Leica SL2-S: Life at ISO 50,000

[@john.advrider3536]

I had picked the SL2-S in all those comparisons. Glad mine will be here soon :)

[@adelebuttolph7303]

I chose the SL2-S for each one as well.

[@ericbauer1561]

S5 is looking like the greatest cheapest alternative

[@filibertkraxner305]

Exactly the review I was waiting for! Picked out the SL2S images immediately. That's it. That's my second 'M' body :-) Thanks so much for putting in all that work, Hugh. And all the best for the new year :-)

[@3BMEP]

And to you and yours!

[@PaulAmyes]

I picked the Leica SL2-S every time it was so apparent. I used to do a lot of concert photography back in the early 80's. HP5 in Microphen was my fave combo. Then Kodak introduced Kodacolor VR 1000 and I thought everything became so easy. 50,000 ISO! Who would have imagined it!?! As you say DR and contrast fall off a cliff, but the practical application is that we now have a very useable 12800 ISO in available light. And just think of the lighting possibilities because light sources don't have to be massively powerful they can now be smaller, more nuanced and applied in layers.

[@3BMEP]

Great points!

[@iKIMshuffle]

Bro! You are clearly enjoying the camera, I need to hear from you, what the fuck is that battery life? After years and years of daydreaming a Leica, it’s less than 24 hours and I am disgusted by this battery life. Convince me not to return this.

[@dct124]

Well I think any sane person also chose the SL2-S in every frame as well.

[@Bryan-lu4du]

Absolutely incredible. I chose the SL2-S on all of them except the 4th one (vs. the S5) which I noted “close” because I spent awhile trying to make up my mind.

[@3BMEP]

I understand.

[@That_Bimmer_Guy]

I had the exact same results..The S5 is a monster performer for the price.

[@philipshucet9481]

Excellent review. Learned a lot. Interesting, educational and fun to watch. Perfect combination. The ISO comparisons are intriguing. As is the knowledge that while iso is handy and great for the right situation, it’s not to be used “just cuz.” Keep ‘em coming!

[@3BMEP]

😍🎥🖖🏻

[@johnhjic2]

Hello Hugh, I hope you both have a good Christmas? The SL2-S look so much better in all your test. What a great name for your next bool "Life at 50,000 ISO". would suit your style around NY. Keep well, keep save and be happy.

[@3BMEP]

Great idea! And: either back at you!

[@frankgwirtz]

LOVED the reference to Tri-X in Acufine at ASA1200! My go-to combo for over 25 years.

[@3BMEP]

👍🏻

[@PopoMedic]

I dig your channel sir.

[@3BMEP]

😊🖖🏻

[@grantmedical]

"Mind officially blown" Hugh... the difference is very very obvious! I guess I know what I am saving to buy!!! Much love and thank you!

[@3BMEP]

😊🙏🏻🖖🏻

[@ianbrown704]

OMG that test must have been so tedious, hats off to you sir! I have just got the SL2-S and my feeling is a rather less articulated -" bloody good" . Its my first Leica and for me hits the sweet spot. Thanks and stay safe, all the best for 2021. Ian (UK)

[@3BMEP]

You too! 🙏🏻😊

[@RogerOThornhill]

The SL2-s won every single time, except against the R5.

[@nohandle54]

no cheating - I chose the SL2-S every image. sweet baby jebus

[@3BMEP]

Nuts, I know!

[@peterwrvideo]

Yep, me too. Significantly better! Amazing.

[@edjones8622]

Got the SL2S every time 👌🔴

[@philociraptor6751]

Thanks for these valuable insights :)

[@stuartbrightwell7077]

I was a little relieved you didn’t include the CL in your comparison! 😂 I love it but low light performance is a bit of a weak spot.

[@baharam98]

Every single one I picked, was the SL2-S as well.

[@RudolfWolph]

Tried to do it in real time to avoid too much pixel peeping. A, A, B, B(close), then B takes it pretty easily every time afterward. Now I want to see some astrovideography. Fast lens, high ISO, and a good meteor shower.

[@obscur_yoann]

As I am not interested in buying an SL2-S; I am more surprised by how good the S1R (that I just newly own) still holds it at 50000 ISO! If downsampled at 24MP, it must be close... I should give it a try with mine. Maybe I am too conservative with the high ISO on it... Thanks for the reflection you involuntary induce. 😉 I feel you for that kind of test... I am not a pixel peeper at all too, hate that...

[@3BMEP]

😉

[@REDNCR]

Excellent video, thanks, far above my current non specialized photographer level, some of your rictus, smiles remind me the great Groucho Marx and add interest to the subject.

[@finnillson4808]

My takeaway: S1R very respectable for double the MP count. With almost every camera manufacture using Sony sensors it’s all coming down to the software implementations and ergos, Canon excluded here. Although, the R5 is not a lowlight beast (except when shooting 8K video downsampled to 4K) canon still is keeping up and I find in the real world the R5 has very film like noise. Great test and a reminder that tech isn’t everything!

[@3BMEP]

Am spending more time with the R5 now!

[@finnillson4808]

Awesome! I love my R5 and have been shooting a lot of video with it and so far. Overheating is not a concern for me in all but extreme circumstances with latest firmware. If Canon gives us clog3 in new firmware this camera will be a strong showing from canon in the hybrid space, finally!

[@belgiboing]

Brilliant. Suddenly, better portability possibilities emerge. Such as using a Summaron 28mm f5.6 with the SL2S as a do-anything, high iso, low light, compact set-up.

[@3BMEP]

Exactly!

[@iKIMshuffle]

After contemplating a long time, I left my first loves, Sony and LUMIX, for a Leica. It has been less than 24 hours since the purchase and I’m already regretting it. What is up with this battery life? Less than 24 hours and I want to return this cam. My dreams are shattered.

[@detectivejonesw]

Iso 50,000 is great because, if you've got a stabilized sensor and a reasonably fast lens, you can shoot handheld astrophotography at that iso. That's something that's always amazed me. Yes, I know it won't be the best quality but it's still cool. I hope my next camera will have that kind of capability.

[@jshanni2066]

Interesting. The SL2-s was my easy choice in all bar one example. That example turned out to be the S5 . An S5 coupled with the new Sigma "I" series primes is very very tempting as a stills photographer.

[@3BMEP]

Yes, it is! 😊🖖🏻

[@danilotorre1857]

Very interesting video. Did you have the chance to compare the dynamic range of SL2s vs the SL2 at low ISO? Tks! D

[@HornbillStudios]

My eyes favoured SL2-S in every case except on comparison with S5. I am sure with S1 results would have been identical.

[@3BMEP]

I suspect you are right! 😊🖖🏻

[@BilBrown]

Nope, I have the S1. Its not even close...

[@BradleyHansonPhotography]

Hey Hugh- I know this is 2 years old, but I am fascinated by this capability and have a couple questions. I have been shooting weddings for 24 years, and I’ve used nearly everything including film Leicas and was an early mirrorless shooter in 2012 on Fujifilm. My questions: 1. How is the AF on the SL2s in ISO 50,000 lighting conditions? 2. Is the AF any better than the Leica SL2? I am 56 and rely on AF when shooting moving subjects in low light, especially at f1.2, f1.4 and f2. I tried the Leica Q2 and realized there is a reason no reviewers talk about the AF. It was like going back to 2012 with only CDAF. Perhaps the SL3 will ad PDAF like Panasonic did?

[@tscott6843]

My SL2 S is in New York. I was going to trade it for a Fuji system. Made no sense, but it seemed to work somewhere in my brain. Worry not though. I backed out and now wait for it to come home via ground transport 😢

[@TheLAinME]

Thanks Hugh. I think the main conclusion is that all of the current 24MP BSi sensors are capable of fantastic results. I found some of your examples very different in exposure or tonality and that impacts judgement too. I saw the same when comparing my SL2S 😎 with my Z6 - the Z6 was slightly brighter with slightly different colors at the same manual exposure/iso/wb settings and has a tendency to underexpose vs the SLS2 in Auto. In my test also the SL2S was slightly better than the Z6. You need to really do intense pixel peeping to see it, though.

[@3BMEP]

Agreed - ergo my frustrations on the one hand, overarching conclusion on the other. 😊 Niceto confirm it ain’t just me! The stills were all identically exposed by the numbers, but I saw the same thing you did. Video was even worse.

[@CoconutJustice]

Happy Holidays, Hugh. Happy New Year!

[@3BMEP]

And to you!

[@danieldougan269]

I picked the SL2-S every single time. It wasn't even fair.

[@Jack-qn6vy]

Enjoy your thoughtful videos. Question for you: I enjoy simplicity of Leica M but the versatility of the Sony A7 series (auto focus, relatively small and lightweight). I don’t particularly like EVFs in general but have learned to adjust, having come from SLR film cameras. Do you think that using my Sony A series manually with a Leica M lens would be a good estimation of how it would be to own a Leica SL2?

[@3BMEP]

The feel and handling of the two camera bodies are entirely different, but you WOULD get a sense of whether or not you’d enjoy it. I’d recommend you take a close look at a Leica CL!

[@ralph95vip]

Something I ve found, software makes a huge difference, shot for shot. Capture one 20 leica sl2-s without icc profile is worse than that of leica sl with icc profile. Capture one 21 sl2-s performs about 1 stops better in raw at iso 3200. Lightroom performs worst, at about 2 stops behind that of capture one, with sl2-s performs about 1 stop better at about iso3200. Jpg for jpg, sl2-s performs 2 stops better than sl. Sl performs marginally better than sl2 at about 10 to 15 percent.

[@3BMEP]

Fascinating, thank you. Will have to explore this sometime after I recover from this exercise.

[@tres837]

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays sir and lady. Let's mask up and take pics.

[@3BMEP]

Right back at you! 🙏🏻🖖🏻

[@SlotCarNewsOfficial]

Interesting comparison, thanks!

[@Mwphotoinc]

Always love your vids. This one was particularly fantastice. Thank you!

[@3BMEP]

😊🖖🏻🙏🏻

[@roderickwho1983]

Hurray ! I got 'em all correct. I win ISO !! Happy Christmas Hugh

[@3BMEP]

And to you!

[@matthiaslehnardt2034]

Listening to you is a real joy!

[@3BMEP]

🙏🏻😊🖖🏻

[@matthiaslehnardt2034]

​@@3BMEP By the way: I have bought one due to your advise! Keep on going this way and... thank you!

[@3BMEP]

Gladstone of service. 😉 Enjoy!

[@morgankarno7335]

From my understanding The Nikon D850 has a backside illuminated sensor produced by tower jazz

[@nevermind2407]

Havent dared to go past 6400 on my R6... Looking not too bad, perhaps should give it a go :D. Great stuff as always

[@3BMEP]

😊🙏🏻🖖🏻

[@glenncharles6622]

Another great review Hugh. Dang, I am pretty convinced that for an all around camera, 24mp is really the sweet spot. Doing this, in the SL2 form factor is awesome. I guess I am going to have to ... Please now, performance with M glass? Cheers

[@3BMEP]

😉

[@Jack-qn6vy]

For someone used to SLR cameras, who has a pretty good EVF in the Sony A7 series, how much better is the EVF on the SL2? On a sublime scale of 1-5 with 5 being the most sublime..?

[@3BMEP]

On a specs basis, the a7s III wins with a 9.44 million dot EVF; but I stopped evaluating differences at the original SL’s 4.4m dot EVF. 😎

[@richardmayberry5905]

I chose the SL2-S in all instances. Not too surprising!

[@supersonico9364]

Gotta say I don’t understand 99% of what he’s saying (I’m not a photographer) and still I find this video fascinating 👍

[@davidwoods80]

The most important sentence in this review is the very last.

[@clozapin]

All the photos of the SLS are better. Are the lenses comparable? Which lens did you have on the Z6? Nice video.

[@3BMEP]

GREAT question! Unfortunately, the lenses are NOT all equal. The L-Mount bodies sport Leica’s APO Summicron-SL 50. Sony a7S III matched to the 24-70/2.8 G-Master. The Canons wear the RF 24-70-2.8. Nikon Z6 II mated to their Z 24-70/4. It’s what I had in-house at the time, for a 50mm field of view. I attached my own Summicron-M 50 (5th gen) to the M10-P.

[@robertwayne6390]

Hugh, so given the "crop the hell out of it" mantra of a certain blogger, would you swap out your SL2 for an SL2-S?

[@3BMEP]

Nope. 😎

[@jmtubbs1639]

Germany, Switzerland, Spain. Dreams for 2021 or reality?

[@3BMEP]

Depends on where things stand with COVID-19. 😊

[@streetphotography.globetro7744]

Another excellent sensor like in the M10 Monochrom......good news !!!!

[@Bonjurro]

I Leica what you did here! As a hobbyist I’m probably sticking with my original z6 for now but it is amazing to watch how things progress. I’ve picked up a few more expensive items via Amazon since they sometimes let you split the purchase into 5 payments. (Nikon 500pf for example). I can afford it outright but it has some soothing effect that I’m not really spending that much. 😂. I’m not sure why they do that for some products and not others but if the Leica cameras start showing up that way I may be in trouble.

[@3BMEP]

😉

[@seamydobbsno1]

Finally Leica may have made a digital camera that's worth 25% of its price!!

[@coachisguru4621]

Could a SL2s serve both street and wildlife photography needs? Is it discrete enough for street and responsive enough for wildlife? Your advice will help me in deciding whether I enter the Leica SL system for both purposes! OR use a Leica CL for street and upgrade to Nikon Z9 for everything else? I have been a Nikon user for two decades (F90X and the D200). Very happy and satisfied but now the 12 MP seem to limit my creative expressions.

[@3BMEP]

Fast-moving wildlife like birds? No. The Z9 is a far superior tool for that particular purpose. The SL2 series IS brilliant, however for street, and I have not found my SL2 to be intrusive. The CL is also a wonderful street companion, much smaller with wonderful native glass - but the SL2 series’ EVF, IBIS, weather sealing and sensors are next level. Not that this kept us from taking some of our favorite images with one!

[@coachisguru4621]

Thanks for sharing your experience! I will share with you the options as I reach closer to investing! Your experience is really valuable and I love your videos. The simplicity with which your share technicalities and the passions with which you communicate, are matchless!

[@coachisguru4621]

Finally I purchased my Z9, which got delivered today (May 20, 2022). I had booked it on March 07, 2022! Excited to start shooting!

[@3BMEP]

Enjoy! What glass?

[@jesmenwong4797]

Yes, i bought the SL2 S without heisting over higher Mp from SL2.

[@3BMEP]

Enjoy!

[@DidierMOULINPhotography]

SL2-S and S5 pictures show the same performance S1R and SL2 pictures show that S1R deals better than SL2 at High ISO You definitively should have added the S1 which is a low light performer. S5 is smaller and lighter and of course cheaper but it has such a poor f...... EVF that this kills him. Instead of mentioning the D3X I would more have mentioned the D3S as being the pioneer in this low light performer. I made my own comparison yesterday between S1, S1R, TL2, Q, DS3 and the conclusion was S1 D3S Q TL2 S1R in the order of performance with only 2 stops of difference between them all.. But D3S has only 12Mp which means far less details and in this regards, the S1R is impressive in the way it keeps details.

[@mika2666]

Maybe the new ARMs race in the computer market can give way to a broader adoption of ARM processors, so we can get the same image processing tech from smartphones but then beefier because the chips are now being designed for laptops (apple M1(X) now, qualcomm tomorrow?)

[@mika2666]

(also: yes I know qualcomm has the 8cx but that's not a laptop processor, just a phone processor with some slight tweaks)

[@Burritosarebetterthantacos]

Currently thinking about trading in my Leica Q and there are so many options…..🤯

[@AVerkhovsky]

well, of course it performs well in low light. It has Sony BSI sensor, the same as in a7III ))). This is what it should be compared to )

[@vn.abraham]

Amazing video! I am currently doing a project for the school called VWA, and I would like to know if I can use your video as a source of information, because I am just focusing on the Leica SL2-S. The comparison between all the cameras I think was sensational!

[@3BMEP]

Sure (with attribution, please) 😊🖖🏻

[@vn.abraham]

Of course! Thanks a lot :)

[@andreasehrenreich4497]

The SL2-S looks great. I really don‘t need more than 24MP. I would love to try for myself how the SL2-S works with my M lenses. Greetings from Austria

[@3BMEP]

It’s fantastic with M lenses for focus and IQ!

[@andreasehrenreich4497]

@@3BMEP Thank you very much for your answer. I‘ve ordered the SL2-S today 😀 Now I can not wait to test it with my favorite lens the 50mm Summilux. Greetings from Austria

[@jtes1442]

Hey you never came back to the Nikon Z6II thought or did I miss it ?

[@3BMEP]

Taking a year-end break, but it will be part of my first video in 2021.

[@ikakau]

It would be interesting to compare the iso capabilities of the sl2-s with the Q2 monochrome. I realize it is in different categories but it would still be interesting.

[@3BMEP]

Yes, it would!

[@redbit6182]

to me is already a matter of ergonomics more than iso performance or autofocus ... anyway, this SL2s seems to be a great camera even for filmmakers :)

[@Metaldetectiontubeworldwide]

i had two "A" followed by allother 'B' already saw some flaws on camera conspiracys that xt 4 was by far better noise wise + xt4 had same light sensitivity as the sony two iso steps lower ??? the easy conway to achieve higher iso

[@3BMEP]

Not sure what you mean.

[@genobambino]

Friends don’t let friends say “EYE-soh.” It’s “Eye-Ess-OH.”

[@3BMEP]

I used to think this as well, but Tony Northrup convinced me this is wrong.

[@RikkiRockettsLegendTripping]

I love mine!!!

[@jeffreytotaro7051]

Thanks, Hugh! So... will you get one...

[@3BMEP]

I have other fish to fry for now, but I REALLY like it.

[@jeffreytotaro7051]

Kind of makes my SL2 feel a little broken, aside from the pixel count (which is what I need more of). Looking for a video project excuse to get one. Thanks for all your thoughts!

[@rudolfabelin383]

80% (at least) of Sweden is happy about what to seems to be the final outcome today. I also think the Leica SL2-S would be brilliant to document DC tonight, but a discreet flip up screen would be good. As always, best Greetings Hugh from Sweden!

[@3BMEP]

Hello, Sweden!

[@maximewong3415]

It would be nice to have a flip screen next time 🙄

[@Fleet42]

Love the work! Please review the best L Mount lenses for the SL SL2 and SL2-S I’d buy coffee x10! I just bought this to go with my Q2 I have only M lenses 50 2.4 Summarit and Voightlander 35mm 1.2 v2

[@3BMEP]

Price no object best primes? Easy: Summicron SL f/2s. Best bang for the buck primes? Sigma I series. Best zooms for still AND video? Panasonic S-Pro. Best long zoom? Sigma 100-400.

[@tres837]

Ok big brother. I saw you a9911 run which was extremely fair. So please rent the new Pentax when it becomes available.

[@3BMEP]

If they want to send me one, OK. 😊🖖🏻

[@martinpickard5818]

I thought my old Nikon D4s was insane ....😳🤣

[@mrdasboot45]

While on the subject of ISO there is a petapixel article about the new Pentax K3 Mark III that states a max ISO of 1.6 million. I don’t know how useful that will be, I guess seeing is believing.

[@3BMEP]

Whoa!

[@mrdasboot45]

@@3BMEP I know ,it sounds to good to be true at that ISO your 3 blind men will finally be able to see the Elephant 8)

[@OceanFIlmsLLC]

Okay Voltare

[@thomastuorto9929]

With Sony sharing (making sensors for the others) the sensor tek, they make up for profit they loose in camera sales while most likely keeping more people employed (which the Asian government probably has some say in).

[@Luke-bt4do]

I’m not lying: i guessed every image!!! ;):):):) ive achieved something as a photographer lol

[@3BMEP]

👍🏻🖖🏻

[@mantozmantoz]

regarding point 9, autofocus. it is, perhaps, just better than the sl (601) it struggles to follow a person walking towards me, I hope in the next firmware update

[@thebiblioholic]

SL2-S each time.

[@agylub]

C'mon. Thats just Tri X in Rodinal

[@TucsonBillD]

I also got the SL2-S images all right... in fact it was too simple.

[@Gynra]

Ordered mine last night

[@3BMEP]

Enjoy!

[@KONAMAN100]

Woah. Fair play to you.

[@gearienoxcuses3936]

A,B,B,B,B,B,B,B & B.

[@RichardBO9]

Great video. After all of this testing, do you find it as ironic, as I do, that ISO is a trademark of International Organization for Standardization? :D

[@3BMEP]

Yes. 😊🖖🏻

[@kuzemchik]

All went to SL2-S.

[@3BMEP]

Crazy, right?

[@kuzemchik]

Yeah... didn’t expect that.

[@jochenkraus7016]

This video comes along just after I've decided to stay away from FF :-/

[@3BMEP]

If you don’t need ISO 50,000, the thinnest of depths of field, or the widest of dynamic range, don’t worry - be happy. 😊🖖🏻😉

[@jochenkraus7016]

Thank you :-) I think I'll do some macro photography whenever I need an overdose of thin dof ;-)

[@BilBrown]

In the 4 days I have had the SL2-S, Hugh, I've only found ONE camera to beat its high ISO performance... and oddly that is my M10-R, and its not that it beat it but that it visually looks different. I assume the M10-M is even more... I will say, the Sigma FP does similarly well and also shoots RAW, and the Lumix S1 which I thought would match up isnt even close.. so PLEASE LEICA make RAW happen, I don't give a damn what variant (BRAW, R3D, ProRes RAW, whatever). I will test my FP against the SL2-S soon, on the streets in the dark. Give you or KZbin a report.

[@3BMEP]

Great input, Bill, thanks!