LEICA TL2 APS-C DIGITAL CAMERA
DESCRIPTION
- APS-C Sensor
- 24MP
- Mirrorless
- TL Mount (Same as Leica SL (Typ 601)
LENSES
I currently have -
- Leica Summicron-TL 23 mm f/2 ASPH
- Leica Summilux-TL 35 mm f/1.4 ASPH
- Leica Super-Vario-Elmar-TL 11–23 mm f/3.5–4.5 ASPH
- Leica Vario-Elmar-TL 18–56 mm f/3.5–5.6 ASPH
- Leica APO-Vario-Elmar-TL 55–135 mm f/3.5–4.5 ASPH
POSITIVES
- Best APS-C sensor I've ever used
- No AA filter
- The best and biggest camera view screen for a camera out there.
- The TL lenses are expensive, but Leica regard them as the 'reference' lenses for APS-C. i.e. The Best. I wouldn't argue with that, they are indeed superb and beautifully made.
- Those lenses work perfectly with my Leica SL (Typ 601) for video since the SL has a Super 35 crop
- Aesthetically this camera is minimalist and as far as I am concerned one of the most beautiful cameras I've ever used. It's Titanium anodised and created from one solid block of aluminium. I had the previous T (Typ 701) and I sold it without a scratch on it after heavy use. So it's hardwearing as well.
- Relatively cheap for a Leica
- Light and small
- AF is not the fastest
- Separate viewfinder, though the Leica Visoflex (Typ 020) is excellent
- Focus Peaking simply doesn't work for alternative lenses and is pretty poor for the native lenses
- 4K video has very little manual control and is OK, but the quality is not what I would have hoped for
- It is more expensive than the alternatives
HOW DO I USE IT?
For me this is a general purpose mirrorless camera, for when I need a light, small outfit. Those lenses are seriously good and for me the best APS-C optics I've ever used. Sony APS-C lenses don't even come close and even the excellent Fuji X lenses don't reach the heights of sharpness across the frame that these L Mount lenses achieve. So if want high quality pin sharp results in a small package this is the camera I use, particularly with that wonderful sensor, which incidentally is very good indeed at high(er) ISO settings.
However, I was disappointed with the upgrades to manual focusing (the non-existent peaking) and the relatively poor 4K video. The sensor is indeed a welcome improvement from the original T (Typ 701) but I was hoping for much better focus peaking and 4K video. And this is a shame, particularly as I had plans to sell some other cameras if both of those things were better than I got. Maybe these things can be fixed with a firmware update, but maybe not.
The consequence of all this is that I use the TL less than I thought I would. There is no doubt that the images this camera produces are terrific, with incredible sharpness and that Leica Colour. I have compared results with my Leica SL (Typ 601) and even with the retina display on my Mac I find it almost impossible to tell the difference. So despite the fact that it's not the allrounder I was expecting it is a great camera for what I use it for - stills taken with those gorgeous lenses.
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For me this is a general purpose mirrorless camera, for when I need a light, small outfit. Those lenses are seriously good and for me the best APS-C optics I've ever used. Sony APS-C lenses don't even come close and even the excellent Fuji X lenses don't reach the heights of sharpness across the frame that these L Mount lenses achieve. So if want high quality pin sharp results in a small package this is the camera I use, particularly with that wonderful sensor, which incidentally is very good indeed at high(er) ISO settings.
However, I was disappointed with the upgrades to manual focusing (the non-existent peaking) and the relatively poor 4K video. The sensor is indeed a welcome improvement from the original T (Typ 701) but I was hoping for much better focus peaking and 4K video. And this is a shame, particularly as I had plans to sell some other cameras if both of those things were better than I got. Maybe these things can be fixed with a firmware update, but maybe not.
The consequence of all this is that I use the TL less than I thought I would. There is no doubt that the images this camera produces are terrific, with incredible sharpness and that Leica Colour. I have compared results with my Leica SL (Typ 601) and even with the retina display on my Mac I find it almost impossible to tell the difference. So despite the fact that it's not the allrounder I was expecting it is a great camera for what I use it for - stills taken with those gorgeous lenses.
Soundimageplus Website
Follow me on Twitter
