You're one of the few people on this platform I could listen for hours talking about cameras and photography without getting bored, frustrated, or impatient. Perhaps it's because you come here to share what you love doing and there's no hidden agenda - you're not trying to 'sell' anything, there is no 'word from our sponsor', and you're not even trying to push your audience to do the same as you do. That's why for me you're the good kind of 'influencer' (sorry for the buzzword): the perfect person to take a photo-walk with and engage in conversations about photography. After watching your videos, I always feel like taking one of my several cameras and go out and shoot. That's what I did today as well - too bad it rained and evening came early! Keep doing what you do! Cheers, //Rick
NOTE: I totally misunderstood a review that outlined where the GPS hump is. The GPS hump is actually the smaller hump to the left of the EVF when looking into the EVF. Like I said, not a technical review 😂
I agree totally with your assessment of the Leica SL. I remember the first time that I took my SL on assignment with my M 35 summicron (version IV) . My first exposure I literally lost my breath. The viewfinder so clear. The sound of the shutter! Let's put it this way, a client of mine, said the camera sounds so elegant. Four buttons on the back is just genius. The menus nice. Price of the extra battery typical Leica. Your review of the SL is the best I've seen.
This is the greatest camera Leica ever made. It’s the sensor. The SL2 looks clinical, digital. Put vintage lenses on the 601 and you’ll have no desire for any other camera.
I own the Leica SL 601, and shoot M glass manual focus lenses. I really don’t think any sensor of any brand to date has exceeded the images from the original SL. They are simply the most pleasing images of any digital sensor. Not to mention the build quality and futuristic 4 pad interface. You can easily pick 601 images from lineups, incredible camera.
I'm a Japanese person living in Japan. I used to use SL601. I'm currently using the SL2-s, but when I look at past photos taken with the SL601, I feel that the colors are unique. The colors are very rich and the texture is like an oil painting. The design, texture, and construction of the camera are excellent.
I just bought a mint SL 601 after watching your video. After using Canon, Nikon, Sony & Fuji mirrorless over the last few years it is like a breath of fresh air!! So lovely to use, feels so much more like a 'traditional' camera, less like a computer with a lens, I love it!! thanks so much for the video!!
One of my all time favorites. Quick tip. If you don’t plan to use the in camera microphone at all, put a piece of tape over the vents on the top of the prism. Dust can get in the viewfinder and it’s impossible to remove without changing the entire unit out.
Very good user review, thank you ! I own it since 2019, it's an extraordinary Leica, with gorgeous SOOC DNG colors. Yes it's big, but still a joy to use with any kind of lenses. Definitively a keeper !
I've had the SL now for 2-years and your comments/experiences are spot-on with mine. Back in 2015 when the SL was introduced I had one in my hands at the Leica Shop [coming from M-series] and totally dismissed it if only for the size/weight. Times change, with the used price drop, still 'modern' specs and features (at least for me!), I thought 'why not' give it a go. It's been great as you say - maybe one of my favorite cameras of all times - with manual vintage lenses, it's simple to use customizable and accessible menu, the super clean body look, and yes, the files (Leica used a custom sensor just for this body). I am interested in your arca-swiss bottom bracket as I am thinking it may have a strap lug on the battery side so the camera will hang vertical.
Another great video and the channel gets better with every camera you review…without doubt my favourite photography channel….your enthusiasm and passion is infectious , though it doesn’t help in keeping prices down 😂😂…..Wonderful channel , and congratulations for what you’ve accomplished !!
The prices of a new SL are practically identical to those of an SL2. When you talk about prices going down..., are you referring to second hand prices?
@@JoseJulioCuairanGarcia Hi , I was referring to the general prices of older cameras that go up in price , after favourable exposure on RU-vid , it's the downside of telling everybody how good something is !!.....good though for people selling cameras !....Happy Christmas and a Great New Year to ALL !!
What a really entertaining video, thoroughly enjoyed your take on things. I had the SL, and sold it but I wish I had it back. I’m a Leica M shooter mainly but miss the SL. Keep up the great work.
Another beautiful video! That particular camera, the Leica SL, dragged me back to photography after about a decade of absence. It’s a strange and long story that is pointless to share at length but this Leica means so much for me! The most interesting thing is that I can’t afford a Leica SL (basically, I can’t afford any Leica to this point) but it works like a beacon for my photography. My dream is to buy a Leica SL2 paired with an M mount lens (ideally the APO Summicron 35) one day… but for now, I am enjoying photography with a “modest” Sony mirrorless and a TTArtisan lens. There’s no bad cameras after all 😉. Thank you again for your videos. Keep up the good work!
Thanks! I'm hoping to get one of these one day. I think you'd like the smaller I-series lenses: 24mmF3.5, 45mmF2.8 and 90mmF2.8 -- I suspect that Sigma built them to potentially be Leica-branded L-mount lenses; they certainly take after the M lenses by being all-metal and compact, albeit with AF.
really nice review and charming images, thanks for sharing. You know how you can buy, use and then sell a camera and immediately say, fuck why did I sell that. the 601 was one. Hell, I even had an SL2 which I let go too but yet, the 601 somehow really melted into my DNA. Maybe because of all the travels and memories it captured or the brutal yet elegant design of a milled piece of aluminum. I've moved back to the M system and love the M11, I think it'll soon assimilate into my DNA as the 601 did. Ok, back to unloading 8x10 sheet film and developing. thanks again
I had a friend who had that camera in 2016. He let me borrow it a few days, and i enjoyed it. As an old (60) photographer, my eyes just don't do well with EVFs, even newer one, and I've pretty much stuck with DSLRs even though I own a Canon R6 and a Fujifilm XT-3.
Enjoyed your review immensely. I felt as though we were having a conversation unlike many camera reviewers. I have the Leica SL2-S with the Summicron 50 version V, Zeiss 35mm F1.4 Distagon and the Sigma “twins” 35 &65mm F2s. All wonderful lenses with this camera. I do agree with you about the weight and size penalty. It can be a work out with a 70-200 F2.8 Panny. You also mentioned the files produced by the SL & SL2-S...they are incredible and because of the image quality, ethereal colors and tones, the weight of this camera is the last thing I think about. Some of the images I have created are organic and soulful...that is to say whenever I refer back to the images they evoke so much emotion. That’s what photography is all about. I have even used my SL2-S for sports photography for my college aged Son and high school-aged Daughter who are track and cross country runners. It did wonderfully in AF-S at medium drive speed. It’s definitely not a sports DSLR or Sony A9 but it gets the job done. With the Summicron and Distagon attached I have to slow down and be in deliberate about creating images. I just subscribed to your channel and look forward to future reviews.
Wow Edilson, thank you so much for sharing and I very much align with your thoughts on the camera. There is definitely just some degree of magic in the files and paired with those lenses, that is a pure delight.
Try the Lumix 20-60 on the SL. It is a very good lens especially at 20mm, underrated even. Love that lens for what it is. 20mm is a great starting point for a zoom lens.
The typ 601 is my favorite camera ever! I too use mainly vintage lenses on it, Leica R, M and screw mount as well as M42. It has really good video features and has a base ISO of 50, also now that I've gotten used to having built-in GPS, I don't think I want to do without it. The newer SL series cameras don't! I'm having second thoughts about trading it in for a new SL2-S after already having agreed to. Just a small correction to something you said in your video, the GPS is not located in the EVF hum, it's in the small protruding rectangular box next to it. The camera IS big, it IS heavy and that is definitely a drawback. I'm kind of hoping Leica comes out with a new compact full frame CL or TL model but in the meantime, I'll continue to use my TL2 when traveling light.
Yes! Totally my misunderstanding on the hump and I pinned a comment to try and clarify but it really is such a gem of a camera. I can understand hesitating on the upgrade though I'm sure the SL2 will be a beast in a great way as well. I dream of that compact full frame with this older sensor which will never happen but that is why it's a dream....
Spot on. Amazing with the Nikkor 85mm f1.4 and the 55mm f1.2. Also with any M glass, obviously. The colours straight from camera are gorgeous, better than the original M10, it's direct contemporary. I'd love to see you review the M10M, you'd go utterly insane!
Every time I watch a review like this I want to buy the camera and I love the simplicity but that one is a bit rich for my budget. A recently purchased Canon 28 2.8 IS attached to the old 6D is keeping my G.A.S at bay for now. The 6D is a camera that is under appreciated IMO.
Cutie reviewing a Leica!!! Your style and Lulu's are breath of fresh air when it comes to talking about photography and camera gear!! Keep it up could listen to you both all day!
Severals week ago, I wondered your thoughts on SL, & now I got it!! Thank you 😊 I think I should stick to my M8 for it's size & images the CCD sensor produces.
I really enjoyed this review, even though I am very technically minded. So thank you! I agree that the SL has occasional issues with aliasing. But, as other people have said, the colour out of this thing is remarkable. I am still considering buying one for the sake of using vintage SLR lenses with it. That could be quite fun. I prefer telephoto lenses, and there are plenty of cheap and interesting vintage telephoto lenses, like the Pentax Takumars etc. I think that the SL3 is a solid challenge to medium format, but that is a totally different story for another day.
This is just perfect for me. I use the SL (Typ 601) with the additional vertical grip with all my Nikon F mount lenses and even expanded the system with some excellent Leica R mount, PENTAX K mount, Canon FDn and minolta MD lenses. The body handles all of the beautiful "heavy metal" stuff very well as if the glass was made for this body. Even larger lenses like the 300mm 1:2.8 Ai-S or the 50-300mm 1:4.5 Ai balance perfectly on a monopod with the SL. I also have a collection of M mount lenses which I tried the first time with the SL but now they are back on my M bodies, the M8 and M9-P. There's not much sense in my opinion putting such compact lenses on a large body. The whole point of the M system becomes nonsense in doing so. Btw the hump in the middle of the body is just the screen and its optics, the hump on the left incorporates the GPS module which is a huge benefit in comparison to the later SL2 series.
@@OneMonthTwoCameras The SL menu is beautifully designed, in looks (love the no label look with larger bars), accessibility, customizing. I haven't use the newer SL2 or SL2-S, but their going with the 3-button system seems like a compromise to an across Leica system familiar, and it was 'right' from the start.
Very cool video and personal review about my favorite combo (SL + summicron 40mm). I am using the SL in 4:3 crop mode which is really a nice feature as I love this aspect ratio. Keep doing what you do! Thanks.
I have an SL and I love it. It’s a big camera but I never find it heavy in use. A friend lent me the Leica SL 24-90mm lens and besides being WAY above my pay grade I found it just too heavy & awkward. Who is the camera for? It’s definitely for vintage lens enthusiasts and winter shooters. With the shutter button located off on its own and the large back buttons I shoot like it’s a summer day with my warm and bulky “OR Exit Sensor Gloves”, never exposing a finger on a -20 degree Canadian winter day. With the weather sealed body I simply use a cheap but excellent lens like the Konica 40mm F/1.8 and happily shoot in bad weather. For simplicity, I program the long press function of the ‘hard to reach’ button on the front of the SL to format my card, while a long press of the video button gives me my profiles (B&W, Colour, video for you?) so I rarely need to access the menus. I love this camera so much I might just by another and tuck it away for the day mine craps out :) BTW the RRS bottom plate is magnetic and there’s a place to tuck away an Allen key so it’s always handy. Mine’s been there for a year with no problem. Check the RSS web site to see where it’s located. Long live the SL! (or at least mine)
Amazing tip on the RRS plate; I did not know that! This camera is such a great one and I too have the front button programmed for a long press format option. It drives me crazy how most other manufacturers don't allow formatting to be assigned to a custom button. Well done Leica.
@@OneMonthTwoCameras just a bit much money for me. plus my em1.2 has great colors too. its a bit more on the yellowish side of the greens mostly, instead of slightly bluish. may need to check the s1 for colors. might get that some day. colors wont be too far of from lumix mft i guess.
@@OneMonthTwoCameras Yes, 100%. The native SL lenses probably have not, but that Leitz lens you’re shooting is outstanding and Sigma offers a number of superb Art lenses in SL mount. Great stuff, thx.
Ali is awesome. Generous with my inane queries, truly love what she does. I don't really get why you need so many cameras, I believe there might be some gear obsession but I will admit that it was Ali's sharing that prompted me to upgrade to get the Leica SL type 601 which is an amazing camera for how I shoot, I also love using vintage glass and it is just a simple love affair with this camera/lens pairing. In terms of the content, I don't know. I guess make more videos? Selfishly I hope to see more SL videos comparing between lenses, that would be totally awesome
Well… I’m selling my entire micro four thirds kit to buy a Leica SL and a couple lenses. After editing some 200+ pictures from my Lumix G9 and then editing 20 pictures from my Leica M10 I was extremely disappointed in the micro four thirds camera. The pictures don’t pop. The Leica look aside, the full frame look and level of detail is something I want now. I blame my M10 for spoiling me and I do this as a hobby so I don’t need the latest and greatest. So this Leica SL for its price while still being a genuine Leica is perfect. Love how simple the button layout is, another thing that my M10 spoiled me with. I love having a minimal amount of buttons in a simple layout. I’ll be adapting my M mount lenses on this as well as buying a few of the sigma lenses and the sigma 24-70mm 2.8. Im excited to own one of these and it’ll definitely be with me for the long run. Thanks for the informative video from an actual owners point of view 🙏🏻
Hmmm.. The “pop” usually has to do with composition and how you shoot than the gear. To start, try for a bit more separation - in focus, tonal range, color. You’re probably getting a bit more dof separation just because of the larger m10 sensor. On the g9, try faster lenses and shooting with wider aperture for the same composition.
You will love the SL. I had the G9 and actually got on really well with it but it needed the Leica 10-25mm 1.7 lens to satisfy me. But you’re used to the size so the SL will be a great evolution for you.
@@OneMonthTwoCameras Cool, didn’t know you had a G9! I will be keeping my G9 and a few lenses and selling my Lumix GX85, Leica 42.5mm f/1.2, and Olympus 40-150mm. Those are my least used pieces of gear and will easily fund a used Leica SL with a Leica M to L adapter to use my voigtlander M mount lenses from my M10 with it. Then if I see that the Leica SL system suits most of my needs for photography then I’ll consider getting the SL2 and sell off the rest of my Micro Four Thirds gear. But I’m hoping that the SL will be enough for me and won’t consider the SL2 after some months of use. Would be kinda nice to have one brand making up my entire digital photography camera bodies (except for the Olympus E-300 which you also sold me on a few months ago lol)
I was looking forward to your review of this. I bought an M10 and I’m still trying to get over the financial shock. I feel like the SL gets similar results but is a lot more affordable and more versatile. And I imagine that the focus peaking is also a lot better on the SL. I just do like the smaller size of the M10.
Hi Ali. I understand your love for the Leica Type 601; for a start it has the best build-quality compared with cameras by other brands. And yes with fewer buttons it's easier to use. I own the Leica SL2 which has a 47MP sensor, sometimes I need the extra resolution. I also have the smaller Leica CL which has a 24MP APS-C sensor, this smaller one is my general purpose camera and also the one I use for street-photography; but the SL2 is for my creative photography. I have a bias for ultra-wide angle lenses, so I find that I primarily use the 16-35mm f4 majority of the time on my SL2; and the equivalent zoom on my smaller CL. Even though Leica has discontinued the CL cameras, nevertheless you can still buy them new for $2,500 body only, due to it's considerably smaller size you will find it very portable and convenient. As I am 49 years old I was taught film photography back in the mid 90's, so I developed a love for manual-focus film SLRs, I love them for their simplicity and ease of use, I wish Nikon would manufactured a 36MP digital back for my Nikon F3T. You may have sussed from my use of English that I am not American, I am British from the U.K.. I don't expect you to reply to this, bye.
Thanks for this review! I'm also thinking about this camera for hosting my vintage glass. I have a Pentax 645 75mm lens (I use it adapted to 35mm) and I'd love to be able to use it on a full frame digital camera.
I can't wait for the end of year roll up :) At least we will be getting back to some decent weather after the wettest Autumn (Fall) /early winter I can remember.
This review is very interesting. My personal opinion is that the use of Leica bodies, of any type, makes sense because they allow the use of Leica optics. Buying, at a high price, a Leica body and then grafting it by adapting it to the lens of different invoice does not allow the joint sensor-lens performance that the manufacturer has designed. Naturally the Leica SL is a wonderfully built camera, but to give perfection, it must be accompanied by optics with "L" mount which are of the highest quality (I repeat, also due to the synergy with the "SL" body), but also, unfortunately, very expensive. It is also true that the use of NON Leica "L" optics, perhaps even "vintage" of well-known, high quality, can give good or even excellent results
OMG, you are a "bad" influencer, Ally. I was looking at one from KEH in a "Like new" condition. I have been shooting with my ME240 and M6. With the digital rangefinder, focus calibration with various fast primes, notably Voigtlander glass, has become a big issue, unless I use the external Visoflex viewfinder which kind of defeats the purpose of compactness and stealth. I miss a lot of focus with wide open apertures especially if I need to do focus and recompose with the rangefinder. You know what I mean? This SL with Eyeres EVF could be the ticket. Love the images you 've put out with this rig. I think my pocket might become lighter going into the new year. We 'll see. I don't know whether I would go back to Sony after this journey with Leica.
Question! Hi, Love all your videos. I was wondering, what exactly is the adapter you are using in this video? I like that you said you can focus closer... Thanks
I think you’d enjoy the current crop of new Chinese fast primes, as in f1 at 50mm, 35mm, etc from 7Artisan, Laowa on this camera. For the most part these are new manufactured but based on old optical formulations. They all have character, definite optical distinctiveness and signature. Get them used from the usual suspects of online retailers. Super inexpensive for pretty good quality glass. No price premium from nostalgia or drummed up internet hype.
big...but compared to the Sigma sd Quattro? Does the sd Quattro feel as big (other than the lenses) as the SL? would love to hear that comparison, ergonomically and size-wise.
if you dont mind the bigger body, this system is really hard to beat for the current price! around 1700- 2200, obviously that's still a lot of money, but if your looking for a Leica Digital camera I say look no further
Great review! I am a bit on the fence, I bought an M10 last year and I love it so much, but I am so curious about the SL. Mostly because it has the 65:24 crop. Have you played around with this setting? I will keep the M10 regardless and would like to pick up the SL I just haven’t seen much info about the 65:24 crop and wanted to get your perspective since the video was so informative. Thanks! Also, the diopter, OMG lol might not seem like much, but I bought 3 leica diopters over the past 2 years. 2 for the m240 (I lost one!) and 1 for the m10 so having it built in is very nice haha
I feel like they are very different in output. Both outstanding for image quality but - and this is a really odd way of saying it but it sort of gives a visceral way of feeling the difference - the SDQH files are like a medium format slide that is printed on matte paper. In other words it has grain and texture. The SL is much smoother like a frame of Portra 160 negative film printed on a demi-gloss paper. It has a much more buttery feel. If my work was centered on landscape I would go for the SDQH where as the SL would definitely be more optimal for portraits. Both with great IQ but I would venture to guess you could print larger and with more detail from the SDQH.
@@apoptosisz that’s largely just the camera and lens combo itself :) you can find all the technical details here as well as swipe for the SOOC file : instagram.com/p/Cj3R_DgJrkZ/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
This is the one I bought and I find it works very well - Haoge Macro Focus Lens Mount Adapter for Leica M LM, Zeiss ZM, Voigtlander VM Lens to Leica L Mount Camera Such as T, Typ 701, Typ701, TL, TL2, CL (2017), SL, Typ601, Panasonic S1 / S1R / S1H Copper a.co/d/2lyclSe
Hi, nice review! It’s one of those cameras I’ll always consider when it comes by at that price point. I think I saw you use a Pentax ltd on the SL. What was that experience like?
@@l.nauwelaerts195 that is correct. If however you use the Leica branded adapter and have 6 bit coded M lenses, it will recognize the lens and correct for it as well as capture EXIF data.
Why is it that when I'm considering buying a new camera, you upload a video about that camera? I feel like the universe is trying to tell me something...
