Leaving L-Mount

[robin0112358]

I have, I still own all my m4/3 gear, and the difference is real. It is absolutely there. For a single press of the shutter button shot, in any lighting condition, my S5 is hands down the nicest camera I've used. Colour, lack of noise, dynamic range, it's all there. In saying that, I've not shot Medium Format, or the latest Sony/Nikon cameras, so don't know how they fare. I do know even the smallest Fujifilm MF is a SIGNIFICANT step up in size/weight. Played with one in the shop a year or two back.
For me, the S5 is the Goldilocks camera. Just right.

I retain MFT for travel, when size/weight is the most important factor. Like you, I can easily tell the difference, both in the experience of using the camera, but also in the outcomes. Lumix S5 simply produces stronger images and more keepers. With MFT the stars need to align. This is influenced by the fact that I shoot low light interiors a good amount of the time.

I too have looked at the Fuji GFX series since for what I do the extra resolution could (maybe) be the next step. But what I most want is a smaller body. The Lumix S9 dropped the ball and I wonder if that isn't a sign I need to move systems. No EVF, one dial, no mechanical shutter. To me that's a toy, a very expensive toy. Not what I expected of a company like Panasonic.

So here I am in some agreement with the OP. Best of luck, Jayne. There's a system out there for all of us!

 

[Jayneboo]

I retain MFT for travel, when size/weight is the most important factor. Like you, I can easily tell the difference, both in the experience of using the camera, but also in the outcomes. Lumix S5 simply produces stronger images and more keepers. With MFT the stars need to align. This is influenced by the fact that I shoot low light interiors a good amount of the time.

I too have looked at the Fuji GFX series since for what I do the extra resolution could (maybe) be the next step. But what I most want is a smaller body. The Lumix S9 dropped the ball and I wonder if that isn't a sign I need to move systems. No EVF, one dial, no mechanical shutter. To me that's a toy, a very expensive toy. Not what I expected of a company like Panasonic.

So here I am in some agreement with the OP. Best of luck, Jayne. There's a system out there for all of us!

Thank you, I am still very happy with my choice, and feel like I'm covered for all purposes. For travel it's just perfect, and being a camera with an autofocus system that works for sport/wildlife on the odd occasion I want it, the lens choices could make you dizzy, but I have been very deliberate and kept it simple, having the use of my MF lenses with adaptors. I still have my SL2, and my M, but haven't used either since arrival of A7CR (3.5 months). Probably time now for the SL2 to go. I agree there is a system out there for everyone, but I'm finding it such a pleasure to have this one body that I actually feel does what I need (total hobbyist) without much of a compromise anywhere. I do still have a soft spot for my rangefinder stuff, probably because my Dad started me down that path.

 

[SoJuJo]

Thank you, I am still very happy with my choice, and feel like I'm covered for all purposes. For travel it's just perfect, and being a camera with an autofocus system that works for sport/wildlife on the odd occasion I want it, the lens choices could make you dizzy, but I have been very deliberate and kept it simple, having the use of my MF lenses with adaptors. I still have my SL2, and my M, but haven't used either since arrival of A7CR (3.5 months). Probably time now for the SL2 to go. I agree there is a system out there for everyone, but I'm finding it such a pleasure to have this one body that I actually feel does what I need (total hobbyist) without much of a compromise anywhere. I do still have a soft spot for my rangefinder stuff, probably because my Dad started me down that path.

A friend of mine is also very happy with his Sonys. I think he has the α 7CR and an α 7RV. Nearly 4 years ago I chose to abandon Nikon Z and step into L-mount as I like Sigma lenses and cameras and the S1R was a nice fit for my hands and better in m most aspects than Z 7. But today... when I check for new firmware on Sigma: Sony E mount gets loads of new firmwares, L-mount? Nada. And for what? The camera's AF is one of the slowest on the market and AF-C rather unreliable, so why waste resources to update firmware as the bigger business is in E-mount?

I can understand you too, Jayne and wish you good light in the future. I'm at the edge of moving to Hasselblad and keeping L-mount for a while, but Panasonic would really need to come out with something much better than the SL3 to get me investing again.

 

[dirk]

But today... when I check for new firmware on Sigma: Sony E mount gets loads of new firmwares, L-mount? Nada.

If Sigma offers fw updates for Sony cameras that does not mean that similar fw updates are needed for L-Mount.

Sigma is one if the founding partners of the L-Mount alliance. Sigma has access to all AF protocols for this system. No need to adapt fw all the time.

For Sony cameras this is different. Sony tries to block certain features with third party lenses. Third parties like Sigma for E-Mount need to adapt constantly to new fw updates of Sony cameras and to improve/bugfix their lenses for other systems.

The L-Mount AF is what it is. For 95%-99% of the costumers it is good enough. DFD and now also PDAF.

In which situations do you have problems?

 

[SoJuJo]

...
For Sony cameras this is different. Sony tries to block certain features with third party lenses. Third parties like Sigma for E-Mount need to adapt constantly to new fw updates of Sony cameras and to improve/bugfix their lenses for other systems.

The L-Mount AF is what it is. For 95%-99% of the costumers it is good enough. DFD and now also PDAF.

In which situations do you have problems?

Sorry dirk, this is a fanboy reply.

Sony is throwing out more new models than Lumix, Leica and Sigma together, that's one reason to need FW updates. I think Sony has some good reasons (users would rather blame the camera than the lens) to block third party lenses from continuous shooting at more than 15 fps, BUT: at slower frequencies Sony bodies behind Sigma lenses do get a higher rate of accurate focus than Lumix or Sigma offer. Have you ever tried the 500/5.6 on the fp L? Have you ever tried AF-C with a longer focal length? I think Sigma focuses more on making Sony shooters happy than keep "their" L-mount customers in good mood. PDAF? A joke compared to other brands.

And for the 95-99% claim I request a current poll with solid data amongst all L-mount users (not just the few in this forum), else it's just hot air, based more on faith than facts.

Don't get me wrong, I like my L-mount stuff still more than the Nikon world as Sigma and Panasonic really invented some helpful features one doesn't find at Nikon's. But that doesn't mean I'm closing my eyes when it comes to weak points and solid disadvantages. I have to remember the fp series was targeted more towards the video people and kind of a substitute for not getting Foveon FF to fly.

 

[Markuswelder]

And for what? The camera's AF is one of the slowest on the market and AF-C rather unreliable,

Hmmmm. This is starting to sound just like DFD all over again. Slowest and unreliable? I don't think so. Are there faster camera's out there? Sure. But that absolutely doesn't make the S cameras bad, and not worth investing in.

 

[pdk42]

It has to be said that Sony E is a much more complete system overall than any other, including L-mount. There are more bodies, more lenses, and more users. Unlike with L-mount, there is a body for pretty much any application you might want (including rangefinder-style with an EVF!). And for sure, Sony AF is the best - I think everyone accepts that. But Lumix just might offer a better overall video-centric camera.

So why don't we all use Sony? Complaints I've heard directed at Sony over the years include a mix of: poor handling, the menus, weak weather-sealing, poor build quality, the Sony culture, the continual obsolescence through new releases, and relatively poor IBIS compared to peers. I can't comment on the extent to which this is true in the latest products; and for sure some there will be a good helping of unsubstantiated bias in this list. Even if some of these complaints are real, none of them seem to stop it being a very popular system with a lot of dedicated users producing great results.

But it comes down to personal choices. For me, I'm temped once again by Sony - but mainly due to lens choice. I'm very happy with the L mount gear I have.

 

[dirk]

Sorry dirk, this is a fanboy reply.

I am a fan of the L-Mount, but not a blind fanboy. I use other systems too.

I have the impression that you try to make a lens maker countable for AF advantages he has nothing to do with.

I do think that Sony has currently the best AF system of all brands. Thanks to this every lens will be faster/better compared to other brands.

I am not closing my eyes neither. Until 18 months ago, there was no PDAF available at all. Neither with Lumix MFT nor with Lumix L-Mount cameras. Still people bought these cameras and have been happy with it for around 12 years (MFT). DFD is not bad per se. Sometimes it is better and more reliable than PDAF. But for specific use cases, PDAF is better.

So Panasonic introduced PDAF in January 2023. And now you expect that they are already at a level like Sony, who used and improved PDAF since 10, 15 whatever years or more?

Is this realistic? Even Nikon and Canon, both longterm users of PDAF, with a big market share and R&D pockets are not able to catch up with Sony?

There are choices. Each system has pro and cons. Test the cameras of a system before you buy. Buy the camera that fullfills your needs for your use cases now. Do not hope for things in the future, which might come or not.

Jayne did that. She is now happier with Sony for her use cases. There is no single best solution for everybody