SL2 Software Update to Reflect SL3

[ivohula]

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In one of the many SL3 reviews that have been published, I remember hearing that Leica will be doing a software update on the SL2 to bring it up to date and close the gap with the SL3. Any firm information on this in the SL universe? This review intimidated that at the SL3 roll out, Leica said that some of the menus and icons may be updated to reflect the new changes and lessen the divide between the two cameras.

[Smogg]

2 minutes ago, ivohula said:

In one of the many SL3 reviews that have been published, I remember hearing that Leica will be doing a software update on the SL2 to bring it up to date and close the gap with the SL3. Any firm information on this in the SL universe? This review intimidated that at the SL3 roll out, Leica said that some of the menus and icons may be updated to reflect the new changes and lessen the divide between the two cameras.

Leica is a commercial enterprise. Who will buy SL3 if the difference with SL2 is minimal?

[Photoworks]

It happened before in the Q and SL line.

But you won't know until it is actually out. too soon to get excited.

Plus we don't know if the SL2 touch screen supports all that.

[adrianh]

The SL3 has gained most of its improvments due to new hardware:

• New Sensor
• New AF (PDAF due to new sensor)
• New LCD
• New Knobs

None of those new or improved features can be reached via software. 

 

[Simone_DF]

49 minutes ago, Smogg said:

Leica is a commercial enterprise. Who will buy SL3 if the difference with SL2 is minimal?

It’s the other way around. Having a consistent UI will make the upgrade path easier because user doesn’t have to learn a new interface on top of the revised dials and functionality 

[BernardC]

48 minutes ago, Smogg said:

Who will buy SL3 if the difference with SL2 is minimal?

I think they mean UI differences, not performance differences. They may tweak colour profiles as well, which is something they did to the SL's video profile when the SL2 came-out.

[tomasis7]

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better update SL2 when SL4 is coming

[LocalHero1953]

I would welcome an updated menu interface for the SL2-S. The Sigma fp had a customisable quick menu, and I missed it when working between SL2-S and fp. Didn't the TL2 have a customisable top level icon menu?

[Chuck Albertson]

3 hours ago, ivohula said:

In one of the many SL3 reviews that have been published, I remember hearing that Leica will be doing a software update on the SL2 to bring it up to date and close the gap with the SL3. Any firm information on this in the SL universe? This review intimidated that at the SL3 roll out, Leica said that some of the menus and icons may be updated to reflect the new changes and lessen the divide between the two cameras.

Quote source and context. I recall several Youtubers raving about a go-fast beta version of the Fotos app during their Wetzlar junket. The app updated to v. 4.4.0 the other day, but I don't know if that's the same as the beta version they tried. I wouldn't get too excited about the next update for the SL2/SL2-S - Leica continues to tweak the firmware for the SL, but there's only so much more they can do with "old" hardware, and the same holds true for the SL2 series. My laptop keeps shaming me by stating that it lacks the gear to upgrade to Windows 11, but it's still running Windows 7.

[Hanno]

It will be nice for sure, but possibly the issue could be the limitations of the Maestro 3 processor vs 4 to allow such UI upgrade.

Definitely a shame, as I would love the new UI on the M11 and M11M.

[Photoworks]

Capture One Mobile just added redesign camera controls and Live View

SL3 is fully supported

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[JohnSantaF4]

So the SL2 is dead-end, as in obsolete in a practical sense?

Edited March 13, 2024 by JohnSantaF4

[Photoworks]

11 hours ago, JohnSantaF4 said:

So the SL2 is dead-end, as in obsolete in a practical sense?

All my testing shows that the image quality is so close that the SL2 is still a very good camera.
I will keep on using both.

[SrMi]

13 hours ago, JohnSantaF4 said:

So the SL2 is dead-end, as in obsolete in a practical sense?

Not at all. It contains certain ergonomic differences that some would prefer, and using AI NR reduces the differences in noise. Leica is still selling SL2 with SL3.

[Stuart Richardson]

Leica changed the function of a single button in the last firmware update and people lost their minds. If they were to change the entire interface of the camera to the SL3, people would be storming the capital (Wetlzar). I do not think they will change the interface to reflect the SL3. That is not something they have done with other cameras in the past, and it seems like it would involve very substantial work, as the cameras do not have one to one functionality, it would need to be extensively tested and so on. All for a product that is four years old and at the end of its new sales life...I don't think you will see any drastic changes like that.