SL3 Rumors

[Tailwagger]

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3 hours ago, Stuart Richardson said:

...People invest a lot of time, learning and workflow adaptation and very substantial money into a camera and lens lineup... Maybe it is not a big deal if you are an amateur and flit from camera to camera all the time, but especially for pros it can be a big deal.

I agree that it is a bit too early to freak out, however, haha.

+1.  Lets see. My collection includes the 35/70 APOs and 24-90mm along side of the pano 16-35 and 70-200 2.8 + 1.4 conv and Sigma 45 and 135mm.  Modest by some standards, I suppose, but as I'm now retired I have little desire to move off of L mount.  But I'm not freaking out either way as I expect my SL2 will soldier for quite a while. And of course, if the SL3 is a luxe pano, I can always protect the investment by going  with the genuine article, so to speak. 

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[Tailwagger]

3 minutes ago, SrMi said:

The story with X100V seems unrelated (TikTok, unexpected increase in demand at a late stage in its existence).

Certainly the pandemic and more recent XT introductions got in the way, but I'd posit that the demand for fixed lens, semi pocketable cameras of 'pro' quality seems to have more legs than one might have initially suspected and certainly a completely different audience than the SL3 or others of its ilk. The X has been unobtainium for at least 3 years now with, AFAICT, still a lot of demand given the prices on the used market.  Haven't touched one in a few years, but when I did play with it for a short stint, I enjoyed it to the point where I'm not surprised that it remains an object of desire for many.

[davidmknoble]

Several things ‘rumored’ about the SL3 are interesting.  First, it will use the CF-B and the SD.  This was first done in the S system (although it was the old CF-A cards).  What is interesting is that the Hasselblad X2D also uses a CF-B card.  Second, it will have the content authenticity chip, which will get more popular as time goes on.

Regarding the sensor, it makes sense to fill the SL3 with the M11 sensor technology.  The M11 is the closest to an S systems I have ever seen.  The change in MP size was not intended to do anything other than produce a smaller file size.  Noise, dynamic range, everything else is exactly the same.  Based on the SL2-S popularity, I would expect an SL3-S to eventually be produced. After all, it will need content authenticity and a new maestro chip.

What is also interesting is that the SL APO summicron lenses have so much more to give.  The lenses will allow a higher res SL4 to still use the lens.  Again, the S system was the first to do this.  Create some incredible lenses and use them for several generations of cameras.  That is smart business sense and lenses are the strength of Leica.

I wish the body were exactly the same size so my grip and the remote shutter release would all still work.  Yet, the size changes again.  Otherwise, I am excited about this body because it was always harder for me to get the SL2 to do what I wanted.  Probably just me, but I can make the M11 sing and I think I’ll be able to do the same with the SL3 (and my collection of R lenses).

Here’s to March 7th - ish.

[pf4eva]

I hope there will be no EVF resolution drop like it is on SL2, it is soo annoying for such an expensive camera...

[Pelu2010]

Looking forward on how it performs.  
 https://leicarumors.com/2024/02/13/breaking-first-leaked-leica-sl3-camera-pictures-and-detailed-specifications.aspx/

[LocalHero1953]

9 hours ago, frankchn said:

Best not use the 737 Max to describe new cameras -- next thing you know, the flip up LCD will just fall out of the camera 😀

Er...that was the point of my post - hence the emoji.
I guess posting humour on the internet shouldn't be done subtly. You need to spell it out.   

Edited February 15, 2024 by LocalHero1953

[LocalHero1953]

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That new top dial is nowhere near where I place a finger or thumb during shooting (usually wrapped around the lens), so I guess it is for settings that one doesn't want to change on the fly with the camera at the eye: ISO, WB kelvin? Not sure how this would differ from the joystick in that case. I'll be curious to see - Leica doesn't normally make these changes without good reason (that not everyone agrees with, and sometimes takes a while to become obvious).

Edited February 15, 2024 by LocalHero1953

[tomasis7]

hard to believe that it is the actual sl3 in the pic. Looks cluttered. Well, you could buy a Pano, instead.

 

[Jon Warwick]

8 hours ago, davidmknoble said:

... it was always harder for me to get the SL2 to do what I wanted.  Probably just me, but I can make the M11 sing

I personally wasn't always a fan of the rendering off the SL2 (for my taste, the images with the APO Summicron would have too high acutance, or maybe more sharpening is baked into the DNGs even with the sharpening slider at zero, so it looked often too digitally sharp for what I prefer)

...whereas the M11 files has a better mix of recording a ton of fine detail, but does so with a greater gentleness. The images off the M11 look so "natural" and alive as a result.

..unlike the SL2, I find the SL2-S images remind me a lot more of what I like about the M11 rendering.

[matted]

2 hours ago, Jon Warwick said:

I personally wasn't always a fan of the rendering off the SL2 (for my taste, the images with the APO Summicron would have too high acutance, or maybe more sharpening is baked into the DNGs even with the sharpening slider at zero, so it looked often too digitally sharp for what I prefer)

...whereas the M11 files has a better mix of recording a ton of fine detail, but does so with a greater gentleness. The images off the M11 look so "natural" and alive as a result.

..unlike the SL2, I find the SL2-S images remind me a lot more of what I like about the M11 rendering.

I have not used an SL2, but based on my experience with SL2-S, M11, and Q2 I have had similar experiences. I have no issues with the 60MP M11 sensor going into the SL3 even if it is “5 year old tech”. It will likely be a few years before a higher resolution part in 35FF size is available anyway. 

[Sohail]

I think it's pointless talking about the technology being x-number of years behind. As far as digital cameras are concerned, I think we reached the point of sufficiency probably around 10 years ago. The proper question is whether the technology meets your needs. The SL2 meets mine more than adequately. SL2-S also.

I think an SL3-S is the next meaningful step -- with vastly improved high-ISO performance. Everything else, at least for me, is incremental fluff.

Edited February 15, 2024 by Sohail

[BernardC]

16 hours ago, la1402 said:

I would be curious about that too. I also have both and cannot confirm the M11 to be better in terms of DR or noise at all. 

DxO rates the M11 sensor higher than any other full-frame 35mm sensor. The a7R5 ranks below the S1r (same sensor as the SL2). They test in a calibrated lab environment, unlike PtP.

[BernardC]

15 hours ago, SJH said:

Yes but Sony was in exactly the same position yet has found the need to upgrade its lenses, equally Sigma and Tamron are introducing new faster motors e.g. Sigma 50 1.4 DG DN. 

Sony started-out with Minolta lenses. Their new generation of "GM" lenses is much more competitive, as they upgrade legacy designs. My point was that Leica started with a clean sheet of paper (clean CAD?), they've used a more modern approach from the start with the 24-90 and 90-280.

[Dr. G]

I sold my Q3 this week.  I liked everything about the camera except the 28mm lens, which is definitely much wider than what I usually like to shoot (40-50mm).  As an SL2-S user since it was released, I found that the Q3 images looked really good and that low light performance wasn't quite as good as the SL2-S but was still far better than the Q2 was (to me).  We'll see about the ergonomics.  I like the size of the SL2-S because there's a good amount of room between the grip and the lens, which was never the case when I shot larger lenses on my Sony or Canon systems.  The photo of the SL3 may be deceiving, but it looks like there's much less room in that regard.

The one variable is the SL3-S.  I'm  a low light shooter.  I would certainly welcome a camera with even cleaner high ISO performance, especially if they could give us 36MP.  Sometimes I think that having the APO SL lenses (35, 50, 75) is wasted on the 24MP SL2-S.

[padam]

The sensor in the SL3-S could be predicted after the Z6III release.
If those rumors are actually true (I am a little sceptical as to why Sony would provide a sensor that is much better than what's in the A7IV) then it has substantial improvements on the video front (faster readout, uncropped oversampled 4k60p, 4k120p).
If those are not true though, then it may only be a variation of the existing sensor with PDAF like S5II, which would be disappointing like the SL3.

[LanceR]

16 minutes ago, Dr. G said:

I sold my Q3 this week.  I liked everything about the camera except the 28mm lens, which is definitely much wider than what I usually like to shoot (40-50mm).  As an SL2-S user since it was released, I found that the Q3 images looked really good and that low light performance wasn't quite as good as the SL2-S but was still far better than the Q2 was (to me).  We'll see about the ergonomics.  I like the size of the SL2-S because there's a good amount of room between the grip and the lens, which was never the case when I shot larger lenses on my Sony or Canon systems.  The photo of the SL3 may be deceiving, but it looks like there's much less room in that regard.

The one variable is the SL3-S.  I'm  a low light shooter.  I would certainly welcome a camera with even cleaner high ISO performance, especially if they could give us 36MP.  Sometimes I think that having the APO SL lenses (35, 50, 75) is wasted on the 24MP SL2-S.

I rented a Q2 and really enjoyed it overall.  However, like you, getting locked into 28mm is just not for me.  I currently shoot with an M11 and have been considering augmenting with a camera in the SL lineup for sometime.  Being able to use M lenses along with auto-focus lenses, of which there are many options and variations in the L-mount, IBIS, and the amazing EVF are all compelling to me.

The SL3 is definitely on my radar, to the point where I put my name on the list.  If nothing else, the price drop on the existing SL2 lineup provides a buying opportunity.

[Dr. G]

There is one thing I'm concerned about.  With the M11 I'm assuming there is no PDAF matrix over the sensor.  With the Q3 it is there, but the wider angle of the lens may not make what I'm concerned about show.  On my Sony and Canon systems when some lenses were used there was a very strange flare pattern which showed up as a grid of square shaped flares on images.  After inquiring about it I was told that it was from the PDAF matrix over the sensor.  Hopefully this isn't the case on the SL3.

Edited February 15, 2024 by Dr. G

[hoolyproductions]

6 hours ago, LocalHero1953 said:

That new top dial is nowhere near where I place a finger or thumb during shooting (usually wrapped around the lens), so I guess it is for settings that one doesn't want to change on the fly with the camera at the eye: ISO, WB kelvin? Not sure how this would differ from the joystick in that case. I'll be curious to see - Leica doesn't normally make these changes without good reason (that not everyone agrees with, and sometimes takes a while to become obvious).

I hadn't spotted that extra dial, does look quite out of place. I do hope it is not a PASM (or as I like to call it "SPAM") dial - I use M mode 100% of the time and have developed a strong dislike for them (bit too strong sense of aesthetics 😁). Given that most of the other dials and buttons are (until now) unlabelled and configurable, hopefully it is neither a dedicated WB or SPAM dial.

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[LBJ2]

Just now, hoolyproductions said:

I hadn't spotted that extra dial, does look quite out of place. I do hope it is not a PASM (or as I like to call it "SPAM") dial - I use M mode 100% of the time and have developed a strong dislike for them (bit too strong sense of aesthetics 😁). Given that most of the other dials and buttons are (until now) unlabelled and configurable, hopefully it is neither a dedicated WB or SPAM dial.

I am thinking maybe something similar to the two rangefinder top dials but not labeled with the added convenience of customizable functions for both SL3 dials as needed ( if these photos are real). 

[LBJ2]

 

22 hours ago, LBJ2 said:

There's an app for that...looking for that now. Something we can run the image through for an analysis of fake probability. 

https://www.fakeimagedetector.com

No idea if reliable or not. 

I downloaded one of the "leaked" SL3 images as a .png. Converted the .png to jpg and ran it through the fake image detector url above. I post the results below: 

The leaked images IMO have a 50/50 chance of being real or not, I have no information either way other than what the rumor website presented. Also, I have no idea of the validity/capabilities of the url I used or if my process of converting the downloaded leaked file to a jpg affected the result:

Just for fun:

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Edited February 15, 2024 by LBJ2