Leica SL2 Review by Thorsten von Overgaard - From Leicaflex SL (1964) filmcamera to Leica SL2 (2020)

[@diegaulle9143]

I enjoyed this video a lot. One of your best pieces of content both KZbin and website. Thank you very much.

[@pedro_da_silveira]

It is always a pleasure to watch your videos. Thank you and keep up with the good work!

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Thank you. More videos coming :-)

[@Chasjazzez]

Question; Which set would you prefer, and why? Leica SL with a Leica Summilux M 50 1.4 or a Leica SL2 with a Voigtlander Nokton 50 1.2 ??

[@gerdgreczka8857]

Always a pleasure to hear and learn about the history and the bridges to the modern times. Thank you. Leica is a very interesting "family" I follow now for two years.

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Thank you!

[@TheBigNegative-PhotoChannel]

Thanks Thorsten. Not many people can tell so much about Leica and have the right cameras from their own private collection. Maybe you have other great stories of the Leica story that you could make a video about? That would be fantastic.

[@janehlers4629]

But why there is no real-time preview of depth of field in the SL 2? I only see what I get with the widest aperture even on 8 or 16. Or is it my user problem?

[@shlawchablaas]

I just bought a 1970 Leica SL and an R7 with Macro Elmarit-R 60mm f/2.8, they should be good companions to my Leica T with TL 18mm and Elmarit-R 135mm. Nice to hear a bit more of the history, can't wait to work with the new cameras once they arrive

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Going to be nice. Fidn and download the manuals to your phone/computer. While they are simple, when you find a button that you don't know what is, the manual comes in handy. I usually study a new camera for things I don't understand (doesn't know what if for) and clear them in the manual. You can get the SL manual here: www.overgaard.dk/pdf/leica_sl2_manual.pdf

[@mikemooney9124]

Great review Thorsten and really educational. Many thanks.

[@bavideomaker29]

I love these history lessons and overviews. Thank you.

[@yuidfbse]

Let's get real here please.. how much of the Leica SL and the mount was actually Leica's design or idea since this is all co-agreement and co-design with Panasonic and Sigma (who is really the actually the main L-Mount lens manufacturer, including making lenses under the Leica brand and surely also some if not most of the Panasonics)? And ultimately how much of the Leica SL is actually a Panasonic SH and how much of the SH is bits and pieces of the Leica SL? Because realistically, they are pretty much the same camera with a different coat.. the body is basically the same, the electronics basically the same, and let's face it that Leica it has absolutely ZERO expertise in video, and all the amazing video capabilities, menus, options, and functions on the SLs, are all directly imported from Panasonic. I love Leica, I love the Ms. Those are the real Leicas. The SL, as great as a camera as it is, is not a Leica anymore.. nor are many of their "Leica" L lenses. I consider actually that's the last two real Leica cameras ever made were the CL in the TL/TL two, absolutely Leica cameras from top to bottom. And it didn't workout and it all died right there. Just the facts from someone that shoots Leica and thinks they are (were) truly the number 1 in the business. But the world has changed and along with everyone else, so has Leica that spends now more time trying to make money with blatant rebrands, merchandising luxury branding and licensing their name to subpar mediocre Chinese smartphone makers and other items from gadgets to video projectors than ACTUALLY MAKING CAMERAS OR BEING IN THE BUSINESS OF INNOVATING ANYTHING in the photography world anymore. Reality bites..

[@marcusruhr7540]

Thanks for this great video. I was roughly familiar with the development from the Leicaflex to the SL2. But it was interesting to see it in a video.

[@marcusoutdoors4999]

I just have the original SL which I absolutely love. Maybe at so,e point I’ll upgrade, but with fast glass there’s little point.

[@adyshih]

Is there a relationship between the development of Leica Q with SL? I was told once from a Leica executive that Q gave birth of SL?

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Never heard that, but the processor and many other elements are inspired from the Leica S.

[@MikeMayerPhotograph]

adyshih : This story is true. In development, the Q was something of a test ballon for the mirrorless system. They then decided to turn it into a compact camera. With great success as it has shown.

[@Caracalaba]

That sensor back for the r9 has to be one of the coolest things ever in digital photography. Could you make one video about it? There isn't much info out there

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Yes, the dream would be if someone could make a sensor that fits inside any film camera, using the film roll space for electronics and memory. That would be so awesome cool. And yes, the DMR is quite a piece of engineering and color management.

[@franklee995]

Hey thats me with my rolleiflex t! Where was it taken?

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Singapore, right?

[@franklee995]

@@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard yes it is! Haha!

[@yakattac78]

Another great video Thor! Curious, do you own an SL2? Is there a specific application where you would use this for your work instead of your beloved M cameras? Also, if you had 1 native SL lens to use with it, which one would you choose? Hope your well sir Thor! Big love from Sydney, Australia!

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Yes, I have the SL and SL2. How the SL2 fits in I don't know. The SL didn't fit in for travel and street, but does a great job as video camera. SL2 might go in that place as well, but when I used the Panasonic SR1 that one was used for a lot of studio/product related things. The SL2 is just more simple and better to use, but still not as practical and simple as the M.

[@robertolouth7468]

Sweet little story ...thank you, very much enjoyed

[@tedbahas]

Superb as usual!

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Thank you!

[@marianpalko2531]

15:51 That's so ingenious, never thought of it that way...

[@rafai1281]

Very interesting. I love the R9 digital back photos + history part. I'm a Leica and Sony user, so it was a bit strange that you avoid a7 existence. I know that the point to make was that Nikon created slr systems, but Leica was the first to introduce a full-frame mirrorless system, but it is a bit overstretched. Leica introduced l-mount earlier for the apsc, but it is a minor thing.

[@SkylerKing]

The Leica M9 was the first full frame mirrorless camera, wasn’t it?

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

@@SkylerKing Leica M was always mirrorless, but yes, M9 was the first full-frame *digital* mirrorless. Then again, mirrorless has come to mean mainly digital viewfinder that shows what the sensor sees, though mirrorless was cool because it removed mechanical parts, needs less space, and removes sound and mirror slap that shakes the camera and ruins micro details in slower shutter modes.

[@thebramputra]

Let's say you could only get one camera to last you a decade or so... would you get the sl or sl2? disregarding the aesthetic of the camera, and only focused on picture quality.. which would it be? I'm asking, because I'm very torn between the two.

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Leica SL. They're cheap second-hand now. Should you want to upgrade from there, the SL2 will be there. But the SL seems to have amore stable image quality, the SL2 still has some tweaks to be made.

[@thebramputra]

@@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard I see, so a firmware update for the SL2 is something to look forward to then. Thank you for replying, and thanks for this insightful video. Cheers from Indonesia!

[@erichstocker8358]

Actually I have just one slight correction. The Nikon S series was based on the Zeiss Ikon Contax rangefinder and even used the Zeiss contax bayonet mount system while Leica was still using the LTM. Having written this, I acknowledge that Zeiss designed and built those cameras because of the success of the Leica. Now the Canon definitely was based on the Leica and even used the LTM. Nice video and I love my Leicaflex SL2.

[@peetje28021970]

Looking forward to that.

[@davidselby8115]

It’s so nice to see such a historical story to set the context for a new camera. Although not (currently) a Leica user/owner I am becoming very tempted!! Thank you Ps what do Leica have in the pipeline for the future of Medium Format??

[@williaminbody205]

I own the SL....beautiful camera....I think the images out of the SL are more pleasing than the SL2. Not sure why....but they are....I also like the 4 pad interface, and the forged AL milled body, built in gps, over the SL2.

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

You are right in many ways. SL2 seems to still need a tweak from leica, as well as in one's own workflow.

[@williaminbody205]

Magic Of Light Which are the gems in the R system lenses that are worth adapting to the SL, especially in prime telephoto’s. I’m thinking R 180mm f2.8 or f4, R60mm macro, R 350mm f4.8....

[@charlesestrada4164]

I want an sl2 so baddd

[@pngular2483]

Thanks for all the info, very interesting.

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Welcome. Thank you!

[@JohannBauermeister]

Super interesting!

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Glad you liked it!

[@DieCastErn]

Omg I learned so much from this video, amazingly informative! But u didn’t do much review on the SL2 in the video. I was expecting a 20 min review on the new body

[@macbookdieter]

Great video.

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Thank you!

[@عابرسبيل-و5ي1س]

Thanks for sharing 👍

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

:-)

[@CryoftheProphet]

that was perhaps the best sounding shutter, sexy indeed

[@maximewong3415]

Very great 👍 very interesting enjoyed a lot 👍

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Thank you!

[@roiloubia4483]

I thought this video would be a re iew of the SL2..as the title says..

[@nelsonclub7722]

10mpx and it is stunning - who else wants an R9?

[@GKhanKutar]

Are you sure this is Leica SL2 review? :)

[@ImMatej]

My daily therapy.

[@Photojouralist123]

Worst camera in the Leica line up. I got one and it locks up with an error message when shooting continuous and the battery is only half. Contacted Leica and they said they are aware of this issue but have done nothing to resolve this. Therefore bought a Nikon Z9 and its on the way in Dec 24

[@Biosynchro]

Of course Canon and Nikon copied Leica. Of course! You hear people say that those two companies innovate, but in reality, Leica innovated more than they did. As for the DMR, that was not really a great idea, IMHO. Why would I want a digital back for a 35mm camera? What I would want is one camera for 35mm, and one for digital.

[@nasserbrn]

As Usual Excellent Video, very informative and to the point. Thank You!!!

[@jorgecevallos3225]

I can't afford to watch this video.

[@A___-naut]

same here, it costs more then myself

[@thedeadguy]

It’s costs more then my traveling and food costs.

[@Gravitys-NOT-a-force]

I always liked the look of the Leica R8 and R9 cameras. I was really disappointed with the 'look' of the SL2. Do you have any idea why Leica made the SL2 so ugly? ;-)

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

It's the German design studio in Munich that also does the M10, as far as I know (the Q was designed by a young Swedish designer who worked at Leica in Wetzlar). Not a beautiful design of the SL, the SL2 is better and nice to handle. Compared to what Canon R and Nikon Z and others comes up with, the SL2 is quite nice and simple. But I agree, it is sort of a box. ... Which might be practical for versatility of microphone plugs, memory cards and more in the future. The more I see it and work with it, the more I like the SL2 package.

[@Gravitys-NOT-a-force]

@@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard Had they made the SL2 look something like the Leica R8 or the Leica S3...or even the M10, I think I would have bought an SL2 to replace my M10. Now, I'm on a waiting list for an M10-R.