The Leica SL: the new AF Leica

[GaryLH]

http://www.shutterbug.com/content/l...res-our-first-look-review#C0svszw9wk6HxkxW.97

Another first look from shutterbug.. They didn't have the camera in someone hand like the shot from Dowling. Man that is really big... Looks like Panasonic did most of the electronics including AF and 4k video.

Gary

 

[13Promet]

They do... but wow, that's a large mirrorless.

Either the guy handling it is a dwarf, or the camera is crazy large 😱

 

[Hsg]

Well, it has no battery cover:

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/74...ca-hands-on-with-the-leica-sl-typ-601?slide=8

That means Leica encourages people to buy the battery grip.

 

[kbg32]

Now that's a Texas sized Leica!

 

[jsrockit]

That means Leica encourages people to buy the battery grip.

No, it means that the battery is the cover.

 

[Hsg]

No, it means that the battery is the cover.

Yeah, and that is the most ludicrous battery design in camera making history.

 

[kbg32]

Yeah, and that is the most ludicrous battery design in camera making history.

Why? There certainly seems to be an "O" ring seal around the battery.

 

[f16sunshine]

They do... but wow, that's a large mirrorless.

hahaha!!

Oh man! Now that I see how big it is I love it 🙂
Finally a full size mirrorless for long lenses !
A truly pro mirrorless camera is what it looks like...

Looking forward to what this may springboard in the marketplace.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Dimesnsions seem to put it right in between an A7 and a 5D. So, big, but not enormous? Also I think that's a woman in the photo; she could be very large of course but might be smaller in stature than you think?

 

[kuuan]

and weight:
SL (Typ 601) body: 1.9 lb / 847 g with battery
Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90mm f/2.8-4: 2.5 lb / 1140 g

 

[jsrockit]

Dimesnsions seem to put it right in between an A7 and a 5D. So, big, but not enormous? Also I think that's a woman in the photo; she could be very large of course but might be smaller in stature than you think?

I think you are right:

http://static1.squarespace.com/stat...be4b03a6440673f90/1445318175629/?format=1000w

 

[JHP]

24-90mm range for the zoom lens makes it seem credible.

I don't know of any modern zoom lens from others that ends at 90mm.

Nearly 5k for a variable aperture zoom.

They're 'avin a laugh mate.

They are wasting resources into projects like this, imo. And are becoming a joke with these prices, do they really think this camera is going to be successful?
Give us what everyone wants, a cheaper full frame digital M. They would take over the game in an instant.

I would sell my Nikon gear overnight, to get one.

But they keep leaving people like us behind, those that can only buy second hand Leica after saving for years.
If I could buy a full frame M for around 4K mark, why would I buy 2 Fuji bodies wishing they were an M?

No serious pro would buy an M over a 1D or D4S at the same price, or a 5D for half... And almost no hobbyist consumer can afford an M, nor would they when they can buy a plethora of other cameras for much cheaper.

 

[Kent]

Huge and still I think it won't win a beauty contest.

Parameters read nicely (perhaps 24 MPix is a tad low today), but the price tag? Well, let's say overwhelming...

 

[uhoh7]

Well it's made to shoot the M glass really well. It's too big for me, not to mention the money, but it seems seriously sturdy, and with much thought behind the design.

If ISO performance is real good maybe they can get by with these zooms in journalistic setting.

A really interesting camera, and if one showed up at my door I'd be delighted 😉

 

[Bille]

From the comments on DPREVIEW:

It looks like in Germany they designed it in centimetres, but whoever was manufacturing it in Japan thought it was inches and the camera ended up being two times larger than intended 🙂

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/74...ca-hands-on-with-the-leica-sl-typ-601?slide=8

 

[Samouraï]

So I've read into this camera just a bit, and if the video mode offers a full-pixel, downsampled readout at full frame, then maybe the price could be justified, as this will be the only 4K full frame 10-bit video camera on the market (10 bit out, 8 bit internal).
So that's kind of interesting, aside from what is probably a really high quality still camera.

edit: Just wanted to note that both Red and Arri have VistaVision and 65mm sized sensors in their newest cameras, but they exist in a much different market than the new SL from Leica. But the Leica should best the A7SII in terms of video quality if it offers a full pixel readout.

 

[Huss]

I can't wait to put my Lomo Minitar pancake lens on that thing.
Or an Asph 28 2.8. It would look like the lens fell off.

 

[YouAreHere]

It's a small-format S.

A 50mm lens, not to be available for a year, with an 82mm front end…

The price of autofocus is that it requires such humongous lenses?

 

[cpc]

The price of high resolution and low aberrations on digital sensors, rather. Look at the Otus.

 

[JHP]

EDIT - I feel embarrassed for writing this. My apologies.