Considering a SL series body

[shawn]

Also consider the 24-105. Little slower but a bit more reach.

Great info on the various 24-70 lenses. I’m trying to plan ahead - my main interest in a SL2 is using my M mount and Sigma L lenses but I’d also like one good AF all rounder.

Also consider the 24-105. A little slower but more reach, the stabilization is very good and it focuses fast.

 

[ellisson]

That Sigma 24-70mm is one of my favorite go-to lenses when I want good image quality and dependable lens operation with consistently accurate autofocus. If I'm not using an M lens I'm typically using that Art or the Art 85mm f1.4 for the same reason. Under almost any lighting condition, I can usually depend on it to get a useable shot.

24-70mm. Backlight at dusk -- no fill or supplemental light
L1060916 by Brusby, on Flickr


24-70mm. Mixed light, as found -- combination of daylight, incandescent and led. No supplemental lights added.
L1020317 by Brusby, on Flickr

The Sigma version is impressive, and lighter than the Leica Vario-elmarit 24-70 mm lens, physically and on the wallet. I have the latter, which came with my SL2-S as a kit from my local camera shop.

 

[Archiver]

The Sigma version is impressive, and lighter than the Leica Vario-elmarit 24-70 mm lens, physically and on the wallet. I have the latter, which came with my SL2-S as a kit from my local camera shop.

Early in the SL2-S release, Leica Australia offered the the body with a Sigma 24-70, which was surprising. This only lasted a few months before moving to a Leica L mount lens. My guess is they wanted to attract people into the Leica/L mount system.

 

[Ken Ford]

Current state of play:

• Like new graded SL2 body shipping soon - my trade finally went through; then…
• I decided I wanted one really good AF lens to supplement my M lenses so I picked up an L mount Sigma 40/1.4 Art which caused me to find and order…
• A used battery grip, which enabled…
• Finding and ordering the other Sigma Sumo lens, their L mount 105/1.4 Art.

This is getting silly, but with all this I can run the SL2 two ways - body only with M mount lenses on the six bit M to L adapter I already have and the compact Sigma I series lenses from the BF or in Hulk mode with battery grip and the two monster Sigmas for gilt edge AF optical quality and sciatica.

 

[Michael Markey]

Current state of play:

• Like new graded SL2 body shipping soon - my trade finally went through; then…
• I decided I wanted one really good AF lens to supplement my M lenses so I picked up an L mount Sigma 40/1.4 Art which caused me to find and order…
• A used battery grip, which enabled…
• Finding and ordering the other Sigma Sumo lens, their L mount 105/1.4 Art.

This is getting silly, but with all this I can run the SL2 two ways - body only with M mount lenses on the six bit M to L adapter I already have and the compact Sigma I series lenses from the BF or in Hulk mode with battery grip and the two monster Sigmas for gilt edge AF optical quality and sciatica.

I use my SL2s with mainly M lenses and TL lenses.
The TL lenses reduced the MP count but I only post on line so that`s not a concern.
I do have two full frame L mount lenses ... the 24 -70 and the very heavy 90 -280.

 

[Rayt]

I do mainly street photography and the SL2 is the wrong camera for that at least with manual focus lenses because it is too slow compared to rangefinders. It’s ok if zone and I do that with 21mm and 24mm but it’s heavy and I walk all day. The SL2 is a real bargain these days and can be had for $2400 or so for one with low mileage when a used M10 is over $4k. I intend to use it with a Noctilux and a few AF lenses for travel. IBIS is the best thing about it.

 

[Ken Ford]

I’m hoping aftermarket BP-SCL6 batteries will come to market - the additional capacity compared to the BP-SCL4 would be welcome.

 

[Photar]

I am not a fan of using M lenses with EVF only. My first digital Leica was a CL. I bought it to use it with my M lenses. For a while, I thought it was a great solution. But I increasingly got annoyed with EVF-based focusing despite magnification and focus peaking. The process is too slow. I usually need to focus back and forth to determine the optimal position. I moved on to M10/M10-R. I still have the CL. I love its size and intuitive user interface. But I mostly use it for closeup and macro shots these days. Given the small depth of field in closeup photography, the EVF works pretty well in this application. Moreover, the EVF allows me to adapt all kinds of exotic macro and enlarger lenses, which is great fun.

 

[Rayt]

I set Jpg to high contrast b/w with red outline and it works fine with peak focusing as long as you know your FL and aperture can cover minor focusing errors. I turn magnification off because when it zooms in automatically I don’t know what I am looking at! I do prefer the rear screen to the evf for peaking. When I had the Q2 this was convenient when I couldn’t trust the AF but again the SL2 is bigger and heavier so not as convenient. No matter how many time I say I will use it for M and other manual lenses eventually it’s back to AF because that’s what the camera was meant to do.

 

[Ken Ford]

I’m much more of a magnify for focus assist than peaking, but I’m willing to give peaking a try in the SL2 due to the EVF quality. I think I saw you can put magnify on joystick press when you’re using manual focus lenses, too.

 

[boojum]

My lame and horseback opinion after using both methods, RF and EVF, is I find EVF better because I see what the sensor will see. Not what the mechanism on the camera thinks the sensor will see. Which is easier? The one you are most facile with. Facility comes with use. But for me best of all is autofocus. The older I get the better autofocus gets. Curious coincidence. ;o)

 

[Archiver]

Current state of play:

• Like new graded SL2 body shipping soon - my trade finally went through; then…
• I decided I wanted one really good AF lens to supplement my M lenses so I picked up an L mount Sigma 40/1.4 Art which caused me to find and order…
• A used battery grip, which enabled…
• Finding and ordering the other Sigma Sumo lens, their L mount 105/1.4 Art.

This is getting silly, but with all this I can run the SL2 two ways - body only with M mount lenses on the six bit M to L adapter I already have and the compact Sigma I series lenses from the BF or in Hulk mode with battery grip and the two monster Sigmas for gilt edge AF optical quality and sciatica.

You are about to be inundated with an embarrassment of riches! Congratulations! 😊 "Do I use my miniscule Sigma BF or the gargantuan SL2 with grip and Sigma 40mm f1.2??"

Please feel free to ask questions about operation and settings when you get your SL2, it takes a bit of exploration and some setting combinations are not immediately apparent.

 

[Ken Ford]

Thanks - I’ve been reading a lot and that setting interaction situation has come up a few times. This will be an adventure!

 

[ellisson]

Make sure to upgrade your camera to the latest (May 2025) firmware: 6.2.0. You can find a link to download the file on the Leica website. I do it with the download, some do it from the Leica FOTOs app which is available for iOS and android phones. Directions also on the Leica website.

 

[Godfrey]

heh.

I have no preferences, I use whatever works in any given situation—and with whatever options the camera body offers—to get me the critical focus and framing aid I need to achieve the photograph I want. Obviously, with an SL, this means no optical rangefinder so it means magnification and/or peaking, when apropos. When visual appropriation of focus is moot (due to a very short focal length or insufficient light, most of the time), I rely on the distance scale and just set a distance by estimation.

Autofocus is occasionally useful but I find that I get more missed focus exposures with *any* AF system than I do when I'm focusing manually through whatever means is available. ... And I'm neither young nor ever had the best eyesight. 🙄

G

 

[Ken Ford]

I generally use AF to “get me there” and then touch up with manual override if needed. I don’t trust continuous AF except for action where it does increase my hit rate. As an illustration, I think I’ve had my Q2M in AF three times, all just to play around and not shoot.

 

[Michael Markey]

I was in manual focus all this morning with my CL and an APO 90M asph . A few missed shots as expected. The horse was moving quickly.

 

[Ken Ford]

I was in manual focus all this morning with my CL and an APO 90M asph . A few missed shots as expected. The horse was moving quickly.
View attachment 4869299

The photographer captured!

 

[Ken Ford]

I have a strong suspicion my BF and this SL2 are going for fight for possession of my Sigma I-series 45/2.8. That’s ok, because I think I’m going to find a 24mm or even 17mm my everyday BF happy place.

 

[Archiver]

I have a strong suspicion my BF and this SL2 are going for fight for possession of my Sigma I-series 45/2.8. That’s ok, because I think I’m going to find a 24mm or even 17mm my everyday BF happy place.

This reminds me, I need to test my Elmarit M 28mm Asph against my Minolta MC W Rokkor 28mm on my SL2-S. I have the sneaking suspicion that they will perform closer than is comfortable, and the differences will be more from rendering and size/handling than image quality. Don't get me wrong, the Elmarit M is a stunning lens, but the MC W Rokkor is no slouch, either. And the way the Elmarit performs on the SL2-S might tip it into different territory.