I have to LEAVE... but don't worry it's not what you think.

After nearly one year with the LEICA SL2 and testing it in comparison to the Lumix S1R with marvelous lenses as the SUMMILUX SL 50mm, the APO SUMMICRON SL 90mm, the SUPER VARIO 24-90mm and the SUPER VARIO SL 16-35mm, an important decision has to be taken.
2021 is a difficult year for many of us and you'll see in this video that some cuts in the budget are necessary but keep in mind that I'm not giving up !
Thanks for your interest since more than one year and I really appreciate seeing new subscriber notifications here and there, from time to time.
See you soon for new adventure....

[@MarcS4R]

i agree with your points, the Focus of the Sl2 is not amazing. I still use it for a lot of paid work, along with my GFX 50. Both only have contrast detect, :) to be honest I would not mind trying a Z9....

[@LukBaboon]

Great pictures you made with the Leica!

[@dylanhill6736]

Great content! Taking care of your gear is extremely important.

[@carlosnunes5717]

I`m sorry to hear this but you are right, the S1R does the job, just think you will regreat if you will sell those lenses. For professional work the S1R is competent and those lenses are irreplaceable in my opinion. Wish you all the best and hope you are not having a GAS attack. Don`t forget the other options you have keeping with the L-mount alliance.

[@DidierMOULINPhotography]

You are definitively right ! SL lenses deliver the best quality. But for instance, beginning of this year, I tested the GFX100S and the GF110mm and I can tell you this lens is even better than the APO SUMMICRON SL 90mm. Not saying I’m going to Fuji but hey, Leica is good but not the only player of the game and upon that they are extremely expensive and competition is there today with some better solution. Just look, the S1R is the best example and today you find them on used market for 1600€ against 4500€ for the SL2… For the same result. And for lenses there are some good solutions in competition to the SL lenses that deliver impressive image quality for a fraction of the price. Keeping within the L Mount alliance is an option of course as long as I have the lenses with me.

[@carlosnunes5717]

@@DidierMOULINPhotography I own the X-T4 and X-T2 from Fuji with 5 primes and the two best tele-zooms. I know it`s not the GFX system but the RAW files from the Fujis compared with the DNG files from Leica are just... not comparable, and I only have the Q2 and CL, never owned a SL2 that have much better dinamic range, at least compared to que CL.

[@DidierMOULINPhotography]

@@carlosnunes5717 you are comparing APSC sensors indeed. I have seen comparison of shadow recovering between SL2 and GFX 50S I Guess or GFX100S not sure but the capacity of this large format from Fuji simply let the SL2 behind! The SL2 is not really good in low light

[@gentleman0678]

I agree. I have the LeicaSL2,SL 50 summilux, SL 16-35, sl 24-90, as well as the s007 and the S 24mm and S 100mm medium format lenses. The color out put and the lenses are exquisite. It is what has kept me with Leica after leaving Nikon. The recent update for the SL2 really improved the autofocus, but it doesn’t compare to the other systems speed. My hope is that future cameras will improve in those areas, because the lenses are hands down the best! I thought Leica was primarily just hype till I tried it. I took a picture of my wife the other day with the S007 and s 100mm, loaded it in capture one and it was just beautiful! They also need a professional lighting solution with TTL compatibility for event shooters. I hope to see a collaboration with Profoto soon on that front. Let’s all hope they implement some of suggestions in the future, because Peter Karbe has truly done a remarkable job with the lenses of both the M, S and SL line of cameras!

[@DidierMOULINPhotography]

@@gentleman0678 Of course they are great lenses and Peter Karbe made a real good job. But so expensive. That is the reason why I need to find alternatives that are equally qualitative (Fuji G series for instance) and so less less expensive.

[@mobilography6786]

Hello Diedre thanks for the Leica S2

[@johnvillalovos]

Are you going to use the Panasonic S1R or switch to another system?

[@DidierMOULINPhotography]

For now I keep on going with the S1R as the result with the SL lenses are the same as with the SL2 As soon as all my L mount gear is sold, I have several plans that I will share in good time 😉🤫🤐

[@johnvillalovos]

@@DidierMOULINPhotography That Nikon Z9 is looking pretty good. But it will be hard to get for months I bet.

[@DidierMOULINPhotography]

@@johnvillalovos yeah One week ago I was like oh my god that’s it I will take one… but after, reason takes the lead and reminds me that I never buy NEW since several years now, except the S1R because there was a promotion with the 50mm Spro for 1 €… so buying the Z9 New is not my plan… I will wait the used market later… even if it’s so appealing to me as it seems to reach the perfection

[@lp8140]

What about the 24-90 and the 90-280? Did you no longer use them?

[@DidierMOULINPhotography]

Well, the 24-90 is a marvelous zoom lens that delivers stunning images at any focal length and aperture. It’s heavy and has internal image stabilization which is good for the SL601 It really is a stellar lens. I traded mine with a M 35 summilux FLE and I regret it sometimes. But I decided to go wider with the 16-35 + LUX M35 (1.4 when the 1/4,5 is not enough) + LUX SL 50 + Cron SL 90 and 70-200. No overlapping except at tele focal lengths. The 90-280 is amazing but not better than the SPro 70-200 f/2.8 from Pana. I had both and have pictures of both and again, no difference. Of course you have more reach at 280mm but take the pana focal multiplier and you reach the same with same aperture I guess… Apart that, it’s impressive in your hands and I was always scared to walk around with this … I sold it few months ago

[@Stone1108]

We’ll Didier, challenging times but keep your chin up and you will emerge even stronger, because you are a talented photographer and that is always with you and always be a strength that will bring you new clients. So I think from this that you are also intending to sell the S1R and L mount L mount lenses, is this correct, I wasn’t clear on this from the video, and this ids because of the contrast detect DfD, primarily the eye focus? It’s interesting because I originally purchased the S1R for landscape photography but now also use it for portraiture and the face and eye detect has become very strong with recent firmware updates, it will never perform as phase detect but with native lenses it’s even better than with third party. I aspire to Leica lenses when I can justify this cost and thought that these improvements in the S1R focus would extend to Leica lense use with it but are you saying that this is not the case? I’m glad your not stopping your channel by the way, I thought for a moment reading the title that you were! I think the channel could serve you well in your quest for new clients with a few tweaks on the emphasis to interest them in you as a photographe , a good business marketing tool.

[@DidierMOULINPhotography]

Hi Andrew. Thank you so much for these encouraging words. We are thousands out there talented photographers but without the network and the good contacts we all are kept into the unknown. That’s a big challenge. To answer your questions, only the SL2 has face detect and not eye detect. The S1R has body / face / eye detect and animal also (SL2 doesn’t) And yes it does the job with the S1R since the last firmware but not as well as a phase detection AF. That has always been the weak point of this Lmount alliance and the S1R is the one that works the best. I should say the less worse. And yeah I mix the brands using the Leica lenses … and not Lumix lenses. Maybe it works better. But few weeks ago I was with my family. There were two dogs that I tried to photograph using the SPro 70-200 f/2.8 and guess what, it doens’t work. One out of 10 was nailed focus on the dog. A shame ! I was there with my professional gear unable to get a sharp photo of the dogs! The best pics I took was with my Leica M8! For portraiture and landscape I think I have the trinity that delivers the best image quality : 16-35 + 50 + 90. 4 options : I keep them 3 and the S1R and I have to deal with its limitations I sell them 3 and replace them with Lumix lenses, keeping the S1R : save a lot of money I sell them 3 with the S1R and I have to find a better AF system with high performing lenses (2 ideas…) : means a new investment… I make a mix… with several brands taking the best of each. The first target is to recover some finance in order to get out of the RED zone ! But keeping in perspective the same level of image quality performer, corner to corner… Thanks for your support and yes I will try to use my Chanel as a marketing tool ! See you !

[@Stone1108]

@@DidierMOULINPhotography Thanks for your detailed explanation Didier, this helps me to understand your thinking and I do understand, it’s far to important an issue for as a professional especially in your genre and the focus capability must work well for you. I would probably have the same thoughts if I was a professional relying on photography as my main income and needed the fast focus to capture the moment, I only use the S1R in studio with strobes or outdoors for landscape and recently closeup / macro, not dead insects though!! You have obviously given the matter a great deal of thought, it isn’t an easy decision for you but one that is needed. I wish you every success with your direction moving forward and will continue to support your channel. Take care, looking forward your update.

[@fellowcitizen]

Onward and upward 🌱

[@DidierMOULINPhotography]

Yeah never give up ! It’s just an opportunity to be better!

[@janfrosty3392]

I wish you best for future endeavours, stay safe.

[@DidierMOULINPhotography]

Thank you so much for your kind support.

[@webersteve1547]

Didier, where are you located? BTW. I changed almost completely from Leica to Panasonic (also the primes) and I don't miss anything. The primes from Panasonic are really excélent, cheap and better for video

[@DidierMOULINPhotography]

Hi Steve. I’m in France. Yes, Lumix lenses are fine. But hey, I had the 50 1.4 at the beginning and it went to repair 2 times for the manual focusing clutch that had issues. Optically very good but mechanically not reliable. The 70-200… when Inreceived it it was broken. A lens inside was broken. Not the front or back element. And the box was very very well protected… The all lens was replaced by panasonic. I bought a used one on warranty and I end up with a New one !!! Perfect performer at the same level as the Leica 90-280 but not reliable. It difficult to trust a brand when 2 times 2 products failed. But yes they are much much cheaper and these leads me to another réflexion that deserves a video itself. It’s the price decrease on used market. Leica keeps always high price that means that selling my gear will bring me back 100% of my invest, even more because I buy very good deals… Lumix? The S1R is 1500€ second hand compared to 4500€ for the SL2… the 50 SPro f/1.4 is 1200€ compared to 4000€ for the LUX SL 50 !!!! And at the end it might be an option for me, to be 100% Lumix at one third or one quarter of the budget.

[@webersteve1547]

@@DidierMOULINPhotography Interesting, I hope my Lumix lenses will stay some time with me. I still have two Summicron SL (35 mm and 99 mm) and actually hesitate to sell them.

[@DidierMOULINPhotography]

@@webersteve1547 if you can afford to keep them, don’t sell them. They are among the best lenses on the planet for full frame. The 35 is exceptional. My SL 90 is just bellow the FUJI GF 110mm which is a marvel m. My current situation forces me to do so but if I could avoid I would keep them for still and studio and non moving too fast subject 😉

[@fabrizio-6172]

Love you dear

[@DidierMOULINPhotography]

thanks !

[@Cotictimmy]

The Nikon D3X Users & Fans Facebook Group forgives you Didier for abandoning Nikon. Our doors are always open. Your brief flirtation with Leica will be forgiven & forgotten, and you will be welcomed back into the fold as a sinner who has repented. PS. I bought a nice D3S yesterday. 😀 (perhaps you'll buy a Canon R5 next? LOL)

[@DidierMOULINPhotography]

Ho man!!! What are you thinking!!! I leave Leica but for sure never my D3S!!! Your message made my day!!!😂

[@Cotictimmy]

@@DidierMOULINPhotography Delighted to hear it. It seems there are at least some points upon which The French and The English can agree. 😉

[@DidierMOULINPhotography]

@@Cotictimmy and guess what? I just found a D3X like if it was new!!! Back to the origines !!!

[@bollywoodmauritius]

There is nothing wrong with SL2 AF , it’s at par with S1R and much more than anyone will need for portraits. This is a very common these days for very immature photographers to get fixed at eye AF ,Megapixel counts and DR bullshit . No need to make videos and tell people mate, just sell camera and chill .

[@DidierMOULINPhotography]

Well if you say so. Sorry for being so immature