I thought release day of SL was last week. Anyways, as I said I like Leica products and product philosophy, but sometimes dont get their marketing strategy.
Announcement day (when the told the world about the product) was a couple-three weeks ago at the Leica "Das Wesentliche" event. It was also shown at the New York Photo Expo shortly thereafter.
Release day (the day product is actually available to purchase) is nominally November 16 or 19 in the USA.
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Just returned home from the camera shop and two hours playing with the Leica SL.
The body is terrific: beautifully made, just the right size, very nice controls all well situated, etc.
The 24-90 lens is large and heavy, but still has a terrific feel. The seems beautiful quality in the photos, etc. The AF inside the store, when I just snapped around a bit, focuses very fast and accurately. The 24-90 and SL body, the 90 and SL body, the 24 and SL body ... all seemed beautifully balanced and ready to use at a moment's notice.
The viewfinder is as good for an EVF as the R8 viewfinder is for an SLR. Which means it's very, very good. Focusing the 24mm without any aids takes concentration and some learning time, just focusing it on a plain ground glass screen takes some effort; use magnification and it's a snap. Focusing the 90mm is a snap with no aids.
The control setup is very nice indeed. It will take some time and study to fully understand it and configure it to my desires, but even with just ten minutes poking about, everything is logically arranged and easy to figure out. After ten minutes messing about, no button labels were needed, and never will be. All the controls fall nicely to hand, for my hands, and the camera is refreshingly simple and unadorned, no fluff or wasted features.
I brought a card and my Elmarit-R 24 and Summicron-R 90 lenses, as well as the adapters. Stacking the adapters and fitting the lenses, there's neither anything loose nor anything too tight. It all fits and feels of a piece, made for each other.
This is not a simple camera, it will take time to learn and become fully versed in all its capabilities and features, fully comfortable with. But once learned, it will work without distraction or confusion. It's a working camera, not a "for style" piece: solid, serious, and capable.
Like it. Can't wait for it to arrive so I can get to work with it.
G