By the way, Novoflex also makes a Leica R to Leica T mount adapter that you can use instead of the double Leica adapters.
Steve,
Thanks. Of course, Leica being Leica they used their own solution which at present is to use there 2 adapters. We will have to await until the end of 2016 to see what Leica will release as the single adapter.
Rich
Oct 23, 2015 at 08:21 AM
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Thanks. Of course, Leica being Leica they used their own solution which at present is to use there 2 adapters. We will have to await until the end of 2016 to see what Leica will release as the single adapter.
Rich
Rich,
Thanks for stopping by and giving us the report. I agree with your Swiss Army knife characterization. It even appears quite competent at video (another blade to pull out). I will be very interested to see if you and Doug (telyt) and Luwine--the 280 f/4 APO owners--get this camera. It looks like a fabulous combination.
Not sure if this has been posted anywhere already - Sandy from ChromaSoft posted a SL DNG analysis.
Points of interest: - In the DNG I looked at, which was shot with a "VARIO-ELMARIT 1:2.8-4.0/24-90mm ASPH. OIS" lens, lens correction is done by a single "WarpRectilinear" operation in the DNG.
- In addition to the lens correction op code, there is also a "FixBadPixelsConstant" opcode, whose function is exactly as the name states. This is the same as in the Leica Q.
Something to note is that the sensor appears built on identical technology to the Leica Q sensor. The color matrixes, black levels, etc are all identical.
He also says he's not sure if M lens corrections are baked into the DNG like with the M cameras or if they're part of the opcode like for the SL lenses...
rscheffler wrote:
Not sure if this has been posted anywhere already - Sandy from ChromaSoft posted a SL DNG analysis.
Points of interest: - In the DNG I looked at, which was shot with a "VARIO-ELMARIT 1:2.8-4.0/24-90mm ASPH. OIS" lens, lens correction is done by a single "WarpRectilinear" operation in the DNG.
- In addition to the lens correction op code, there is also a "FixBadPixelsConstant" opcode, whose function is exactly as the name states. This is the same as in the Leica Q.
Something to note is that the sensor appears built on identical technology to the Leica Q sensor. The color matrixes, black levels, etc are all identical.
He also says he's not sure if M lens corrections are baked into the DNG like with the M cameras or if they're part of the opcode like for the SL lenses......Show more →
I have the DNG files along with the JPEG files that were recorded with SL camera but I have not tried to open them. For that matter, I am not sure what software to use to open them.
naturephoto1 wrote:
Below and in the next post are some images taken with the combination of the R280mm f4 Apo Telyt and the SL both SOC except Image Size adjusted and as 100% SOC. No processing was done at all for these files. I do not know the ISO set for the camera but it must have been fairly high. I also do not know the shutter speed set for the camera. The photos I believe were all shot wide open at f4. When we stopped the lens down on the camera I believe that we were still able to focus even when stopped down to f16. The EVF did adjust for the change in aperture by the way but it was not instantaneous and of course auto aperture would have helped. Again in regards to the images, I can not say that all were nailed for focus, but this is and was an impressive performance.
Would I like to own the SL? If I could get over the sticker shock of $7450 for the camera body, could deal with the size, weight, and the fact that the camera only offers 24 rather than 26MP, the answer is yes.
Rich, thanks for the summary! Based on the full rez photos in Jordan's review of the SL at PPE, I'd say no you didn't nail focus with these. But no worries. This gives a lot of valuable preliminary user feedback. As for camera settings in your images, here's what was pulled from EXIF in the first image:
Camera: Leica SL (Typ 601)
Lens: Apo-Telyt-R 1:4/280mm Shot at 280 mm
Exposure: Manual, 1/350 sec, f/4, ISO 6400
Flash: Off, Did not fire
Date: October 22, 2015 10:23:24AM
Regarding pricing... as someone in the US market, you can save about $1000 buying the SL from the EU. Not sure if you're still at PPE, but it might be a question to ask the Leica reps why Leica US decided to price the SL in this manner. It's the same with the M and S lines, except now there's a rolling 12% exchange rate rebate in effect that partially compensates (but not fully) for the US/EU price disparity. Perhaps the typical Leica buyer strolling into Leica Stores is not that price sensitive and Leica knows they can take advantage of this? Still, $1000 less doesn't make the SL a bargain, but does put it more in-line with 1DX/D4s pricing
rscheffler wrote:
Not sure if this has been posted anywhere already - Sandy from ChromaSoft posted a SL DNG analysis.
Points of interest: - In the DNG I looked at, which was shot with a "VARIO-ELMARIT 1:2.8-4.0/24-90mm ASPH. OIS" lens, lens correction is done by a single "WarpRectilinear" operation in the DNG.
- In addition to the lens correction op code, there is also a "FixBadPixelsConstant" opcode, whose function is exactly as the name states. This is the same as in the Leica Q.
Something to note is that the sensor appears built on identical technology to the Leica Q sensor. The color matrixes, black levels, etc are all identical.
He also says he's not sure if M lens corrections are baked into the DNG like with the M cameras or if they're part of the opcode like for the SL lenses... ...Show more → naturephoto1 wrote:
I have the DNG files along with the JPEG files that were recorded with SL camera but I have not tried to open them. For that matter, I am not sure what software to use to open them.
Rich
Rich, shot with coded M lenses? If so, maybe send him an email and a way to access one of those files. The DNG files should open fine in whatever raw converter you're using, just the app won't have a color profile for the SL, so some colors may not translate quite right.
rscheffler wrote:
Rich, thanks for the summary! Based on the full rez photos in Jordan's review of the SL at PPE, I'd say no you didn't nail focus with these. But no worries. This gives a lot of valuable preliminary user feedback. As for camera settings in your images, here's what was pulled from EXIF in the first image:
Camera: Leica SL (Typ 601)
Lens: Apo-Telyt-R 1:4/280mm Shot at 280 mm
Exposure: Manual, 1/350 sec, f/4, ISO 6400
Flash: Off, Did not fire
Date: October 22, 2015 10:23:24AM
Regarding pricing... as someone in the US market, you can save about $1000 buying the SL from the EU. Not sure if you're still at PPE, but it might be a question to ask the Leica reps why Leica US decided to price the SL in this manner. It's the same with the M and S lines, except now there's a rolling 12% exchange rate rebate in effect that partially compensates (but not fully) for the US/EU price disparity. Perhaps the typical Leica buyer strolling into Leica Stores is not that price sensitive and Leica knows they can take advantage of this? Still, $1000 less doesn't make the SL a bargain, but does put it more in-line with 1DX/D4s pricing...Show more →
I suspected I hadn't nailed focus, but I do not think that I had the magnification set to confirm focus. Also, I did not check the files in LR which would have provided EXIF information I presume. I just opened the files through Windows Photo Viewer.
I am home now. But I asked the Leica Reps and they were Leica USA/Leica NA and they said the price was $7450. I also confirmed now that B&H Photo has the camera listed for the same price.
By the way, below is a fairly cropped image taken with my tripod mounted R 280mm f4 Apo Telyt with my R 1.4X Apo Extender on my Sony A7r ISO of this was 400, 1/800 second, effective Aperture of f8. So we know this is a super sharp combination. The file will print large having viewed in both LR and PS CS6.
Thanks for stopping by and giving us the report. I agree with your Swiss Army knife characterization. It even appears quite competent at video (another blade to pull out). I will be very interested to see if you and Doug (telyt) and Luwine--the 280 f/4 APO owners--get this camera. It looks like a fabulous combination.
Good luck with that. It is a nice camera. I would suspect the camera should be smaller and lighter than the R8/DMR combination. But, $7450 is a lot of money.
When able, I may opt for the A7rII and the new Sony RX1RII with the 35mm lens. Though, I am still not sure. I like having the higher resolution. The combination of the 2 cameras at present are less than the cost of the SL alone. I may have to consider selling some things to make either a possibility.
adamdewilde wrote:
I've given the price some thought.
Perhaps Leica can't even produce enough of these fast enough to supply the demand at $7,450 USD. And if they dropped the price to $4,500 the demand would increase substantially, but it wouldn't matter, as they still would not be able to produce them fast enough.
When the Leicaflex SL was originally released it was twice the cost of the Japanese SLRs, and below cost.
People cried about the price back then. Alot. I would not be surprised if the margin on digital SL is quite small.
telyt wrote:
Let's just say my DMR is for sale
For big, great Manual Focus lenses, this is the best body ever made, I think.
The Sony has more pixels and 3-axis IBIS, which are not nothing. But this sensor is going to shoot very clean files in a proper RAW format, with anything. I'd love to try my two new big Nikors, 300/2.8 and 500/4 on it.
OK now here's a question: Jono remarks on the E-mount width of 46mm being a disadvantage to T-mount at 50mm, but does not elaborate. What specifically are the advantages of the wider mount?
uhoh7 wrote:
OK now here's a question: Jono remarks on the E-mount width of 46mm being a disadvantage to T-mount at 50mm, but does not elaborate. What specifically are the advantages of the wider mount?
E mount suffers some limitations from being designed as an APS-C mount initially, simply put, there's restrictions on lens design due to trying to fit the mount, contacts & rear element into a package that is ~18mm from the sensor and only ~3mm in difference from the sensor diagonal to the mount diameter.
The T mount is a superior physical design for FF usage, although E mount allows for more flexible design for APS-C bodies.
naturephoto1 wrote:
... I would suspect the camera should be smaller and lighter than the R8/DMR combination.
The R8/DMR is quite hefty.
But, $7450 is a lot of money.
Not out of line for the R8/DMR when it was new.
When able, I may opt for the A7rII and the new Sony RX1RII with the 35mm lens. Though, I am still not sure. I like having the higher resolution. The combination of the 2 cameras at present are less than the cost of the SL alone. I may have to consider selling some things to make either a possibility.
Having used the DMR for 9 years I'm still struggling with the a7II's colors. I expect to keep the Sony for long-hike duty but if the SL's color quality is anything like the DMR it will be well worth the expense.
Doug, Rich, For shooting long glass often, it is hard to not looking at IBIS in body. For me, I don't feel the need of it even with 135mm lens which is the longest I have.
I know that is something to happen once you hold Leica camera in person. Leica users all know that feeling
Rich, do you notice if there is any focus aid in camera for Manual lens? both Canon and Nikon implement range finder type focus aid in view finder. I feel it is more useful than focus peaking in Sony.
zhangyue wrote:
Doug, Rich, For shooting long glass often, it is hard to not looking at IBIS in body. For me, I don't feel the need of it even with 135mm lens which is the longest I have.
I know that is something to happen once you hold Leica camera in person. Leica users all know that feeling
Rich, do you notice if there is any focus aid in camera for Manual lens? both Canon and Nikon implement range finder type focus aid in view finder. I feel it is more useful than focus peaking in Sony.
The SL has focus peaking and also magnified view (which can be moved in the finder and I believe LCD). The finder also shows many focus points, but i am not sure if this is for AF and also for MF. I believe the camera has 2 settings for focus magnification, but the camera is so new we were having problems trying to figure out how much magnification we were getting at the settings for the camera. Also, I am not sure if the focus peaking color can be changed as it is for the new Sony A7r. But, the camera does not have mirror or a ground glass so no split image focusing aid as was common for SLR focusing.
I would be inclined to add the Leica SL now, provided it had IBIS and more pixels.
I shoot all sorts of Leica M and R lenses with my A7r/2, including 280/4 and 105-280/4.2.
For those two telyts I use a tripod, for APO 180/3.4, 80-200/4, and 28-90/2.8-4.5 I mostly don't.
For those I use freehand and appreciate the stable image the A7r2 IBIS gives me for manual focusing.
My favorite M lenses so far on the A7r2 have been WATE, AA 75/2, and TE 135/4.
Once the A7r2 is modified I will use other M lenses in the 21 to 50 mm range as well.
The A7r2 with those Leica lenses is great as a walk around system.
The WATE alone covers 16, 18, and 21 mm in FF mode with 42 MP.
In APS-C mode, with still 18 MP, I get 24, 27,and 31.5 mm 135 film equivalent focal length.
But even for the pretty large and heavy telyts I never felt the A7r/2 cameras were too small.
I think their size is just right for my hands.
naturephoto1 wrote:
I am home now. But I asked the Leica Reps and they were Leica USA/Leica NA and they said the price was $7450. I also confirmed now that B&H Photo has the camera listed for the same price.
Thanks. I kind of meant tongue-in-cheek you ask them why the US price is almost a grand more than the EU market (pre-VAT). Same with the 24-90 (about $900 difference). Or the batteries ($250 vs. ~$125)...
But no worries. This gives a lot of valuable preliminary user feedback. As for camera settings in your images, here's what was pulled from EXIF in the first image: 
