LEICA SL2 vs S1R #4 my final thoughts - Which one is best for you ?

Hello
I'm pleased to finalise this long series of videos dealing with the Leica SL2 and the Lumix S1R comparison.
Today, after nearly one year of regular use of the 2 cameras I go through several PROS and CONS of the SL2 and conclude this with my choice that I let you discover.
Check the 3 previous videos to have a complete and overall view of the major differences between these 2 flag ship cameras :
The tilt screen :
• LEICA SL2 vs LUMIX S1R...
The Joystick :
• LEICA SL2 vs S1R #2 Ho...
The Button layout :
• LEICA SL2 vs S1R #3 Bu...
2:12 my needs for a professional camera
5:06 does the SL2 answer to my needs
11:05 the CONS of the SL2
23:05 the PROS of the SL2
27:05 Overall consideration on both SL2 and S1R
34:11 My Conclusion et choice
Don't hesitate to leave any comments and ask me for more information or new videos...

[@Dimasphotographer]

Thank you for your video! I was looking to buy a SL2 and I'll buy another S1R. I have one and I love so much!

[@DidierMOULINPhotography]

Sorry Leica 😂😂😂 one more that won’t fall into your trap 🤣

[@DidierMOULINPhotography]

You saved money to budget a Leica SL lens… The cameras are not better but the lenses … it’s another story

[@Mowikan]

I find my s1r more ergonomic then the Leica. The image quality depends heavily on the glass you use. I think with these cameras you can’t go wrong. Only thing that could be better is de af performance. But studio works and mostly portraits I am totally happy with my set!

[@DidierMOULINPhotography]

Fully agree ! Thanks for your interest in this comparison and your input about your experience. I really like using the SL2 and when I take the S1R I discover again all these details that makes it so powerful to use in real life. For instance the IBIS STATUS that shows how much you are moving and helps you take the photo at the optimized moment. The best feature I have ever seen regardless the IBIS. I have better results with the S1R when low light abolîtes me tu use slow shutter speed thanks to this feature

Disposant d'un S1 depuis sa sortie et venant d'un Pentax K-1, j'avais envie de retrouver un peu plus de résolution, passer au SL2, attendre le SL3, craquer pour le S1R.. Et donc suite à cette vidéo j'ai opté pour le S1R ;-) le SL2 est magnifique mais j'aurais un peu peur de l'abimer en le sortant en reportage. Le S1R est vraiment un très bon boitier (seul remarque sa montée en iso qui est un peu limitée lorsqu'on le compare à son petit frère)

[@DidierMOULINPhotography]

Merci pour ton commentaire Le S1 et le S1R forment un super duo selon le besoin, comme le D3S et le D3X en leur temps ! Avec des limites et des avantages !

[@theomaksor851]

Thank you very much again. Greetings from Australia !!!

[@Stone1108]

Hi Didier, good to see you uploading again, the present times are all consuming for many if not all of us. I’m always interested in your take on the practicalities of the tech we use, it’s really important as it informs usage and purchasing. Your English is very good btw, I used to speak much more French but as you say if you don’t use you lose! I use an S1R, personally I find it to be a magnificent camera, however, it is more commercial in use, what I mean is it is rugged, and yes very busy, Panasonic try to cover every base technically and for some this is off putting, I understand why. I want to try the SL2 because I suspect it is designed to be less complex but very rewarding. Thanks for this upload and going to this much trouble and sharing your views and experience with both cameras. 👏

[@DidierMOULINPhotography]

Thanks a lot Andrew! Btw what Is your first name Andrew or Michael? Your summary regarding the S1R is perfect. At the end they both deliver the same but the way to use each one is a different philosophy. See, yesterday evening I went out in a Cathedrale with the S1R and the 16-35 on it and the tilt screen helped me a lot to get stunning perspective images with IBIS ON and once the light was lower, I had the SL2 with Summilux M35mm and ho my god what a pleasure also to shoot with this combo. 2 complementary approach. Same stunning results at the end.

[@Stone1108]

@@DidierMOULINPhotography My first name is Andrew. I too have the 16-35 f4 from Panasonic and agree about the tilt screen, it can really help with tight angle shots. I’m so pleased that I invested in tbe L mount system with Leica and Sigma options which are so strong. All that I need is a Leica body, oh and maybe at least one Leica lens!! 🤔

[@DidierMOULINPhotography]

@@Stone1108 I think the SL2-S has really something with its sensor. The APO Summicron line of SL lenses is exceptional! Choose the one for you and find it on the used market… you will never regret

[@Stone1108]

@@DidierMOULINPhotography Thanks Didier, I think it’s a when not an if I buy a Leica body and lens, yes i’ve read some very good reviews on the SL2s. I will certainly take your guidance regarding the lens you mention also. I often check the used sections of photography retailers for Leica L Mount gear! Next year I am hopeful to be in a good position to consider another larger photography purchase, it has been far too long!! I’m almost their with my combined Panasonic / Sigma glass but lack a 50 prime. I go to Chicago for a family wedding next year and have been asked if i’d consider being the photographer. I’ve always said no to weddings but perhaps I will try with a Leica lens at the very least. I am not a professional photographer in the pure sense but I do sell photographs in my locality if approached through recommendation, I like the seclusion of landscape and wildlife photography, but enjoy street photography also. Choosing the optimum one focal length for prime lens for all three genres might be a problem but I do love a 50. 👌

[@DidierMOULINPhotography]

@@Stone1108 the 50mm Summilux SL is the very best 50mm I’ve had up until now. But keep in mind it’s very big and heavy and on the slow side of the spectre when it comes to AF speed. It misses also some times its AF but when it’s in, wouaw!! It’s so big that I don’t have it often with me but I have a small 50 M SUMMICRON that is a joy to play with. A good option is the 40mm SUMMICRON that was done for the old Leica CL… it’s so small and it works fine. There are undreds of possibilities in this focal range. I would love to make some weddings photography too.let’s see next year!

[@mobilography6786]

Hi Didier you lined up best cameras. I love nikon d3, coz its my most favourite camera in my camera gear. 👍😊

[@DidierMOULINPhotography]

Hi! Great camera indeed.

[@shahzadahmed-tq8tm]

Thank You Sir for all your efforts, highly Appreciated, indeed! I have S1r, and was having an itch to switch to SL2, just for the color science and Image quality. But after understanding from you, that the Image quality of both is the same. It's all in the lenses that makes the difference! I will keep my S1r. Could you please recommend the best 50mm manual lens for S1r to take full advantage? I Thank You once more!!!

[@DidierMOULINPhotography]

Thank you sir for your time to watch this long video and your interest in this comparison. I was in the same situation as you when I put my hands on my SL2. It was a real good opportunity and by that time I had a job so I earned enough money to afford it. Well I don't regret at all and to use with wide angle M lenses it's a pleasure. Also, the simplicity of its interface is a real differentiator compared to the S1R. But Overall, none is better than the other in terms of Quality. The lens is really the subject and I'm reviewing on my computer some pictures that I took with the Leica SL 90-280 and the Lumix S Pro 70-200 in the same place at two different times but both with the S1R and I'm so surprised but the Lumix does a better job and my images are sharper. In terms of 50mm... well, there are so many Manual 50mm that you can adapt on hybrid cameras today that I wouldn't be able to tell you which one is the best. The more you reach high glasses the less you have chromatic aberrations. Try to find reviews and honest information regarding mainly the border of the frame, the fall off, the shapes of the Bokey bubbles,.... These are details that will make the difference. The center are always sharp and plenty of details... the other parts of the frame when the lens is wide open is what makes the price of the lens...

[@shahzadahmed-tq8tm]

@@DidierMOULINPhotography Thank You for a quick reply! Is there any chance you might be interested in checking 7artisans 50mm f1.05 on S1r? I am curious to know. To me character is more important than sharp, but a very flat image, i.e. Sigma lenses. Thank Once more!

[@DidierMOULINPhotography]

@@shahzadahmed-tq8tm yes you are perfectly right and at the time I wrote the word sharp I thought about the subject of sharpness that isn’t what make a great photo but I guess you have understood the overall meaning of my answer. I won’t test the 7artisans as all you see in my videos are lenses that I own. It’s not possible for me to test other lenses unfortunately. But it’s a lens I’m wondering how well it works also…

[@firehorseweddingphotograph3995]

I had forgotten just what a huge beast the D3S was. A pair of them with 24-70 and 70-200 used to be my kit for weddings so it’s funny when some folks today think the S1 series cameras are big! I looked at both the SL2 and S1R to be my main stills photography camera alongside my S1H (video) and S5 (hybrid), but a used one (S1R) at 1500 euros made the choice a pretty easy one in the end. Yes, I’d like the Leica badge being honest, but not for an extra 2k for a red dot.

[@DidierMOULINPhotography]

Yeah it’s impressive when I see the D3S together with the 2 biggest full frame hybrids. They look small 🤣 but with battery grip they are as big as the Nikon. Sure you made the right choice for you. We find more and more SL2 on the second hand market from Leica people that tried them and don’t like the weight and size and come back to their M10!!! Mint condition for 60% of the price!

[@firehorseweddingphotograph3995]

@@DidierMOULINPhotography if they had been the same price, or even close, I might have gone SL2 but 1500 vs 3750 euros for essentially the same image quality… Very happy with the choice, the image quality is considerable over the 24mp S5 or S1H and they were/are, already good.

[@RichardBO9]

Thank you for an exhaustive review. On the S1R, in manual mode, if I set the aperture and the shutter speed and have auto ISO, will it bracket the ISO, like the SL2 does?

[@DidierMOULINPhotography]

Thanks for your time to watch the video Yes if you set the S1R in Auto ISO it will adapt the ISO up until the max value you set, to reach the perfect exposure

[@RichardBO9]

@@DidierMOULINPhotography Thanks for the quick response. So if I want a 3-shot bracket of -2 -0- +2, it will bracket using the ISO and leave my shutter speed and aperture as I have set them?

[@DidierMOULINPhotography]

@@RichardBO9 it should You need to activate the bracketing option. Do you own a S1R ?

[@RichardBO9]

@@DidierMOULINPhotography No, I’ve rented one a couple of times and been smitten with the images I’ve created. I’d really like the Leica SL2, because life is short. 🤠 I am having a hard time justifying the +/- $2,500. I can buy two S1Rs for the price of one SL2. I appreciate you help.

[@DidierMOULINPhotography]

@@RichardBO9 I really didn’t like the SL2 because of so many little details but it’s a really nice and satisfying object to hold in your hand. You can get one used bellow 4K€ What I did is that I recently got my SL 601 and this one I like it a lot. If I had to buy one new SL (modern), I would wait for the SL3 with I hope some nice improvements

[@webersteve1547]

The SL2 is only better if you use M or S lenses with the Leica adapters. The S lenses are supported only with manual focus, and the M lenses not at all by the S1

[@DidierMOULINPhotography]

Perfectly summarized ! If you are a M lens user, the SL2 is the one to chose.