Leica SL3-S added to SL system
Leica has officially launched its latest mirrorless camera, the SL3, at a press event in Wetzlar, Germany. Building on the highly respected and robust design of its predecessors, the SL3-S features a 24.6-megapixel full-frame BSI CMOS sensor, enhanced autofocus capabilities, and improved low-light performance, making it a capable and flexible tool for both professional photographers and filmmakers.
Stills highlights:
- 24 MP CMOS enhanced low-light BSI-type sensor
- ISO range: 50 – 200,000
- 5-axis IBIS, up to 5 EV correction
- New high-speed Hybrid-AF system
- AF continuous shooting at up to 30 fps (12-bit) or up to 5fps (14-bit)
- 48 and 96 MP multishot mode, handheld or tripod
- Tamper-proof metadata with Content Credentials
- Price: £4,500, €5,190, inc VAT, $5,295
The SL3-S boasts a robust and IP-54-rated weather-sealed body with an articulated screen, ensuring reliability in various shooting conditions. The S-type variant, appealing to content creators and filmmakers, also includes advanced video features, supporting ‘open gate’ (full-sensor area at 3:2 ratio) 6K recording at 30p recording to internal media (CFexpress Type B). When adopting the full-size HDMI port to an external recorder, the SL3-S can capture up to 6K (16:9) 29.97 fps in RAW.
Leica’s new camera integrates seamlessly with the existing SL lens lineup, offering users a versatile range of high-quality optics.
The SL3-S is available now, with a retail price starting at £4,500, €5,190, inc VAT, $5,295.
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Editor’s Comments
The new SL3-S features a dual conversion gain BSI-CMOS type sensor with a native 24 MP resolution. Leica says the ISO range of the sensor extends from 50 to 200,000, with the two native gain steps of this sensor being ISOs 50 and 640 in both stills and video (although it’s higher at 400 and 2500 in both L-Log and HLG).
While the SL3-S is the more video-oriented model between it and the 60 MP Leica SL3, the new camera also has 48 MP and 98 MP multi-shot options. This feature which can also be used handheld unlike most rivals, will interest landscape, architecture and interior photographers looking for more flexibility in file size. Single-shot RAW files (DNG) are around 40 MB on average.
Additionally, the Leica M photographer may find it interesting that the BSI sensor, featuring circuitry positioned behind the light-receiving pixel, is expected to enhance the performance of M-mount lenses, especially concerning the reduction of colour- and corner-shading. There’s no mention of the design of the micro-lenses or thickness of the filter stack, but that is likely to have been optimised for M-mount lenses when fitted with the M-mount adapter.
The new camera looks to me to be a highly tempting option for stills and video, especially when considering the potentially smaller file sizes of 4K from 6K vs 8K.
On a more personal note regarding handling, which also applies to the Leica SL3, I particularly like how you can customise the three dials, for example in manual mode, you can have the two on the top plate to control exposure; shutter speed and aperture and then the third, rear dial to alter the ISO level. Then, there are five FN buttons to access various controls that you might want to change frequently, such as various AF arrays, electronic shutter options, and more.
Press release:
New: Leica SL3-S
The new full-frame system camera with a 24 megapixel sensor, fast autofocus and enhanced video functions is now available.
Wetzlar, 16th of January 2025. Leica Camera AG launched the SL-System in 2015, uniquely combining photography and videography right from the off. With the full-frame system based on the L-Mount standard, Leica has firmly established itself in the world of professional audiovisual production. Launched in March 2024, the latest version in the range of SL-System cameras is the Leica SL3, and, like all Leica products, it fulfils the highest standards of image and production quality, setting new benchmarks for ease of use with its unique user interface. These values are now embodied in a new SL-System camera: the Leica SL3-S.
When developing this camera, the process centred on the high demands of professional photography and videography. In doing so, the key focus was on speed, flexibility and versatility. The result is a camera that combines the highest image quality for both photography and videography with optimum working speed and reliability. The Leica SL3-S integrates state-of-the-art technology into an outstanding design. It also offers numerous new functions that ensure a professional workflow for producing audiovisual content.
A new BSI CMOS full-frame sensor with 24-megapixel native resolution, 48- and 96-megapixel multi-shot modes, and a new autofocus system form the core of the SL3-S. Securely protected by an IP54-certified solid all-metal body, this is where Leica combine the strengths of three focus technologies: the latest generation in phase detection AF (PDAF), depth map (object detection AF) and contrast detection AF enable continuous shooting with the Leica SL3-S at up to 30 frames per second with full autofocus support. This makes the SL3-S the fastest Leica system camera ever built. Together with a high dynamic range and the impressive ISO range of 50 to 200,000, the SL3-S delivers excellent-quality photos and videos in all shooting situations.
The SL3-S is also the first camera in the SL-System to be equipped with content credentials technology in accordance with the Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI) for photos. If desired, each image can be signed with tamper-proof metadata, such as the camera model and author information, as well as creation and editing data. In order to prove authenticity with verifiable image content and to make edits transparent, the content credentials can be checked using freely available verification tools (verify.contentauthenticity.org).
The SL3-S records videos in a resolution of up to 6K and offers 3:2 open-gate recording, a feature that provides flexibility when creating video content for a wide variety of channels. For example, portrait format videos can be recorded in 4K, 9:16 without any loss of quality and the field of view in recorded material can also be determined retrospectively. The SL3-S records HDMI-RAW in 5.9K at 30 fps to external display recorders. What’s more, thanks to the fast CFexpress type B interface, ProRes 4:2:2 HQ in 5.8K at 30 fps or C4K at 60 fps can also be internally recorded without any recording time limits. It is also possible to record directly to an external SSD hard drive via the USB-C interface, which further increases the flexibility of the SL3-S. A dedicated timecode interface enables professional synchronisation of image and sound on set. The Maestro IV processor with L2 technology effortlessly handles enormous amounts of data, resulting in images with superb colour rendering, high dynamic range and excellent noise behaviour in the L-Log colour space. This processor has been lauded internationally for its optimal quality.
The versatile interfaces and powerful connectivity of the SL3-S ensure a seamless professional workflow. It has slots for CFexpress type B and UHS-II SD memory cards, a USB-C port for fast data transfer, tethering, SSD connection or power supply, and a full-size HDMI 2.1 output for external LCD panels or recording devices. Additionally, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi with MIMO technology enable fast, stable connection to the Leica FOTOS App, with which DNG images can be transferred in full resolution in a matter of seconds. As a certified Apple “Made for iPhone® and iPad®” accessory, the Leica SL3-S can be connected directly to Apple products using the supplied USB-C cable. Over the course of 2025, the Camera-to-Cloud function will also become available via Adobe frame.io, using which videos and photos can be uploaded directly from the camera to the Adobe frame.io cloud for further processing.
Thanks to the L-Mount, the SL3-S can be combined with the outstanding lenses for all Leica camera systems, as well as the broad range from super wide-angle lenses to super telephoto zoom lenses from the L-Mount alliance partners. Various Cine lenses can also be used via adapters, the special scales for which can be found in the video menu of the SL3-S. The lens bayonet mount ensures that the Leica SL3-S offers comprehensive system compatibility. In addition, the legendary Leica M-Lenses’ full potential can be harnessed thanks to the special design of the image sensor and an external light sensor. Photographers and videographers benefit from the unrivalled imaging performance and compact design of the Leica M-Lenses together with the incredible features of the SL3-S. Image stabilisation of up to 5 stops integrated into the camera body further extends the range of applications for M-Lenses.
The EyeRes® viewfinder of the Leica SL3-S is equipped with a painstakingly produced optical system of glass lenses. It displays the subject crystal clear at all times with up to 120 images per second and a resolution of 5.76 million pixels. Thanks to the live preview, it offers full control over the exposure and composition of shots even before the shutter is released. Another new feature of the SL3-S is the tilting 3.2-inch high-res touchscreen with a high-quality tilting mechanism, which makes it even easier to take photos and videos from different angles.
A further highlight is the interface, already familiar to users of the SL3. As with the SL3, the optimisations to the SL3-S include ergonomic and haptic features, as well as the user interface and menu navigation. The handle, button layout and overall camera design have been improved for even more intuitive handling. The clearly structured icon and menu design makes navigation even easier, with distinct sections for photo and video functions. The Cine mode has been tailored specifically to the needs of professional video production.
Freely assignable FN buttons and optimised touch interaction throughout the camera menu allow for intuitive and convenient operation. When taking photos and filming, the entire user interface of the SL3-S aligns itself in landscape or portrait format according to the camera position. The SL3-S is noticeably lighter and more compact than its predecessors and feels even better in the hand thanks to its optimised design. In addition, the complete range of accessories already available for the Leica SL3 are also compatible with the SL3-S.
The Leica SL3-S is now available worldwide in all Leica Stores, in the Leica Online Store and from specialised dealers. The recommended retail price is £4,500.00 / €5,190.00 / $5,295.00, incl. VAT.
All information about the new Leica SL3-S can be found at: leica-camera.com/sl3-s
