Great video! It's nice to see the SL put to good use. The SL is a camera that just gets out of the way and Sigma is killing it these days. I have the 24f3.5, 45f2.8 and 90f2.8 on my SL and love the 'small' size.
I've been pondering over getting this for years but the only thing that's stopping me is the lack of IBIS. It may be hard to go back to that after seeing its benefits from current cameras
I grew up with photographers in Portugal using Leica... and as you might guess they were always my idols... one of them is Guilherme Silva. Leica has always been by my side as I grew up as a person and now that I've been a photographer for over 35 years I'm also starting to want to absorb that magic❤️📸🥂👌
Hi Chris, great review. I also went for the SL instead of SL2-s, because of price and the fact that don't do videos. I have adapted vintage lenses on it such as the Pentax 50mm f/1.2; the Minolta Rokkor 35mm f/2.8. I also love the Sigma I series lenses, extremely sharp, light, small and full metal construction. I have their 45mm. Love it!
One thing that is cool about the sl is the sensor being optimized for m lenses. Something with the thinness of the sensor stack. It improves rendition of other old glass to, my takumars shine on it. It makes this camera a dream for vintage glass adapting, especially with the clear evf for manual focus
Everything changed when I bought my SL a couple of years ago. Loved the simplicity and ergonomics. One little appreciated feature is it's built-in GPS. Had a hard time convincing myself to upgrade to the SL2-S. Still would recommend it or buy another one myself in an instant if the need arose.
You may also consider the full frame Lumix S5 II.Much friendlier price tag. Great performance and size. Lumix have an alliance with Leica (L2 alliance). And it has been rumoured that Lumix makes several of the Leica L-mount lenses. I'm in two minds about going for Fujifilm X-T5 or for a Lumix S5 II setup. They are about the same size
Hi chris, just a quick question. I was looking to get an SL for some street as I have the fantastic compact sigma primes for my s5. The s5 has a really loud shutter. Would you say the SL shutter is loud ? It sounded relatively quiet in this video ? Thanks 😊
Will wonders never cease?! From Fuji to Leica and from "no strap" to a camera strap! What else can we expect to see change?! Love the SL, I have a beaten up one and love the sensor's colour rendition. I would consider switching to the SL2-S, but I can't find out whether the "colour science" is the same...
I know - can you believe it have just bought 2 straps! 😂 I had same thoughts about the SL2 and so opted for the original as 24mp seems to be a sweet spot for me.
Prices are good as well. $1600 USD makes it a "bargain" for a Leica. With all the mirrorless advantages - vintage adaptable lenses & Sigma AF lenses...a win! I've shot protests in bad weather, portraits, street and weddings with mine.
Had an opportunity to use an SL albeit briefly, my lasting memory is that EVF. So good, bright and clear. Using manual lenses would be a breeze with it. Someone got the Leica bug! You need to get an M body now.
@@ChrisOrange cool. Never think about using my phone for video but might give it a go. I see also, you’re using a Sigma lens. I have two as my everyday lenses for the X-T4 and I’m really impressed with their quality. They are easily as good as the top end Fujifilm lenses of the same focal length (particularly the 55mm f1.4). My dad had a Sigma lens for his Canon AE1 back in the day and it produced quality images. They do make some really good lenses.
Another reviewer on UA-cam "Steve Huff" also agrees with you and thinks that the SL has the best output of any Leica camera along with the SL2-S. I tend to agree as I have a Q2, SL2s and M11. Enjoy your camera, your channel rocks!
Thanks! It’s such an interesting topic as I think the more MP in a camera, the more clinical the images - great for certain things, but I love the texture on the photos from less MPs
Honestly the main reason for the SL is the system. The SL lenses are so far better than any lens out there…. Nothing coming close. And the combination body lens makes it an amazing system. Sigma has nice lenses ambit the SL lenses are just another level. Even at 24mp….
I come from an Olympus E-M1 Mark III with 7.5 stops of IBIS where I can get 5 second hand held exposures so I know understand some people’s concerns when it comes to the SL not having IBIS. But the SL does amazing in low light. Where 6400 ISO is the most I’m comfortable with on my Olympus; 25,600 ISO is the highest I’m comfortable with on the SL. And the best part is how pleasing the noise pattern is. Very film like noise pattern which sometimes makes me want to turn up the ISO just to have it in the pictures. I’d recommend renting one, I personally didn’t but that’s for a lot of reasons. They’re at the bottom of their depreciation curve so now is the time to buy. I bought mine from KEH in excellent condition for $1,800. I’m gonna be using it all the way up to September and then really think long and hard if I’m going to sell it for an SL2-S upgrade. For now I’m gonna get a few lenses for it, 2 sigma art lenses and one M mount lens that’ll be used mostly on my SL with my Leica M10 using it from time to time. Probably a 28mm Ultron. It’s a fantastic camera, didn’t like it at first but now it’s basically my main camera. I’ll be buying the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 and 35mm f/1.4 Art lenses for it. It’s such a nice camera, while it doesn’t have the amazing colors that my Leica M10 produces it’s pretty amazing considering it’s a camera that was released in 2015.
Oh my, Chris has gone down the Leica rabbit hole. Things are about to get very expensive mate. Congrats Chris on your Leica cameras and their amazing color and optics.
@@ChrisOrange Leica and Zeiss have next level optical rendering. Chris, I think it comes down to the superior cinematic rendering of Leica lenses and cameras. They have a very real expertise in lens design that few companies have.
This video made me want to sell my Sony A7RIII kit and buy a Leica SL. I recently Sold my Fujifilm X100v and bought the Q, and now the Sony is gathering dust.
Great video! It's nice to see the SL put to good use. The SL is a camera that just gets out of the way and Sigma is killing it these days. I have the 24f3.5, 45f2.8 and 90f2.8 on my SL and love the 'small' size.
I've been pondering over getting this for years but the only thing that's stopping me is the lack of IBIS. It may be hard to go back to that after seeing its benefits from current cameras
I grew up with photographers in Portugal using Leica... and as you might guess they were always my idols... one of them is Guilherme Silva. Leica has always been by my side as I grew up as a person and now that I've been a photographer for over 35 years I'm also starting to want to absorb that magic❤️📸🥂👌
Amazing - there’s something very special about these cameras 📷
Hi Chris, great review. I also went for the SL instead of SL2-s, because of price and the fact that don't do videos. I have adapted vintage lenses on it such as the Pentax 50mm f/1.2; the Minolta Rokkor 35mm f/2.8. I also love the Sigma I series lenses, extremely sharp, light, small and full metal construction. I have their 45mm. Love it!
One thing that is cool about the sl is the sensor being optimized for m lenses. Something with the thinness of the sensor stack. It improves rendition of other old glass to, my takumars shine on it. It makes this camera a dream for vintage glass adapting, especially with the clear evf for manual focus
That’s really great to know - thanks for the tip 👏
Everything changed when I bought my SL a couple of years ago. Loved the simplicity and ergonomics. One little appreciated feature is it's built-in GPS. Had a hard time convincing myself to upgrade to the SL2-S. Still would recommend it or buy another one myself in an instant if the need arose.
Nice - interesting that you stick with the 24mp sensor - I think I’d do the same as the files from that sensor are incredibly beautiful
Super cool camera 🎉
You may also consider the full frame Lumix S5 II.Much friendlier price tag. Great performance and size. Lumix have an alliance with Leica (L2 alliance). And it has been rumoured that Lumix makes several of the Leica L-mount lenses. I'm in two minds about going for Fujifilm X-T5 or for a Lumix S5 II setup. They are about the same size
Thanks Paul, that’s really good to know! 😊
Those Leica colours ❤
Hi chris, just a quick question. I was looking to get an SL for some street as I have the fantastic compact sigma primes for my s5. The s5 has a really loud shutter. Would you say the SL shutter is loud ? It sounded relatively quiet in this video ? Thanks 😊
Will wonders never cease?! From Fuji to Leica and from "no strap" to a camera strap! What else can we expect to see change?! Love the SL, I have a beaten up one and love the sensor's colour rendition. I would consider switching to the SL2-S, but I can't find out whether the "colour science" is the same...
I know - can you believe it have just bought 2 straps! 😂 I had same thoughts about the SL2 and so opted for the original as 24mp seems to be a sweet spot for me.
Prices are good as well. $1600 USD makes it a "bargain" for a Leica. With all the mirrorless advantages - vintage adaptable lenses & Sigma AF lenses...a win! I've shot protests in bad weather, portraits, street and weddings with mine.
Totally agree - I nearly said that on the video, but the words Leica and ‘bargain’ don’t often go together 😂
Had an opportunity to use an SL albeit briefly, my lasting memory is that EVF. So good, bright and clear. Using manual lenses would be a breeze with it. Someone got the Leica bug! You need to get an M body now.
Really enjoying the Leicas - an M would be fab but I’ve just bought 2 Leicas, so not just yet 🤣
@@ChrisOrange It gets very addictive mate ;)
Watching this gives me G.A.S.
So did the X-t1 get the axe?
Hi Chris. Looks great. Very stylish and minimalist. What camera are you using to record your videos ?
Thanks John - iPhone 14 pro for all my filming
@@ChrisOrange cool. Never think about using my phone for video but might give it a go. I see also, you’re using a Sigma lens. I have two as my everyday lenses for the X-T4 and I’m really impressed with their quality. They are easily as good as the top end Fujifilm lenses of the same focal length (particularly the 55mm f1.4). My dad had a Sigma lens for his Canon AE1 back in the day and it produced quality images. They do make some really good lenses.
Another reviewer on UA-cam "Steve Huff" also agrees with you and thinks that the SL has the best output of any Leica camera along with the SL2-S. I tend to agree as I have a Q2, SL2s and M11. Enjoy your camera, your channel rocks!
Thanks! It’s such an interesting topic as I think the more MP in a camera, the more clinical the images - great for certain things, but I love the texture on the photos from less MPs
Honestly the main reason for the SL is the system. The SL lenses are so far better than any lens out there…. Nothing coming close. And the combination body lens makes it an amazing system. Sigma has nice lenses ambit the SL lenses are just another level. Even at 24mp….
I knew Sebastião Salgado it was friend of Guilherme Silva. Big Hugs from Portugal 😊
Oh wow, that’s a claim to fame!! Incredible 👏
@@ChrisOrange no… my friend, I’m still very low profile. And for know I’m still discovering my news xt4s ❤️
Why not the SL2 ?
I come from an Olympus E-M1 Mark III with 7.5 stops of IBIS where I can get 5 second hand held exposures so I know understand some people’s concerns when it comes to the SL not having IBIS. But the SL does amazing in low light. Where 6400 ISO is the most I’m comfortable with on my Olympus; 25,600 ISO is the highest I’m comfortable with on the SL. And the best part is how pleasing the noise pattern is. Very film like noise pattern which sometimes makes me want to turn up the ISO just to have it in the pictures.
I’d recommend renting one, I personally didn’t but that’s for a lot of reasons. They’re at the bottom of their depreciation curve so now is the time to buy. I bought mine from KEH in excellent condition for $1,800. I’m gonna be using it all the way up to September and then really think long and hard if I’m going to sell it for an SL2-S upgrade. For now I’m gonna get a few lenses for it, 2 sigma art lenses and one M mount lens that’ll be used mostly on my SL with my Leica M10 using it from time to time. Probably a 28mm Ultron.
It’s a fantastic camera, didn’t like it at first but now it’s basically my main camera.
I’ll be buying the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 and 35mm f/1.4 Art lenses for it. It’s such a nice camera, while it doesn’t have the amazing colors that my Leica M10 produces it’s pretty amazing considering it’s a camera that was released in 2015.
I bought mine in 2016. No-one liked it back then. I loooove this camera.
do you know why Hasselblad is so recognized? Because there was an astronaut in the apollo missions who took a 500 hidden and photographed it in space
Really? If NASA are using these cameras, we’re in good company 👏
A7r iii or Leica SL?🤔
I did too! :D
Oh my, Chris has gone down the Leica rabbit hole. Things are about to get very expensive mate. Congrats Chris on your Leica cameras and their amazing color and optics.
Cheers, loving the optics and simplicity too 👏
@@ChrisOrange Leica and Zeiss have next level optical rendering. Chris, I think it comes down to the superior cinematic rendering of Leica lenses and cameras. They have a very real expertise in lens design that few companies have.
This video made me want to sell my Sony A7RIII kit and buy a Leica SL. I recently Sold my Fujifilm X100v and bought the Q, and now the Sony is gathering dust.
I can see the logic in your system change.
A brand with soul swapped for an iconic brand with more soul.
Absolutely 👍 cheers!
Shame on you switiching from Fuji traitor! 😂 all jokes aside lovely cameras !
😂 kept my X-T1 though 👏😊
funny.. you keep on recommending fujifilm on your channel and then sold almost all of them for Leica.
Both are great brands, so it’s win win 👏