter will offer full aperture control from the SL and SL2. leicastoremiami.com/products/novoflex-canon-eos-lens-adapter-to-leica-sl-body
Great question. I don't recall the exact setup for this video as it was a while ago. For the main camera, I used either the 24-90 SL or the 35 TL. For the close up, 90-280 SL. Hope this helps.
Great overview!! As an event photographer, I would love to have TTL compatibility with this Awesome camera. Do you think we can get this with a firmware update if Leica agrees to it? Will the camera be compatible with with uhs-3 cards when they become available?
Thanks. I used two Leica SL 601 cameras, one with a 24-90 (wide shot) and one with a 90-280 (close ups of the camera), sending over HDMI to external recorders (PIX-E7 and Atomos Shogun 7) in UHD 4K 24p, and capturing in ProRes 422 10-bit. No L-Log, just straight capture with minimal grading in Premiere.
"..the SL2 just improves pretty much on every single measure." Agreed. With the exception of removing direct GPS and adding the protruding strap lugs. I really hope those two do not become huge irritants.
I was waiting for the SL2. The SL was my only Leica option as it has GPS integrated. It is so disappointing that the left it out of the SL2! I do not understand why there are still cameras made without integrated GPS.
Very interesting and thank you For landscape photos and long pose (clouds, seaside,...) what do you suggest as a tripod for the SL2? Do M lenses give images as defined as the new SL lens?
For landscape photography, I use a Gitzo GT3542XLS without no center column and a Really Right Stuff BH-55 ball head. Rock solid combo. No. SL lenses consistently outperform M lenses. Some M lenses, like the 75 Noctilux and 90 Summilux definitely give the SL lenses a run for their money, but generally, SL lenses are sharper across the board. Even the legendary 50 APO-M is bested by the 50 APO-SL.
@@RedDotForum If you haven’t seen it yet, check out Leica Australia’s talk with the guy who designs their lens & you will understand why the SL lens are better. And they talk about vintage lens just a bit.
The differences/advantages of an external recorder: 1) For some resolution/frame rate combos, you're limited to 8-bit 4:2:0 vs.10-bit 4:2:2. This is less of a concern on the SL2 than the SL as the more common C4K24 and C4K30 can be recorded at 10-bit 4:2:2 internally. It only becomes an issue at the faster C4K60. 2) Run time. Internally, the camera is limited to 29min or 96GB file size, whichever is smaller. Externally, there is no limit. 3) The format itself. Internally, files are MOV or MP4, both of which use H.264 encoding. Editing H.264 4K60 is extremely taxing on just about any computer (even my 10-core workstation with 64GB of RAM and GTX1080Ti GPU), whereas external recorders will use more editing-friendly codecs like ProRes 422, which can even be edited smoothly on laptops. 4) Bigger screen and capture assistants. Having a 5 or 7 inch screen with waveform, vectorscope, RGB parade, false color, zebras, LUT preview, HDR viewing, and zooming while recording is very helpful. 5) Capacity and GB/dollar concerns. I use a 2TB SSD on my Atomos, which costs $230. For the same price, I'd only get a V90 128GB SDXC card - so 16x more capacity for the same price. I plan on doing a video on video production with the SL2 when I have more than one SL2. I can also edit directly off of the SSD which has a read/write speed of 550MBs. 6) Audio. You can record audio tracks directly into video using XLR balanced microphone inputs in addition to the camera HDMI. The mic preamps in recorders are superior to the camera's 3.5mm mic jack.
Wow! A full frame sensor H.264 10-bit 4:2:2. I can expect more beauty to finally come out in the finishing process from a "photo" sized camera now. I wonder what kind of ecosystem can be for the bluetooth, wifi, usb-c, hot shoe, etc. Hmm... Also looking into LockCircle's Metal Jacket 2 cage. www.lockcircle.com/store/?p=metaljacket/
I like this camera and justify the price difference with S1R. Some people do not. They should be excited about S1R then? But I can see some contempt towards SL2. Hidden admirers?
I have an M9 and have an itch to upgrade to something that shoots higher resolution video. Would the SL2 be a good one to go with as an M9 replacement? Also, what camera did you use to shoot this video?
EVF looked very sharp in my testing. It's a really incredible viewfinder experience. I haven't read the DPReview report yet, but will check it out and test with my SL2.
Meanwhile, I am very sure the SL3 will be much better than the SL2 ;-) Seriously, the SL2 does have some nice features which is lacking in the SL. But....compared to the Panasonic S1R, these features are actually quite similar :-)
2 comments : 1- For years, Leica claim that IBIS reduces dramatically the image quality. And all off a sudden it becomes a must have. Leica dares to say that. 2- 6000€ for a SL2 vs 7000 to 7600€ for a M10. What's wrong with Leica's rates ?? How will you justify the M price from now on ?
Marc With Leica, there is no such thing as price justification. You either buy or don’t. I don’t think their heads are way above water with their business model (a la Sony) but, they must sell enough to get by.
@@hioe04 I used to buy a Leica M6, R7, R8 and M240. Leica makes great cameras and optics. But the price of Q2 and SL2 bodies bring to light the extra billing of the M series.
When connecting an external monitor to HDMI, does the external monitor work in Stills shooting and not just in Video? The current SL only works in video mode. Which is a pain when you need to take a stills image in a cramped environment and have to position the camera up against a wall or at very high or very low viewpoints.
Yes, when connected via HDMI, a clean signal is displayed on an external monitor, either in PHOTO or VIDEO mode. You can also use the Leica FOTOS app to view and trigger remotely.
Tethering is via USB 3.1 Type C. Leica will be releasing new software: Lieca Image Shuttle SL2 3.7 and Lightroom Leica Tether Plugin 2.0. Both will be available for Windows and Mac.
Panasonic S1r for me . Why buy SL2 when too much of Panasonic tech on this SL2 and not made in Germany plus twice the price . I had the leica SL and sold it and buy Panasonic S1R so far the Panasonic out perform the SL imo .
The SL2 uses the same battery as the SL. GPS is now handled by connection to FOTOS app but we haven't been able to test this yet. So much information to cover in one video! We are considering creating more targeted videos, each tackling specific aspects of the SL2.
You can use Leica Image Shuttle and hotfolder capture in C1. I doubt that Phase One will add native tether support as Leica and Phase One are competitors.
It is a beautiful camera for sure but if you are a photographer , X1D mark II or GFX50s will be better option. I don't believe this camera can give better IQ than medium format... 6K is just too much for a FF camera. 4000-4500 USD would be nice.
@@bravolee7222 no they have both same Sony sensor and it can produce 14bit raw files and 8 bit Tiff. If you want true 16bit, you should go with GFX100 camera.Hasselblad says X1D is 16 bit but it is fake 16bit because sensor is not capable to produce 16 bit if you check Sony website.
Imhotep397 No, it’s not. The SL2 outperforms the S1R in numerous metrics from frame rate to video capabilities to sensor micro lenses and higher quality construction. Of course, Leica has taken advantage of some available components like sensors and IBIS architecture, just as Nikon, Fuji and Hasselblad use Sony sensors in their cameras. Doesn’t mean that an X1D is a rebadged GFX. The SL2 is designed and built by Leica in Germany, and uses components and technology from partners where it makes sense.
