Guys who actually got an SL...
I still don't understand the point of this camera if you already own an M. Can you help me? Thanks.
Hi Brad, as I begin to know the camera, I suspect that the SL is a view to the future of Leica. It is the ultimate bridge camera that can handle M lenses, R lenses (for those who have that investmetn), and it's own SL lenses. It does so while preserving exif data, which then permits the ability to make in camera vignetting corrections for M lenses and other relevant glass. The experience is similar to using M lenses on a Sony, but in Leica's own ecosystem and support in place.
The camera feels substantially larger in hand than the Sony A series, as you well know. The EVF is FAR FAR FAR superior to anything I have tried, and permits facile manual focusing, particularly for those who have an investment in manual glass who may have difficulty focusing with a RF.
I purchased the SL as I do not currently have a color M and desired a color option for my M lenses, at least until a time when Leica releases the next M.
While I don't want to turn this into a "wishful" Next-Leica-M/M262 discussion, I would suspect that the next M will take design cues from the SL. One could imagine such a camera employing a similarly spec'd EVF that, if implemented properly, could become the whispered/patented "opto-electronic" RF, which could theoretically shrink camera size. The rear 4 button layout is really nice, and once you are used to it (took me about 10 min), it was truly a pleasurable, minimalistic system, that may make its way to future M's.
Ultimately, though, part of this has to do with enjoying a refined build, while gaining that pride of ownership that many of us in the Leica fan club enjoy so much (for better or for worse). Plus, I do enjoy focusing my M lenses in this manner as well as in the RF manner, so one has options in that way of using M lenses in a variety of ways....
In a sense, Leica has offered us one more choice for M lenses while providing a professional solution for those willing to make the investment in a responsive camera that blazes new territory and can handle a variety of lenses in the Leica ecosystem.
All of that said, if you are happy with the Sony cameras to suit a similar purpose, you are really only giving up the simplicity and build quality that is Leica. You gain a bunch of megapixels (24 vs 42 is substantial) and a reduced size profile....oh yes, Leica gets you the best EVF out there, and that's seriously awesome....particularly for manual focusing in this method...though I do still prefer the RF way...