I was never interested in the Leica SL. It had a strange shape, it was huge, and most importantly, terribly heavy when compared to any other mirrorless camera. So, when the Leica SL test drive program was first introduced, I was skeptical, but open-minded to trying something new.
When I got the chance to set up a test shoot with my friend Maria, I borrowed the Leica SL and the Leica APO-Vario-Elmarit-SL 90-280mm f/2.8-4 lens from Leica Store Bellevue to bring along to test.
Man, it was heavy. I'd been used to a Sony a7rII and Zeiss 85mm Batis for so long, that carrying the SL with its huge zoom lens was a literal pain. The set-up itself weighed around 6lbs. Now that doesn't sound like a lot, but try lifting a 6lb. dumbbell to your eye for two hours.
After shooting for half an hour or so, the weight started to fade away when I saw how beautiful the photos were, coming straight out of the camera. I was hugely impressed by the amazing color rendition, and the cutting sharpness of the lens. Backgrounds faded away with gorgeous bokeh, and the sensor was producing great tones even with jpg files. I accidentally shot the whole set in jpg large settings, but the jpg files themselves were so versatile, that I didn't regret not shooting in RAW.
This one was shot with the Leica Q, which shares a similar sensor with the SL.
After I was done editing the photos from the shoot, I found myself fighting the urge to want a Leica SL. I had invested heavily already in the Sony system--I had two bodies, two lenses, a plethora of adapters, and 6 batteries (but you have to carry all of those with you everywhere). But, there was something about the SL that kept making me miss it. The shutter sound was sublime, the build quality was unparalleled, and the images it produced were some of the best I'd ever seen. Just the photos from this set alone pushed me over the edge. Now, I'm happy to say I have one SL body, and only two batteries ;)