Despite some quite humorous posts, this is an interesting discussion, I have much less interest in the industry as a whole Tom, I'm focussed massively at the time I need to buy something and then I don't care so much. Digital is moving fast so I buy what I want and then forget about it until I need to buy something else, and at that point that piece of equipment needs to work for me solely and I have very little interest in how it is perceived or accepted by the wider photographic community, it doesn't matter to me personally.
The reason I continue to reply to the likes of Algrove has nothing to do with his choice of camera, good luck to him, it's more about the continued assertion that one camera is better than another, either because it is cheaper or has more mp or whatever the stated "fact" mainly because I don't believe for one second that there is a better camera, there is just a more suitable camera. The Z is brilliant, just not for me.
I like to look at scenarios, I travel a lot and often, like Tom, to places that are less than ideal. My last trip to Afghanistan was a couple of years ago now but it was fairly tense, the best camera for that time was an RX1, small, good quality but most importantly, I could take shots without drawing attention to myself, no way on earth I would have used a Z or S at that time, larger files are irrelevant from the morgue! So the RX1 is the best camera? Of course not, just at that time.
In Iraq it was much calmer and I travelled all the time in armoured vehicles, I took the D800 and a reasonable selection of lenses, small enough to be useful but not large enough to draw unnecessary attention, if I had the S then I'd have used it too, same physical size and wouldn't have been out of place, I would have taken the Z at a push but would have been more conscious and probably wouldn't have used it as much.
If I had clients needing product shots I'd have a tech cam and back or possibly at a push for small runs the S with the 120 T/S but that would be limiting and only as an addition to what I have, definitely not the Z.
For the studio and for outdoor portraits I'd use the S 006 with a 120cs or 180cs with strobes, having tried lots of cameras it's the best combination of usability, size and image quality is just beautiful. I'm sure there are options for high sync with the Z but weren't at the time I was buying.
I have 3 clients now who want me to shoot corporate portraits and include video, 1 client is very specific on 4k but others not, for non technical video, the 007 is amazing in 4k, it's a case of putting it on a tripod and going for it, no extra lenses no extra system, it's restricted for sure but within its restrictions, perfect. I can't do 4k with the Z.
If I was on a budget then the Z would be a serious consideration, if I wanted big statement prints then I'd rent an tech cam and a db and wouldn't use either S or Z, especially if I was going somewhere to do it with the specific aim of making those pieces.
If I'm wandering about at home as I do most days and wanted MF quality then I'd use Z or S and depending on budget, contax lenses or S lenses.
And so to the SL, I hope it's a success but it's definitely not a mass produced product going to appeal to lots of people, some will love it, some will hate it, hopefully enough will love it to make it a success. It could work for me as a backup/video/faster action cam but I already have a lot of that covered and have never shot faster stuff. Video does look like a key area because more and more clients ask for it, as Marc says, at this point is a "cheaper" option than a second 007, cheaper is obviously relative! What I'd really like to see on the SL is T/S lenses, for me then it would have another benefit but very unlikely that will happen, would be great though! I personally dislike evf but for video it would make no difference to me as I'd use an external monitor like Stuart does with his A7s.
I keep saying there is something for everyone because there is, there is no such thing as one camera being better than other and the best we can hope is that manufacturers keep pushing things forward so that we can reap the rewards.
Have a nice weekend.
Mat