Leica SL3-S vs Nikon Z30
The Leica SL3-S and the Nikon Z30 are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in January 2025 and June 2022. Both the Leica SL3-S and the Z30 are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are based on a full frame (Leica SL3-S) and an APS-C (Z30) sensor. The Leica has a resolution of 24 megapixels, whereas the Nikon provides 20.7 MP.
Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Check Leica SL3-S price at
amazon.com

Check Z30 price at
amazon.com
Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Leica SL3-S and the Nikon Z30? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.
Body comparison
The physical size and weight of the Leica SL3-S and the Nikon Z30 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.



If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Nikon Z30 is considerably smaller (38 percent) than the Leica SL3-S. Moreover, the Z30 is substantially lighter (52 percent) than the Leica SL3-S. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments.
The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.
Concerning battery life, the Leica SL3-S gets 315 shots out of its Leica BP-SCL6 battery, while the Z30 can take 330 images on a single charge of its Nikon EN-EL25 power pack. The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.
The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera 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-S | 141 mm | 108 mm | 85 mm | 852 g | 315 | Y | Jan 2025 | US$ 5 299 | amazon.com | |
| 2. | Nikon Z30 | 128 mm | 74 mm | 60 mm | 405 g | 330 | Y | Jun 2022 | US$ 709 | amazon.com | |
| 3. | Canon R1 | 158 mm | 150 mm | 87 mm | 1115 g | 1330 | Y | Jul 2024 | US$ 6 299 | amazon.com | |
| 4. | Canon R3 | 150 mm | 143 mm | 87 mm | 1015 g | 760 | Y | Sep 2021 | US$ 5 999 | amazon.com | |
| 5. | Fujifilm GFX 100S II | 150 mm | 104 mm | 87 mm | 883 g | 530 | Y | May 2024 | US$ 4 999 | amazon.com | |
| 6. | Leica SL2 | 146 mm | 107 mm | 42 mm | 953 g | 370 | Y | Nov 2019 | US$ 5 999 | amazon.com | |
| 7. | Leica SL2-S | 146 mm | 107 mm | 83 mm | 931 g | 510 | Y | Dec 2020 | US$ 4 899 | amazon.com | |
| 8. | Leica SL3 | 141 mm | 108 mm | 85 mm | 854 g | 320 | Y | Mar 2024 | US$ 6 999 | amazon.com | |
| 9. | Nikon 1 V3 | 111 mm | 65 mm | 33 mm | 381 g | 310 | n | Mar 2014 | US$ 799 | ebay.com | |
| 10. | Nikon D5300 | 125 mm | 98 mm | 76 mm | 480 g | 600 | n | Oct 2013 | US$ 799 | ebay.com | |
| 11. | Nikon D5600 | 124 mm | 97 mm | 70 mm | 465 g | 970 | n | Nov 2016 | US$ 699 | ebay.com | |
| 12. | Nikon Z50 | 127 mm | 94 mm | 60 mm | 450 g | 320 | Y | Oct 2019 | US$ 859 | amazon.com | |
| 13. | Nikon Z fc | 135 mm | 94 mm | 44 mm | 445 g | 300 | n | Jun 2021 | US$ 959 | amazon.com | |
| 14. | Panasonic GH7 | 138 mm | 100 mm | 100 mm | 805 g | 380 | Y | Jun 2024 | US$ 2 199 | amazon.com | |
| 15. | Panasonic S1 II | 134 mm | 102 mm | 92 mm | 800 g | 350 | Y | May 2025 | US$ 3 199 | amazon.com | |
| 16. | Panasonic S5 II | 134 mm | 102 mm | 90 mm | 740 g | 370 | Y | Jan 2023 | US$ 1 999 | amazon.com | |
| 17. | 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. | |||||||||||
Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The Z30 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 87 percent) than the Leica SL3-S, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. 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.
Sensor comparison
The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors 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 tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.
Of the two cameras under consideration, the Leica SL3-S features a full frame sensor and the Nikon Z30 an APS-C sensor. The sensor area in the Z30 is 57 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.0 and 1.5. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

With 24MP, the Leica SL3-S offers a higher resolution than the Z30 (20.7MP), but the Leica SL3-S nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 6.00μm versus 4.22μm for the Z30) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the Leica SL3-S is a much more recent model (by 2 years and 6 months) than the Z30, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixels. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.
The resolution advantage of the Leica SL3-S implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the Leica SL3-S for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 30 x 20 inches or 76.2 x 50.8 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24 x 16 inches or 61 x 40.6 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20 x 13.3 inches or 50.8 x 33.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Nikon Z30 are 27.8 x 18.6 inches or 70.7 x 47.1 cm for good quality, 22.3 x 14.8 inches or 56.6 x 37.7 cm for very good quality, and 18.6 x 12.4 inches or 47.1 x 31.4 cm for excellent quality prints.
Unlike the Z30, the Leica SL3-S has the capacity to capture high quality composite images (96MP) by combining multiple shots after shifting its sensor by miniscule distances. This multi-shot, pixel-shift mode is most suitable for photography of stationary objects (landscapes, studio scenes).
The Leica SL3-S has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 50000, which can be extended to ISO 50-100000. The corresponding ISO settings for the Nikon Z30 are ISO 100 to ISO 51200, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-204800.
Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

| Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Leica SL3-S | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 6K/30p | 25.4 | 14.8 | 3383 | 97 | |
| 2. | Nikon Z30 | APS-C | 20.7 | 5568 | 3712 | 4K/30p | 24.3 | 13.9 | 2230 | 86 | |
| 3. | Canon R1 | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 6K/60p | 25.4 | 14.8 | 3332 | 97 | |
| 4. | Canon R3 | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 6K/60p | 25.0 | 14.7 | 4086 | 96 | |
| 5. | Fujifilm GFX 100S II | Medium Format | 101.8 | 11648 | 8736 | 4K/30p | 25.9 | 15.1 | 3720 | 101 | |
| 6. | Leica SL2 | Full Frame | 46.7 | 8368 | 5584 | 4K/60p | 25.3 | 14.3 | 2866 | 95 | |
| 7. | Leica SL2-S | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/60p | 25.2 | 14.1 | 3504 | 95 | |
| 8. | Leica SL3 | Full Frame | 60.3 | 9520 | 6336 | 8K/30p | 25.4 | 14.8 | 3295 | 97 | |
| 9. | Nikon 1 V3 | 1-inch | 18.2 | 5232 | 3488 | 1080/60p | 20.8 | 10.7 | 384 | 52 | |
| 10. | Nikon D5300 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 24.0 | 13.9 | 1338 | 83 | |
| 11. | Nikon D5600 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 24.1 | 14.0 | 1306 | 84 | |
| 12. | Nikon Z50 | APS-C | 20.7 | 5568 | 3712 | 4K/30p | 24.1 | 13.6 | 1963 | 84 | |
| 13. | Nikon Z fc | APS-C | 20.7 | 5568 | 3712 | 4K/30p | 24.2 | 13.8 | 2131 | 85 | |
| 14. | Panasonic GH7 | Four Thirds | 25.0 | 5776 | 4336 | 5.7K/60p | 23.4 | 13.6 | 1784 | 78 | |
| 15. | Panasonic S1 II | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 6K/30p | 25.4 | 14.8 | 3406 | 97 | |
| 16. | Panasonic S5 II | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 6K/30p | 25.4 | 14.6 | 3158 | 96 | |
| 17. | 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 can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the Leica SL3-S provides a higher video resolution than the Z30. It can shoot video footage at 6K/30p, while the Nikon is limited to 4K/30p.
Feature comparison
Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the Leica SL3-S has an electronic viewfinder (5760k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the Z30 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Leica SL3-S and Nikon Z30 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

| 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-S | 5760 | Y | 3.2 / 2333 | tilting | Y | 1/8000s | 30.0/s | n | Y | |
| 2. | Nikon Z30 | none | n | 3.0 / 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/4000s | 11.0/s | Y | n | |
| 3. | Canon R1 | 9440 | Y | 3.2 / 2100 | swivel | Y | 1/8000s | 12.0/s | n | Y | |
| 4. | Canon R3 | 5760 | Y | 3.2 / 4150 | swivel | Y | 1/8000s | 12.0/s | n | Y | |
| 5. | Fujifilm GFX 100S II | 5760 | Y | 3.2 / 2360 | full-flex | Y | 1/4000s | 7.0/s | n | Y | |
| 6. | Leica SL2 | 5760 | Y | 3.2 / 2100 | fixed | Y | 1/8000s | 10.0/s | n | Y | |
| 7. | Leica SL2-S | 5760 | Y | 3.2 / 2100 | fixed | Y | 1/8000s | 20.0/s | n | Y | |
| 8. | Leica SL3 | 5760 | Y | 3.2 / 2333 | tilting | Y | 1/8000s | 5.0/s | n | Y | |
| 9. | Nikon 1 V3 | optional | n | 3.0 / 1037 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 60.0/s | Y | n | |
| 10. | Nikon D5300 | optical | n | 3.2 / 1037 | swivel | n | 1/4000s | 5.0/s | Y | n | |
| 11. | Nikon D5600 | optical | n | 3.2 / 1037 | swivel | Y | 1/4000s | 5.0/s | Y | n | |
| 12. | Nikon Z50 | 2360 | n | 3.2 / 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 11.0/s | Y | n | |
| 13. | Nikon Z fc | 2360 | Y | 3.0 / 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/4000s | 11.0/s | n | n | |
| 14. | Panasonic GH7 | 3680 | n | 3.0 / 1840 | full-flex | Y | 1/8000s | 14.0/s | n | Y | |
| 15. | Panasonic S1 II | 5760 | n | 3.2 / 1840 | full-flex | Y | 1/8000s | 10.0/s | n | Y | |
| 16. | Panasonic S5 II | 3680 | n | 3.0 / 1840 | swivel | Y | 1/8000s | 9.0/s | n | Y | |
| 17. | 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. | |||||||||||
One feature that is present on the Leica SL3-S, but is missing on the Z30 is 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.
The Z30 has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies. In contrast, the Leica SL3-S does not have a selfie-screen.The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, both cameras under consideration feature an electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).
The Leica SL3-S and the Nikon Z30 both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.
The Leica SL3-S writes its imaging data to CFexpress (type B) or SDXC cards, while the Z30 uses SDXC cards. The Leica SL3-S features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the Z30 only has one slot. The Leica SL3-S supports UHS-II cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 312 MB/s), while the Z30 can use UHS-I cards (up to 104 MB/s).
Connectivity 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-S and Nikon Z30 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-S | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | full | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
| 2. | Nikon Z30 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | micro | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
| 3. | Canon R1 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | full | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
| 4. | Canon R3 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | micro | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
| 5. | Fujifilm GFX 100S II | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | micro | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
| 6. | Leica SL2 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | full | 3.1 | Y | - | Y | |
| 7. | Leica SL2-S | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | full | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
| 8. | Leica SL3 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | full | 3.1 | Y | - | Y | |
| 9. | Nikon 1 V3 | - | stereo / mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
| 10. | Nikon D5300 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
| 11. | Nikon D5600 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | Y | Y | |
| 12. | Nikon Z50 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | Y | |
| 13. | Nikon Z fc | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | micro | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
| 14. | Panasonic GH7 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | full | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
| 15. | Panasonic S1 II | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | full | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
| 16. | Panasonic S5 II | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | full | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
| 17. | Sony A9 III | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | full | 3.2 | Y | - | Y |
It is notable that the Leica SL3-S has a headphone jack, which is not present on the Z30 This port makes it possible to attach external headphones and monitor the quality of sound during the recording process.
Both the Leica SL3-S and the Z30 are recent models that are part of the current product line-up. The Leica SL3-S replaced the earlier Leica SL2-S, while the Z30 does not have a direct predecessor. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Leica and Nikon websites.
Review summary
So what is the bottom line? Is the Leica SL3-S better than the Nikon Z30 or vice versa? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Advantages of the Leica SL3-S:
- More detail: Offers more megapixels (24 vs 20.7MP) with a 8% higher linear resolution.
- High quality composites: Can combine several shots after pixel-shifting its sensor.
- Better image quality: Features a larger and more technologically advanced imaging sensor.
- Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
- More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
- Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
- Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (6K/30p vs 4K/30p).
- Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
- Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
- Easier setting verification: Features an LCD display on top to control shooting parameters.
- Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
- More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (2333k vs 1040k dots).
- Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
- Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (30 vs 11 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
- Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization built-in.
- More solid recording: Has a full-sized HDMI port for a sturdy connection to an external recorder.
- Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
- Faster buffer clearing: Supports a more advanced SD data transfer standard (UHS-II vs UHS-I).
- More prestigious: Has the Leica luxury appeal, which ensures a high resale price.
- More modern: Reflects 2 years and 6 months of technical progress since the Z30 launch.

Arguments in favor of the Nikon Z30:
- More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
- More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
- More compact: Is smaller (128x74mm vs 141x108mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
- Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 447g or 52 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
- Easier fill-in: Has a small integrated flash to brighten shadows of backlit subjects.
- More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (87 percent cheaper at launch).
- More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in June 2022).
If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the Leica SL3-S is the clear winner of the match-up (20 : 7 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.
How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Leica SL3-S and the Nikon Z30 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.
In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the Leica SL3-S or the Z30. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.
Expert reviews
This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

| Camera Model |
AP score |
CL score |
DCW score |
DPR score |
EPZ score |
PB score |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price |
Street Price |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Leica SL3-S | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | Jan 2025 | US$ 5 299 | amazon.com | |
| 2. | Nikon Z30 | 4/5 | .. | 4/5 | 86/100 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Jun 2022 | US$ 709 | amazon.com | |
| 3. | Canon R1 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | Jul 2024 | US$ 6 299 | amazon.com | |
| 4. | Canon R3 | 5/5 | o | 4.5/5 | .. | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Sep 2021 | US$ 5 999 | amazon.com | |
| 5. | Fujifilm GFX 100S II | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | May 2024 | US$ 4 999 | amazon.com | |
| 6. | Leica SL2 | 4/5 | .. | 4.5/5 | .. | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Nov 2019 | US$ 5 999 | amazon.com | |
| 7. | Leica SL2-S | 4/5 | .. | 4/5 | .. | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Dec 2020 | US$ 4 899 | amazon.com | |
| 8. | Leica SL3 | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | Mar 2024 | US$ 6 999 | amazon.com | |
| 9. | Nikon 1 V3 | 3/5 | .. | .. | 76/100 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Mar 2014 | US$ 799 | ebay.com | |
| 10. | Nikon D5300 | 4/5 | + + | .. | 79/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Oct 2013 | US$ 799 | ebay.com | |
| 11. | Nikon D5600 | 4/5 | .. | 4/5 | 79/100 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Nov 2016 | US$ 699 | ebay.com | |
| 12. | Nikon Z50 | 5/5 | .. | 5/5 | 85/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Oct 2019 | US$ 859 | amazon.com | |
| 13. | Nikon Z fc | 4/5 | .. | 4.5/5 | 86/100 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jun 2021 | US$ 959 | amazon.com | |
| 14. | Panasonic GH7 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | Jun 2024 | US$ 2 199 | amazon.com | |
| 15. | Panasonic S1 II | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | May 2025 | US$ 3 199 | amazon.com | |
| 16. | Panasonic S5 II | 4.5/5 | + + | 5/5 | 90/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Jan 2023 | US$ 1 999 | amazon.com | |
| 17. | 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 assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

Check Leica SL3-S price at
amazon.com

Check Z30 price at
amazon.com
Other camera comparisons
Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just use the search menu below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.
- Canon R5 Mark II vs Leica SL3-S
- Canon SX740 vs Nikon Z30
- Fujifilm X-H2S vs Leica SL3-S
- Fujifilm X-M1 vs Nikon Z30
- Leica SL3 vs Leica SL3-S
- Leica SL3-S vs Nikon Zf
- Leica SL3-S vs OM System OM-1 II
- Leica SL3-S vs Panasonic FZ80D
- Nikon Z30 vs Olympus E-M5
- Nikon Z30 vs Panasonic G100
- Nikon Z30 vs Ricoh WG-6
- Nikon Z30 vs Sony A6300
Specifications: Leica SL3-S vs Nikon Z30
Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.
| Camera Model | Leica SL3-S | Nikon Z30 |
|---|---|---|
| Camera Type | Mirrorless system camera | Mirrorless system camera |
| Camera Lens | Leica L mount lenses | |
| Launch Date | January 2025 | June 2022 |
| Launch Price | USD 5,299 | USD 709 |
| Sensor Specs | Leica SL3-S | Nikon Z30 |
| Sensor Technology | CMOS | CMOS |
| Sensor Format | Full Frame Sensor | APS-C Sensor |
| Sensor Size | 36.0 x 24.0 mm | 23.5 x 15.7 mm |
| Sensor Area | 864 mm2 | 368.95 mm2 |
| Sensor Diagonal | 43.3 mm | 28.3 mm |
| Crop Factor | 1.0x | 1.5x |
| Sensor Resolution | 24 Megapixels | 20.7 Megapixels |
| Image Resolution | 6000 x 4000 pixels | 5568 x 3712 pixels |
| Pixel Pitch | 6.00 μm | 4.22 μm |
| Pixel Density | 2.78 MP/cm2 | 5.60 MP/cm2 |
| Moiré control | no AA filter | no AA filter |
| Movie Capability | 6K/30p Video | 4K/30p Video |
| ISO Setting | 100 - 50,000 ISO | 100 - 51,200 ISO |
| ISO Boost | 50 - 100,000 ISO | 100 - 204,800 ISO |
| Image Processor | Maestro IV | EXPEED 6 |
| Screen Specs | Leica SL3-S | Nikon Z30 |
| Viewfinder Type | Electronic viewfinder | no viewfinder |
| Viewfinder Field of View | 100% | |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.76x | |
| Viewfinder Resolution | 5760k dots | |
| Top-Level Screen | Control Panel | no Top Display |
| LCD Framing | Live View | Live View |
| Rear LCD Size | 3.2inch | 3.0inch |
| LCD Resolution | 2333k dots | 1040k dots |
| LCD Attachment | Tilting screen | Swivel screen |
| Touch Input | Touchscreen | Touchscreen |
| Shooting Specs | Leica SL3-S | Nikon Z30 |
| Focus System | On-Sensor Phase-detect | On-Sensor Phase-detect |
| Manual Focusing Aid | Focus Peaking | Focus Peaking |
| Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) | 1/8000s | 1/4000s |
| Continuous Shooting | 30 shutter flaps/s | 11 shutter flaps/s |
| Electronic Shutter | up to 1/16000s | up to 1/4000s |
| Time-Lapse Photography | Intervalometer built-in | Intervalometer built-in |
| Image Stabilization | In-body stabilization | Lens stabilization only |
| Fill Flash | no On-Board Flash | Built-in Flash |
| Storage Medium | CFexB or SDXC cards | SDXC cards |
| Single or Dual Card Slots | Dual card slots | Single card slot |
| UHS card support | UHS-II | UHS-I |
| Connectivity Specs | Leica SL3-S | Nikon Z30 |
| External Flash | Hotshoe | Hotshoe |
| USB Connector | USB 3.2 | USB 3.2 |
| HDMI Port | full HDMI | micro HDMI |
| Microphone Port | External MIC port | External MIC port |
| Headphone Socket | Headphone port | no Headphone port |
| Wifi Support | Wifi built-in | Wifi built-in |
| Bluetooth Support | Bluetooth built-in | Bluetooth built-in |
| Body Specs | Leica SL3-S | Nikon Z30 |
| Environmental Sealing | Weathersealed body | Weathersealed body |
| Battery Type | Leica BP-SCL6 | Nikon EN-EL25 |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 315 shots per charge | 330 shots per charge |
| In-Camera Charging | USB charging | USB charging |
| Body Dimensions |
141 x 108 x 85 mm (5.6 x 4.3 x 3.3 in) |
128 x 74 x 60 mm (5.0 x 2.9 x 2.4 in) |
| Camera Weight | 852 g (30.1 oz) | 405 g (14.3 oz) |

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