Considering a SL series body

Ken Ford said:
Are any of you using a SL series body for video? I picked up a used battery grip to help with the large Sigmas but also because I’ve heard about issues shooting video with only the single battery in the body. I’m considering two new Kastar batteries to devote to the SL2, right now I have the one that came with it plus the one in my Q2M which I’d rather not use for this.

The issue I’ve identified is that there are no good fitted Arca Swiss type plates for the battery grip, and the tripod socket is offset to the rear of the bottom which makes most generic plates suboptimal. I’ve seen mention of using a USB-C battery pack when doing video, supposedly if it’s one that does PD it will work for this. I’m curious if anyone here has tried it.
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Geoff Bassett commented about the SL2 video issues here:

Is video wasted on the SL2?

I didn't buy a SL2 for the video. But... It has decent video specs. But on Youtube and similar, there seems to be almost no examples of anyone using the SL2 for video. Nearly all examples are from SL2S. Can anyone summarize why? Better AF right? And what else?
www.l-camera-forum.com www.l-camera-forum.com

and Lukas Van Der Lende made a video about the SL2's video capabilities here:


My primary video cameras are the Panasonic S1 and S5, with the SL2S as a B cam if needed. I haven't used the SL for clips longer than two minutes, and always with batteries at at least half charge. So far, I have not encountered any problems with the SL2S for video using MOV files at C4K 25p or 1080 50p or 100p.
 
The camera with a battery grip on a tripod was not the intended use of the battery grip, thus I doubt there was much thought given to using a plate for the SL cameras with the grip mounted. Other than extra battery life, it provides no advantage on a tripod, and an L-bracket is more useful for tripod use. If longer duration, uninterrupted video is the concern, using a portable power bank via the USB-C connection on the lower corner of the SL2 and SL2-S cameras gives you as much shooting time as you need without the battery grip on or off a tripod.
 
ellisson said:
The camera with a battery grip on a tripod was not the intended use of the battery grip, thus I doubt there was much thought given to using a plate for the SL cameras with the grip mounted. Other than extra battery life, it provides no advantage on a tripod, and an L-bracket is more useful for tripod use. If longer duration, uninterrupted video is the concern, using a portable power bank via the USB-C connection on the lower corner of the SL2 and SL2-S cameras gives you as much shooting time as you need without the battery grip on or off a tripod.
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I’m still surprised the aftermarket didn’t address it - I picked up a used RRS SL2 L plate, but from what I can tell they never offered any kind of bottom only plate for the battery grip.

I would argue that using the battery grip for video is as valid of a use as any other and should be considered an intended use - after all, Leica wasn’t the one who developed the L plates. The issue I’m trying to address is the battery charge level sensitivity that has been reported; I agree the best option for serious or prolonged video would be an inexpensive PD capable USB-C equipped battery pack.

I’d still like to find a workable way of doing it with the battery grip, most of my video is short (less than five minutes per scene) with completely different setups for each scene, often miles apart - with setup under time pressure.
 
Ken Ford said:
I’m still surprised the aftermarket didn’t address it - I picked up a used RRS SL2 L plate, but from what I can tell they never offered any kind of bottom only plate for the battery grip.
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The SL series didn't/doesn't have the same amount of video market that would prompt aftermarket companies to make accessories. There are only two companies that I know of that make a cage for the SL2S - one is ludicrously expensive, and the other quite expensive. There are at least three, maybe four companies that make inexpensive cages for the Panasonic S5 variants.
Ken Ford said:
’d still like to find a workable way of doing it with the battery grip, most of my video is short (less than five minutes per scene) with completely different setups for each scene, often miles apart - with setup under time pressure.
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In this scenario, I would try to SL2 first, using your intended codec and settings, recording a scene in the garden or wherever. Try this with the battery at descending levels of charge to see if there is an issue. If there is, use a powerbank and the L plate rather than the grip.

If you are recording with a tripod, perhaps turn off IBIS and see if that helps with battery life.
 
Testing is definitely needed, I’ve been using a Canon XC10 for a run-and-gun video rig for years now. I hadn’t considered a cage, I doubt I’d go that way so that’s money saved! I have a thread about the battery issues bookmarked, I can’t remember where it was at the moment - it may have been on FM. The LUF thread you linked above makes me wonder if the problem has been addressed already.

Maybe my best solution would be to keep the internal camera battery topped up using an external PD battery in the truck and also plug the external in while shooting if I have time. I need to look at ways of hanging the external battery off the tripod without a long USB cable, it shouldn’t be too hard to figure out. I might even be able to attach it to the vertical upright of the L bracket since it’s not being used for the tripod; I bet I can find a cold shoe for mounting my external mic there too.

The main reason I picked up the battery grip was to give better control with the quite large AF primes I picked up as an alternative to my M lenses; trying to use it for video too was just an idea. And to be honest if using the SL2 for video turns into a hassle I’m not worried - my Z9 does great, and my XC10 still works.
 
This is quite annoying. I had carpal tunnel release surgery Thursday and the act of using a camera is still a little painful. I want to get out and use the new SL2 and lenses! Maybe I should rent a cat for an in-house subject.

I’ve been keeping busy setting up bags. My thought is to keep several ready to go, just move the body over to the lens kit that’s being used:

1) M bag with 21/35/75 and SL2 with L plate
2) Sumo bag with Sigma 40/1.4, 105/1.4 and SL2 with battery grip (plus a supply of ibuprofen)
3) Simple general purpose AF bag with Sigma 24-70/2.8 II and SL2 with L plate

1) will be a spare Domke F2 I have, 3) may be a Rickshaw Small Zero Messenger with an insert I’m considering but 2) is going to be tougher - I may end up with a backpack due to the 105 being the size of a mid 70s station wagon.
 
Ken Ford said:
1) will be a spare Domke F2 I have, 3) may be a Rickshaw Small Zero Messenger with an insert I’m considering but 2) is going to be tougher - I may end up with a backpack due to the 105 being the size of a mid 70s station wagon.
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With that big Sigma 105/1.4 lens at over 3.6 lbs, plus the other fast lens and SL2, the backpack idea seems like a very good option!
 
Ken Ford said:
This is quite annoying. I had carpal tunnel release surgery Thursday and the act of using a camera is still a little painful. I want to get out and use the new SL2 and lenses! Maybe I should rent a cat for an in-house subject.

I’ve been keeping busy setting up bags. My thought is to keep several ready to go, just move the body over to the lens kit that’s being used:

1) M bag with 21/35/75 and SL2 with L plate
2) Sumo bag with Sigma 40/1.4, 105/1.4 and SL2 with battery grip (plus a supply of ibuprofen)
3) Simple general purpose AF bag with Sigma 24-70/2.8 II and SL2 with L plate

1) will be a spare Domke F2 I have, 3) may be a Rickshaw Small Zero Messenger with an insert I’m considering but 2) is going to be tougher - I may end up with a backpack due to the 105 being the size of a mid 70s station wagon.
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Just be careful and let your surgical procedure heal up properly! 🙂

That's a lot of heavy equipment! I sold my SL kit on the basis of it and its lenses being larger and heavier than I wanted to carry around in my dotage. I find similarly that the Hasselblads (either 500CM or 907x) are now something that I only carry when I have a specific project in mind, whereas, once upon a time, I'd just pick up a bag with a 3-lens/2-back kit in it and go walking. Ah well.

Be careful.

G
 
I’m used to a heavy bag, but this is ridiculous. (My work bag decades ago was two motorized F2s, a third body and six lenses 20mm through 300mm. My current “main” bag is a Z9 with 14-24/28, 24-70/2.8 and 70-200/2.8.) I just don’t want to be restricted to using these Sigmas one at a time or out of the trunk. I think a sling bag/backpack might be the best way, not hanging it all off one shoulder.
 
Ken Ford said:
I’m used to a heavy bag, but this is ridiculous. (My work bag decades ago was two motorized F2s, a third body and six lenses 20mm through 300mm. My current “main” bag is a Z9 with 14-24/28, 24-70/2.8 and 70-200/2.8.) I just don’t want to be restricted to using these Sigmas one at a time or out of the trunk. I think a sling bag/backpack might be the best way, not hanging it all off one shoulder.
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A friend of mine has taken to using a rollaway bag rather than a backpack or shoulder bag for such loads. (I bought one too, a Pelican 1500 series case, but haven't taken it out much. 🙂 ...)

I'm not saying it's the right thing for you, just another option for managing a heavy load of bulky equipment.

G
 
All ideas are on the table, thank you! I started looking at backpacks, but I really would prefer something that is optimized for just one shoulder strap - if I get a heavy backpack on I may need 911 to help get it back off. So my preference is a messenger or a sling of some kind.

I was just about ready to give up on messenger bags when I found the Tenba DNA 16 Pro, the specs make me think it will work. I believe my localish store has these in stock so I need to load my gear up and take a drive and see or just take a gamble and order it online from someplace with a robust return policy. I realized I want to be able to accommodate a third lens (normally the 24-70) plus be able to fit the body with grip and any of the three lenses ready to go. I think this might work with the body nose down in the center and a lens flanking it on either side.

tenba.com

DNA 16 Pro Messenger Bag - Blue

Check out Tenba's premium DNA 16 DSLR blue messenger bag with quick access top zipper which allow safe use of cameras and lenses without opening the front flap.
tenba.com tenba.com
 
mrtoml said:
I have 3 Tenba DNAs including the 16. I like them all and Tenba is my most used bag brand. The 16 holds my S1R with a zoom plus 2 lenses either side no problem.
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That’s good to hear! One of my oldest bags is a Tenba, it’s almost 45 years old and going strong.

I have a question about the camera insert you may be able to answer. Tenba lists the interior as 14.75”W x 11.5”H x 6”D, can the vertical dividers be mounted to be shorter? I’m hoping they can be set up to be 10” or so tall to give two “sleeves” with a center silo for the body and a lens.

IMG_9328.jpeg
 
I am on vacation at the moment and don't have a tape measure but I have the 16 with me (I have the slim version - which is probably smaller than the pro?). I have it set up as follows with the vertical dividers bent at a 45 degree angle at the top:

IMG_0620.jpeg

IMG_0621.jpeg


You can adjust the vertical holders like this effectively lowering them and still have room for a large zoom on either side with the camera and a zoom going down the middle. The blue tabs are also present to allow 2 lenses down each side depending on how big they are:

IMG_0622.jpeg


Here is a shot of my Fuji GFX with a zoom and a GF lens down each side - as you can see there is lots of space free:

IMG_0623.jpeg

IMG_0624.jpeg

It also easily holds my Panasonic S1R with the 24-105mm, 70-300mm and 14-28mm when set up like this. I could also fit my 50mm prime on top of the 14-28.
 
I think that would be ideal - I think when I looked the only major difference between the 16 Slim and Pro was thickness. Those dividers look ideal, I could even mount them up off the bottom a little if I need a specific “hinge” point to support the body. Thank you very much for taking those, they are extremely helpful!
 
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