p.5 #2 · Do You Still Use the Leica SL System? (Poll)
Fred Miranda wrote:
If you like the Leica 50mm f/1.4 Lux ASPH in M mount, you will probably also like the SL version, though many stay away from it purely because of its size for a 50mm prime.
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i have both and i don't think they're similar at all in rendering. although the last time i did this was with the Lumix S1R2 ..
i can also see that SL is sharper and less CA ..
i'll do this comparison with the SL3 once Leica NJ finally fixes and ships it back to me sometime in 2029 as i don't have any other L mount cameras
p.5 #3 · Do You Still Use the Leica SL System? (Poll)
chiron wrote:
Good, and glad to hear your take on the 85L. My 85L is version II and I love the rendering. I'm thinking about looking for a 24L version I. That would give me a nice set -- 24-50-85.
I shot with the original EF 24/1.4L, 35/1.4L, 50/1.2L, and 85/1.2L II for many years back in my Canon SLR days. I always loved the images from those lenses, but going back through some older work recently made me realize just how special they really were. Like many of us, I was always chasing the latest and greatest, but in optical design, newer does not always mean better.
There is no question that modern lenses are more corrected, with more elements and fewer aberrations. But something was clearly lost along the way.
I ended up repurchasing the 24, 35, and 50L lenses and will be testing them on the SL2...just waiting for the MC-21 adapter to arrive. It is kind of amazing that for a little over $1.5k, you can put together this classic "L" Canon lineup and use it effectively on today's cameras. The beauty is that I can use them on my Leica, Sony and Fuji bodies.
p.5 #4 · Do You Still Use the Leica SL System? (Poll)
Fred Miranda wrote:
I shot with the original EF 24/1.4L, 35/1.4L, 50/1.2L, and 85/1.2L II for many years back in my Canon SLR days. I always loved the images from those lenses, but going back through some older work recently made me realize just how special they really were. Like many of us, I was always chasing the latest and greatest, but in optical design, newer does not always mean better.
There is no question that modern lenses are more corrected, with more elements and fewer aberrations. But something was clearly lost along the way.
I ended up repurchasing the 24, 35, and 50L lenses and will be testing them on the SL2...just waiting for the MC-21 adapter to arrive. It is kind of amazing that for a little over $1.5k, you can put together this classic "L" Canon lineup and use it effectively on today's cameras. The beauty is that I can use them on my Leica, Sony and Fuji bodies. ...Show more →
That is a perfect storm of desirable lens qualities, lens useability, and price. Good story and it is encouraging to hear your take on the rendering of the lenses.
RE "flaws" in lenses: I have been looking a lot at Vermeer's paintings and reading about his work lately. If you look at his paintings closely, they are filled with what we might call lens aberrations. A leading Vermeer art historian points out that if you enlarge his details (pixel-peep?), they often fall apart. But the overall effect of his technique at normal viewing distance is luminous, evocative, and very beautiful, especially his handling of light and color (as well as composition, perspective, facial expression, posture, etc.).
p.5 #5 · Do You Still Use the Leica SL System? (Poll)
tzhang4284 wrote:
I've also had a Leica Q3 43mm APO a few times where I loved the lens but really got frustrated over its systems limitations (lack of IBIS and slowness) that prompted me to give the SL3-S a try.
sorry i don't understand the reasoning jump here. Q343 has OIS on its lens. why is it an issue for not having IBIS? i would think that Q system is fixed lens so OIS vs IBIS is largely irrelevant.
p.5 #6 · Do You Still Use the Leica SL System? (Poll)
Fred Miranda wrote:
I shot with the original EF 24/1.4L, 35/1.4L, 50/1.2L, and 85/1.2L II for many years back in my Canon SLR days. I always loved the images from those lenses, but going back through some older work recently made me realize just how special they really were. Like many of us, I was always chasing the latest and greatest, but in optical design, newer does not always mean better.
There is no question that modern lenses are more corrected, with more elements and fewer aberrations. But something was clearly lost along the way.
I ended up repurchasing the 24, 35, and 50L lenses and will be testing them on the SL2...just waiting for the MC-21 adapter to arrive. It is kind of amazing that for a little over $1.5k, you can put together this classic "L" Canon lineup and use it effectively on today's cameras. The beauty is that I can use them on my Leica, Sony and Fuji bodies. ...Show more →
Update on this. I received the Sigma MC-21 and tested it with several EF lenses, and the AF is absolutely terrible. When it does lock, it's often misfocused, and most of the time it's very slow or just hunts back and forth. The MC-21 is simply not a good AF adapter for EF lenses (especially the older ones) on the Leica SL2. Maybe it only works properly with Sigma EF mount lenses, or perhaps it behaves better on Panasonic bodies when used with Canon lenses.
I will try the Viltrox AF adapter today, but honestly, it would need to be a night and day improvement to be usable.
p.5 #7 · Do You Still Use the Leica SL System? (Poll)
Fred Miranda wrote:
Update on this. I received the Sigma MC-21 and tested it with several EF lenses, and the AF is absolutely terrible. When it does lock, it's often misfocused, and most of the time it's very slow or just hunts back and forth. The MC-21 is simply not a good AF adapter for EF lenses (especially the older ones) on the Leica SL2. Maybe it only works properly with Sigma EF mount lenses, or perhaps it behaves better on Panasonic bodies when used with Canon lenses.
I will try the Viltrox AF adapter today, but honestly, it would need to be a night and day improvement to be usable....Show more →
The EF lenses do work quite well, though not like a Sony lens, on Sony bodies using the Sigma MC-11 adaptor.
p.5 #8 · Do You Still Use the Leica SL System? (Poll)
Sigma adapter is optimized for Sigma lenses, but I don't know how much other adapters will help with CAF. You need nano usm Canon lenses or pdf sensor. I used EF-S 18-135mm nano USM on CL and af was working good. Older USM lenses do not have this. Only 2 EF lenses makes the list, mostly RF lenses.
EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM
RF 24-105 F4L IS USM
RF 24-240 f4-6.3 IS USM
RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM
RF 15-35mm F2.8 L IS USM
RF 24-70mm F2.8 L IS USM
RF 70-200mm F4 L IS USM"
Fred Miranda wrote:
Update on this. I received the Sigma MC-21 and tested it with several EF lenses, and the AF is absolutely terrible. When it does lock, it's often misfocused, and most of the time it's very slow or just hunts back and forth. The MC-21 is simply not a good AF adapter for EF lenses (especially the older ones) on the Leica SL2. Maybe it only works properly with Sigma EF mount lenses, or perhaps it behaves better on Panasonic bodies when used with Canon lenses.
I will try the Viltrox AF adapter today, but honestly, it would need to be a night and day improvement to be usable....Show more →
p.5 #9 · Do You Still Use the Leica SL System? (Poll)
Fred Miranda wrote:
Update on this. I received the Sigma MC-21 and tested it with several EF lenses, and the AF is absolutely terrible. When it does lock, it's often misfocused, and most of the time it's very slow or just hunts back and forth. The MC-21 is simply not a good AF adapter for EF lenses (especially the older ones) on the Leica SL2. Maybe it only works properly with Sigma EF mount lenses, or perhaps it behaves better on Panasonic bodies when used with Canon lenses.
I will try the Viltrox AF adapter today, but honestly, it would need to be a night and day improvement to be usable....Show more →
I'm using the pro version of the Vitrox AF adapter and it seems to work fine on my SL2. I've only used it my old EF 600/4.0 L, my EF 400/5.6, and with the 1.4x EF teleconverter. It's been fine shooting birds and such for me although I really haven't tried it for any BIF shots. Every now and then I get a "lens error" when first hooking up the 600 but just redoing everything clears that. I was really surprised to see it work when I had the 1,4x on the 600/4.0. I'm pretty sure my version of 600 is the first model with stabilization so not a newer lens. It's have had some of my other EF lenses on the SL2 with this adaptor as I tested some stuff inside. Not serious shooting but it seemed to work fine in terms of autofocusing with those too but I was just playing around. I bought my adapter used off a local photographer.
p.5 #10 · Do You Still Use the Leica SL System? (Poll)
chiron wrote:
The EF lenses do work quite well, though not like a Sony lens, on Sony bodies using the Sigma MC-11 adaptor.
I've used the MC-11 adapter with EF lenses on Sony bodies and had the same experience that's being reported here. It works very well in that setup. What I'm referring to is the MC-21, the EF to L-mount version. With the lenses I’ve tried, including the EF 135mm f/2L, it basically does not work on the SL2. Even when focus locks, the image is not actually in focus, and most of the time it is slow and hunts just to lock in the first place.
For comparison, I tested all of my EF lenses on the Metabones IV with the A7CR, and the AF is surprisingly good. That includes center tracking, and it even works well with older EF lenses like the 24mm f/1.4L and 50mm f/1.2L.
p.5 #11 · Do You Still Use the Leica SL System? (Poll)
Well, selling My SL3 and SL3S and all SL lenses and tons of batteries (10) and four dual chargers after getting the 35-100 for the X2DII thus I will get another X2DII body.
I have older long Hasselblad MF lenses (CFi180/250/350/500+ 1.4APO for SA350 and 1.4XE and 2.0XE for the SA250) which I very much like. These will easily tide me over for landscape work until an AF 100-200 or longer like a 100-250 becomes available. The 135+1.7x sure is a fine (and heavy) long lens. Heck even Leica R lenses adapt well to this camera without vignetting, like the R180/2.8 Elmarit. even with APO 14x and APO 2X adapters. M lenses vignette, but are still useable on the X2DII.
p.5 #12 · Do You Still Use the Leica SL System? (Poll)
jamesdak wrote:
I'm using the pro version of the Vitrox AF adapter and it seems to work fine on my SL2. I've only used it my old EF 600/4.0 L, my EF 400/5.6, and with the 1.4x EF teleconverter. It's been fine shooting birds and such for me although I really haven't tried it for any BIF shots. Every now and then I get a "lens error" when first hooking up the 600 but just redoing everything clears that. I was really surprised to see it work when I had the 1,4x on the 600/4.0. I'm pretty sure my version of 600 is the first model with stabilization so not a newer lens. It's have had some of my other EF lenses on the SL2 with this adaptor as I tested some stuff inside. Not serious shooting but it seemed to work fine in terms of autofocusing with those too but I was just playing around. I bought my adapter used off a local photographer. ...Show more →
Thanks for your report. It gave me a lot of hope!
Since this is related to the Leica SL2 and my earlier post about adapting Canon EF lenses, here's another update.
The Sigma MC-21 adapter was a no-go with Canon EF lenses. I tried five different lenses and the AF was simply unusable. I'm sure it will work well with "Sigma" EF-mount lenses.
Today I tested both Viltrox AF adapters, the Pro and the non Pro versions. Both updated without issues to firmware v2.4 and, in practice, they perform the same. AF performance is excellent. I would say it's on par with using the same EF lenses on a Canon body with a Metabones adapter.
Bottom line, Canon EF lenses are a very usable alternative for SL2 shooters, and almost certainly for SL3 as well, when paired with the Viltrox AF adapter. I'm very happy with the results and will be keeping it.
p.5 #13 · Do You Still Use the Leica SL System? (Poll)
I've used the MC21 with Canon EF lenses with both the S1R and S1RII when no obvious AF issues (beyond the fact that the OG S1R has awful AF). It's worked fine with the EF 500/4 (first version). I'll play with some others tonight
p.5 #14 · Do You Still Use the Leica SL System? (Poll)
stgrove wrote:
M lenses vignette, but are still useable on the X2DII.
Just gotta keep tabs on that long e-readout times (1/3s and 1/6s) for rolling shutter / cyclical lighting. I like shooting my M lenses on the Hassy (X2D), but (imo) the e-shutter is more of an issue for me than the vignetting.
p.5 #15 · Do You Still Use the Leica SL System? (Poll)
I keep reading the MC21 works fine on the Panasonic bodies so the issue must be a SL2 thing.
kylebarendrick wrote:
I've used the MC21 with Canon EF lenses with both the S1R and S1RII when no obvious AF issues (beyond the fact that the OG S1R has awful AF). It's worked fine with the EF 500/4 (first version). I'll play with some others tonight
p.5 #16 · Do You Still Use the Leica SL System? (Poll)
I've had the SL2-S as my main camera and first choice for close to 2 years now. I have tested several AF lenses from Sigma and Panasonic, but I find the SL2-S really shines with my 3 Voigtländer lenses: Nokton 28mm f/1.5 VM, Nokton 50mm f/1.2 VM, and APO-Ultron 90mm f/2 VM. I've only briefly tried Leica-M glass and am wondering whether there's a noticeable benefit to pursuing it, but I am hesitant due to the significant cost difference.
I will jump on the bandwagon and say the SL2-S viewfinder is better for manual-focus glass. I found this out when reviewing the SL3.
p.5 #17 · Do You Still Use the Leica SL System? (Poll)
Testing more for MC21 and L-Mount sake rather than specifically Leica...
I used my S1RII with the EF 50/1.4, 85/1.8 and 100/2.8L. The macro seemed to work fine. The 50 struggled to focus (even though it claimed to lock on) and the 85 was hit or miss. Then I switched from single shot to continuous AF (which is what I'd previously used on the 500/4) and they all focused fine. Not the result I expected.
p.5 #18 · Do You Still Use the Leica SL System? (Poll)
RustyBug wrote:
Just gotta keep tabs on that long e-readout times (1/3s and 1/6s) for rolling shutter / cyclical lighting. I like shooting my M lenses on the Hassy (X2D), but (imo) the e-shutter is more of an issue for me than the vignetting.
I try to use a high SS for ES and I do not get ES blur for landscape shooting.
p.5 #19 · Do You Still Use the Leica SL System? (Poll)
Fred Miranda wrote:
I would love it if Leica went down that route. Including other brands, most modern AF lenses are designed with size and price as the main priorities, with aberration correction (spherical and chromatic) coming second but still a main goal.
For the SL, the only way to get that kind of character right now seems to be using older AF lenses adapted to L‑mount. I’m exploring Canon EF lenses with the MC-11 AF adapter for that reason.
Some Leica S lenses like the Summarit-S 35 f/2.5 ASPH. render more to my taste than the latest SL lenses.
The legacy look in modern optics. Maybe the start of a trend at least with Cine lenses for now? In addition to the Leitz Hektor Cine lens series based upon 1980s and 1990s style optics, Zeiss is apparently also coming to market with some kind of new Cine series "Inspired by Legacy" to be announced at BSC Expo in London February 13th/14th of this year. *Source = a recent email I received from ZEISS Cinematography News.
I can't see why this modern optics legacy look couldn't trickle down/over to modern AF optics for photography at some point.
p.5 #20 · Do You Still Use the Leica SL System? (Poll)
LBJ2 wrote:
The legacy look in modern optics. Maybe the start of a trend at least with Cine lenses for now? In addition to the Leitz Hektor Cine lens series based upon 1980s and 1990s style optics, Zeiss is apparently also coming to market with some kind of new Cine series "Inspired by Legacy" to be announced at BSC Expo in London February 13th/14th of this year. *Source = a recent email I received from ZEISS Cinematography News.
I can't see why this modern optics legacy look couldn't trickle down/over to modern AF optics for photography at some point.
Will these be made by Zeiss in Germany or by Cosina in Japan?
