The Leica SL3 - A Review by Jonathan Slack

[FlashGordonPhotography]

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Took the camera out in Hanoi yesterday. The new switch is growing on me. I have the X2D and don't really care for the power button but it's better on the SL3. 

And I'm actually really liking the new shutter. I think I prefer it to the SL2 sound. It's not *loud*. More a definite kind of sound. I like it. 

Face AF seems quite snappy for a half day test. Had some issues when I hit ISO 6400 but other than that it was fine. 

Despise to ISO implementation. Yuck! 

Camera is comfortable to. arry around with the 24-90. Balance in hand is improved and I like the new body shape. 

Gordon

Edited March 10, 2024 by FlashGordonPhotography

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[Jon Warwick]

3 hours ago, tom0511 said:

I also keep my Canon for action but sold my X2d and lenses. For my needs I rather give up a little IQ of the x2d but therefore have the flexibility and speed of the SL-system. The SL-system might not be as fast as the Sony or IQ like the x2d, but it is a great all-round system with very good IQ for 35mm sensor.

What I didn't like too much about the x2d were the blackout when taking an image and the on/off button  .

Interesting re you selling the X2D. I’m contemplating doing the same thing with my GFX100S. I already prefer the rendering of my M11 compared to my GFX whilst not feeling I’m losing as much resolution as one might think, even for prints to 45-50”. From what I’ve seen so far from DNGs off the SL3 + 35 SL APO, its rendering still reminds me of the M11’s (a good thing for my taste) but I suspect the SL3 will further narrow any resolution difference vs the GFX 100mp, helped by the remarkably lossless resolution of the SL prime lenses. 

[hoppyman]

thanks very much for another helpful and candid review.

[tom0511]

vor 10 Stunden schrieb Jon Warwick:

Interesting re you selling the X2D. I’m contemplating doing the same thing with my GFX100S. I already prefer the rendering of my M11 compared to my GFX whilst not feeling I’m losing as much resolution as one might think, even for prints to 45-50”. From what I’ve seen so far from DNGs off the SL3 + 35 SL APO, its rendering still reminds me of the M11’s (a good thing for my taste) but I suspect the SL3 will further narrow any resolution difference vs the GFX 100mp, helped by the remarkably lossless resolution of the SL prime lenses. 

If I was a landscape shooter or professional portrait/studiophotogrpher I would not sell the x2d. I really did like it and I rate the IQ quite high. But I dont print large, and a fast and instant camera and a flexible syste, where I also can use Tele-Lenses is more important to me than the last little bit of IQ. I need something that works well for travel, family, allround and found myself to use the x2d just not enough to justify keeping it. Having said that I keep my S-lenses and wouldnt mind a Leica S4, hopefully with short blackout.

 

[rollsman4]

Can you still use the adaptor for S lenses on the SL3

[Jeff S]

50 minutes ago, rollsman4 said:

Can you still use the adaptor for S lenses on the SL3

Of course; still the same L-mount.

Jeff

[jonoslack]

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55 minutes ago, rollsman4 said:

Can you still use the adaptor for S lenses on the SL3

I’m sure you can. 

[helged]

5 hours ago, rollsman4 said:

Can you still use the adaptor for S lenses on the SL3

Absolutely 

 

[Chaemono]

vor 33 Minuten schrieb helged:

Absolutely 

 

The APO Summarit-S 2.5/120 must pair really well with the SL3. 

[helged]

13 minutes ago, Chaemono said:

The APO Summarit-S 2.5/120 must pair really well with the SL3. 

Indeed, it does...

[Gavin G]

On 3/11/2024 at 12:22 AM, Photoworks said:

I am doing some comparison testing between SL2 and SL3

I have noticed a few points that surprised me.

1. Same framing, same POV on a tripod, the SL2 has a wider view 😳
2. The noise levels of ISO 4000-3200 and 25000-25000 are so close to the 2 cameras that there is no need to upgrade for that.
3. The images on the SL2 a slightly brighter even at 3200 vs 4000 Iso on the SL3
4. SL3 can now set ISO with 1/3 stop up and down
5. The SL3 menu is still a little confusing to me, but there is  less need to create profiles, icons on the side are not great to use, I would imagine ever harder with gloves 
6. Customizing the quick menu is not sticky, you have to save it into a profile, but you need to apply the changes to every profile because they go away. I have little use for DNG resolution since i will most likely use always 60MP, i like to use it for profiles, since the side icons require "FN FN touch hold and then swipe select, FN again to hide side icons"

 

NOISE levels at SL3 at 4000ISO and SL2 3200ISO 200% in C1P with Noise and sharpening turned off.

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SL3

SL2

 

----------

ISO 25000  in C1P Noise and sharpening off

SL3 left

SL3

 

SL2 

 

Download here

 

Thanks for the sharing, I think SL3 surely much better than SL2 due to BSI sensor, i hope someone could compared to SL2S

[Photoworks]

2 hours ago, Gavin G said:

Thanks for the sharing, I think SL3 surely much better than SL2 due to BSI sensor, i hope someone could compared to SL2S

let's be real.. how much better is the SL3 sensor in %%%?

[Chaemono]

I'd say the SL3 sensor in this one is 400% better than the SL2 sensor. I took this one with the α7R IV in November of 2019 when the SL2 came out. I have a similar ISO 3200 with the SL2. It was exposed for the highlights but a bit more than would have been necessary. You wouldn't want to see the SL2 ISO 3200 picture with exposure +2.7 and shadows +68.

Arguably, the DNG in the SL3 with the 50 Summicron-SL would control the highlights even better and shadow noise would be cleaner than in the Sony. To paraphrase Jaap from 2019 'ADC, demosaicing, interpolation, etc [affect IQ].  If the processor is working at the limit of its capabilities [which it likely is in the α7R IV], any power fluctuation may introduce artefacts. The SL3 [should do ] much better with the new CPU."

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[la1402]

Yeah that was my experience with the old sensor (in the Q2). Pushing High ISO was ugly.  The M11 is much better in that regard.

[Olaf_ZG]

The question is, can the 3 replace the combo 2/2s ?

[SrMi]

48 minutes ago, Olaf_ZG said:

The question is, can the 3 replace the combo 2/2s ?

Yes, if you do not care about the slower electronic shutter and do not need gargantuan shadow-lifting.

[Chaemono]

One should be able to recover more highlight details with the SL3 than with the SL2-S which in theory would give some headroom for a bit more ETTR.

[SrMi]

16 minutes ago, Chaemono said:

One should be able to recover more highlight details with the SL3 than with the SL2-S which in theory would give some headroom for a bit more ETTR.

I am not sure that is true. How have you tested? Are you talking about post processors recovering clipped channels?

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[Chaemono]

vor 52 Minuten schrieb SrMi:

I am not sure that is true. How have you tested? Are you talking about post processors recovering clipped channels?

I noticed that due to the higher resolution the SL2 could recover more details in highlights than the SL2-S when I still had both cameras even if both had clipped a channel. 

Edited March 12, 2024 by Chaemono

[SrMi]

22 minutes ago, Chaemono said:

I noticed that due to the higher resolution the SL2 could recover more details in highlights than the SL2-S when I still had both cameras even if both had clipped a channel. 

Yes, generally, higher-resolution sensors allow better post-processing possibilities.