Digital mirrorless Leica "SL" (rumor)

[Derrel]

Steve Huff hasnt handled a SL yet, but is already rather critical of it.

Amusingly he still has missed the main issue: the SL is a HUGE HEAVY BLOCK OF METAL.

As the picture from the Ming Thein pre-review clearly show, the camera with the only available lens (24-90mm f2.8-4.0) is larger than a Nikon D810 with an AF-S 24-120mm f4 VR convenience zoom.

Given Steve Huffs comments for example on the Nikon Df, I think its thus very unlikely that Huff will ever warm up with the Leica SL

I read Ming's preview...the camera seems to have a few issues, and the lens is MASSIVE and HEAVY, especially for the focal length range. Any lens like that that uses 82mm filters is a fattie...it's like having a Folger's coffee can mounted onto a small body, and as is obvious from the photos, the camera does not look like it could handle lenses in that kilogram and up weight class--that's one of the types of lenses that really do function, handle, carry,shoot better on a full-sized body like a D3x or D4,etc..--a body with a palm swell, ergonomically-designed handgrip. The dPreview pic shows the "grip" is just a simple, straight-line swell...this thing appears like it has 1950's ergonomics--meaning "none".

It seems like there are some REALLY nice aspects to the SL, but also some weaknesses. I was shocked, truly shocked, to see it compared against the D810 and 24-120VR...wow--it is more offensive tackle than linebacker!!! I was surprised to read that the lens suffers at the longer end of the zoom range...not really all that great for a $4,400 or whatever mid-range zoom...

My guess is that HUff will not like its handling--he's a carry and shoot constantly type of guy. However, the SL might prove itself to be a nice test platform for M-series and other lenses.

 

[jake337]

I'm still wondering if Leicas 30x45 cmos sensor will work in this sized body?
If it was possible it would make a MF Leica SL the lightest, thinnest medium format body available with a CMOS sensor.

 

[runnah]

Steve Huff hasnt handled a SL yet, but is already rather critical of it.

Amusingly he still has missed the main issue: the SL is a HUGE HEAVY BLOCK OF METAL.

As the picture from the Ming Thein pre-review clearly show, the camera with the only available lens (24-90mm f2.8-4.0) is larger than a Nikon D810 with an AF-S 24-120mm f4 VR convenience zoom.

Given Steve Huffs comments for example on the Nikon Df, I think its thus very unlikely that Huff will ever warm up with the Leica SL

I read Ming's preview...the camera seems to have a few issues, and the lens is MASSIVE and HEAVY, especially for the focal length range. Any lens like that that uses 82mm filters is a fattie...it's like having a Folger's coffee can mounted onto a small body, and as is obvious from the photos, the camera does not look like it could handle lenses in that kilogram and up weight class--that's one of the types of lenses that really do function, handle, carry,shoot better on a full-sized body like a D3x or D4,etc..--a body with a palm swell, ergonomically-designed handgrip. The dPreview pic shows the "grip" is just a simple, straight-line swell...this thing appears like it has 1950's ergonomics--meaning "none".

It seems like there are some REALLY nice aspects to the SL, but also some weaknesses. I was shocked, truly shocked, to see it compared against the D810 and 24-120VR...wow--it is more offensive tackle than linebacker!!! I was surprised to read that the lens suffers at the longer end of the zoom range...not really all that great for a $4,400 or whatever mid-range zoom...

My guess is that HUff will not like its handling--he's a carry and shoot constantly type of guy. However, the SL might prove itself to be a nice test platform for M-series and other lenses.

Yeah but you don't buy a Ferrari because it's easy to park, you buy it because it's a status symbol. Just like this camera, it's heavy, impractical and crazy expensive but it shows all the plebes with their canon/nikons that you are a man of good tastes and means. Heck they could slap that red badge on a solid block of aluminum and peopled show up in droves.

 

[PropilotBW]

I'm not sure who can afford a $7500 body and $5000 lens.

 

[Solarflare]

Well ... thats basically a Canon 1Dx plus 24-70mm f2.8, isnt it ?

The issue is that the Canon offer is a lot better in most respects (it lacks image stabilization and it has a Canon sensor).

I think Leica did some really bad descisions here. After the Leica Q, I was expecting something smaller, more lightweight, cheaper, and with a better interface. Though maybe the later can be tweaked enough, I cant know.

 

[usayit]

So how many system cameras does Leica sell now?

S, SL, M, T?

That's a lot for a niche company. When I heard about a Leica FF, I was hoping for an evolution of the M system rather than yet another system.

 

[gsgary]

In the end it doesn't matter what you all think about it, it will sell China is where most of them will go

 

[Derrel]

Gary ia right--the new luxury goods are aimed at China's emerging wealthy, status-hungry class. They want to differentiate themselves so,so badly.

 

[gsgary]

But I still think it will be better yhan people think

 

[runnah]

But I still think it will be better yhan people think

Probably, but not good enough to justify the price.

 

[cgw]

Leica is fast becoming Sony's AMG division.

 

[gsgary]

Leica is fast becoming Sony's AMG division.

What a load of rubbish

 

[Derrel]

I too was wondering about the big sensor of the Leica S-series cameras maybe being a possibility for this body or this "platform"...I tried to find the flange-focal plane distance for this NEW lens mount, could not; I know the S-system has a 50.0mm flange-focal distance, which is pretty long, and I am guessing that this body is shallower than that, so an adapter that would move an S-series lens 50mm away from the focal plane would be a cinch to make. This body looks BIG, and is a monobloc type design, so I bet it is strong as all get out, and can/could handle the stress of large, heavy lenses hanging off the front of it. The odd, non-labeled controls and the only-one-dial-at-a-time being active concept both seem **exceptionally** different and weird for a camera aimed at serious users. But who knows what might be changed or what could be done via firmware with regard to the controls.

I am really puzzled as to why this thing has been designed to be so BIG, and why the lenses are so BIG...that makes me wonder if this might be a platform that actually could be transitioned to a medium-format sensor. A second question I have is about the circle of coverage for these lenses; I have a feeling that maybe this new mount size (diameter of mount) could handle big lenses, designed for medium format, but--what about these new, massive lenses? Is it possible that they have image circles that cover Leica's high-end S-series's 30 x 45mm size sensor? Could this new SL be a "bridge" between the Leica S-size medium format and the 24x36 sensor?

This might prove to be interesting.

 

[Solarflare]

I dont know the flange distance of the Leica L mount either.

Its substantly shorter than 27.8mm (but one source claims 27.95mm), the flange distance of the Leica M mount, since there is a L to M adapter.

The diameter seems to be about 45mm, since the full frame sensor (36x24mm ~ 43.3mm diameter) is fully revealed (and then some).



P.s.: Sorry of course thats a M to L Adapter, not the other way around. Apparently also reads the 6 bit codes of the M glass, too.

P.p.s.: A number of sources claim that new glas other than the 24-90mm will be coming rather slowly and sparsely. Hmm. Btw the T system has now 23mm f2, 35mm f1.4, 18-56mm f3.5-5.6, 60mm f2.8 macro, 11-23mm f3.5-4.5, 55-135mm f3.5-4.5. So there is progress, albeit slowly. And the T got a macro lens, bravo !

 

[gsgary]

But I still think it will be better yhan people think

Probably, but not good enough to justify the price.

Same way i feel about D810/800 and D4