Lumix VS Leica Colour Comparison

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[@JoshCameron]

Watch Next - "Are Leica Lenses Actually Worth It?" : kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpK4iqmwZ9psq8U

[@MicroFourNerds]

This was super interesting! I'd love a standalone review of the Leica, as it seems really interesting, and looks like it handles quite differently than the lumix cameras menu and button wise

[@The_golden_charlie]

The Sl2 is nothing short of being a spectacularly good camera.

[@Castnoshadows]

I thought the Lumix colours looked better 😂

[@marin_real_estate_photography]

So did I, but we shouldn't kid ourselves. What we like is 100% subjective, and even if it wasn't, how colors appear to us depends mostly on how good or bad the quality of our monitor is, and how good (or bad) our monitors are calibrated, and what the ambient light falling on our monitors is, and even then, it depends on the age and health of our eyes, and other characteristics or our eyes.

[@borisharold]

funny , As I prefered the Leica ones .specialty reds and oranges seem a tad more subtle and rue to life . lumix were more " orangy "

[@SuperLol]

@@marin_real_estate_photography and we must also not forget youtube compression, the export format, color grade or codec when exported etc. Straight out of camera could be very different from what we see here on youtube

[@The-Vega-Islands]

So did i.

[@VynZography]

@@CastnoshadowsLOL having owned millions of cameras I actually think this 😂

[@marcusoutdoors4999]

I bought a mint second hand SL about 4 years ago for £1800, it’s still great, best built thing of any type I’ve ever owned. The magic for me is the astonishing view finder which helps create better shots.

[@hiramabiff885]

I've been a Leica M shooter for decades. I currently own a M-P Type 240 which I love. Over two years ago I bought a Lumix S1R. Being a working photographer for over 50 years after learning all the innumerable options on the Lumix, I still am astonished at it's capabilities and image quality. Same 47MP sensor as the "comparative" Leica and a fraction of the cost.

[@cielocinematic]

How do you like the s1r

[@PiedmontCommunityChurch]

Agreed. The S1R would be a 'step up' from the SL2S and found for $1,500 most places. I shoot with two.

[@chongyoonlim48]

gibson and epiphone. arent they same in the hands of pro... lumix is fine . can epson make this with better chip?

[@TheDIYFilmmaker]

So, the red dot doesn't have any impact in color science. Great comparison Josh!

[@JoshCameron]

Nothing that would warrant upgrading for - I think the benefits of the Leica come in different areas :) Thank you!

[@kfx13]

@@JoshCameronplease redo the test with a leica apo sl lens 🙏🤗

[@walkingmanvideo9455]

@@JoshCameron yes, the glass.

[@martin_the_artist_]

Well yes, it does actually, just not with these two cameras. When I use the same lenses between my Leica CL & Lumix G9 there is a stark difference, with the Leica colors being much more pleasing. The greens are especially nicer on the Leica, With the G9 looking a bit garish & oversaturated with nature shots especially.

[@walrusgumboot]

@@kfx13except you can put the Leica lenses on the LUMIX camera also

[@daygon128]

I've known this since I bought my Panasonic LX100 in 2014. I couldn't believe how good it was in pictures and video and to this day it has (to me) the best color science straight out of camera of any brand.

[@hellomediasverige]

Except for the pink faces :)

[@EdProsser]

This was really insightful and I was surprised - I thought there would be a more pronounced - thanks for the unbiased comparisons, look forward to the video results!

[@JoshCameron]

The video side is also very interesting actually! Thank you mate :)

[@gilscharf]

Judging from this video the skin tones are the main difference but would love to see another video with the higher megapixel SL2 or SL3 and a Leica lens.

[@Fedorevsky]

The SL2 looks the same as the Panasonic Lumix S1R. The SL3 uses another Sony higher resolution sensor so the image characteristics will be very similar to other Leica and Lumix cameras. These Leica and Lumix cameras share the same Sony sensors. The Leica's even borrow the Lumix autofocus system. They're practically the same cameras only the SL3 has a higher resolution sensor from the same line up of sensors.

[@devonzacharias]

I used ChatGPT to create a really nice s1 to SL2 conversion Lightroom preset and I’m amazed with what I get with a simple click afterwards.

[@beadmu]

I don't base my buying preference on color profiles, film simulations, etc. You buy the hardware that feels good for you-- then you tweak the colors to your liking. If you do photography long enough, you'll discover that the whole shooting experience is most important.

[@Workingman-u7s]

Bullshit. You must always buy a camera based on the colors, sharpness, and aesthetics of the pictures that come straight out of the camera.

[@xavierdjx]

I'm a camera reseller and this is the thing I always say to customers. There are great and expensive cameras. But this won't say these cameras are for them. Would you start driving with a F1 ? The Leica and the x100 are some of these cameras not for everyone but the influences of KZbin are so great they believe it's THE best camera that never takes bad pictures... Thanks for your channel I've discovered today. Sorry for my bad English.

[@AoyagiAichou]

In the age of widespread RAW use, I understand Leica is more about the experience with the camera. And I for one hugely appreciate it being built in Europe. Imagine a UK-built camera!

[@f__e__e__l__e__e__p]

Exactly, if you willing to support the company approach to production in EU and appreciation for photography in general, please go ahead. I think both are very important!

[@xinsnake]

I own the S1, S5, S5II, S5IIX and SL2-S. I've done the same tests and I can echo your results that the photos are 99% the same. I think it's the same if you look at quartz watches. They are pretty much all very accurate (if you spend more than $50) as watches to tell time, and it's all about the brand, culture, build quality, material and how much you want to pay.

[@brugj03]

Are they really?? I guess not, you can`t compare some chinese quartz to a seiko or citizen. Btw, it`s a lumix vs Leica comparison and the difference is clear.

[@webersteve1547]

Is the ISO sensitivity the same on the SL2s and the Lumix S1 or S5?

[@annenominous7220]

only buy a casio watch, be like Gates, same watch since high school.... or not, be like me, a cabinet full of swiss watches cause I love them. Same as I love, in general, all fine things. Loro Piana, Chanel, and Dior clothes, Saville Row suits (Huntsman anyone?). Vintage Ferrari. Lots of nice things that have equivalent low cost items if you only care about function. For me, Leica is worth it, I own 7 Leica lenses, and one Leica camera... I think I am done. I ordered the SL3 but am dissapointed with the performance in video. For video, I am holding out for the new Panny cameras in October!

[@Mr7Poz]

My early Lumix Gh2 files looked digital, how are the S5II's?

[@jpjacobsenbr]

You mention that for photos they perform the same. I wonder how the SL2-S perform against S5II X in video. Specially for skin tones. Could you help shareingyour insight?

[@ed61730]

Thanks so much for this! I could be wrong but I was find it's the glass that gives the most character sometimes. Would be interesting to see a new Leica lens on both bodies and see if they look and respond the same.

[@JoshCameron]

Thanks Ed, I'm actually trying to sort that out at some point because I think that would be a really cool test :)

[@ed61730]

@@JoshCameron Epic keep up the amazing work bro.

[@AngeloRyanMaalat]

I hope this helps people realize what they really love is M Mount glass or Leica glass for L mount. Yes, some exclusive color profiles are really nice on Leica bodies. And DNG is amazing, but sometimes not 5x the money more amazing than a used S5

[@LillySchwartz]

I have been shooting a Leica M6 for the last 10 years and if you compare it to other film bodies that can take the same lens selection it's the smoothness of the experience that makes the difference. My Leica doesn't get in the way, the rangefinder on it is the best I ever used and it's just a perfect camera to be using for decades to come. It hasn't needed any service and I bought it used, built in 1990! Now that's build quality. Colour science is a funny thing, because in film the "sensor" and the "colour science" is always the same and comes from different manufacturers, Kodak, Fuji, Ilford, etc. It's all about the shooting experience and the lens selection. I personally prefer Zeiss and Voigtländer glass because the rendering has more character, but Leica definitely produces the best lenses out there from an optical viewpoint. I'm not surprised that Panasonic has finally caught up to Leica with colour science. Leica were the absolute best in the game already 10 years ago though. My old Olympus E-PL3 had terrible colours even with lots of light and broke apart beyond ISO 400. Canon 450D, awful reds because of the lack of filtration on it. At the time Leica M9 and later the M240 were already perfect over their entire ISO range👌other manufacturers are only now catching up. With a mirrorless camera going with Lumix makes sense and that's what I did, because the quality coming out of it is comparable. From a user experience stand point Lumix isn't all that great I have to say. The menus are definitely very cryptic and it's quite the learning curve compared to everything I've seen of Leica menus in reviews. And since there are so many options it isn't set it and forget it either, you actually have to use those menus all the time, so it is definitely a consideration. Where Leica really shines is in the rangefinder cameras actually. They're the only ones who still make bodies like that and it has been my preferred focusing system for the last 10 years. If I were to buy a Leica it would definitely be a rangefinder but the massive file sizes of the current models make me think that the M240 is still the sweet spot even though it's 12 years old. They have stood the test of time too, which makes it a reassuring purchase also from a resale value consideration.

[@GiulioSciorio]

I worked with Panasonic for several years as consultant / sponsored photographer. One of things I learned is that with Leica a lot of the color and character comes from the glass. This is why if you use a Micro 4/3 Leica lens on a Panasonic body the color is different. In this case it’s related to the firmware in lens but with analog Leica lenses it’s all about the glass. I think if you got a Leica lens and did the test again it would be quite interesting. Thanks for the video ❤

[@dreammachine86]

How is the lens firmware used to affect the look of the pictures? Would it be something like specific corrections for vignetting etc. designed to give the 'Leica look'? I have owned the Panasonic Lecia 12 - 60 MFT lens before and I did really like the rendering. Plus samples I've seen from the other 2 lenses in the same f/2.8 - 4 range have similarly nice colour and rendering. Definitely makes up for MFT's lesser capability for shallow depth of field. I literally just got myself an S5IIX which I'll be playing with shortly. I found it interesting to discover that one of the lenses I got with it - Panasonic's 50mm f/1.8 - is also the basis for a Lecia version of the lens. From what I've found, Lecia's version is branded as f2.0 to be consist with their other lenses. The optical design is Panasonic's but the lens is apparently assembled by Lecia. I do wonder if they then use their own coatings - and as you suggested, firmware settings - to make it a unique Leica lens. The price does jump up a huge amount from the Panasonic version - around 5x - so a buyer would certainly hope they are getting something for that extra cost.

[@GiulioSciorio]

@ I don’t know exactly what happens between the Panasonic made Leica and Panasonic body. Thats a well kept secret. But when I worked with Panasonic I was told by some top people that there is a difference when using Leica glass on Panasonic bodies and I could see the difference in every lens I used (I had them all). I think what might happens is that the Panasonic made Leica lens unlocks a slightly different version of each color look in camera or perhaps a some type of digital filter thats applied to everything captured. I think the closest look at this in action is with the GX85 which has a color profile called Monochrome L. I dont know if all of this works the same with Panasonics full-frame cameras because I left them a year before the L-Alliance was announced

[@matthewdietzen6708]

Yes! This is what is annoying about this video. I want to see a comparison where the Leica lens is used on the body of each camera!

[@gordoncahill1170]

Colour wise since Leica and Panasonic share technology there are only a few subtle differences. Leica files will be slightly more open in the mids. The Leica files will have the saturation slightly lower. Finally the Leica files have a few points less magenta shift to them. The Leica sensor has a thinner filter stack so it behaves better with older M lenses and shows very slightly more acutance with the absolute best glass (APO Summicrons). But this lens won't show that. You paid for Grerman wages for assembly, the industrial design, menus and build quality. Plus the red dot.

[@ZirkMan]

I was 100% successfull to tell which ones was Leica and which not. Leica's trademark colors are orange, green and reds. The overall Lumix's colors are more saturated. You might prefer it but I like the Leica look. It's subtle but it's definitely there.

[@JoshCameron]

Some people definitely have a more trained eye for this stuff, and it's awesome that you can see the differences like night and day!

[@heytomas1]

When looking carefully, I also could pick the Leica photos. I don't have a Leica, but I have Lumix S1R, S5 and S52.

[@janfrosty3392]

I have both SL2-S and S5II using SL 24-90, M mount Leica and Voigtlander and Sigma 45 and 35mm lenses. Any combination of body and lenses above produces more then excellent images. Conclusion I come to using above combos in almost twelve months since I got S5II (owning SL2-S for two years). BTW there is a lots of Panasonic tech in Leica, bodies and lenses.

[@kristoffergo6294]

I was just thinking about this. I had a Leica SL and Lumi S5ii. But you already did the video. Thank you!

[@JoshCameron]

Thanks for watching!

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

After owning and using a Leica Q (stunning colours and sharpness) and an M240, I bought an SL. I was disappointed with the images and returned it. I’m sure the SL2 and 3 are superb. I bought a Hasselblad X1D2 and find the colours are amazing. I’m really happy with my decision.

[@BenjiSelby]

DAMN! I thought the B cam was the Leica because the colors seemed slightly more saturated with smoother highlights in the first A and B test... I am shookith!

[@thomaslilly5834]

Well, on my calibrated EIZO monitor it is the exact opposite...

[@BenjiSelby]

@@thomaslilly5834 hmm that could be the difference 🤔

[@jonccwong]

I remembered the SL2S looked different than the S5 esp when using adapted M lenses. The other was corner smearing. At least when I tested, the SL2S was noticeably sharper in the corners for adapted M glass. A niche use case for sure, but Perhaps give M glass a try?

[@Nearest_Neighbor]

Very interesting! I actually liked the files from the Panny a bit more. But I think the differences are so minor, you'd only see them in direct comparisons. A follow up with Leica glass vs other L-Mount lenses would be quite informative I'd say.

[@jpmongol]

Lenses make differences not bodies. I tried my SL lens on S5iix and it showed the same Leica magic. But if you want to maximize your lens, you’d better get a body from the same manufacturer. Hope you would test with some SL lenses next time to both bodies. IBIS of S5iix and OIS of SL2490 seemed not work properly to me.

[@igottheshaft]

I am shooting with my Lumix S1 and a full set of vintage Contax Zeiss lenses, and I am happy as a clam. Although, I have always wanted and still want a Leica M and a few M lenses. One day. Thanks for the great comparison video, very informative.

[@ApostolosNikolaidis1]

Great color science comes when shooting skintones in mixed lighting, bulbs & daylights or neon lights with daylight etc. There you can see the Hue control/quality that Leica has over other brands. And that comes from an ex Leica SL owner who just ordered a Lumix S5iiX to test it out :)

[@epstar83]

To fully understand Leica as a system you need to keep in mind the historical users of their products. The SL system uses very thin cover glass on their sensors, this allows M mount lens users to shoot SL cameras and still get high performance from those lenses, but if they so choose can switch to a modern mirrorless lens and experience those benefits too. Many SL owners have M mount film cameras too, so having the ability to use the same lenses on both mediums really adds to the versatility of the system. These older lenses do not function well on other brands, particularly the wider lenses from 35mm and shorter because they use thicker cover glass on their sensors. Of course one can also buy an M mount digital camera, but that takes modern autofocus lenses out of the equation. For those of us that want the best of the film era Leica's and modern digital the SL system offers unparalleled versatility.

[@shang-hsienyang1284]

Does Panasonic camera sensors have the same thickness with Leica, or more similar to Canon, Nikon, and Sony?

[@FedThePoopy]

Mostly agree but I used my m mount glass on my Sony A7RV for a year before getting my M11 and see practically no difference in image quality. I dont think there is really much of a difference when adapting the glass to other systems

[@epstar83]

@@FedThePoopy Yeah, Sony or any other mirrorless body can certainly be used with good results in many cases. Particularly for portraits as the corners are not really a factor in that case, and longer lenses will be the order of the day. In my case the Sony / Nikon / Canon or Panasonic bodies were a bit of a non starter as I shoot with wide (21mm and 15mm) lenses a lot and the corner performance is important to my own work.

[@ISmellMusky]

yes, but that' just brand-fanboy stuff. How does that negate the fact that their Color-Science is nothing special?

[@d.idowuolutosin4250]

Josh, thanks for making this video and I agree with everything you said and will add the following. I’m a Leica M shooter, the M10-R and previously the M240 and digital CL, to be exact. The LUMIX S series of cameras are relatively identical to the Leica S series cameras when it comes to the internal technologies and colour science. There are features in the external hardware and build quality where Leica shines over LUMIX but all in all, these cameras are identical. I owned the original S5, sold it for the S5 II which is definitely a worthy upgrade. Where the comparison you made is not equal is when it comes to autofocus technology. The Leica SL2-S uses contrast based whereas the S5 II has phase detect autofocus. For those who rely on autofocus Leica doesn’t provide this technology yet. You’ll see it in the SL3 and its variants. I’m not an autofocus shooter and I am not a hybrid shooter or videographer so those features don’t really matter much to me. I shoot 90%+ with adapted vintage and M mount lenses. I use them on my LUMIX S5 II, Nikon Zf, Fujifilm X-Pro3, and Leica M10-R. One set of lenses I can use on all my digital mirrorless cameras. The S5 II is a beast of a photography camera and not enough people talk about it as one. LUMIX cameras will continue to get better and not cost an arm and a leg like Leica’s, Sony’s, Canon’s, or Nikon’s with similar features and capabilities.

[@Muchtoobizy]

This is a fascinating comparison. Thank you. I would say that in the portrait comparisons at 3:02, there is a smoother skin rendition and softer contrast from the Leica that offers a more pleasing image. However this is slight and can be corrected in post. The BIG question is about the difference in the filter thickness on the sensor. It is reportedly uniquely thin on the SL range, to allow for the use of M lenses without smearing, especially when using wide lenses. I often hear this mentioned but have never seen a proper comparison. If there is any way you could do a once and for all test with Leica lenses on both the SL2S and S5ii, I think a lot of viewers would find that very interesting. Me included.

[@RealCelticGamer]

I nailed it! Would like to see the same test with a Leica M lens on both cameras.

[@CharlesFBI]

Thank you, I love tests like this, really helps to get over one's own biases when you see it's almost impossible to tell the difference. Although I can see why Leica has its allure, there's so much padding around the image quality discussion that it's great to be taken down to earth with real testing like this. There are only a few camera + lens combos I've ever owned where I can recognize what I shot with, and it's always when I don't remember what camera I used until checking the EXIF data. But ultimately it's very rare that a camera can provide anything unique that's not reproducible by any other system.

[@earth9879]

Nice comparison and a rather expected result, no difference with Panasonic glass for medium resolution camera bodies. I would be interested in a comparison of Leica SL2 camera with Panasonic S1R when using the APO Leica glass. Maybe an update also with Leica SL3 and Panasonic S1R II (whenever the later becomes available).

[@grangersmith1134]

Rocking the beard and stache Josh. Appreciate you sharing yet another insightful video!

[@JoshCameron]

Hahaha thank you! Appreciate it :)

[@nilojuaneza]

Great review man, I noticed the Leica has a tad bit warmer colors. Also, the lens makes a huge difference. I use the 24-90 and the 90-280 , had sigma glass along with it and noticed the rendering was different. It plays a “huge” but subtle difference in the images. Looking to possibly grab a lumix s5ii or s5iix to be a B-cam for the Leica (or vice versa?) . Thank you for the test and helpful info! Always enjoy your content!

[@madtom67]

Leica shooter here, recognized the Leica images... The SL2S is amazing, lovely with M lenses as well! Enjoy your SL2S, you made a good choice!

[@EDHBlvd]

B shots looked slightly better. Hilarious it was the LUMIX.

[@johngreenwood9247]

As a Leica SL owner & recent purchaser of a mint s/h Lumix S camera, I feel you can largely discount the differences of image quality between these two 24 mega pixel cameras. Both cameras handle well (if you've got big hands?) If you prefer to change settings "on the hoof", you'll prefer the S1, or alternatively if you're a "set it & leave it" kind of photographer, the simpler menu solution on the SL, will be the better option. That's not to say that the SL's menu is difficult to tweak, but the S1's is more comprehensive with more function buttons - if you like that kind of thing! Both are far superior to the menu system/handling of the Sony A9 (one of my previous cameras). In any event it's the lenses that make the difference - the 85/50/35/24mm F/1.8 primes (can't wait to try the 18mm) are all excellent, and work well with the SL. I found the S1 to be a great back-up camera, and if I hadn't already got the SL, I wouldn't have been aware of the latter's superior build quality which makes the photographic experience, so much more enjoyable!

[@jakefelzien]

S5II bangs!!!

[@brettmansdorf]

Have SL and S-1 (have had many others), and I'm just a proud dad / weekend warrior hack. Couple of suggestions - first - Shooting with Pana or Sigma L Mount glass - you are shooting with glass far past 24mp sensor - and high grade. I'd be surprised to see much difference, but pop a 200-400 lens on there (non-native) from china - and then look... If you grab some vintage - say any 50mm 1.4 from decades ago - you will begin to see differences in the rendering - even in raw (although less). Side note - and while you are playing with glass from years ago - tracking down character - notice which one works better - and because the handling is so much better - you get more shots... Try it with a nifty fifty, and a 135mm and see what you think... If you really want to see a difference in jpegs - use old M glass... Second - I THINK (IMHO), that the difference between the SL and the S1 is significant, the difference between the S1 and the SL2S really isn't that much different. I would GUESS, the S1RmkII and the SL3 will be even closer... Also note - although few reviewers ever test the Pana glass - their "S" line is of the highest grade (50mm 1.4 vs almost anything out there - its holds its own - and is priced accordingly)... YES, I bought my S1 (as I saw it as a poor man's Lecia) - and I'm tickled pink - its really a powerhouse - EVEN by todays standards (Q2-2024) - but once I procured the SL - the SL is the chosen one - but I shoot 75% vintage. To take it one step further - try shooting B&W - I think the SL shines in this category. All said - would I mortgage away for a current SL3 or Q3 - NO, but I did TRY the SL2S - and in comparison to the SL - I kept the SL and played catch & release on the SL2S - but again - 75% vintage and 25% native... And I have a sony RX1 and several other compacts - so if I take out the S1 or SL - its on purpose, as its NOT an everyday carry, nor very nice unless you are planning on shooting as the main reason for being out...

[@manojchandramishra906]

Good experiment. How about using an SL apo lens and comparing the results?

[@Oliver-gammarART]

The colors of the Leica M(P) 240 are really unique. Would love a more modern camera with the same form factor and the old color science 🙌

[@cdt5050]

The Lumix reds lean a bit more towards orange, and perhaps because of this, oranges on the Lumix seem to have less subtlety. Lumix greens also tend towards "nuclear glow green" (noticable on the leaves on that strawberry desert) whereas Leica looks more natural (aside -- lots of cameras seem to struggle with greens, especially Sony -- Sigma and Leica seem to be the only ones to consistently get them right). None of this makes or breaks the photo though, and while if you handed me photos blindly I don't think I could reliably determine which is which, I suspect I'd feel that I'd more consistently prefer the Leica. Once you learn to see reds and greens in photos, you kinda can't stop noticing it. Most other colors don't have nearly as profound of an effect on a photo (you can usually notice it more on blues only because of its green component, but it doesn't seem to affect the photo in the same way). One important place that red shows up though, is skin tones. At 3:10 you can see the skin tones render quite differently, with the Lumix producing a "rosy" skin tone, while the Leica looks a lot more natural and with more subtlety. Color isn't why I'm interesting in getting an SL2, though. It's the overall experience.

[@davidsimon7175]

Looks interesting, well above my budget

[@alexandrews2585]

Can we get I Leica lightroom preset to apply Leica colours on s5m2 images in raw post processing. Or even better can we load Leica colour science LUT straight into s5m2?

[@cineaudiophile4465]

Exactly. This is the real question.

[@striderkiba9321]

I was able to see the difference, however,pay over 200% more for 5% increase in image quality. As Josh said go medium format at those prices

[@The_golden_charlie]

I've had both the S5 and the Sl2, and trust me, the Sl2 is spectacular, while the S5 is very, very good.

[@ErwinDerop]

Hey Josh, first off all i love the way you explain how these cameras feel and how you explain the over all experience. I was in doubt wich camera to buy recently. The Leica sl2 or lumix s5iix. I picked the lumix. Now, as i shoot mainly stills but thinking having the video features is not a bad thing for the future, it still feels like a mistake... what are your toughts on this please? Luxury problem...😊 Grtz from Belgium to you all. Erwin.

[@geoffreybassett6741]

@3:07 I mean there is clearly a difference between the two in skin tone. Look at the lips and the color of the skin under your eyes. Overall skin seems more magenta on the Leica That said they are very close and could easily be edited to match.

[@allenparsens5279]

I picked the s5 in every instance as my preferred image.

[@DynamixWarePro]

I have an S5II and I like the colors from it. In your comparison, I thought the B cam had slightly more contrast (or slightly darker shadows) and the reds on the Leica look ever so slightly less saturated than the Lumix but I didn't see much difference other than that.

[@doogieham]

Nice video, Josh. I guess I'll have to paint a red dot on my S5ii now. In all seriousness, did you have a chance to compare the Leica High Contrast Monochrome with the Lumix version? My understanding is the Lumix version is based on the Leica one.

[@manuelepasqualini1429]

Hi Josh, thank you for the interesting video. I have never tried any Leica camera of the SL line nor a full frame camera from Panasonic, so I cannot make any comments on your comparison. But I do own a Leica CL. digital and over the years I used several cameras from different brands. The colours of the jpegs coming out straight of my Leica CL digital are different from any other colours coming out from any other camera I used. I spent a weekend in London recently and used my Leica and my Ricoh GR 3 to take photos. As much as I love my Ricoh, I must say that the Leica produces colours which have a sort of a more vintage and realistic look compared to my Ricoh. Of course, it is just my opinion and my experience. Keep up with the good work you are doing, Manu

[@Max-mh5yo]

The Lumix S series are exceptional good when it comes to colors.

[@Reportageandart]

Important to note that the SL is different than the M… also Lumix/Panasonic actually work together on the L Mount so the Lumix would naturally be closer to the SL2-S than any other brand.

[@driftwoodtv]

Correct.

[@silbay]

really? So the L mount is what makes the difference? Since the L Mount alliance includes DJI, Black Magic, GoPro then all those cameras should look the same by your statement. ROTFLMFAO right Skippy

[@adaster98]

So glad I grabbed the S5IIX. I replaced my Sony A7RIII with it, and so far its fantastic. Colours are better. Autofocus seems better too. And its a pleasure to use.

[@Valerossi0]

Loved the deeper colors from camera B more in the first photo's, and on the comparison with the s1,leica,s5II the Leica and s5II looked so close.

[@Panther-]

Honestly the pics which I found to be most pleasing and I liked the best were all Leica,

[@BlueOrangey1]

Same, I think in the beginning "blind" tests all the Leica images had deeper blacks and the other images looked more washed out and thus less "sharp" in comparison

[@Nemastic]

Bravo on using the 24-70 S Pro.

[@randolphcroft4212]

I'm seriously looking at that one for my SL2.

[@jamescaldwell5]

I did see an extremely slight difference in skin tone with the Leica comparison shots. But nothing that could not be altered one way or the other in editing to get shots from either camera exactly how you like them. I have wondered how much tech collaboration there is within the L-mount alliance. I own the Sigma fp L, which some call the Japanese Leica, and I LOVE it. I highly recommend getting your hands on one for some testing, but make sure you attach a grip accessory, adding a personal grip that fits your liking is very much a part of the custom experience with this camera.

[@Princeton_James]

For APS-C I've been rocking the XS20. My favorite Fuji camera. It's taken me away from my S5ii for a bit. However if you simply want the best then always go with the Panasonic. Even my G9 is gold!

[@SamHolland]

Awesome photos as always, Josjy boy. What I really wanna know is... did you get one of those massages? 😜

[@pohi3246]

what‘s the meaning?😅

[@uwe.pri_86]

Very insightful! Thought I have to use the calibrate tool to match both „looks“. Seems to be only a minor difference in colour temperature 😮

[@paullefko]

Leica and Panasonic are partners for years, the L2 partnership. They have different ergonomics and having both camera brand i like different pieces from each. I use the lumix camera because of the ergonomics and weight savings. The Leica feels better in hands and build is insanely good. Both cameras are highly reliable and that’s the win.

[@Dimasphotographer]

Love your video... Thank you! I have the S5 (OG) and a S1R, I am waiting for the S2R (S5R or S1Rm2). I rented a SL2 and compared with my S1R... Leica is Leica... but for work, the s1R is AMAZING... I am considering buying a Q2 or S5ii as I am a photographer. Keep doing what you are doing! You are the only one that I have notification bell!

[@Endogamy]

B was for me, the perfect color because it is simply warmer than A!

[@charlesrankin-h8b]

I have a Leica M8, 19-year-old with good glass. still love it. Only shoot B & W.

[@CountCocoChris]

Would love to see a comparison of the Leica SL primes across the same L mount bodies. Then (maybe as a separate video) choose one body and compare one of the Leica primes to other L mount primes of similar focal lengths but at differing price points.

[@michaelbell75]

Not surprising since the Leica C-Lux, D-Lux and V-Lux series cameras are all Panasonic made. Both companies work closely together and just announced a new upcoming "L2" project where they will share technologies on upcoming cameras, lenses and more. In fact, Im willing to bet the 47MP sensor in the S1R is the same sensor found in the SL2 and the 24MP BSI sensor in the SL2-S is the same sensor from the S5II. Highly suspect the megapixel counts are the same and the colors are so similar. Im guessing the only difference is the processor being used in the cameras.

[@paulsehstedt6275]

I've been on Leica M for more than ten years and have a Lumix GX8 for special jobs. My local Leica dealer has a SL2 on display and I can get a 20 % discount. But I've resisted so far and after your review or comparison, I'll stick to my MP 240 and M 240. That said, both Leica and Lumix is the best, you can buy on the market.

[@brucegraner5901]

I've used Leica rangefinders professionally as well as a Leica V-Lux 114 bridge camera when short videos were required as part of my press assignments. My impression of Leica colors is that they are just a bit warmer than the Lumix G9 I now shoot in retirement. I still shoot JPEGs and had to adjust the G9 STANDARD colors to warm them up considerably to get close to what I considered to be Leica-out-of-the box colors. This was not necessary for my 114 which, on the face of it, seemed to be a Lumix FZ 1000. I still shoot JPEGs and have heard the NATURAL profile for Lumix JPEGs is warmer so perhaps I'll give that a try soon.

[@ericmenu5408]

If you check DXO software last version (7 ?), you will see that there is an option to emulate the color rendering of groups of cameras. Leica and Lumix recent cameras are in the same color profile option... So I think the guys from DxO already known that it was the same color science which was used in both cameras. It is very interesting to check this DxO option, to see which cameras have similar or same color profiles, and at which generation of cameras of a manufacturer they change their color profile.

[@jessejayphotography]

Those profiles aren’t exactly matching but are pretty close. There is more to color science than just matching hues and approximating tones. There is color phase and color density changes to luma and that stuff is extremely hard to test with color chart comparison matching.

[@borderlands6606]

@@jessejayphotography Those colour emphases can easily be reproduced in post. Unless you never shoot anything except jpeg - and even then you can tweak preferences endlessly in camera - the manufacturers look isn't a secret sauce.

[@livestreamsuk6004]

Simply put others have narrowed the gap and even caught up to Leica. Camera tech has pretty much plateaued now. Owning a Leica 10 years ago would be a different story. Having said that the Leica skin tones are superior and I would suggest you test that out on a variety of skin tones to see where your money has gone.

[@frontstandard1488]

I have an S1 and Sigma 1.4 28mm/40mm . I was using medium and large format film up until recently but I am not at all displeased with the S1 and the lenses are really superb (heavy 40mm tho..) I saw a strip down of the S1 and actually feel its build quality may match Leica, if not aesthetically at least internally it's built very well.

[@touchtennis]

I have the SL2s, Q3 and SL3 along with the S5IIX. Gotta say the SL3 and Q3 are a world apart from the SL2S and lumix. And I’ve tested them all. I’ve used Leica glass though when testing. I do think the newer 60mp sensor is a big departure from the SL2S and lumix.

[@difficsambalao]

you & sam are the reason why i chose lumix

[@JoshCameron]

I love that! thank you, really appreciate it :)

[@chanchunmichael]

Love Panasonic colour too! SL2s is the cheapest model with most Panasonic like colour though, original SL or M240, M10, M11 are all different and more vivid in colour science.

[@juancarlosguzman2827]

Thank you for sharing do you some of those files for download it and se the comparison?

[@darkknight8139]

Great video, and I really see what you are saying. A while ago, I visited a fair where various major brands had their cameras on show, and I could try them all. I tried the defaults of Canon, Nikon and Sony, also some outliers such as the Fujifilm GF 100. And a Lumix S1, and a Leica SL2. If found that picture quality is similar for all major brands, differences appear in lenses and handling. The one thing I learned at this fair is that the one thing the Leica SL-series wins over all these other brands is simplicity in the controls. You just get 8 customizable buttons, and that's it. Every photographer has his own style of handling a camera, the Leica adapts to everyone surprisingly easy. So while these pictures were no different than a Lumix S1, I did overall like the simplicity of Leica's camera. I did however purchase a Panasonic S1 body in the end, because it's controls are second best, at a much lower price point. And it has a tilting display, which the Leica SL3 now also has. I also got a great second-hand Leica Elmarit 24-90 f2.8-4 lens, which is better than awesome. That lens combined with a S1 is the best of both worlds for what I do with photography. Image quality and handling is superb. If Panasonic will ever make a successor to the S1 with phase-detect AF, I would buy it immediately.

[@loulou704]

I always thought it was understood that these cameras are internally the same. Leica and LUMIX have been sharing tech for awhile now. And actually the newer lumix premium lenses are very on par with Leica glass so I honestly wouldn’t bother with Leica glass as the new lumix lenses are pretty expensive themselves compared to some other offerings from other brands

[@Selby.photography]

Rent a a couple apo-summicron-Sl in your favorite focal length if you want the modern Leica look. I have 35mm, 50mm, 90mm and they work great on the S5ii or sl2-s.

[@VynZography]

Hiii thanks for the comparison is there any way you can make the files available to us so that we can compare them big? Thanks!

[@bastian.michel]

Thank you for being such honest! Really appreciate it.

[@nonamemusique]

Cool I was able to guess every comparison. For my explanation: S5II and the Leica actually look very very identical. You can only guess the difference between the two by the saturation of the colors, although the colors definitely look identical. The colors of the S5II are always very saturated, I know because I also own one. Especially in the standard profile. On the other hand, I didn't like the picture of the S1 at all because the skin tones looked relatively lifeless. All in all, a really great and successful video.

[@huwmaddock5650]

I switched from S5 to SL2S for the ergonomics/handling/aesthetics etc and was pleasantly surprised by just how good the EVF is and losing the ‘hair trigger’ shutter which was a real irritation Worth it, yes for me but for others who knows although I did pick the Leica each time in your trial i don’t think there’s a significant difference

[@TheKimNeeper]

One thing that should be vastly better with the Leica is the EVF, it's supposed to use their own glass lenses for a far better image - how did you experience this difference?

[@andyrawlins1]

Many years ago I had an M6 and Summicrons, tbh the film images were no better than those from my Nikons, I was lured by the brands reputation as it being God like, when in reality my prime Nikkors were equally as contrasty and sharp, to say I was disappointed was an understatement, I ultimately sold my Leica gear, but heart on sleeve wish in some ways I still had it, because of what it was and not how it performed 🤔

[@dcpower23]

I do appreciate the video and your perspective. Thanks for sharing

[@radimpalus]

Well, the alliance between Leica and Panasonic is known for a long time and since the beginning Panasonic was selling sensors and electronics to Leica and Leica was selling lenses to Panasonic. They also made the L-mount alliance, which just shows how close they are to each other. Leica has some very nice classic lenses, which have a different optical formula compared to other brands and produce a bit different looking images. Before Sigma came with the ART series, Leicas were hard to beat in optical quality and were like a miracle and very much ahead in the previous century. Since Sigma started to push the optical quality with the ART lenses, all other brand woke up and started to improve their optical formulas, so that now adays we have incredibly good lenses almost from every brand and Leica quality is not so exotic anymore. But the combination of optical quality and a more compact bulid compared to other brands and of course ... the character :) make these lenses still quite special.

[@junichinomura4810]

Sorry but the sensor is from sony 😅

[@radimpalus]

@@junichinomura4810 And was it always from Sony? By the way-images from Sony and Panasonic look quite different, which is probably due to different processing, but Panasonic and Leica have exactly the same look, so probably the core electronics will be the same. Maybe Panasonic buys sensors from Sony and than sells the whole imaging unit to Leica.

[@michaelbell75]

@@junichinomura4810 Incorrect. Panasonic's FF sensors are made by Panasonic along with an Israeli company called Tower Semiconductor. Panasonic started a project with them called TowerJazz that makes all their CMOS sensors. Google is your friend.

[@colininglis8918]

Panasonic make their own lenses under leica specifications

[@radimpalus]

@@junichinomura4810 In a way I doubt it. I used a lot of Sony and Panasonic/Lumix cameras and the Panasonics had always trouble with dark magenta colours, which is not the case with Sony cameras. I doubt this could be caused just by different processing. So maybe it is a new thing, that Lumixes use Sony sensors or they are made by Sony but designed by Panasonic.

[@zacx6970]

Lumix has the best color for me, which is why I changed my main system for job from Fuji to Lumix as the JPEG of this camera is very pleasing to majority of people eyes. Yes , fuji Jpeg is what sells that camera but it’s more for artistic expression rather than general public taste. I must say Lumix SOOC gave an IQ which is a mix between clinical and a little bit of filmic/analog.

[@JoshCameron]

And that's always a nice balance to have! I used to use Fuji for a while too, but never for client work for that very reason you're explaining. Lumix just does everything perfect for work scenarios :)

[@angusmackay7281]

Leica has always been about the lenses for me. The cameras are just for people who love quality items that are a lovely user experiece. The Leica M lenses on the other hand (many of them anyway) are the ultimate combination of quality, size character and sharpness. I am fortune enough to have a number of them, but I just use them on Sony and Limux bodies with quality adapters. My 50mm Simmilux M ASPH is not only my favourite lens I've ever owned, it's probably my favourite piece of gear I've ever owned. Actually it may be my favourite thing I've ever owned. It's that good.

[@KevinvanDiest]

Good video, not a surprise though. My opinion, if you go for a Leica you go for the OG M-series …used one and it’s just on another level. The experience, the built and IQ

[@stevengustav825]

Just bought a leica sl2-s. If I wanted the best autofocus or more megapixels I would have gotten a different camera. But from the first moment I held it in my hand it felt different and this feeling is what separates Leicas from other camera brands. You just want to go out with it and feel photography in its purest form. Photography is not just spec comparison and pressing a shutter button, it is about the joy of capturing moments and Leicas embody this joy.

[@JB_inks]

The Lumix colours look about 3-5% more saturated but that's about it. It's marketing, that's all it is. That's why people who drink expensive wine swear it tastes better but with true A/B/X testing nobody can tell. And it's why audiophiles swear their expensive cables make audio sound better but not when under test conditions. And also why people who take branded painkillers report they work better even though the ingredients in the pills are literally identical. The placebo effect is real. With that in mind, I've recently moved to Lumix from Canon and the colours do look very different to me although I haven't done a side by side test yet. I don't have a way to mount the same lens on each camera so the differences may be down to lenses but maybe it's all in my imagination!

[@baldmanchronicles411]

I’ve never used Leica but i was able to spot the slight difference without knowing which is which at the beginning. It’s slightly deeper colors and slightly sharper. So you could say I guess it right. Even the ABC, I chose B. Again, ever so slightly. Is it worth it? Hmmmmm…..

[@epicmap]

For me personally, the main difference of the Leica SL is its performance with manual lenses, specifically with the M-mount ones. Try putting one(especially a wide angle one) on a Lumix or any other mirrorless camera and you'll see the difference. This is because Leica is the only brand who is still selling rangefinder lenses and cameras. So they are putting some microlenses on the sensor to compensate for the steep light angle of those lenses. And since I'm a manual shooter, this is priceless for me. The only other camera which is doing great with those rangefinder lenses is Sigma with electronic shutter, but it is quite old.

[@deonvnzl]

I agree that as a base most camera sensors seem to producer pretty neutral colour. one thing that I love and detest about my SL2-S is the Monochrome High Contrast Jpegs you mentioned. It produces such pleasing black and white that I never seem to be able to reproduce with the raw files. I shoot DNG+JPEG and almost always fall back on the jpeg for my black and white work.

[@nicerides9224]

Lol. I had the same problem a few times using raw + jpeg on my nikon D3500. I'd shoot some images where the jpeg version just came out perfect and I couldn't even match it let alone better it with post processing the raw. My editing skills are a bit better now but I shoot raw only so I don't have that "problem".

[@deonvnzl]

@@nicerides9224 yea, its not as simple as a profile I don't think - which is why I imagine you can't access the native camera looks in lightroom. at least most cameras will let you shoot jpeg+raw

[@calk12345678]

Actually I saw a little bit of difference but it is minimal and it was so close that it only comes to the red bot. Great video tho always wondered but don't have the money to test on a sl

[@nickdattner8680]

I guess what is true by comparing these two is true for all comparisons with top end cameras. However, for those who understand film and have (and still do) use it, then the sensor as with the film have relatively little to do with the outcome. It was always about the camera as, one imagines, it's all about the gun or the shovel and so on.