Leica SL3 Comparison Review
The Leica SL3 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera that was announced in March 2024 and is equipped with a full frame sensor. It offers a resolution of 60.3 megapixel.
Is the Leica SL3 a good camera? The Leica SL3 has a Camera Elo of 3052. This very strong rating puts it among the elite group of camera grand masters. The Leica SL3 ranks among the top 10 percent of all mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. In terms of its sensor size category (full frame cameras), the Leica SL3 ranks among the top 20 percent.
Leica SL3 |
---|
Mirrorless system camera |
Leica L mount lenses |
60.3 MP, Full Frame Sensor |
8K/30p Video |
ISO 100 - 100 000 |
Electronic viewfinder (5760k dots) |
3.2 LCD, 2333k dots |
Tilting touchscreen |
5 shutter flaps per second |
In-body stabilization |
Weathersealed body |
320 shots per battery charge |
141 x 108 x 85 mm, 769 g |
Read on to find out more about the camera's size, sensor, features, reception by expert reviewers, and how it compares to other digital cameras.
Body comparison with a credit card
An illustration of the physical dimensions of the Leica SL3 vis-à-vis a credit card is provided in the side-by-side display below. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are presented. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.
The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the Leica SL3 alongside a set of similar cameras. If you want to review a particular camera pair side-by-side, just move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons there.
Camera Model |
Camera Width |
Camera Height |
Camera Depth |
Camera Weight |
Battery Life |
Weather Sealing |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price |
Street Price |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Leica SL3 | 141 mm | 108 mm | 85 mm | 769 g | 320 | Y | Mar 2024 | US$ 6 999 | amazon.com | |
2. | Leica M11 | 139 mm | 80 mm | 39 mm | 640 g | 700 | Y | Jan 2022 | US$ 8 999 | amazon.com | |
3. | Leica Q3 | 130 mm | 80 mm | 93 mm | 743 g | 350 | Y | May 2023 | US$ 5 999 | amazon.com | |
4. | Leica SL | 147 mm | 104 mm | 39 mm | 847 g | 400 | Y | Oct 2015 | US$ 7 449 | ebay.com | |
5. | Leica SL2 | 146 mm | 107 mm | 42 mm | 953 g | 370 | Y | Nov 2019 | US$ 5 999 | amazon.com | |
6. | Leica SL2-S | 146 mm | 107 mm | 83 mm | 931 g | 510 | Y | Dec 2020 | US$ 4 899 | amazon.com | |
7. | Nikon Z8 | 144 mm | 119 mm | 83 mm | 910 g | 340 | Y | May 2023 | US$ 3 999 | amazon.com | |
8. | Panasonic S5 II | 134 mm | 102 mm | 90 mm | 740 g | 370 | Y | Jan 2023 | US$ 1 999 | amazon.com | |
9. | Sony A1 | 129 mm | 97 mm | 81 mm | 737 g | 530 | Y | Jan 2021 | US$ 6 499 | amazon.com | |
10. | Sony A7R V | 131 mm | 97 mm | 82 mm | 723 g | 530 | Y | Oct 2022 | US$ 3 899 | amazon.com | |
11. | Sony A9 III | 136 mm | 97 mm | 83 mm | 702 g | 530 | Y | Nov 2023 | US$ 5 999 | amazon.com | |
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. | |||||||||||
The listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The Leica SL3 was launched in the US market at a price of $6,999. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.
Sensor comparison with a 35mm slide
The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tent to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.
The Leica SL3 features a full frame sensor and has a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 1.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the Leica SL3 among the large-sensor cameras that aim for top notch image quality.
Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for most cameras. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of alternatives.
Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Leica SL3 | Full Frame | 60.3 | 9520 | 6336 | 8K/30p | 25.4 | 14.8 | 3295 | 97 | |
2. | Leica M11 | Full Frame | 60.3 | 9528 | 6328 | none | 26.3 | 14.8 | 3376 | 100 | |
3. | Leica Q3 | Full Frame | 60.3 | 9528 | 6328 | 8K/30p | 25.4 | 14.7 | 3216 | 96 | |
4. | Leica SL | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/30p | 25.0 | 13.4 | 1821 | 88 | |
5. | Leica SL2 | Full Frame | 46.7 | 8368 | 5584 | 4K/60p | 25.3 | 14.3 | 2866 | 95 | |
6. | Leica SL2-S | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/60p | 25.2 | 14.1 | 3504 | 95 | |
7. | Nikon Z8 | Full Frame | 45.4 | 8256 | 5504 | 8K/30p | 26.3 | 14.2 | 2548 | 98 | |
8. | Panasonic S5 II | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 6K/30p | 25.4 | 14.6 | 3158 | 96 | |
9. | Sony A1 | Full Frame | 49.8 | 8640 | 5760 | 8k/30p | 25.9 | 14.5 | 3163 | 98 | |
10. | Sony A7R V | Full Frame | 60.2 | 9504 | 6336 | 8k/24p | 26.5 | 14.8 | 3187 | 100 | |
11. | Sony A9 III | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/120p | 25.4 | 14.7 | 3243 | 96 | |
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age. |
Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The Leica SL3 indeed provides movie recording capabilities. The highest resolution format that the Leica SL3 can use is 8K/30p.
Feature comparison
Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the Leica SL3 has an electronic viewfinder with a resolution of 5760k dots. The viewfinder offers a field of view of 100% and a magnification of 0.76x. The following tables report on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Leica SL3 and comparable cameras.
Camera Model |
Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots) |
Control Panel (yes/no) |
LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots) |
LCD Attach- ment |
Touch Screen (yes/no) |
Max Shutter Speed * |
Max Shutter Flaps * |
Built-in Flash (yes/no) |
Built-in Image Stab |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Leica SL3 | 5760 | Y | 3.2 / 2333 | tilting | Y | 1/8000s | 5.0/s | n | Y | |
2. | Leica M11 | optical | n | 3.0 / 2333 | fixed | Y | 1/4000s | 4.5/s | n | n | |
3. | Leica Q3 | 5760 | n | 3.0 / 1840 | tilting | Y | 1/2000s | 15.0/s | n | Y | |
4. | Leica SL | 4400 | Y | 3.0 / 1040 | fixed | Y | 1/8000s | 11.0/s | n | n | |
5. | Leica SL2 | 5760 | Y | 3.2 / 2100 | fixed | Y | 1/8000s | 10.0/s | n | Y | |
6. | Leica SL2-S | 5760 | Y | 3.2 / 2100 | fixed | Y | 1/8000s | 20.0/s | n | Y | |
7. | Nikon Z8 | 3690 | Y | 3.2 / 2089 | full-flex | Y | 1/32000s | 30.0/s | n | Y | |
8. | Panasonic S5 II | 3680 | n | 3.0 / 1840 | swivel | Y | 1/8000s | 9.0/s | n | Y | |
9. | Sony A1 | 9437 | n | 3.0 / 1440 | tilting | Y | 1/8000s | 10.0/s | n | Y | |
10. | Sony A7R V | 9440 | n | 3.2 / 2100 | full-flex | Y | 1/8000s | 10.0/s | n | Y | |
11. | Sony A9 III | 9440 | n | 3.2 / 2100 | full-flex | Y | 1/80000s | 120.0/s | n | Y | |
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one. |
The LCD screen on the Leica SL3 is flexibly attached to the body. In particular, the LCD can be tilted vertically to facilitate odd-angle shots in landscape orientation. This tilting design is often preferred, for example, by street photographers to a fully articulated, swivel type of LCD attachment, as it is more unobtrusive during shooting than a screen that flips out to the side.
One useful feature of the Leica SL3 is a presence of a top-level LCD. While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.
Connection comparison
For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Leica SL3 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.
Camera Model |
Hotshoe Port |
Internal Mic / Speaker |
Microphone Port |
Headphone Port |
HDMI Port |
USB Port |
WiFi Support |
NFC Support |
Bluetooth Support |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Leica SL3 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | full | 3.1 | Y | - | Y | |
2. | Leica M11 | Y | - / - | - | - | - | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
3. | Leica Q3 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 3.1 | Y | - | Y | |
4. | Leica SL | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | full | 3.0 | Y | - | - | |
5. | Leica SL2 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | full | 3.1 | Y | - | Y | |
6. | Leica SL2-S | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | full | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
7. | Nikon Z8 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | full | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
8. | Panasonic S5 II | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | full | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
9. | Sony A1 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | full | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
10. | Sony A7R V | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | full | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
11. | Sony A9 III | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | full | 3.2 | Y | - | Y |
It is notable that the Leica SL3 has a microphone port. Such an external microphone input can help to substantially improve the quality of audio recordings when a good external microphone is used.
Further information on the features and operation of the Leica SL3 can be found in the free online Leica SL3 Manual or on the Leica support site.
Expert reviews
While the specs-based evaluation of cameras is instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the Leica SL3 handle or perform in practice. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased. This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The table below summarizes the assessments of some of the best known camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]).
Camera Model |
AP score |
CL score |
DCW score |
DPR score |
EPZ score |
PB score |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price |
Street Price |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Leica SL3 | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | Mar 2024 | US$ 6 999 | amazon.com | |
2. | Leica M11 | 4.5/5 | .. | 4.5/5 | .. | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jan 2022 | US$ 8 999 | amazon.com | |
3. | Leica Q3 | 5/5 | .. | 4.5/5 | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | May 2023 | US$ 5 999 | amazon.com | |
4. | Leica SL | 4/5 | .. | 4/5 | 84/100 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Oct 2015 | US$ 7 449 | ebay.com | |
5. | Leica SL2 | 4/5 | .. | 4.5/5 | .. | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Nov 2019 | US$ 5 999 | amazon.com | |
6. | Leica SL2-S | 4/5 | .. | 4/5 | .. | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Dec 2020 | US$ 4 899 | amazon.com | |
7. | Nikon Z8 | 5/5 | .. | 5/5 | 94/100 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | May 2023 | US$ 3 999 | amazon.com | |
8. | Panasonic S5 II | 4.5/5 | + + | 5/5 | 90/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Jan 2023 | US$ 1 999 | amazon.com | |
9. | Sony A1 | 5/5 | o | 4.5/5 | 93/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Jan 2021 | US$ 6 499 | amazon.com | |
10. | Sony A7R V | 5/5 | + + | 4.5/5 | 92/100 | .. | .. | Oct 2022 | US$ 3 899 | amazon.com | |
11. | Sony A9 III | 4.5/5 | .. | .. | 91/100 | .. | .. | Nov 2023 | US$ 5 999 | amazon.com | |
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available. |
The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.
Leica SL3 FAQ
Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the Leica SL3.
What technology is the imaging sensor in the Leica SL3 based on?
The camera features a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor.
Which image processing chip is used in the Leica SL3 to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?
Leica equipped the Leica SL3 with the Maestro IV image processor.
What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Leica SL3?
The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 100000, which can be extended to ISO 50-100000.
Is completely silent shooting possible with the Leica SL3?
The camera has an electronic shutter option, so that it is indeed feasible to capture images without any shutter noise.
Do I need to purchase an external camera trigger to shoot time-lapse sequences with the Leica SL3?
No, the Leica SL3 has an intervalometer built-in, so that low frequency shooting (for example, flower blooming, sunset, moon rise) can be undertaken without the need to purchase a separate external intervalometer and related software.
Is it difficult to use manual focus lenses with the Leica SL3?
The Leica SL3 offers focus peaking as a manual focus aid. This feature works by placing a colored highlight on in-focus zones within the image.
Does the Leica SL3 feature an autofocus assist light?
Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.
What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with the Leica SL3 for flash photography?
The Leica SL3's flash sync speed is 1/200 sec.
Does the Leica SL3 support the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus interface for SD cards?
Yes, the camera can indeed use UHS-II cards (data transfer speed of up to 312 MB/s).
Which battery does the Leica SL3 use?
The camera gets its power from the Leica BP-SCL6 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.
Is there a vertical grip available for the Leica SL3?
Yes, Leica offers the HG-SCL7 as an optional accessory to facilitate shooting in portrait orientation and to provide additional battery power.
Camera to camera comparisons
If you would like to see a side-by-side review with another camera, just use the search menu below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.
- Fujifilm GFX 50S II vs Leica SL3
- Fujifilm X-T200 vs Leica SL3
- Leica CL vs Leica SL3
- Leica SL3 vs Nikon 1 V2
- Leica SL3 vs Nikon Z30
- Leica SL3 vs Nikon Z50
- Leica SL3 vs Nikon Z7 II
- Leica SL3 vs Olympus E-M1 II
- Leica SL3 vs Panasonic TZ90
- Leica SL3 vs Panasonic ZS80
- Leica SL3 vs Sony A77 II
- Leica SL3 vs Sony A9 II
Camera Model | Leica SL3 | |
---|---|---|
Camera Type | Mirrorless system camera | |
Camera Lens | Leica L mount lenses | |
Launch Date | March 2024 | |
Launch Price | USD 6 999 | |
Sensor Specs | ||
Sensor Technology | CMOS | |
Sensor Format | Full Frame Sensor | |
Sensor Size | 36.0 x 24.0 mm | |
Sensor Area | 864 mm2 | |
Sensor Diagonal | 43.3 mm | |
Crop Factor | 1.0x | |
Sensor Resolution | 60.3 Megapixels | |
Image Resolution | 9 520 x 6 336 pixels | |
Pixel Pitch | 3.79 μm | |
Pixel Density | 6.98 MP/cm2 | |
Moiré control | no AA filter | |
Movie Capability | 8K/30p Video | |
ISO Setting | 100 - 100 000 ISO | |
ISO Boost | 50 - 100 000 ISO | |
Image Processor | Maestro IV | |
Screen Specs | ||
Viewfinder Type | Electronic viewfinder | |
Viewfinder Field of View | 100% | |
Viewfinder Magnification | 0.76x | |
Viewfinder Resolution | 5760k dots | |
Top-Level Screen | Control Panel | |
LCD Framing | Live View | |
LCD Size | 3.2 inch | |
LCD Resolution | 2333k dots | |
LCD Attachment | Tilting screen | |
V-logging Friendliness | No front-flip | |
Touch Input | Touchscreen | |
Shooting Specs | ||
Focus System | On-Sensor Phase-detect | |
Manual Focusing Aid | Focus Peaking | |
Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/8000s | |
Continuous Shooting | 5 shutter flaps/s | |
Silent Shooting | Electronic Shutter | |
Time Lapse Photography | Intervalometer Built-in | |
Image Stabilization | In-body stabilization | |
Fill Flash | no On-Board Flash | |
Storage Medium | CFexB or SDXC cards | |
Single or Dual Card Slots | Dual card slots | |
UHS card support | UHS-II | |
Connectivity Specs | ||
External Flash | Hotshoe | |
USB Connector | USB 3.1 | |
HDMI Port | full HDMI | |
Microphone Port | External MIC port | |
Headphone Socket | Headphone port | |
Wifi Support | Wifi built-in | |
Bluetooth Support | Bluetooth built-in | |
Body Specs | ||
Environmental Sealing | Weathersealed body | |
Battery Type | Leica BP-SCL6 power pack | |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 320 shots per charge | |
In-Camera Charging | USB charging | |
Body Dimensions |
141 x 108 x 85 mm (5.6 x 4.3 x 3.3 in) |
|
Camera Weight | 769 g (27.1 oz) |
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