Intro

Leica has unveiled what some are declaring is the best ever Leica camera, the SL3

However, it’s still as idiosyncratic as your usual Leica

With a 60 megapixel backside-illuminated (BSI) full frame CMOS sensor, that is 5-axis shift stabilised, the new Leica SL3 is one of the highest resolution full frame format mirrorless cameras on the market. And you get phase-detect focusing. It’s priced US$6,800 (€6,300) and is available straight away.

At first glance, the SL3 looks very similar to the now, 5 year old, Leica SL2. But a lot has changed internally. The image buffer has been doubled from 4GB to 8GB. Of course, we have the new sensor, which seems very similar, on paper, to the one you will find in the Leica M11 rangefinder, launched two years ago, plus 315 on-sensor phase-detect focusing points. The suspicion is that it is a Sony IMX455, rather than the 47 megapixel part in the SL2, which probably had Panasonic DNA. The mechanical shutter mechanism has a different ring to it.

There is now a CF Express card slot alongside one SD-XC slot, and the rear display screen has moved further to the left, displacing the three main control buttons, which are relocated to the right of the screen.

And, now, the SL3 is endowed with an up/down tilting rear display.

So far, so good. But the SL3 is no Ferrari. Its technical shutter shooting rate is limited to 5 frames per second. That wouldn’t have been outstanding 20 years ago. This increases to 15fps in electronic shutter mode. That’s still far from the cutting-edge.

But buying a Leica has never been about being-cutting edge. Depending on who you speak to, it’s about the feel of the camera, the very distinctive and unique Leica design, and of course the optics.

At 60 megapixels, the sensor is knocking on the limit of the pixel pitch to pixel performance limit, but if the sensor is an IMX455, it’s sure to be an awesome performer under most conditions.

It’s also interesting to see how much motion picture capability has advanced up the list of priorities. Maybe this has something to do with Panasonic Lumix, Leica’s key technical partner, and fellow L-mount proponent. The SL3 can shoot up to 8K video, without any clip time constraints.

So, is this the best Leica ever? Probably. Is this the best mirrorless camera, ever? That’s another debate.