OP it really matters what you do with your final images and what type of images you routinely capture.
Do you print and how large. For online stuff 5MP is just fine, thus many of us do not consider that scenario when comparing different systems.
For clarity I sold my 28/35/50/90 Leica APO SL lenses after acquiring the X2DII and 25V, 38V, 55V 90V and 135/2.8 lenses. Still have my APO 21, 24-90, 100-400 Leica lenses. Still have the SL3 and SL3S bodies, but...
math photographer just did an X2DII vs SL3 comparison, but he missed some points like where the SL3 is about $500 more than the X2DII when battery charger and an extra battery are included in the mix. Personally I find the X2DII UI better suited for me plus many other features.
After working on files in ACR I find the malleability of the X2Dii files easily to my liking and soon might just sell all my SL gear since I prefer my M lenses on an M and especially on my new EV1. Low light shooting is way better for me on the X2DII which I often do in landscape photography and due to IBIS, I am finding I can leave the tripod behind more often than not once the sunrise breaks out.
I started out with Phocus minimally processed and then exported to LR or PS. Hate LR filmstrip and prefer folders for my shoots where each type of file is next to each other-i.e., 3FR, Tiff, jpeg, in each folder. So now I use Bridge for thumbnails and then double click for ACR and then hit Done for PS processing and/or to Save As or Export. Always use Adobe Adaptive Color or Adaptive Monochrome if converting to B&W which I find very pleasing when working with X2DII files. The DR on the X2DII often makes the files very bright after using the Adaptive profiles which most often requires reducing the H/L's considerably.
Was out West one week after acquiring X2DII and this group I was with all had Canon, Nikon and Sony cameras. We put images up on a huge monitor and most were pleasantly surprised at the natural colors the X2DII presented since we mainly took similar images at the same time of day or pre-day in darkness.
Jan 21, 2026 at 09:03 AM
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