Just recieved SL3S compared to M11

[Altair]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I recieved my SL3S hours ago and below are my initial impressions.

 

First thought out of the box is that this camera is surprisingly smaller than I had anticipated. I have not had a chance to examine the SL3 myself previously as its always out of stock at the closest Leica stockist and boutique. I always imagined the SL3/3S as being companions to an M, I now firmly see them as that and potentially a replacement for the M. It is a light, well built, very capable and very wearable camera. I see myself using this in studio and doing street photography equally well. This is an excellent advantage and a very smart move by Leica, and has given me the motivation I needed to replace my M11P with an M11 Monochrome. I will not miss the colour sensor with a SL3S in the picture. 

 

Speaking of the sensor, the reduced megapixel count is a blessing and I can now confirm based on early testing that both advantages of the lower megapixel sensor are substantial:

 

1- Low light performance is notably better than the M11P's high megapixel sensor.

2- This sensor is very forgiving of older and vintage lenses. I can attest this is the case for a number of older lenses and was surprisingly evident when testing my Mandler 75 Summilux on the M11P and SL3S. I had seen this advantage when testing my vintage Nikon glass on the Z9 and Zf cameras and this is specifically why I held out for the SL3S. Delighted to report the effect is just as pronounced on the Leica.

The most important reason I opted to get an SL3S in addition to the Family Zf was to adapt M glass to this camera with two supposed advantages, one being that Leica lenses are supposed to look better on Leica cameras and the other being that difficult to focus lenses such as the Noct 0.95 and 75 Noct would fare better on the SL system.

 

I cam confirm the latter, I was able to capture a fast moving car this morning with my just recieved 75 Noct, that would have been next to impossible on the M11P even with the Visoflex. If you own Noct glass I highly recommend the SL system!

As a first time SL user, I am delighted with the whole experience overall. The image quality, user interface, portability, and ease of use is a dream. Magnificent camera. If I was to complain I would have to point out that it is absolutely ridiculous that in 2025 we still have cameras with no internal storage. Absolutely unacceptable! A bare minimum of 128GB should be available on a premium product such as this. 64 GB is shameful. Zero is unacceptable and surprising from Leica.

Other than that, maybe offer a silver version as an option to those so inclined. But that's nitpicking and more of a superficial requirement. Would be nice though.

 

Posting a few comparison images...also popped the Summaron on to see how portable this could be. Absolutely a wearable camera

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!

[PhotoCruiser]

First thanks for your review and the photos shoing the size differences.

vor 1 Stunde schrieb Altair:

If I was to complain I would have to point out that it is absolutely ridiculous that in 2025 we still have cameras with no internal storage. Absolutely unacceptable!

A internal high speed memory could act as buffer to speed up and allow more fast photo bursts, but i don't really see another problem with the use of memory cards as i always used them on digital cameras.
Do i may oversee something?

Chris

[SrMi]

9 hours ago, Altair said:

1- Low light performance is notably better than the M11P's high megapixel sensor.

Have you compared at 100% view, aka pixel peeping (wrong), or have you resized M11P's output to 24MP (correct) before comparing?

9 hours ago, Altair said:

the other being that difficult to focus lenses such as the Noct 0.95 and 75 Noct would fare better on the SL system.

How is it better than using M11P with EVF? M11P allows auto-magnify. 

Congratulations on your new SL3-S! I can see SL3-S being the ideal M-lens camera for some.

 

[Altair]

9 hours ago, PhotoCruiser said:

First thanks for your review and the photos shoing the size differences.

A internal high speed memory could act as buffer to speed up and allow more fast photo bursts, but i don't really see another problem with the use of memory cards as i always used them on digital cameras.
Do i may oversee something?

Chris

Hello Chris.

 

My pleasure.

 

Regarding internal memory. To be frank we are human so we forget. I left the house more than once with a fully charged amazing camera and a world class lens but no memory card. Storage is cheap, give us something to save us in case we forget or outstore our cards. 256 like the M11P would do. Though at the prices Leica are charging I don't see why 1 terabyte like Hassleblad do is not in place.

 

A minor inconvenience compared to how excellent the camera is overall.

 

Attaching one more comparison shot next to the also excellent but in a different way Nikon Zf.

Both outfitted with what I believe to be the respective manufacturers best lenses, the magnificent 75 Noctilux ( far superior to the 50 Noct!) and the shockingly good 50 1.2 S Nikkor.

 

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!

[Altair]

1 hour ago, SrMi said:

Have you compared at 100% view, aka pixel peeping (wrong), or have you resized M11P's output to 24MP (correct) before comparing?

How is it better than using M11P with EVF? M11P allows auto-magnify. 

Congratulations on your new SL3-S! I can see SL3-S being the ideal M-lens camera for some.

 

Hello

 

I have not done that testing. It is definitely worthwhile to do a few tests before I send in the M11P to Rangefinder.com.hk to be replaced with the M11 Monochrome. My assumption ( never a good idea to assume!) Is that the sensor design is optimised for 60 megapixels and so the reduction to 24 would not be the same output as a native 24 megapixel sensor. You are correct in that a test I'd definitely worthwhile. I am doing a test of 19 lenses as we speak to be posted on these forums and will do a test of sensor output using the M11P at full resolution and at 24 MP compared to SL3S, Nikon Zf, and Z9 at their base ISO.

 

Question is which lenses to use? On the vintage side I have the Mandler 75 Lux, the Light Lens Lab 1966 and Elcan, and ( in very bad shape ) rigid Summicron from the M3 era. Those and the close focus Lux to represent modern should do. Should be interesting to see the results.

[Photoworks]

1 hour ago, SrMi said:

11 hours ago, Altair said:

the other being that difficult to focus lenses such as the Noct 0.95 and 75 Noct would fare better on the SL system.

How is it better than using M11P with EVF? M11P allows auto-magnify. 

 

The SL viewfinder is much better when you shoot fast lenses wide open.

The EVF from M11 is lower res and takes time to focus. I am most of the time focusing faster on the rangefinder even on the 50 0,95 

to me the M11 is a carry-around camera, I have a hard time carrying the the SL3 unless it is a job

[Altair]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

1 hour ago, SrMi said:

Have you compared at 100% view, aka pixel peeping (wrong), or have you resized M11P's output to 24MP (correct) before comparing?

How is it better than using M11P with EVF? M11P allows auto-magnify. 

Congratulations on your new SL3-S! I can see SL3-S being the ideal M-lens camera for some.

 

Regarding comparing the SL3S to the M11P equipped with Visoflex 2, the SL3S is significantly ahead in terms of focusing ease. The viewfinder is far superior and clearer than the add on Visoflex 2 unfortunately, and the focus peaking accuracy is just spot on.

Using the 75 or 50 Noctilux lenses on the M11P is very doable with the Visoflex 2 with a spot on hit rate for me of about 6 out of ten when I'm trying my best. 1 out if ten with the rangefinder. With the SL3S it's 9 out of ten with no effort, 100% if I'm focusing. For my main Leica camera, I have come to the conclusion that I am more of an SL person than an M person. The Monochrome on the otherhand makes for a perfect addition to the SL3S. For one thing, focusing all lenses in Monochrome gives better results, for another the diversity and uniqueness of pure Monochrome photography would be a welcome new experience. I feel very comfortable with this upcoming change.

 

As it stands, I will be cradling a five camera ecosystem. I have my setup saved in my notes which I will atta here. These are the lenses I have tested using a controlled set of tests. All to be shared on these forums in a couple of days.

 

 

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!

[Altair]

2 minutes ago, Photoworks said:

The SL viewfinder is much better when you shoot fast lenses wide open.

The EVF from M11 is lower res and takes time to focus. I am most of the time focusing faster on the rangefinder even on the 50 0,95 

to me the M11 is a carry-around camera, I have a hard time carrying the the SL3 unless it is a job

I agree with most of what you said, but the last part not so much. I have carried around both the SL3S and the Hassleblad X2D and feel they are easily carry around cameras with the right compact lenses. The M reigns supreme in that regard though no doubt, and with many lenses such as the new Summilux it is easy to focus and use. But if I wanted to use a challenging lens such as a Noct I would have to accept the added weight and bulk of the camera, not just the lens.

 

They all have their place and time. Walking around with a M11 and a Summilux is a wonderful enjoyable experience, but having the SL3S and the Noctilux really does allow for some shockingly beutifull a impactfull images. Well worth the added weight in my view.

[SrMi]

29 minutes ago, Altair said:

My assumption ( never a good idea to assume!) Is that the sensor design is optimised for 60 megapixels and so the reduction to 24 would not be the same output as a native 24 megapixel sensor.

This is not the case for most camera systems that offer 24 and +40MP sensors with the same technology. The noise is mainly determined by the sensor size, not the resolution.

[SrMi]

Focusing M-lenses on SL3 is straightforward when shooting wide open. If you shoot with the aperture closed, many need to open the aperture wide open first and then close it to the shooting aperture, as the DOF is too large to focus precisely. Also, EVF-based focusing wide-angle lenses are less precise than with a rangefinder. One can replace precision with guessing, though; it often works fine.

[Altair]

40 minutes ago, SrMi said:

Focusing M-lenses on SL3 is straightforward when shooting wide open. If you shoot with the aperture closed, many need to open the aperture wide open first and then close it to the shooting aperture, as the DOF is too large to focus precisely. Also, EVF-based focusing wide-angle lenses are less precise than with a rangefinder. One can replace precision with guessing, though; it often works fine.

That's interesting, did not know that.

 

Don't own any wide angle lenses for use with a range finder as that's what the X2D is for in my setup, but certainly interesting to know.

[Altair]

I have to post an update to my initial impressions post.

 

The battery life on my unit is subpar to every other camera I have ever used.

 

I hope this is an issue with my particular unit that can be addressed through maintenance or a replacement, or something that can be fixed through a firmware update , there very well might be a process running in the background that causes the processor to run while in sleep mode or standby. This is not within the realms of 10 or 20 percent below usual, more like a 100% or more compared to other cameras such as the M11P or Zf or even Hassleblad. 

 

If this is how the camera was designed and built then that is quite the compromise from Leica and out of character for the brand. I expect my Leica to take me through a full 3 hour outing and have some juice left when I'm back. As it stands I can run the camera for an hour to 2 at most. 

[SrMi]

45 minutes ago, Altair said:

I have to post an update to my initial impressions post.

 

The battery life on my unit is subpar to every other camera I have ever used.

 

I hope this is an issue with my particular unit that can be addressed through maintenance or a replacement, or something that can be fixed through a firmware update , there very well might be a process running in the background that causes the processor to run while in sleep mode or standby. This is not within the realms of 10 or 20 percent below usual, more like a 100% or more compared to other cameras such as the M11P or Zf or even Hassleblad. 

 

If this is how the camera was designed and built then that is quite the compromise from Leica and out of character for the brand. I expect my Leica to take me through a full 3 hour outing and have some juice left when I'm back. As it stands I can run the camera for an hour to 2 at most. 

Turn off Fotos (no Bluetooth or WiFi connection), and use EVF extended mode (less battery drain without LCD or EVF being active). Let us know how it works.

Note that you can put the camera quickly to sleep with a short press of the power button.

[hdmesa]

Per Leica, you need to run down the battery to nearly zero and fully recharge several times – after that, you'll have a the full battery capacity. That said, the SL3/S battery life is not great. Like SrMi said above, turning off the wireless connectivity helps.

[Ken Abrahams]

75 Nocti mmm, lovely. It's great to hear your descriptions of the new SL3S and so close to the unboxing. I would never have thought about the internal storage requirement for modern cameras but it makes sense. I don't know how many times I have left the CF in the computer and have to raid another camera for a spare SD.

The manual focussing workaround as SrMi outlines is a pain however it is the best way to potentialise critical focus with M lenses. Some lenses more so than others stopped down and I believe it's connected to focus shift. Its been around since the first SL 601.

Best

Ken

[jaapv]

My manual focus trick ( especially with very long lenses is to remember that focus peaking has a kind of DOF. Position the plane of focus in the middle. This also works for super-precise focusing with magnification. I put my magnification on the Fn push of the wheel. 

[jaapv]

2 hours ago, Ken Abrahams said:

75 Nocti mmm, lovely. It's great to hear your descriptions of the new SL3S and so close to the unboxing. I would never have thought about the internal storage requirement for modern cameras but it makes sense. I don't know how many times I have left the CF in the computer and have to raid another camera for a spare SD.

The manual focussing workaround as SrMi outlines is a pain however it is the best way to potentialise critical focus with M lenses. Some lenses more so than others stopped down and I believe it's connected to focus shift. Its been around since the first SL 601.

Best

Ken

Yes it is focus shift -remember the pre-FLE. Summilux 35? -  A real pain with a rangefinder but no problem with an EVF. 

[jaapv]

I fear that there is not much that Leica can do about battery drain. They already upgraded battery capacity, but more megapixels, faster camera, upgraded AF, more features, faster and more capable processors, all those things we demand, drink electricity like a Bavarian drinks beer at the Oktoberfest. 

[Pedrocolonia]

I love my 3 SL2(-S), but for my very fast Canon R5 i take a 30€ Blumax Battery and it works at least 3 times longer than the Leica Battery. 

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica L-Mount

[jaapv]

That is because the Canon does not inspire to take photographs. 👺🤩