Why I'm giving up my Leica SL and giving Canon another go.

The SL has given me ups and downs, let me know your thoughts below.

[CryoftheProphet]

When someone leaves Leica for Canon, an angel somewhere loses its wings.

[tpex]

SL2 or SL2S would be a fair comparaison against your R6. Don't forget when the SL came out, Nikon and Canon didn't even have a mirrorless system and the competitor was the Sony A7ii. Technology has improved by a lot since the SL from 2015 and R6 from 2020

[RS-Amsterdam]

So in 2021 you are disappointed about your SL that had a release date in October 2015. Now you are looking at a Canon camera of 2020 and you find that one better....
As other commenters already stated, and I support them, try a SL2-S, you can keep your SL glass (which you like so much) and have the latest and greatest in the SL camera range.
B smart !!

[Fleet]

The SL2-S is amazing, I almost got the canon after leaving Sony but I have the Q2 So I stayed in the system.

[jonlieberman]

Thanks for your experiences. In have a Canon RF setup with a bunch of lenses that I had to put into deep storage over a year ago when I started traveling. To keep it light I took my Olympus on the road. I fell in love with the Leica Q2M and was so smitten that I got. M10R. I have gone from wildlife and landscapes to capturing my urban and landscape experiences. I don’t miss the size of my Canon setup but must say that I was totally impressed with the newer RF glass. I am considering the SL because I have seriously invested in M lenses. I am wondering what you’re experience with Leica SL would have been if you had been using a SL2 S. I really like the M lenses and small size. Anyway thanks for sharing your experiences and expertise.

[paulcook]

Hi Brad.

Thanks for the update. At least you enjoyed your experience with Leica SL and Prime Lens. I am pretty new to digital photography, and my experience with Leica has been really good with the Q2 since I bought the camera in 2019. Obviously, my experience is limited to being a amateur and it maybe very frustrating for yourself to be let down through Leica’s Service Department being a professional.

I have dropped a email to the Service Department to order a spare part last week. But, not received any reply back. Only a automated reply.

Probably, it’s time to move on if the service department is poor. But, at least you still keeping the Leica Q Camera. I love my Q2. Looking forward to your Leica Q Videos.

Keep up updates and your honest opinion on your gear through the channel.

Kindest regards. Paul.

[TheVFXbyArt]

Canon AF runs circles around Leica. Tried a Q2 and SL2

Thx for sharing

[rolandrick]

Concerning the glitches, silly question: did you ever make a firmware upgrade?

[michaelm]

The SL is six years old at this point, you should have tried an SL2-s, I shoot an SL2, it’s amazing. As far as support, I walk into the Leica Store and get great customer service. What lenses do you want for L-Mount do you want that aren’t available?(other than telephoto options)

[guillaumevalli]

Should give the SL2(s) a try. There is an express pro service available from Leica.

[andrewdoeshair]

I really like your videos because we have similar tastes and needs for a camera. I passed on the R5 and got an R6 for the same reason you did-- between my professional and personal work I'm processing 300-500 images every other day and when I borrowed the R5 for a few weeks it felt a lot like overpaying for a giant meal every time I had to upload 400-500 images, it was just too much. Up until I got the R6 I was using an EOS RP a lot (as my EOS R collected dust, and still continues to) for the same reason, the files were tiny (both for photo and video) and that light work flow meant more to me than the ability to crop heavily. I think a lot of people look at what some pros demand and they want to demand the same thing (high resolution, better dynamic range, faster burst rates, etc) but in doing so they overlook what might actually be ideal for them. Not to mention, something about the R6's sensor is just pretty, it destroys the 6D, 5Diii, RP, and R (probably other cameras I haven't used extensively) at least as far as straight-from-camera images.

[markkujath]

Service is a really interesting point! LEICA is still not supporting us Pros just like Nikon or Canon do. This is a pity, looking at the pricing. Am actually switching vom the SL to the LUMIX S - System, as I loved to keep the Leica glasses...

[williaminbody]

Nothing today has a sensor that produces more pleasing images.

[zakijaihutan]

A very fair comment Brad. I do know several professionals who dedicatedly used leica (SL in particular), but yes, it's a damn huge investment, so for professional or for everyday photography work is not an easy swallow. I think choosing a leica nowadays (unlike way back in the 1950-60's where their rangefinders are prime option for fast-shooting) is more of a personal preference for personal work.

[benjaminelkins-green]

Awesome video, the new Cannon and Sony mirrorles bodies are paving the way forward. We're lucky to be working/shooting in an age where we have so many options, having to live with 'work arounds' and 'quirks' just isn't necessary for us anymore!

[raksh]

Funnily, I went from Canon to Leica, then kind of moved back to part Canon and Leica. I got the 5D Mark II in 2009, then the M9 in 2010. The M9's colours and sharpness, as well as portability, were big wins over the Canon. But in recent years, I've been shooting sports, which is much easier with autofocus and faster burst rate, so I've picked up my 5D II and even my 30D again. I'd like a more modern camera because the AF on the old Canons is pants, not to mention the awful shadow banding. So I'm weighing up the various options, like a SL, SL2-S, Canon R6 with EF adapter, jump ship entirely to a workhorse Nikon D750 or Z6, or even a Sony A9. Every option has its pros and cons, most of which revolve around the cost of buying new lenses for optimal performance, apart from the Canon R6.

[shutterlag]

thanks for this! I really want a Leica or two, but I keep thinking it seems more like something for personal use and passion projects. I think shooting it almost daily for work would make me not like it so much. I want to use it when I can be contemplative, introspective, and just messing around. That's funny to say about such an expensive camera, but art should be fun, and fun is worth investing in!

[FarEastSurvival]

Hi Brad, you shoot weddings as a professional so it's not surprising you would want a pro body that can take more than 10 frames per second with auto focus. I think modern bodies offered by Sony, Canon and Nikon as well as Fuji would be more than fine for professional work. Personally I shoot photographs as a hobby and based on my own experience of owning modern Sony's and Canon bodies and lenses, I felt that the colors and lenses of the Leica M and CL/SL system are much more appealing to me. Needless to say the differences between these systems and Leica are very small. The Canon 24-70 F2 is a remarkable piece of glass unmatched by anything offered by its peers. I'm sorry to hear that your copy of the SL went bad. You could have considered the SL2 or SL2-S which I just recently purchased. It's an amazing camera. Good luck to you and your career. I look forward to your future videos.

[smoczarski]

Did you get a chance to use m lenses like the noctilux 50 or 75mm on the SL or SL2? The leica look is great like you mentioned but what I love about Leica is the sensory experience of shooting with their cameras. They inspire me to shoot. Also I find that clients feel like they are getting some added value when you shoot with Leica or Hasselblad. Did you ever consider getting a Panasonic S1r and keeping the Leica glass? All the best mate

[TheGermanCompounder]

Maybe Canon is the better choice for you. If it feels right go for it :) But i gotta say the L-Mount Lens Roadmap is no slouch! Sigma, Panasonic and Leica produce amazing high performing Lenses for every budget. The newer Panasonic and Leica bodies are also way more advanced than the first Leica SL.