Leica SL2: 'Vader' Has Landed - and I Want One

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Gear Used to Make This Video:

Panasonic GH5

Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 10-25mm f/1.7

RODE Wireless Go

D&O Lighting 180W LED:

Neewer umbrella

FULL EDIT SUITE

Apple 2017 iMac with 5K Retina Display (maxed out)

G-Technology G-SPEED Shuttle XL 24TB (8 x 3TB) 8-Bay Thunderbolt 2

Apple 2018 Macbook Pro 15.4", 2.6Ghz Quad Core i7 with 16G RAM, AMD Radeon 560X, 512GB SSD

[neilford]

Hugh

Once again you have managed to make we watch a 36 minute video on a camera system that I will never own! Well played sir, well played 😀

With regards to your CL, remember “what is yours is mine, and what is mine is mine” only applies to wives...

Make the t-shirt!

And with regards to making use of what you already have and not needing to change, that will definitely be my position once my X-Pro3 arrives.

Keep up the great work!

[stephenscharf]

"At its core, photography is much more about _being, _ seeing, doing, showing up, than it is about setting menu options." I *love* it. Truer words were never spoken, Hugh. Oh, and I want one of those "No Futzing Zone" T-shirts! Cheers, Stephen

[hartm]

I picked up a lightly used SL 1 for $2500. This camera, though nearly 5 years old, is STILL ahead of its peers. truly incredible machine. I love it.

[amereinterlude]

“Goodwill, cheer, reading, thinking, perspective.” Well said, Hugh. There are a lot of fundamentals in that sentence.

[motleybrew]

I watch your videos not just for your awesome reviews but for your language and articulation. I learn SO much!

[JustBeWell]

Thank you for bringing "Goodwill, cheer, reading, thinking, perspective.” as well as thought to us, once again...

[robklein]

I really enjoy your videos, and have alway wanted a Leica. So after hours of research and watching every video I could I have purchased my first Leica, a SL2. I am a designer, and love everything about the design of this camera. You sir, have so eloquently stated that owning a Leica is about the experience, and you are correct. Thank you for taking the time to post these videos

[brocktonbensch]

Hugh you consistently have the most thoughtful reviews and I especially like how you encourage viewers to do what is best for them instead of pushing for everyone to join the rat race. Additionally you don’t call every new camera the best and honesty prevails whatever the strengths and weaknesses may be of any one camera. Keep up the great work and cheers!

[JezUK]

I received my "Hold that thought" tee-shirt (I'm in the UK).

It is BEAUTIFUL !

Seriously, I love the feel of the material, it is super quality and it fits me PERFECTLY ! (medium).

Thank you much !

all I want is a Leica that thought !

[mikewheatley]

Loved this. What surprised me most is my jaw didn't drop when you described a $6000 camera as bargain, instead my head nodded along in agreement.

[finnillson]

Someday, after I make my first million, I’ll buy a Leica.

Joking aside, the colors from the SL2 in video capture was just amazing.

[ningsun]

Brilliant video Hugh!! Regardless if I can afford it or if I really needed, it s a pleasure to watch the whole video. It s really personal, it s about why you (we) love what you (we) love in life. Your change of screen from b&w and color, then back to b&w, gave an illusion that a past you and a present you speak at the same time! Well done Hugh! I know I m not going to buy it after I finished watching it, but i know for sure I will remember your video for long time to come because there are so many wisdom in it no one can buy with money. I love your saying photographer is about ‘ Being, Seeing, Doing, and Showing up, not about setting the manual ‘ lol how much simpler can it be?! Thx Man! Will come back watching what ever you post !

[galenlong]

What can be said about Leica better than you already said it??? For an amateur shooter like myself, a camera such as the SL2 is the Holy Grail of photography/ videography equipment, truly the Rolls Royce of the photog world. Leica has been the itch I never can scratch since I took Photography back in 83 in high school. I had a chance to shoot a few rolls of Kodak Black and White through a Leica just to see how I liked it and it was phenomenal. I can't even remember the designation for it now, been so long ago. All l knew then it was the Holy Grail and still is, and that I never became rich and famous and still am on a Pentax K1000 Budget. Photogs like yourself whom get to use all this wonderful equipment, I am quite frankly envious of you. I applaud you though for being able to work with all this equipment and the photos/ videos you get to shoot with it. I sure would love to be in your shoes. I still yet have an infinity for Black and White photography, and would love to be able to go shoot a ton of it, and I know today's cameras are more than capable, as long as that is programmed into the firmware.
Photography has come along way since I bought my first camera all those years ago. Good shooting.

[DanSme]

Thanks Hugh Brownstone! I love the pathos of your reviews as they reveal the heart of an Artist. ;-)

[frankberlin]

Hugh, thank for this. I want a SL2 😊😎👍 next to my q2 😎.

[philipshucet]

Well, we knew this was coming as soon as I bought my SL in June. Right? Of course we did. As you know, my SL has had quite a workout in the 5 short months I've owned it. It's covered a lot of ground...literally. Thanks for the early and careful coverage of the upgrades. Here're a few thoughts. The improved weather sealing. Yes! And you know exactly why I say that. I like, really like, the 4 unmarked buttons on the back. Hate to see those go. The back is so clean. But, ok. The improved grip; are we sure we needed that? I haven't had an issue with the grip, but I'm game if it is indeed a value add. I only hope that it doesn't somehow muck up the aesthetics. Speaking of aesthetics, until I heard it here and immediately pulled mine from my bag to see for myself, I never - not once - realized that the covering didn't extend to the front. How the heck did I not notice? Thanks for saying you hadn't noticed, too. I took some comfort from that.

And now this, yes, I'm already casting out feelers for a trade-in. No surprise, huh? Wait. One more thing before I go. No, you do not have a CL. You had one. Past tense. Claudia has one. As always, cheers! Keep up the great work, man.

[johnpeterka]

Thank you for your video, Hugh!

Questions on the SL2 -
(1) How is the eye AF?
(2) Can the AF keep up with people moving, like a wedding march?
(3) How well does camera perform in low light?
(4) Can shooting settings be preset and assigned to buttons (C1-C3)?
(5) Compared to Nikon/Canon cameras, is there equal amount of post editing in Photoshop or Capture One?

We liked the Nikon Z7’s image quality, but did not like its eye AF or its low light capability.

We also liked the Panasonic S1. That camera can see in the dark. However, the AF was suspect. And, its image was not as good as the Nikon Z7.

[terryjones]

In the words of the Everly Brothers, dream, dream, dream when ever I want you!!!!

[maxwellwellmax]

The music, the running water, you just took me back to Vermont in the Autumn of 2005!, Driving the back roads I heard running water, I stopped the car and went down to the stream, surrounded by nature and just the water making any noise!, I felt like my soul left my body. Thank you for bringing back those memories.

[ralphvip]

As an SL user for some time, I enjoyed the four button layout as well as long press shortcut a lot, it feels minimalistic and in my opinion better than the current 3 button design that favors videography, and I rarely have to take my right thumb off the joystick, now with SL2 it might be less possible to do so.


Also, I really want to know the issues in SL has or has not been addressed in SL2, (with 24-90mm SL lens) such as the noticeable noise above ISO 1600, unable to turned off Long Exposure Noise Reduction which lead to additional wait time equal to the amount of exposure time. Less appealing jpeg direct output that will require tuning dng in lightroom in order to be visually appealing. And more, hopefully you can help investigate. Thank you very much.