CameraReview
Leica SL3
UNSCORED
Leica · Mirrorless · 60.3 MP · Full Frame · 8K video

Leica SL3

From $6,368.64 — 1 offer
KEY FACTS
BrandLeica
Announcement dateMar 2024
Released2024
Camera weight855 g
Camera typeMirrorless
What We Like
+Outstanding 60MP resolution with excellent detail, cropping flexibility, and versatility for professional work
+Significantly improved hybrid autofocus system with phase detection and subject tracking, especially strong for portraits and reliable for professional use
+Beautiful color science and Leica image quality with natural skin tones and excellent low-light performance
+Compact, lightweight body design compared to predecessors with excellent ergonomics and intuitive menu system
+Robust weather-sealed metal construction rated IP54 with solid, premium build quality
Worth Knowing
High price tag at $7,485 body-only, with limited competitive advantages over similarly-equipped cameras at lower cost
Relatively short battery life compared to competing full-frame mirrorless cameras
Reduced burst speed (15 fps without AF, 5 fps with AF) compared to some competing high-resolution cameras
Not ideal as a primary video tool due to rolling shutter issues with moving subjects; best suited for 80:20 photo-to-video ratio

General

Brand
Leica
Announcement date
Refers to the date the manufacturer publicly announced the upcoming release and general specs of this camera.
Mar 2024
Released
Refers to the year this camera was officially made available for sale.
2024
Camera weight
855 g
Camera type
Mirrorless
Read our notes on general
The Leica SL3 is a 60 megapixel mirrorless full-frame system camera combining cutting-edge technology and user-friendly design with the renowned craftsmanship synonymous with the Leica brand. The camera features a 60.3-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor with 5-axis in-body image stabilization and a hybrid autofocus system combining phase-detection, contrast detection, and depth-map methods, with 315 AF areas and subject-detection modes. It includes dual card slots (SD UHS-II and CFexpress Type B), an IP54-rated weather-sealed metal body, and an OLED electronic viewfinder rated at 5.76 million dots (up to 120 fps), with video recording including 8K and C8K capture, with MOV/MP4 support including H.264/H.265 and ProRes options.

Sensor

Type
60.3MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS
Resolution
60 Megapixels
Dynamic Range
15 stops
ISO Range
50-100000
Triple Resolution
60MP, 36MP, or 18MP output

Image processor

Processor
Maestro IV
Buffer
8GB

Autofocus

Type
Hybrid AF (Phase Detection, Contrast Detection, Object Detection)
AF Points
315 AF areas
Subject Detection
Face, eye, and subject detection modes

Viewfinder

Type
EyeRes OLED Electronic Viewfinder
Resolution
5.76 million pixels
Refresh Rate
Up to 120 fps
Magnification
0.78x

Display

Type
3.2-inch tiltable touchscreen LCD
Resolution
2.3 million dots
Tilt Range
90 degrees upward

Video

Recording Formats
8K, C8K, 4K, Full HD
Video Codecs
H.264, H.265, ProRes
Log Support
Yes
Max video resolution
The best resolution this camera can capture video in. Modern cameras can capture up to 8K video.
8K

Image stabilization

Type
5-axis in-body sensor-shift
Compensation
Up to 5 stops

ISO range

Native
ISO 50-100,000
Expanded
ISO 50-200,000 with extended settings

Memory

Slots
CFexpress Type B and SD UHS-II dual card slots

Weather sealing

Rating
IP54 (dust and splash resistant)

Connectivity

USB
USB-C (10 Gbps)
Video Output
Full-size HDMI 2.1
Tethering
Supported via USB-C

Build

Material
Magnesium and aluminum with faux-leather covering
Weather Sealing
IP54-rated dust and splash resistant
Dimensions
141.2 x 108.1 x 84.6 mm

Release date

Date
March 7, 2024

Processor

Image Engine
Leica Maestro IV
Buffer Memory
8GB

Shooting

Continuous Shooting
15 fps (without AF), 5 fps (with AF)
Shutter Type
Electronic

Storage

Card Slots
CFexpress Type B and SD UHS-II
Recording
Internal and external via USB-C and HDMI

Power

Battery
Leica BP-SCL6 Lithium-Ion
Charging
USB-C

Optics

Megapixels
The higher the number of megapixels, the more detail the cameras sensor can capture.
60.3 MP050
Sensor format
Refers to the most commonly used sensor sizes.
Full Frame
Viewfinder type
The viewfinder type is either electronic or optical. Electronic viewfinders will have a small screen in the viewfinder. Optical viewfinders will use prisms and mirrors to look through the lens.
Electronic
Lens mount
The lens mount will tell you what type of lens range you can fit onto the camera body. Often the same camera company will have different lens ranges for different cameras.
Leica L

Features

Wi-Fi
Built-in Wi-Fi allows you to connect your camera and share images wirelessly.
Yes
Weather sealing
Weather sealing capabilities will give you more confidence when shooting in unfavourable conditions.
Yes