Leica SL 24-90mm: Big, Heavy, Versatile, and Superb.

carlb

All-Pro
Ran across a "couldn't pass-up" deal on a used SL 24-90mm, mbp.com. Delivered to the Fedex-Kinkos, picked it up yesterday.

Yes, it's big and heavy. But it's very manageable on the SL. One lens, auto-focus, 24mm to 90mm. With this and the 21mm f3.4 SEM, this could take care of 99.9% of my landscape and scenic shooting.

Took the camera-lens pair out to shoot, fits well into one of my Lowepro bags. Here are some shots, content not amazing but uncompromising quality of the pixels.

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coon rapids dam
by Carl B, on Flickr

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sunstar test
by Carl B, on Flickr

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goin' fishing
by Carl B, on Flickr

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walkers
by Carl B, on Flickr

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between rains
by Carl B, on Flickr

Looks like it does a good sun-star when pressed, something I was a bit worried about. No problems there.

Even though I forgot I had set ISO to 1600 for the first three shots, you won't notice it until 100% viewing. In the shot with the man and the young boy the shot was underexposed as well (1/12,000 second!), so pretty darned forgiving for high ISO with further push in post.

No worries with the rains that I walked through either - lens and camera are weather resistant.

As much as like the size and simplicity of an M, the SL will give an M10 stiff competition for what I end up keeping.
 
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It's not as surprising now - I like the SL partly because it reminds me of the Olympus E-1 4/3rds camera. That is an amazingly well-built and thought-through thing with a beautiful sensor. And the 24-90mm is very much along the lines of the Pana-Leica 14-150mm 4/3rds lens.

The SL bigger and heavier, but very familiar and welcoming. Trading the size and weight for dynamic range and pixels, which is worth it.
 
I was told by one of the dealer that the IQ of the SL is better than the M10. Have not had the chance to compare the 2 but used the SL for a short amount of time and have to admit, the IQ is quite addicting. Congrats Carl. The collection is really growing.
 
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