Leica SL: Steve Huff's Camera of the year

[uhoh7]

nice person, had the pleasure of buying his Mitakon 00001 50mm 0.95 last year but like all online bloggers/reviewers out there, they are in to make a living so obviously they will post only positive and glowing reviews that will attract advertisement and sponsorship.


this comment on FM made me laugh

Spyro P. wrote:
this guy has the attention span of a goldfish

Huff is not alone, though his motivations may be more complicated than others. GAS is no figment. I know it all too well, but for me it's lenses, while new bodies make me squint. This year I've watched the A7II go from the "it" camera to "meh". Obviously right now the A7r2 is "it", in terms of general raving.

Nevertheless, I think Huff has convinced himself the camera is wonderful, and inspiring. Can we really put him down for that when lots of members here use a change for inspiration? Raid is going Linhof, Keith broke down and bought a 240, so Steve has the right to a new muse as well 🙂

For real equipment review, a Puts, or Sean Reid, or even Ming is more useful and the thread a FM you quote now has many detailed impressions from real users who paid real money, and have many bodies, Leica S etc, so it's not hard now to get an idea of the Camera's foibles:

at about page 20, they start to really chime in:
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1393428/18

But let's not forget, unlike the A7r2, this camera appeared to absolute ridicule by the most influential site in the mass market, DPR, who posted pictures of it in tiny hands and saw "no reason to buy it". The bashing in forums which followed was really wild, but to be honest, the original Sony A7 also faced extreme skepticism on it's announcement.

So Huff's review might be viewed in context of multiple factors, and whatever his own motivation, he only gets to make one "camera of the year". 🙂

The SL is an underdog and a gorgeous piece of equipment which much thought and care in design, though not perfect in numerous different ways. I can't afford one, and if I could I might buy a used S 006 instead, but I admire the camera 🙂

 

[rbelyell]

As long as people understand that, there's nothing wrong with that.
As concerns the SL, spend some time on the Leica Users Forum looking at the SL images thread, especially those made with the 24-90. If results matter, Huff's opinion about this camera is hard to discount. Just because I can't afford it, that's not a blemish on the device, that's my fault. And just because he raves about everything.....that doesn't mean he might not be on the mark here.

were it only results that matter we would all be shooting large format film cameras. its not only results, and its not only price. as with every other life choice, its a balancing of factors. in this case, even putting price aside, its simply quality vs bulk. bulk may not matter to some AND THATS FINE, but ignoring its extreme-ness in this case is simply to ignore an objective reality. for many photographers the advent of mirrorless (ironically, quite like the advent of the leica rangefinder) meant we could have quality without bulk--and there are many choices out there where that can be easily had without this product. reintroduce price to the equation and its a no brainer for a whole bunch of people.

 

[MCTuomey]

i liked huff's street bio-pic project back when. his reviews are useless for me - i'm not in the market now anyway.

SL seems like a pretty fine platform for folks with a nice set of R lenses (and maybe M too), and might want an AF capable or zoom lens or two for flexibility.

 

[35photo]

If you only read/look at one persons opinion/set images from a camera then your a fool... You have to look at the whole picture..pun intended. I've been following Huff for a long time now.. He has pretty much stayed on same with the glowing reviews which is fine, I don't pay any attention to is photography, I don't really consider him much of a photographer, he is just a gear head trying to make some coin..

 

[photomoof]

How can a tool be inspiring. Only on the internet do people give so much weight to the opinion of a complete stranger

And he really is a "stranger."

I admit to being interested in the equipment of photographers who are showing in the galleries. I am enough of a gearhead to wonder what someone is using to make great photographs, even though I should know better. It's just human nature. 🙂

So yes, I will be interested in Jeff Wall, or James Casebere's gear, but not Steve Huff's.

I might as well be curious about someone on the subway, at least I can chat personally with them.

http://whitney.org/image_columns/0015/9705/57.-casebere_studioshot_649.jpg

 

[littleearth]

Camera of the month maybe, or at least until a new Sony or M comes out !
Get dem views Mr Steve Gearhead Huff !

 

[Kent]

Has Mr Puts reviewed it yet?

Yes.

http://www.imx.nl/photo/leica/camera/styled-52/

 

[35photo]

And he really is a "stranger."

I admit to being interested in the equipment of photographers who are showing in the galleries. I am enough of a gearhead to wonder what someone is using to make great photographs, even though I should know better. It's just human nature. 🙂

So yes, I will be interested in Jeff Wall, or James Casebere's gear, but not Steve Huff's.

I might as well be curious about someone on the subway, at least I can chat personally with them.

http://whitney.org/image_columns/0015/9705/57.-casebere_studioshot_649.jpg

100% agree with you here. Ironically I usually don't like when someone asks the gear question even worse if some asks if do you use film or digital and why question, ugh in an interview with a "famous" photographer...

 

[photomoof]

Has Mr Puts reviewed it yet?

Is he an actual person, or some kind of AI at MIT or somewhere?

 

[35photo]

Is he an actual person, or some kind of AI at MIT or somewhere?

SO True!! Who actually reads all the those charts and other blah, THEY DON'T MEAN A THING!! I can imagine some nerd in a white lab coat with glasses testing all that Leica gear... ha

 

[jsrockit]

How can a tool be inspiring.

Why do you use a Leica MP instead of a Pentax K1000? I would imagine you find the MP nicer to work with... that can be call inspiration as well I would think.

 

[photomoof]

Why do you use a Leica MP instead of a Pentax K1000? I would imagine you find the MP nicer to work with... that can be call inspiration as well I would think.

I buy a new bicycle, and for a few weeks I ride more, but in the end one just has to do the miles. The equipment rush is like doing cocaine to be creative.

 

[35photo]

Why do you use a Leica MP instead of a Pentax K1000? I would imagine you find the MP nicer to work with... that can be call inspiration as well I would think.

No question about it... someone else would rather shoot an K1000...We run in circles with this stuff its laughable that you have to even talk about it..

 

[Hsg]

How can a tool be inspiring. Only on the internet do people give so much weight to the opinion of a complete stranger

It depends on the individual.

If someone has spent more time browsing ebay than actually taking or processing photos, gear is everything for them.

 

[Emile de Leon]

He is a new car salesman..I mean..a new cam salesman..!
All I can think of about this cam..for 7.5K..is that in 12 to 24 mos..Sony or someone else..will come out with something better and much less expensive..
I have mixed feelings about this cam..definitely too big..and..too ugly..(is a lil yellow cukoo bird gonna pop out of that fake prism hump when the Leica door swings open at every shot..)
I would love the EV..and the solidity..and simplicity..
Hate that there is no articulated screen..
And so it goes..
I would have a hard time buying this cam at $3.5K..in todays market..

 

[olakiril]

He is a new car salesman..I mean..a new cam salesman..!
All I can think of about this cam..for 7.5K..is that in 12 to 24 mos..Sony or someone else..will come out with something better and much less expensive..
I have mixed feelings about this cam..definitely too big..and..too ugly..(is a lil yellow cukoo bird gonna pop out of that fake prism hump when the Leica door swings open at every shot..)
I would love the EV..and the solidity..and simplicity..
Hate that there is no articulated screen..
And so it goes..
I would have a hard time buying this cam at $3.5K..in todays market..

The problem is that except from the EVF, Sony is already making something better at a lower price 🙂

 

[jsrockit]

I buy a new bicycle, and for a few weeks I ride more, but in the end one just has to do the miles. The equipment rush is like doing cocaine to be creative.

Right I agree, but I'd rather do it with something I love using than something that isn't that great for what I want to do. Sometimes a tool can un-inspire as well.

 

[jsrockit]

The problem is that except from the EVF, Sony is already making something better at a lower price 🙂

So you haven't actually seen the SL in person? The Sony is not the SL's competitor.

 

[olakiril]

So you haven't actually seen the SL in person?

Of course not when we are talking about >$4K cameras, my opinion is based on reading reviews & spec-sheets 😀 .

The Sony is not the SL's competitor.

I don't see why not.

 

[Huss]

The problem is that except from the EVF, Sony is already making something better at a lower price 🙂

I'm not so sure about that.

If one's idea of quality is how well the camera resolves, the Leica Q and SL with their teeny tiny 24mp sensors have already been shown to outresolve their 'equivalents' - the Sony RXii and the A7Rii.
And that is before you take into account that the Leicas are nicer to handle and use, and have better EVFs.

Personally it matters not a whit to me since I mainly shoot film, but I do find Huff's 'tests' amusing seeing he uses the best thing ever to take what seems to be the exact same pics of his wife, his kid, his dog, a bush in his yard and maybe a fire hydrant if he decides to leave his property line.

These sites are all about entertainment.