DEFINITIVE SHOOTOUT: Leica SL2 vs Panasonic S1R Sharpness with Leica SL Lenses: View North Over Puppy Dome
Related: apochromatic, digital sensor, Leica, Leica 28mm f/2 APO-Summicron-SL ASPH, Leica APO-Summicron, Leica APO-Summicron-SL, Leica Lenses, Leica M, Leica SL lenses, Leica SL2, Leica Summicron, Leica Summicron-SL, Panasonic, Panasonic Lumix DC-S1R, Panasonic mirrorless
The issue: ray angle interacts with the sensor cover glass thickness; a lens is designed assuming a specific thickness. Deviations from that thickness degrades optical performance, particularly off-center. A secondary issue is the color rendition, which can depend both on the sensor itself, its IR-blocking layer, and the electronic processing of the camera.
One would hope that the L-Mount alliance would have standardized on sensor cover glass thickness and characteristics, so that lenses of either brand could be used with the same results on either-brand camera. But in marketing, form trumps function.
Definitive finding: Leica SL lenses
This shootout between the Leica SL2 and the Panasonic S1R is definitive in proving major image quality differences between the two cameras for Leica SL lenses, sharpness in particular.
SHOOTOUT: Leica SL2 vs Panasonic S1R, View North Over Puppy Dome
Includes images up to full camera resolution from f/2 through f/11, plus crops.
LEICA SL2 + Leica 28mm f/2 APO-Summicron-SL ASPH
ENV: Tuolumne Meadows, altitude 8650 ft / 2637 m, 65°F / 18°C
RAW: LACA corrected, distortion corrected, pull 0.56 stops, +20 Whites, +10 Clarity
[low-res image for bot]
