Leica SL/SL2 and which lens?

[Koolzakukumba]

I've been selling off lots of little-used camera gear and have promised to get myself a nice camera and lens to help overcome the grief. I haven't decided on what it will be yet. One of the possibilities is an SL/SL2 but which 35mm or 50mm lens would be the right choice? The budget is flexible but wont extend to very fast lenses - a Summicron would be the limit. The problem is that I know hardly anything about R lenses.

This wouldn't be my main 35mm outfit but would be brought out from time to time when I fancied something a little different. The film would be exclusively black and white, probably Fomapan 100 in good light and Tri X when it's duller. The pics would mainly involve the type of shots you take with a walkabout camera - stuff in the five to fifty feet range. Not many, if any, portraits. Nice bokeh is important, more so than ultimate sharpness.

The attached pic is the sort of scene I'd use it for. All suggestions welcome!

 

[mretina]

Macro Elmarit is too sharp for you. If sharpness is not your goal, for SL/SL 2 and a nice Leica glow and bokeh in R mount, I recommend 28/2.8 vI and 50/2 vI, the ones with the separate hood. I never tried 35/2 v I, that is also really nice, but pricey (probably would cost more than 28+50) and a bit heavy.

 

[FrankS]

I have an SL with early Summicron 50 for the same purpose you describe. But only you can decide which focal length is best for you.

 

[Koolzakukumba]

I'm not too fussy about 35mm v 50mm as I can make either work when out and about. I think 28mm would be too wide, though, and 60mm just a bit on the long side. The first 50mm Summicron sounds nice. I'll have a look around for some sample images.

Anything in particular to look out for when buying an SL/SL2 and Summicron or are they pretty vice-free?

 

[Vickko]

I've had a few SL2's in my day. Nothing much wrong with them. Things to look out for were degradation of the prism optics.

I had read these posts, but never experienced any issues:

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/film-forum/60329-shtter-reliability-leicaflex-sl2.html

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-collectors-historica/58892-leicaflex-sl2.html

Only dislike for mine were their weight. I ultimately sold mine, because I had ROM lenses that wouldn't go onto the SL2. My last remaining SLR Leica is an R6.2.

 

[FrankS]

There are some lens compatibility issues, the number of pins/cams that communicate with the camera body, that you need to become aware of. I can't help with this, sorry.

 

[Vickko]

Yes, the SL2 can use 2 and 3 cam lenses, which were made for the SL and SL2 cameras.

Not ROM lenses, nor the "R" lens. The "R" lens is somewhat scarce.

I think the SL2 can't use single cam lenses either, which was made for the original Leicacflex (and I think single cam lenses are also relatively scarce).

The majority of lenses I run across are 3 cam.

Articles here:

http://www.nemeng.com/leica/001c.shtml

http://members.multimania.co.uk/JemK/Pic-A-Week/cams.htm

 

[david.elliott]

Yes, the SL2 can use 2 and 3 cam lenses, which were made for the SL and SL2 cameras.

Not ROM lenses, nor the "R" lens. The "R" lens is somewhat scarce.

I think the SL2 can't use single cam lenses either, which was made for the original Leicacflex (and I think single cam lenses are also relatively scarce).

The majority of lenses I run across are 3 cam.

Articles here:

http://www.nemeng.com/leica/001c.shtml

http://members.multimania.co.uk/JemK/Pic-A-Week/cams.htm

I use a 50mm summicron 'r only' lens on my sl2. Mounts and works fine -- it just doesn't meter because it doesn't have the cam that the sl2 needs to operate the meter functionality.

 

[Vickko]

Oh, okay. ROM lenses actually interfere. Can't mount a ROM lens, or something will break.

 

[maitani]

The R summicron 50 v1 is really something special...

 

[steveyork]

As far as cameras, I've used them all, and in the field the SL tends to be more practical. If you come from rangefinders, the microprism focusing screen will be a joy to use; everything just pops into focus in a special way. Very intuitive and quick camera too.

The SL2 has a more sensitive meter, but there's all sorts of conflicting reports regarding the unreliability of the high shutter speeds. And personally, I just hate the split image rangefinder focusing on the SL2.

As far as lenses, it's easier to say which to stay away from (180/4 and 35/2.8 (first optical version)).

The 50mm Summicron in either optical version is a good recommendation. The 60mm Macro is also a fine lens, but it is bigger, slower and has a long focus throw. Also note, the wider angle lenses are just a tad bit more difficult to focus with a microprism screen.

If you do go with a SL I would strongly recommend getting a 90mm lens too. The 90 focal length to an SL is like a 35 to a rangefinder -- something very special. Things just pop into focus in a dramatic way.

These are great cameras and I don't understand why they are not more popular. After a decade using rangefinders exclusively, I found the Leicaflex back in '08, and now I use those cameras almost exclusively.

Take a look at my flickr account for examples of the different lenses.