Leica presents new full-frame flagship SL3
The successor to the SL2 brings Leica's full-frame system up to date. However, with its price of 6800 francs, it is likely to remain a niche camera.
Leica is giving its SL line an upgrade. The SL3 is the German manufacturer's latest mirrorless full-frame camera with the L-mount. It is smaller and lighter than the previous SL2 model, has a new sensor, better autofocus and a fold-out display.
The resolution is now 60 megapixels - just like the Leica M11 and Q3. The dynamic range is said to span 15 f-stops. Those who prefer smaller image files can also reduce the resolution to 36 or 18 megapixels in RAW mode. The entire sensor area is still utilised, not just a section.
Source: Leica
While the SL2 still had to make do with a purely contrast-based autofocus, the SL3 switches to a hybrid system with phase detection. This should allow it to focus much faster. Intelligent scene recognition is also on board - albeit only for people and animals. The SL3 is not particularly fast: it does manage up to 15 frames per second (FPS) - but not with continuous autofocus. With a mechanical shutter, focus tracking and 14-bit quality, 4 FPS is the limit.
Some setbacks too
Leica has improved the video specs. The SL3 records with up to 8K at 30 FPS. The camera offers some professional functions, such as a waveform display and a fixed setting for the shutter angle. However, the 60-megapixel sensor is designed more for photos, as the readout takes a long time. This normally results in pronounced rolling shutter effects. Leica tries to combat this with a relatively large crop of 1.3. However, this is likely to result in a loss of image quality.
Leica obviously had to make a few other compromises in order to reduce the size. The new designs for the shutter mechanism and the image stabiliser have resulted in two setbacks. The flash synchronisation time is now 1/200 s instead of 1/250 s as with the SL2. Leica specifies the stabilisation with 5 instead of the previous 5.5 steps.
What hasn't changed: Leicas are expensive. The SL3 costs 6800 francs or euros - the same as the SL2 at its market launch. Like all cameras from the German manufacturer, it is unfortunately not available here, as Leica only sells the devices through its own stores and some specialist dealers. <p
My fingerprint often changes so drastically that my MacBook doesn't recognise it anymore. The reason? If I'm not clinging to a monitor or camera, I'm probably clinging to a rockface by the tips of my fingers.