Leica SL3 Overview

After the Leica M Monochrom and the Leica Q3, I lastly had the prospect to check the most recent consultant of Leica’s mirrorless lineup—the Leica SL3. Each time a Leica lands in my fingers, I by some means find yourself bringing it to the rocks to {photograph} climbers. I’ll admit, given the excessive worth of those cameras, that may not be the most secure testing floor. However in such an setting, particulars floor that I might need neglected in additional comfy environment.

Leica SL3 Dealing with

Within the Leica retailer, underneath the glow of a superbly lit show cupboard, the SL3 (like each Leica) appears to be like like a luxurious piece of bijou. Which, at $7,485, it basically is. However then the gross sales clerk unlocks the polished glass case, the digicam leaves the highlight, and instantly it’s uncovered to the true world and daylight.

I obtained the digicam with the Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90mm f/2.8-4 ASPH hooked up, and my first response after I picked up the combo was: Wow, that’s heavy! Don’t get me incorrect, I like the sensation of strong metallic in my fingers—however the complete weight of 2003g (battery and reminiscence card included) was a little bit of a shock. For comparability, the Nikon Z8 paired with the Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S weighs 1540g. To be truthful, a lot of the weight comes from the lens. Swapping it out for the Panasonic Lumix S PRO 16-35mm f/4 (500g) introduced the digicam again into the load class I had anticipated.

It was with these two lenses that I photographed the climbers. My plan was to shoot not from the bottom however from the tops of rocks, hanging on a rope straight on the wall. Taking pictures in such uncovered locations calls for full focus from the photographer, and thoroughly thought-out ergonomics from the digicam. So, how does the Leica SL3 maintain up on this regard?

Please take the next strains with a grain of salt. In any case, I’ve been utilizing Nikon cameras for the previous twenty years, and my muscle reminiscence runs alongside well-worn neural pathways. Nonetheless, the form of my hand hasn’t modified a lot through the years, so hopefully not less than my evaluation of consolation is goal.

I’ll begin with the 2 dials and the thumbwheel. Their motion is exact and clearly outlined, leaving the impression of excellent craftsmanship. As for the proper dial, I personally desire a recessed wheel (just like the thumbwheel), however that’s actually a matter of behavior. The larger problem is that the huge proper dial prevents your index finger from simply reaching the 2 Fn buttons hidden behind it. If you wish to use them, you both need to loosen your grip together with your entrance fingers or use your thumb. Both manner, you lose that safe maintain on the digicam.

Fortunately, all dials and wheels may be personalized to fit your habits. You’ll be able to resolve which management handles aperture, which handles shutter pace, and even reverse the path of rotation in case you like. The thumbwheel has an attention-grabbing twist: urgent it cycles by means of the publicity modes (P, A, S, M).

The Leica SL3 gives six programmable perform buttons, plus a joystick whose performance will also be personalized to some extent. On paper, that feels like a beneficiant set of consumer choices. In apply, issues play out a little bit otherwise. Together with the questionably accessible top-plate buttons, the 2 small, closely-spaced perform buttons close to the lens mount are comparatively awkward in design:

What bothered me much more, although, was the query of what to map to these buttons. With cameras from different manufacturers, I’m used to Fn buttons straight triggering the specified motion—both by urgent the button itself or together with a dial. With the Leica, a perform button typically serves extra as a shortcut to a menu merchandise. It’s actually faster than scrolling by means of the menu, however you’ll nonetheless typically need to take the digicam away out of your eye.

There was not less than one space the place my preliminary dismay was partial reduction. With the most recent firmware replace (model 3.1.1), it turned doable to make use of this digicam with back-button autofocus, so—not like with the Leica Q3—you aren’t caught focusing and releasing the shutter with the identical button. Specifically, you’ll be able to assign focus activation to the SL3’s joystick now. Nonetheless, I used to be shocked that back-button focusing wasn’t a part of the SL3’s native “DNA” from the beginning.

Why solely partial reduction? As a result of my concern proved appropriate: Urgent the joystick with out nudging the main focus level round contained in the body was past my coordination expertise. A devoted AF-ON button would have been way more sensible. There’s undoubtedly sufficient house between the joystick and the thumbwheel to suit one in, so this omission is sort of arduous to forgive.

After which there’s the ability button. I’m not going to criticize its design a lot as its pace. Why ought to I’ve to attend a number of lengthy seconds for the digicam to energy up or shut down? The swap on the SL2—and even higher, on the Q or M sequence—turned the digicam on extra shortly and felt like a way more environment friendly resolution. I discovered myself typically simply leaving the digicam powered on, ready for it to outing and switch off by itself, after which waking it by half-pressing the shutter button. However this isn’t an awesome resolution both, as a result of it might probably drain the battery extra shortly and unintentionally activate settings if the digicam is jostling round in your bag. Nicely, the ability button glows in the dead of night, in order that’s one thing…

My closing sigh over the SL3’s ergonomics has to do with altering lenses. There’s an excellent motive why Nikon and Canon place the lens launch button on the other aspect of the mount from the grip. That manner, you’ll be able to comfortably—and extra importantly, securely—swap a lens, with apply perhaps even utilizing only one hand. However on the SL3, the lens launch button is on the identical aspect because the grip.

Swapping lenses thirty meters within the air whereas photographing climbers thus turned an undesirable journey. I didn’t find yourself dropping any lenses, however I actually breathed a sigh of reduction when the whole lot made it again to the bottom safely.

Focusing

The Leica M and Q strains had been by no means meant to be action-oriented cameras, they usually don’t fake in any other case. Their character leans towards quieter topics—avenue, documentary, or landscapes. Their focusing conduct displays that heritage. However with most different mirrorless cameras, we’ve grown accustomed to a special set of expectations. So, the place does the SL3 slot in?

If I needed to examine, I’d say its autofocus feels loads just like the first-generation Nikon Z cameras. Animal detection on the SL3 remains to be in beta, and to be trustworthy, I didn’t even try testing it with the lenses I had out there. Leica has all the time been extra at residence photographing folks, so I used to be extra curious to see how properly it may lock onto human faces.

The digicam does an honest job detecting faces and even eyes. So long as there aren’t too many individuals within the body, you’ll be able to go away the function switched on and be moderately pleased with the outcomes. Issues get messier as soon as the variety of folks will increase. The digicam tries to detect each potential topic, and you’ll then decide between them utilizing the joystick. The issue is that if there are lots of targets, the digicam typically focuses on the one you don’t need. Narrowing the AF space in eye detection mode doesn’t actually repair this problem.

For traditional portraiture, the place a head fills a lot of the body, eye detection does its job very properly. If there are extra folks within the shot, or if the particular person takes up a comparatively small portion of the body, you’re higher off selecting “Area.” It will take you again in time technologically, however it would make the AF conduct extra predictable and the outcomes extra constant.

The SL3’s discomfort with motion images additionally reveals up in its burst efficiency. With steady autofocus, you’ll get full-quality RAWs at as much as 4 FPS. Push it only one body quicker, and your RAWs drop from 14-bit to 12-bit. Between 6 and 15 FPS, each focus and publicity lock on the primary body of the sequence. In essentially the most beneficiant studying, with Leica, life isn’t meant to be rushed.

Optical Picture Stabilization

With a 60MP sensor, regular fingers—or sturdy picture stabilization—are a should. On this respect, the SL3 doesn’t disappoint. Not like its predecessor, it options 5-axis In-Physique Picture Stabilization (IBIS), rated for as much as 5 stops of compensation. In apply, I used to be in a position to handhold shutter speeds all the way down to round 1/fifteenth second at 50mm and wider. At that time, topic blur may be the larger issue.

Viewfinder and Rear Show

Wanting by means of the SL3’s 5.76-million-dot OLED digital viewfinder is an actual pleasure. The picture is vivid, with pleasing coloration and distinction. I particularly like the massive diopter adjustment ring, designed very similar to the one you’d discover on a pair of binoculars. As for info overlays, you’ll be able to select something from a minimalistic publicity triangle to a full readout of each setting. Up to now, so good.

However a number of quirks did distract me from the taking pictures expertise. In guide mode, you’d usually anticipate the brightness of the picture within the EVF to alter as you alter your publicity settings. The SL3 does this too, however simply earlier than the brightness settles into place after a half-press of the shutter, the viewfinder briefly darkens or brightens.

The EVF additionally behaves unexpectedly throughout steady autofocus. When holding down the joystick (which doubles as an AF-ON button), the picture within the viewfinder softens barely, nearly just like the shimmering of scorching air on a summer season day. It typically left me with the uneasy feeling that the autofocus wasn’t doing its job. Simply to be protected, I discovered myself refocusing after a number of pictures. The ensuing photographs, nevertheless, had been completely sharp.

As for the rear 3.2-inch touchscreen, the SL3 lastly joins the group of cameras with a tilting show. It solely strikes up and down, much like the Nikon Z6 and Z7 sequence, however in comparison with the fastened display screen on the SL2, it’s a giant step ahead in usability.

Menu and Person Settings

Navigating the menus is in step with Leica’s different present cameras, which is an efficient factor. Probably the most incessantly used settings are grouped within the Management Middle, accessible with a single press of the Menu button. A double press takes you into the detailed menu, which may be personalized in order that your most-used capabilities (as much as 11) are grouped in a single place. That creates a brand new tab—the Favorites Menu—which then turns into the primary merchandise within the menu.

For extra complicated necessities, it’s value making use of Person Profiles (as much as six can be found). These let you swap simply between totally different predefined setups. In essence, it’s Leica’s reply to different manufacturers’ taking pictures menu banks or customized settings. To swap between them shortly, you need to use both the menu itself or one of many 4 programmable Fn buttons.

Assigning capabilities to these Fn buttons is easy and intuitive. Simply maintain one down for a few seconds, and you’ll then decide from a protracted record of choices. Sadly, as I discussed earlier, Fn buttons are normally not actually “govt” in nature however as a substitute act extra like shortcuts to essentially the most incessantly used menu settings.

Battery Life

In line with CIPA requirements, the Leica SL3 ought to handle solely 260 pictures on a single cost. For sure, this isn’t a very spectacular determine. Fortuitously, in real-world use, the battery solely offers up after taking a considerably bigger variety of pictures. One of the best I managed was 775 pictures on a single cost. To get there, I stored chimping to an absolute minimal, didn’t report a single video, turned the digicam off throughout idle moments—principally, I used to be in power-saving survival mode. In additional life like use, anticipate nearer to 500 pictures per cost.

Construct High quality and Climate Resistance

In terms of construct high quality, describing a Leica seems like carrying coal to Newcastle or owls to Athens. It’s the very definition of “Made in Germany” precision. The digicam should not have any drawback surviving climate exterior the studio, with sealing rated to IP54. If I needed to discover a small flaw, it might be the cardboard slot door, which felt only a bit “low cost” when gripping the digicam firmly in hand. However on steadiness, this is among the best-built cameras one can find wherever at this time.

Picture High quality

When you’ve gotten the impression that I’ve been considerably crucial of the Leica SL3 to this point, then that is the part the place I can solely provide reward. Pictures born from the cooperation of the 60MP BSI CMOS sensor, the Maestro IV picture processor, and a Leica (or Panasonic) lens are merely good.

When you’re a purist who dislikes modifying, even the JPEGs straight out of digicam look glorious. Simply decide considered one of Leica’s coloration or monochrome profiles and begin taking pictures. That mentioned, I think most customers will select the RAW route, which normally means giving up in-camera coloration presets.

What you achieve as a substitute is almost infinite flexibility for coloration changes and a a lot wider dynamic vary in comparison with JPEG. Leica claims the SL3 delivers as much as 15 stops of dynamic vary, although I discover {that a} bit optimistic. I’d fairly belief the measurements at Photons to Photographs, which put it at 11.24 EV at ISO 100. For comparability, the identical supply charges the Sony a7R V’s photographic dynamic vary at 11.69 EV.

For the picture under, I deliberately overexposed a climbing wall scene to see if I may get better spotlight element. On the rear show, the climber was virtually invisible in opposition to the lit wall, with solely darker constructions displaying by means of. At ISO 10,000, the dynamic vary shrinks to lower than half, but I used to be nonetheless in a position to get better a lot of the clipped highlights.

As for noise, the SL3 handles it impressively properly given the excessive decision. Even with out noise discount, “grain” at ISO 10,000 doesn’t really feel distracting.

Competitors

The Leica SL3 sits on the photographic equal of Everest, not less than when it comes to worth. However at each summit, the wind blows sturdy. So let’s not search for competitors in an identical worth vary, as a result of then we must have a look at medium-format cameras with a decision of 100MP. Even in these waters, you will get the most recent Hasselblad X2D II 100C for nearly $100 much less.

So as a substitute of evaluating worth tags, let’s have a look at sensor decision. In that regard, the Leica SL3’s closest rival is the Sony a7R V ($4,198) with its 61MP BSI CMOS sensor. With the Sony, you get a much more superior autofocus system, double the continual taking pictures pace, considerably higher battery life, and entry to quick super-telephoto lenses (and a bigger native lens lineup generally). The same story would unfold in case you examine it to the Sony a1 II ($6,998). Though its decision is “solely” 50MP, it outperforms the Leica SL3 in most different parameters. BUT, Sony just isn’t Leica.

Let’s go a bit decrease in decision, and the pack of opponents features power. Canon EOS R5 Mark II ($3,899), Nikon Z8 ($3,797), and even Nikon Z7 II ($1,997). Frankly, out of all of those cameras, it’s the Nikon Z7 II that jogged my memory the a lot of the Leica. A single-axis tilting LCD, a reliable however unexceptional autofocus system, and good picture high quality. BUT, Nikon just isn’t Leica.

With Leica, you’re by no means simply shopping for a digicam. Very similar to with different luxurious manufacturers, you’re additionally shopping for the aura, the status, the sensation of proudly owning one thing particular.

Conclusion

When you strip away the posh of a Leica, the SL3 is much from essentially the most interesting digicam that I’ve used. Even in case you do place a excessive worth on proudly owning a Leica, different cameras of theirs, just like the M-series rangefinders, appear to make extra pragmatic sense to me. The SL3 is spectacular in some methods, however I wouldn’t suggest it to most photographers who’re contemplating one.

What I preferred:

• Picture high quality from the 60MP sensor
• Clear and intuitive menu system
• The attractive viewfinder (apart from its odd AF-C conduct)
• Seamless reference to the Leica Fotos app; firmware updates had been easy, even with out utilizing a reminiscence card (not like Nikon)
• The Leica SL3 is a gorgeous, charismatic digicam, even in case you cowl up the purple dot and daring LEICA lettering with black tape
• Distinctive construct high quality

What I didn’t like:

• Ergonomics and button design
• Lengthy start-up time
• Barely blurred viewfinder picture throughout steady autofocus (AF-C)
• Autofocus efficiency lags behind the competitors by about 5 years
• Weight, particularly when paired with the examined 24-90mm f/2.8-4 Leica lens
• Steady taking pictures loses 14-bit RAW above 4 FPS, and loses AF and metering above 5 FPS
• The excessive worth of $7,485

You should buy the Leica SL3 and test the present worth right here from B&H.

Extra Pattern Pictures