Camera ReviewMorten ByskovMay 21, 2024Leica SL3 review, Leica SL3 sample images, Leica SL3 sample photos, SL3 reveiw, Leica SL3 image quality, Leica SL3 vs. SL2-S2 Comments

Leica SL3 Review

Camera ReviewMorten ByskovMay 21, 2024Leica SL3 review, Leica SL3 sample images, Leica SL3 sample photos, SL3 reveiw, Leica SL3 image quality, Leica SL3 vs. SL2-S2 Comments

Leica SL3 shown with a Leica Summicron-M 50mm f/3 — The Leica SL3 shown with Leica Summicron-M 50mm f/2

A First Look at the Leica SL3

Only days after I got my first Leica, a new flagship Leica SL camera was announced, the Leica SL3. I knew it was coming, and the rumor mill had most of the information out before the launch.

It was never a question if I should have waited for the Leica SL3 as I knew it would be priced higher than what I am prepared to pay for any camera at this point, but this doesn’t mean that I am not interested in the SL3, and what it brings to the table.

As luck would have it, I had the opportunity to try out the Leica SL3 for a few days. Let’s see how it performed.

Leica SL3 shown with a Summilux-SL 50mm f/1.4 — The Leica SL3 is shown with Leica Summilux-SL 50mm f/1.4

Third Generation Leica SL Camera

The Leica SL series camera saw the light of day back in 2015. The SL2 was released in late 2019, the SL2-S in late 2020, and now we have the SL3, introduced in March 2024.

Most notably, the Leica SL3 was introduced with a new 60-megapixel sensor, a new menu system, a tilting rear LCD, 8K video, and phase-detect autofocus in a smaller and lighter package.

At launch, the Leica SL3 retailed for $6.995.00; as I type this, it is hard to find in stock.

A red BMW Isetta. Sample image from a Leica SL3 and Leica Summicron-M 50mm f/2 — West Vancouver, Leica SL3, Summicron-M 50mm f/2

Build Quality, Design, and Handling

At first glance, the SL3 looks similar to the SL2 and has the same design DNA. As a recent convert to the Leica SL2-S, I will not criticize the overall design philosophy of the SL series. I admire these cameras' rugged appearance, phenomenal grips, and user interface.

The SL3 is slightly smaller and 8% lighter than the SL2, which is commendable. The SL3's build quality is very high, but I can’t help but think that my SL2-S feels ever so slightly more solid overall. This is by a small margin but worth mentioning.

The new tilting screen feels rock solid. Some users may have wished that it would also tilt in portrait orientation, but I think it was wise to keep the construction as minimal as possible, and it is less intrusive.

Leica SL3 shown with a Voigtländer Nokton 28mm f/1.5 and Leica M to L adapter

The top LCD has changed and looks more modern than the SL2 cameras. It has a refreshed font, and information such as exposure compensation is more accurate, showing the exacts. However, it may not be as easy to read if you leave your reading glasses at home.

Customs fn buttons, the shutter button, and the main dials feel precisely as they do on the SL2 cameras and are placed in the same spots, making a transition to the SL3 easy.

The “Play,” “FN,” and MENU buttons have moved to the right-hand side of the LCD. I have no problems with this; operating the camera one-handed is easier. There is a new second command dial that I think most would use for ISO.

The new illuminated ON/OFF switch is pretty cool, showing a pulsating light when the camera is charging. However, I favor the old-fashioned style, which lets you know where you are.

I sometimes questioned whether I had turned it on or off, as the start-up had a slight delay. It's not a big deal, and I think I could get used to the new way of doing things.

A trail at Pitt-Addington Marsh near Maple Ridge in BC, Canada. Sample image from a Leica SL3 and Leica Summicron-M 50mm f/2 — Pitt-Addington Marsh, Leica SL3, Summicron-M 50mm f/2

Leica SL3 Specs

60MP full-frame BSI CMOS sensor
Maestro IV image processor, 8GB buffer
ISO 50-100000,
5-Axis sensor-shift image stabilization
Hybrid AF system with PDAF contrast AF
Up to 15 fps.
8K, C8K, 4K, C4K & FHD 10-bit recording, ProRes 1080p and Apple MFi support
CFexpress type B & SD UHS-II card slots
5.76m-Dot 0.78x-mag. EyeRes OLED EVF, 120 fps. refresh rate
3.2" 2.3m-Dot tilting touchscreen LCD
1.7 lb / 769 g
Price: $6.995.00 (at the time this review was posted)

Leica SL3 shown with a Leica Super-Vario-Elmar-SL16-35mm f/3.5-4.5

In Action

I am glad I had a couple of months with the SL2-S before going into this review, as it made navigating the camera and menus easier. Even though Leica has refreshed the menus and fonts, I felt at home relatively quickly and had the camera set up to my liking without any significant challenges.

As you will see in this review, I have used several manual focus lenses from Voigtländer and Leica, and one of the improvements is the fact that when you have selected a lens from the M-lens menu, it stays in a favorites list, which saves time whenever you change lenses. Nice touch. Leica M lenses are automatically detected if you use the Leica M to L adapter.

I did not have enough time to investigate all settings, but the overhaul looks good, not that I find many flaws with the SL2-S. All cameras take some getting used to on this front.

Pedestrian crossing at West Georgia Street and Granville in Vancouver. Sample image from a Leica SL3 and Voigtlander Nokton 50mm f/1.2 — Downtown, Vancouver, Leica SL3, Voigtländer Nokton 50mm f/1.2

I tried the new phase-detect autofocus with a couple of Leica SL lenses and can confirm that it works very well and sticks like glue to your talent.

As mentioned, I used the SL3 with manual focus lenses, and this is where my only gripe with the camera occurred. Compared to my SL2-S, the EVF did not render as sharp or clear. It was okay, but there was a difference. Arguably, my eyesight has been better, but I had two other people look at this, and they confirmed the same.

I also asked a third friend who was at the launch of the Leica SL3, and he found the EVF to be the same as his SL2-S, so I want to stress this could indeed be a one-off for this demo camera.

My local Leica rep promised to get back to me regarding this and has offered that I could try the camera again.

Update: May 22, 2024

Via my local Leica rep, we may have the reason for my above-mentioned quibble. I have received the following:

The Leica Product Education Specialist says he has not heard from anyone regarding the EVF not being as sharp or clear as it is the same EVF as in the SL2 and SL2-S. However, he did say there might be something related to what was mentioned, and it might be related to the sensor size, 60MP vs 24MP, in the case of SL3 vs. SL2-S. That is / might be the reason the EVF on the SL3 appears less sharp.

Leica SL3 shown with a Voigtländer Ultron 75mm f/1.9 MC and Leica M to L adapter

The smaller size and weight are not astronomically different, but I was surprised you felt it when you carried and used the camera. It is ever so slightly easier to handle, and as an all-day carry, the weight savings would be appreciated by most.

The shutter sound is not quite as dampened as on my SL2-S, but I don’t mind. The best word to describe it would determined with a slightly higher pitch.

Leica SL3 - Image Quality

The 60-megapixel sensor in the SL3 makes the most significant difference from my SL2-S, and I came to appreciate this very quickly. I had a couple of landscape photography outings where I brought my SL2-S and the SL3.

My SL2-S can capture 96 megapixels in multishot mode, and the results are impressive. However, you must use a tripod, and every capture takes 10-15 seconds. Also, you have to be careful with any moving subjects.

With the SL3, you can snap away using the camera hand-held, knowing the IBIS will help stabilize the images, and the 60-megapixel camera is more than enough for me.

If 60 megapixels are too much for your workflow, you can shoot RAW at 36 and 18 megapixels too. I did not get a chance to try this.

The colors from this new sensor are rich, and I decreased sharpness to zero in Lightroom. This was the look I preferred.

The sample images in this review can be viewed up to 2500 pixels wide, depending on your monitor size. Please click to view larger photos if you are viewing them on your PC or laptop or pinch-zoom if you are viewing them on your phone.

A trail at Pitt-Addington Marsh near Maple Ridge in BC, Canada. Sample image from a Leica SL3 and Leica Super-Vario-Elmar-SL 16-35mm f/3.5-4.5. — Pitt Addington Marsh, Leica SL3, Leica Super-Vario-Elmar-SL16-35mm f/3.5-4.5 @ f/8

Conclusion

Despite a few niggles the Leica SL3 is an absolute joy to use, and the images it produces rival that of larger-than-full-frame cameras such as the GFX100 II that I reviewed a couple of weeks ago.

The SL3 will not completely match the 100-megapixel larger-than-full-frame sensor in the GFX100 II, but with a similar pixel pitch, the look of the files appears somewhat similar. If you appreciate a camera with a smaller footprint and weight, the SL3 is undoubtedly worth considering.

The build quality of the GFX100 II is excellent, but I found the SL3 to be a notch above it. The GFX100 II has other advantages in its removable 9.44m-Dot EVF with 1X magnification, which is about as good as it gets, and a rear LCD that tilts in the portrait orientation.

These contenders are excellent choices, and several other factors would play into your decision, such as which ecosystem you are in already and the primary genres you aim for with your photography endeavors.

The Leica SL3 shown with Voigtländer Nokton 50mm f/1.2 Aspherical lens — Leica SL3 shown with a Voigtländer Nokton 50mm f/1.2 and Leica M to L adapter

It is nice to see phase-detect autofocus in an SL camera but it is also worth mentioning that the SL cameras are excellent for adapting M-Mount lenses. The variable option to shoot RAW at 60, 36, or 18 megapixels makes it a versatile tool for many topics and genres.

It is also worth mentioning that lens selection is excellent, with options in the L-Mount Alliance from Sigma and Panasonic over and above your options from Leica.

I could certainly live with a Leica SL3; it is a camera I would not mind having in my kit at some point. I do not have the stomach to buy new cameras in this price range (from any manufacturer), so I will wait a while and keep an eye on the used market down the line.

Please see more sample images below.

Price / Availability

Thank you for reading my review. If you are planning a purchase and would like to support us, you can do so, at no additional cost, by using the affiliate links below. A small commission goes to us and helps us keep the wheels turning at 5050 Travelog.

Check the current price at B&H Photo

Leica SL3 - B&H Photo

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