Leica SL2 Hurts Me on the First Shoot with APS-C, but it was my fault probably and the 28/2 APO is super nice

2021-09-02 • SEND FEEDBACK |
Related: apochromatic, Leica, Leica 28mm f/2 APO-Summicron-SL ASPH, Leica APO-Summicron, Leica APO-Summicron-SL, Leica Lenses, Leica M, Leica SL lenses, Leica SL2, Leica Summicron, Leica Summicron-SL

The Leica SL2 arrived late today due to a FedEx delay. I set it up in a hurry, but as it turns out that joystick is ultra sensitive and I failed to notice that I had clicked it and turned "35mm" into "APS-C" in the menu. Or did I click it? I just don’t know, but I presume I did, unknowingly.

So I unwittingly shot all my first images in APS-C crop mode. There is NO INDICATION you are in APS-C crop mode when shooting in uncluttered EVF view, so I didn’t notice. Though I should have noticed that it didn’t seem wide enough (I noticed but not quite consciously). Me bad, but camera has some responsibility for making a critically important setting barely readable to my aging eyes—it just does not need to be that tiny, and textual at that. I want that APS-C setting ripped out entirely as I have zero use for it, and I don’t want to screw myself by accident again.

UPDATE: it turns out that in APS-C crop mode, you actually *do* have the entire sensor capture. I didn’t realize this until I had processed the images. In Adobe Camera Raw, enter crop mode and delete the crop and voilà you have the entire frame.

Anyway, the Leica 28mm f/2 APO-Summicron-SL balances beautifully on the SL2 and the brilliance and 3D pop at f/2 of the 28/2 APO is pretty incredible. I guess you do get what you pay for and the 28/2 APO delivers. But I intend to fully explore the performance envelope in full frame, and in demanding ways. OTOH, if it’s so well done, why does it require correction for both LACA and distortion?

CLICK TO VIEW: L-Mount System

Examples

Below, I have not worked out the correct white balance and tint yet and the SL2 does a poor job at AWB (+20 points too much magenta, at least at dusk), so images below are a quick season-to-taste. But in general the color looks terrific both in the EVF and with captures.

I’ll post more examples soon, and I have the 50/2 APO and 35/2 APO coming too.

5504 size is full resolution (APS-C). Login to see that full size.

f2 @ 1/50 sec handheld IBIS=on, ISO 6400; 2021-09-02 19:51:41
LEICA SL2 + Leica 28mm f/2 APO-Summicron-SL ASPH @ 42mm equiv (28mm)
RAW: LACA corrected, distortion corrected

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f2 @ 1/200 sec handheld IBIS=on, ISO 100; 2021-09-02 19:15:48
LEICA SL2 + Leica 28mm f/2 APO-Summicron-SL ASPH @ 42mm equiv (28mm)
RAW: LACA corrected, distortion corrected

[low-res image for bot]

f2 @ 1/50 sec handheld IBIS=on, ISO 100; 2021-09-02 19:16:41
LEICA SL2 + Leica 28mm f/2 APO-Summicron-SL ASPH @ 42mm equiv (28mm)
RAW: LACA corrected, distortion corrected

[low-res image for bot]

f2 @ 1/15 sec handheld IBIS=on, ISO 100; 2021-09-02 19:36:48
LEICA SL2 + Leica 28mm f/2 APO-Summicron-SL ASPH @ 42mm equiv (28mm)
RAW: LACA corrected, distortion corrected

[low-res image for bot]

f2.2 @ 1/15 sec handheld IBIS=on, ISO 100; 2021-09-02 19:24:58
LEICA SL2 + Leica 28mm f/2 APO-Summicron-SL ASPH @ 42mm equiv (28mm)
RAW: LACA corrected, distortion corrected

[low-res image for bot]