Leica SL3 vs. Fujifilm GFX 100ii - Medium Format Rant-ish 

You can also swipe from right to left on the SL3 screen to switch between photo and video

I have X-H2S and X100vi. I love handling X-H2s more, if Fuji made 2 changs. 1. Rotating D-Pad. 2. Vertical Front Dial infront of the shutter release button.

Interesting comparison, Marc. I really like the customizability of the GFX 100ii with the addition of the two buttons on the front and the three in front of the sub-monitor. All of these buttons are customizable so it’s easy to set up your exposure triangle - actually I find it just as easy to set it up as the SL3.

What lens do you advise as a starter SL3 set?

Im starting to like your channel, Which is better for low light photography past 3200iso in comparison to the SL2, would it be the SL2-S or the new SL3? And how far apart in low light performance difference are the sl2-s and sl3 from each other, thanks!

I've been going through a similar assessment and conclusion myself. I just sold off all my Sony gear to go all in with the L-Mount Alliance starting with the SL3. It's not the fastest camera, but I really enjoy the experience of shooting with it. I also like shooting with M glass on it, more so then with any other mirrorless body that has an adapter. Plus the sensor on the SL3 is supposed to be optimized for adapted M glass. So that plus the diverse choices in L Mount glass sold me on switching over. I just felt more inspired when shooting with the SL system over the Sony Alpha system. I also picked up a Lumix S5IIx as a secondary L Mount body as well as for video work, if any were to come up in my workflow. The S5IIx is a very capable speedy camera and it feels like it compliments very well with the SL3. It's faster, and the AF (especially with the latest firmware) is much more accurate and faster. It almost feels like the S5IIx is basically an SL3-S. Is it as fun to shoot as the SL3? Absolutely not! It actually kind of feels like my old Sony Alpha bodies, which initially put me off. But I've slowly gotten over it. When I need something faster than the SL, this camera is perfect as a general tool. My Fujifilm X kit has remained in my possession, and I've had mixed feeling about it. Fuji was what restarted my stagnant photography career 7 years ago, and so I have a bit nostalgia whenever I pick up the Fujfilm bodies. The X-T5 is by all accounts the perfect X-T body and I even like the ergonomics and feel in the hand the X-H2 and X-H2S bring, feeling almost like a mini Canon RF system. Additionally I love the optics of the Fuji glass when used in photography, and of course the well loved color science it presents. But I always seem to prefer shooting with full frame cameras when it counts, and although I continue to keep the Fuji system around, I still naturally pickup a full frame camera over the Fuji almost every time, I don't exactly know why because Fuji's image capabilities have evolved nicely over time. However it's apparent the system does still have some SERIOUS issues. AF maturity was on a roll, but with recent firmware updates, it feels like the AF performance has devolved and the video AF is practically un-useable. Exposure in their EVF's is often times inaccurate, making it difficult sometimes to expose correctly. Their new LM lenses were supposed to be the solution, and although there are many marked improvements in AF performance in photography, the lenses feel more clinical than their older counterparts, where character is lacking, auto exposure with these lenses are still very "steppy" and not smooth, and it always seems that the lenses are the achilles heal of this system when comparing to other systems. So I'm still at a cross roads of getting rid of all my Fujifilm kit, and just going one and done with Leica, or if I still keep the Fujifilm around for "fun". One thing I do like about the Fuji is it's a great AF walk around system when it comes to size and weight and amazing for travel. But then again I can get a lot better at manual focusing (which I very much enjoy) and shoot with M bodies and glass, and have the ultimate full frame portability. I also have a feeling Lumix is about to release some more compact L Mount body solutions this year, which will compete with Sony on bodies like the A7C series. Lastly on the Medium Format. The Fuji Medium format files have always been incredible, but I don't think the camera experience has been that positive. The lenses are still too slow, I also feel like they lack innovation compared to the more forward thinking Hasselblad body, and although the AF is way better on the Fuji then Hasselblad, it's still Fuji AF, which I generally find unreliable and when you are shooting with such high resolution, missed focus is hard to hide in composition. And I totally agree the GFX100S II would be a lot better in the old GFX 50S button and dials configuration. That's my 2-cents!

I don't know about Fuji but have used Hassy x2d for some time. The X2d blacks out the viewfinder when you take an image . This makes quite a difference when you shoot with a SL-series camera if you shoot portraits. With my SL2-S I feel more connected. I can't comment on the Fuji though.

Marc, how to do you find the ease of viewing the LCD of the SL3 in direct sunlight? I hear that is one criticism of the camera.

I am confused, does gfx100II front and rear dials come not assigned by default or something? All my gfx cameras came preset and exposure triangle is there from the start. It takes like a minute or two to make a basic setup of gfx and if you are a simple man you don't need to touch any of the menus except 'format' ever again. But when you want your camera to be more than one thing, you set it up to be a square format b&w camera, and switch between different 'cameras' in a millisecond. Menu on gfx is not the best, and there are some confusing logical bombs there but you cannot blame it for having too many options. It is a benefit, not a problem.

If you have the s5iix and use it for video/lowlight, would you still get the sl3? Or go for the sl2

I’m new to the gfx system and I got the 100 ii, I honestly love the aesthetic, I’m glad they didn’t make like the XT line, I like their futuristic kind like of camera, specially without the EVF, which I struggle cause I like the minimal look without it, but I also really like using the evf

There is an option to turn that exposure adjustment I’ll see if I can find it

well done. how is the low light performance on the sl3? is it as good as the sl2s?

Love the gear talk, Marc! I’m happy for your SL3 journey, although some of my friends have had huge issues with it: camera freezes, images getting deleted… In terms of colors, the best ones in my purely subjective opinion are from the original SL Typ 601. The SL2 colors are good but definitely different from the SL. In terms of ergonomics and overall design, the SL is unbeatable.

You can customise everything on Fuji, including Q page, but yeah totally agree, I am going nuts trying to do basic things on GFX, so need to spend another few hours setting it up again to simplify.

I got invited to the Leica store here in LA to test it out.. definitely snappier than the SL2. How do you like the IQ compared to the SL2 though? Had to sell mine off since the focusing had issues even after getting it repaired in Wetzlar. I still have my sl2-s and my 24-90 and 90-280 lenses plus a canon R5c with the RF 24-70 + 70-200 combo for my high res photo needs but it’s just so different. I got the canon more for video and I’m debating if I should trade it in just to grab the SL3 and keep everything Leica. Haha 1st world problems we have on here.

You RU-vidrs are something else !

I've dabbled with Leica and I can afford an SL3 and some Leica glass but I just don't think the cost is justified. It's subjectively worse than GFX and that keeps me away. I haven't even bought a GFX yet because I'm just not sure if it's really going to be any better than my Nikon Z8. I do still keep my old Leica SL 601 around though because it's fun to use with vintage glass. Even though it's old it still has a better viewfinder than 90% of new cameras on the market.

Did you consider the Hasselblad x2d?

Great video, Marc. Yes, I love my SL APO's. But, "as soon as you put Sigma glass on its regular medium format." I don't know about that. I don't know about Sigma but I'll take my 50mm Voigtlander Nokton f1.0 over the Noctilux every day of the week. And...it's actually affordable.

SL3 and the 50 SL APO is all you need, APO's smoke the 1.4 beast IMO.

I jumped to GFX 100 II from R5. I kept it for speed, never mind. I totally agree that menu in GFX is horrible, and you can setup things you don’t need to setup and can’t setup what you need (for example in aperture priority you can not tell the desired range of SS and camera doesn’t recognize your zoom values). Need to say a word to defend the landing menu. First of all you may setup it, and it’s not like landing, it’s Q menu, it’s do job (mostly) right after you painly setup it )))

Talking about lenses that have the "retro/manual" aesthetics... I bought the blue Nikon Zf, and could not bare getting one of those plastic "special edition" Z lenses to go along with it. Yes, they are light and are convenient, but I really hate all that poor build-quality lenses. Fuji had those beautifully built older lenses. I only wish when camera OEMs release a retro-styled camera, they make an effort with a set of lenses to that follow a similar build and aesthetics.

Removing the dials is obviously not a cost saving measure when Fuji's most expensive camera (the OG GFX100) didn't have them. Fuji has identified (correctly in my estimation) that professional photographers, who do not just take photos for fun, want to be able to control their cameras quickly, and without taking them away from the eye. Ever since Luigi Colani's influence in Canon camera designs, SLRs and DLSRs were made with such practical purposes in mind. It doesn't make for attractive, fun, or retro-cool cameras, but it does make them more usable, which is what matters for a professional photographer.

Study your Leica set up, there is a set up for exposure permanent.

I own Leica and Sony. The sl3 is a less capable, twice the price a7r5. I like both, but there should be more than just a slightly different user experience for that kind of difference.

On the SL3 turn off enhancement live view.

An the winner are... Fuji GFX100SII and Sony A7RV !!!

Except for the price tag Leica glass is nothing special. Their SL lenses, and especially their APOs are well corrected, but other manufacturers make well corrected lenses too. If you are seeing any differences in resolution compared to the best Sony/Nikon/Canon/Fuji/Sigma lenses then you are not conducting rigorous enough testing, and are letting biases cloud your judgment. If it is the rendering you prefer, then that is a matter of taste, and there are nearly infinite potential preferences in rendering, depending on the mixes of aberrations in a lens.

Nikon Z8, best balance of IQQ and money and lenses!

I don't understand why you criticise Fuji for not having retro dials on their GFX cameras, and some of their X cameras, when the very Leica you are praising in comparison also doesn't have retro dials. At least be consistent by praising the Q3 or M11, and criticising the SL3.

I think the real reason why the Fujifilm GFX100 II was so easily available on launch day up until today is because of the bad reputation of the original Fujifilm GFX 10O. Just my opinion and I could be wrong. Not that the Leica SL3 is exactly a saint in the camera world, especially with it STILL BEING PLAGUED by a mediocre battery that forces the customer to shell out even more money for an extra battery, and it still has focusing issues. The only companies that seem to listen are Fuji and Sony. Talking to Canon is like talking to the walls, they JUST DON’T LISTEN. And Nikon, with the exception of the Z9 and Z8 seems to have enemies working in their design and technology departments. The Nikon Zf would have been a huge hit had the megapixel count been 45MP or higher, because in this rare instance the design team got the retro design oh-so- right. But then their Z50mm f1.2 is such a giant lens that you will not leave the house with it, besides it not being aesthetically pleasing to look at. PEOPLE WANT TO SHOW OFF THEIR GEAR. On the other hand the Fujifilm XT-5 is such a gorgeous high megapixel camera you just wonder why they can’t make one in full frame. Sony DOES listen on many many levels which is why they are so far ahead, but their camera bodies are so industrial looking. I’d say if there was a beauty contest between cameras the Leica SL3, the Fujifilm XT-5 and the Nikon Zf would be clear winners all around. The retro design of the Nikon Zf and the Fujifilm XT-5 would tie for second place while the Leica SL3 and it’s luxurious looks would win. I’m a Canon shooter from the days of the 1DX Mark II, now using the Nikon Z9

Sorry GFX has menus because it has way more features You basically had an agenda to trash the GFX from the start

Simple menu is all we want and nothing else. Get a Sony if you like loosing your time in menu settings. Leica and Hasselblad are not for amateurs like you.

ISO is not real, the exposure triangle is a lie. A new simplified menu/control schema for modern digital cameras should ignore ISO for anything except a toggle for high/low gain (for cameras with the Aptina developed dual gain implementation).

Fuji production is cheap chain style production so the product is. Leica is hand made assembly line high end product. Not a question of market demand at all. You are wrong.

IF image quality is what you strive for, you need to try Phase One. I sold all my Fuji(s), Leica(s), Hasselblad(s) and never looked back. But if you are deciding between those two. Go with Fuji. You want the 16bit color.