SL3, SL2 & SL2-S: Firmware updates significantly expand the range of functions

[Leon_B.]

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Today Leica has announced firmware updates for the Leica SL3, SL2 & SL2-S.

The firmware is already available on the official Leica website, slight availability delays via the FOTOS app can be possible. 

Downloads:

• Leica SL3 mit v.2.0.1
• Leica SL2 mit v.6.1.0
• Leica SL2-S mit v.6.1.0

Leica SL3 Update Information for v.2.0.1

New

• White Balance/Video ISO Lock 
  Added lock function for white balance settings Auto ISO and Auto WB. This function ensures a constant ISO value and automatic white balance during video recording until recording is stopped, or settings are changed via menu settings.
• Joystick
  • Additional assignment options:
    Factory setting: AFs
    Magnification is now also available for MF lenses and Leica M lenses.
  • Additional function Click and Hold for AF-L, AE-L, and AF-L + AE-L:
    In the Click setting, the joystick will no longer need pressing and holding, and will be simply activated and deactivated with a single click instead.
  • Additional function for the joystick assignment:
    When AF-ON is selected for the joystick, AF metering via the shutter button is deactivated. The metering function is instead activated by pressing the joystick.

Improvement

• User profile:
  Preparation for future firmware updates. Updates for Version 2.0.0 and later will automatically apply existing settings for User profiles, Language, Time and Date.
• Thumbwheel:
  New functionality as function button
• Perspective Control:
  The perspective control function is now also available in continuous shooting mode for 2 fps, 4 fps, and 5 fps.
• Continuous Shooting:
  The start delay for the setting 15 fps was reduced by 700 ms.
• Control Center:
  Optimization of the connectivity icons and their positioning in the Control Center. Bluetooth ( / ), Wi-Fi ( / ), cable ( / )
• Storage options:
  The storage option DNG+JPG on CFe=SD (Backup) was optimized. A warning message will be displayed that no backup option is available if one of the two memory cards is unavailable for functional or capacity reasons.
• User profile:
  The setting for AF field size will now be taken into consideration when creating a backup of the user profile.
• Camera menu:
  • Improved menu guidance with the introduction of the new button "Back" at the top left corner of the camera menu.
  • The WLAN menu item has become part of Camera Settings.
  • A new flash icon was integrated
• Capture mode:
  Blackout time for single shots was improved from approx. 310 ms to around 250 ms.
• Review mode:
  Improved user interaction for the deletion of multiple shots.
• Connecting to Leica FOTOS App
  The problem of Leica FOTOS being unable to connect if another smartphone was already connected to the camera via Wi-Fi was remedied.
• Exif 3.0:
  Support for Exif 3.0 and the GPS version 2.4.0.0 was added.
• Mechanical shutter speeds:
  When using the hybrid shutter, the camera will now use the mechanical shutter for the speeds 1/5000 s, 1/6400 s, and 1/8000 s.

Leica SL2/SL2-S Update Information for v.6.1.0

Extended Functionality: 

• Supported lenses

Improvement:

• Profoto Connect Pro:
  Fixed an error when connecting to “Profoto Connect Pro”.
• Eye detection in AF mode:
  Eye detection during refocusing in video mode (AF mode, L-Log) has been improved.
• Magnification via joystick:
  In MF mode, magnification via joystick is possible again.

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[KaKa]

No upgrade to the animal detection (bèta) mode. Too bad, was very much hoping for this one.

Did not download the upgrade yet, but do hope that the new flash icon means that they’ve solved the SL3/SF60 flash issues in the manual setting.

Thanks for informing us this quickly, you guys!

Edited December 12, 2024 by KaKa

[jayoco]

No autofocus improvments? sigh...

[woepie]

It’s never good enough, isn’t it?

[BernardC]

3 minutes ago, woepie said:

It’s never good enough, isn’t it?

Don't try it 'till you've knocked it!

[Homo Faber]

vor 19 Minuten schrieb woepie:

It’s never good enough, isn’t it?

No, it is never good until the autofocus is good.

[Luke_Miller]

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I would love to see Leica add the capability my Nikon bodies have to revert to a previous version of firmware.  The ability for SL2 users to revert to 5.2 would have prevented a lot of angst and frustration. Lacking that capability means cautious users must wait for early adapters to find the issues with the latest version.

The ability to revert is particulary important in the situation, like 6.0, where Leica elected to remove a function many users wanted retained.

Edited December 12, 2024 by Luke_Miller

[Brianmered]

Nothing to improve battery life! It's like having my M10 all over again!

[BernardC]

People should try the update before declaring that it doesn't improve a specific aspect of performance. Release notes are just a summary, they won't list any refactoring that might bring incremental improvements in performance.

I know that every SL firmware update improved battery life, even though that was only called-out in one firmware where the power options changed.

[LocalHero1953]

Updated SL2-S via SD card. No problems. None of the stated improvements are relevant to me though.

Edited December 12, 2024 by LocalHero1953

[PeterBoyadjian]

Updated through the app, no issues. 

Eye AF is has improved in both video and photo, camera feels faster. 

We probably won't see everything we want til Panasonic releases their flagship. 

[Jonathan Levin]

Anyone know whether or not it updates anything on Leica lenses i.e. 24-90 et al? I thought I remember a time when you had to update lenses separately. That was a while ago though.

[Crem]

Updated my SL2-S via sdcard and it works great. I'm so glad I can finally use the focus stick to zoom with M lenses and the official L to M adapter. I had to turn the setting on in the menus to get it to work. This means I can go back to using the official L to M adapter instead of the LLL adapter. I find the LLL adapter's close focus knob gets in the way with certain lenses even though I do like having the close focus feature. Thanks Leica for finally fixing the SL2-S! Time to go sell my LLL adapter.

[Luke_Miller]

Updated my SL2 and SL2-S to 6.01 via SD card without issue.

[jayoco]

31 minutes ago, PeterBoyadjian said:

Updated through the app, no issues. 

Eye AF is has improved in both video and photo, camera feels faster. 

 

 

No issues with update either.  I'm not seeing any difference with eye af.  I hope you're right about Panny....

Two positives:  Power on is now basically instant.  Wake from power save feels better as well.

Is anyone noticing a difference in battery life?  Perhaps slightly worse.

 

[jayoco]

32 minutes ago, Jonathan Levin said:

Anyone know whether or not it updates anything on Leica lenses i.e. 24-90 et al? I thought I remember a time when you had to update lenses separately. That was a while ago though.

No update on mine.

[jayoco]

2 hours ago, woepie said:

It’s never good enough, isn’t it?

The quality of the images is absolutely superb.  The AF is not.

[bonesetter]

I'm getting a red error screen 'No Firmware detected' 
I have d/loaded the .FLU update, copied it onto the SD card in DCIM section...

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica L-Mount

[BernardC]

2 minutes ago, bonesetter said:

I'm getting a red error screen 'No Firmware detected' 
I have d/loaded the .FLU update, copied it onto the SD card in DCIM section...

The .FLU should be in the root (parent) folder

[bonesetter]

Thanks - D/loaded directly onto SD card and it worked