Who went from SL3 to SL3-s or owns both and whats your findings?

[tomasis7]

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On 2/26/2025 at 9:33 AM, MediaFotografie said:

would also like to contribute to this interesting question. I've been using the SL system since its launch in November 2015 and was happy with the SL3 a year ago. 

Nevertheless, for my purposes the SL3-S has completely replaced the SL3, for me it is the much more skilful, faster, more modern camera - except for really very large prints.

The SL3-S offers me
- much better AF - especially AFc 
- AFc with up to 30fps with AF tracking
- better high-ISO (but the SL3 is already good in this respect)
- MultiShot
- CAI
- Use of SSD as storage medium
- and I like the black Leica lettering much better 🙂

Personally, I believe that the SL3-S is the most misunderstood Leica - precisely because ‘again only 24MP’; I was sceptical myself, but that has completely subsided, just as the dust is settling on the SL3

 

thomas

 

 

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i guess the second lens is pinhole.

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[hoolyproductions]

On 3/21/2025 at 3:16 PM, NJDtl said:

Hi Which cf card are you using with the sl3-s?

Lexar professional 512gb, 1750 MB/s. So far so good

[colonel]

On 2/23/2025 at 8:33 AM, tom0511 said:

I have read nearly all SL3-s reviews  ( some of them really great! ) I could find and also looked at high iso comparisons...but many of the high ISO stuff is more bookshelves, so I would be very thankful for more real world experience in regards of:

1) How does the SL3-S compare in color - is it almost same like SL3?

2) Does the good high iso noise behavior lead to an everyday advantage in regards of being able to receive more room to adjust shadows without loosing color or getting too much noise

3) Besides AF and speed, which is your choice for overall camera SL3 or now SL3-S

 

I have recently made this choice, and bought the SL3. I have become addicted to 60mp since the Q3 and A7CR, and don't want less anymore. I don't think the speed difference is an issue for single shooting. The thing I prefer about the SL-S is the blacked out Leica text  There are some advantages to the SL3-S, so its really the trade off between this and the SL3 resolution that you should score in your mind.

Edited March 25 by colonel

[LD_50]

55 minutes ago, colonel said:

I have recently made this choice, and bought the SL3. I have become addicted to 60mp since the Q3 and A7CR, and don't want less anymore. I don't think the speed difference is an issue for single shooting. The thing I prefer about the SL-S is the blacked out Leica text  There are some advantages to the SL3-S, so its really the trade off between this and the SL3 resolution that you should score in your mind.

Blacking out the Leica text is a simple change. 

[jiggyb21]

On 3/25/2025 at 10:50 AM, LD_50 said:

Blacking out the Leica text is a simple change. 

I’m curious if you’ve ever done it and if you can recommend a specific product?  I practiced on my Lumix S5ii with two different makers and both were too shiny and cheap looking. It literally looked like I drew over the white letters with a marker. I really hate the white lettering on black body that every manufacturer uses.

Edited March 27 by jiggyb21

[LD_50]

2 hours ago, jiggyb21 said:

I’m curious if you’ve ever done it and if you can recommend a specific product?  I practiced on my Lumix S5ii with two different makers and both were too shiny and cheap looking. It literally looked like I drew over the white letters with a marker. I really hate the white lettering on black body that every manufacturer uses.

I own SL2-S so have not done it. 

Consider Birchwood Casey Flat Super Black pen. I use it for SL touch ups where silver shows through. It’s flat, non-gloss. I believe they also sell a gloss. 

[ErikW]

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I'm interested to add to this thread by asking how good people find the autofocus on the SL3-S. I have an SL3 (previously an SL2) and a Q2 but I have only been using Leicas for 18months. I'm a commercial photographer and while I love my Leicas, their one Achilles heel is the autofocus. I have kept a Canon (and recently upgraded to a R5MK2 from an R3) for shooting something that simply has to be in focus. And while I read a lot of discussion on the forum of absolute quality the reality in a commercial situation is sometimes you have to compromise. I use a Panasonic 70-200 2.8 for example because it seems the weight of the lens and how it works gives me faster more accurate autofocus on the SL3 particularly in comparison to my 24-90 which is so heavy that it makes the autofocus feels generations old. Please understand I'm not dumping on the Leicas, I use them because I love them. The colour science that they use and the ability to push around the files when you need to is amazing. It's not quite on a par with my Phase One but its close and clearly superior to the Canons. Thats why I use the SL3 but sometimes it would be great if the focus was better, hence the question how much better is the SL3-S?

I will just add I do so love the fact I can use my Canon ED lenses (particularly Tilt shifts) with an adaptor on the SL3, it just gives the system so much versatility 

Edited March 29 by ErikW

[jiggyb21]

On 3/28/2025 at 10:44 PM, ErikW said:

I'm interested to add to this thread by asking how good people find the autofocus on the SL3-S. I have an SL3 (previously an SL2) and a Q2 but I have only been using Leicas for 18months. I'm a commercial photographer and while I love my Leicas, their one Achilles heel is the autofocus. I have kept a Canon (and recently upgraded to a R5MK2 from an R3) for shooting something that simply has to be in focus. And while I read a lot of discussion on the forum of absolute quality the reality in a commercial situation is sometimes you have to compromise. I use a Panasonic 70-200 2.8 for example because it seems the weight of the lens and how it works gives me faster more accurate autofocus on the SL3 particularly in comparison to my 24-90 which is so heavy that it makes the autofocus feels generations old. Please understand I'm not dumping on the Leicas, I use them because I love them. The colour science that they use and the ability to push around the files when you need to is amazing. It's not quite on a par with my Phase One but its close and clearly superior to the Canons. Thats why I use the SL3 but sometimes it would be great if the focus was better, hence the question how much better is the SL3-S?

I will just add I do so love the fact I can use my Canon ED lenses (particularly Tilt shifts) with an adaptor on the SL3, it just gives the system so much versatility 

It's proving tough to find a definitive answer to this question. I'm beginning to think the AF isn't that improved or people would be saying so. 

[jaapv]

Or AF wasn't as bad as people were saying after all.  Personally, even on the SL601, I never found the limitations very limiting. But then, I never trusted any automation to be without the need of user control. 

[jiggyb21]

But it is that bad. I guess everyone's standards are different but I don't think it's too much to ask, in 2025, for a pro-level camera to track a child kicking a soccer ball around. Yesterday my brother and nephew were kicking a soccer ball so I grabbed my SL3 w 50mm summicron for a few family snaps. I switched to AFc with body tracking because I've never actually tried it out. No one was running around quickly or anything and the focus box was planted on my nephew the whole time. Of the 20 photos I took, exactly 10 focused on the background despite the focus box being around a person the entire time. Luckily this is not really the kind of photography that interests me anyway but it was abismal.  It would just be nice if my expensive camera could focus on a kid kicking a soccer ball.  

Edited April 7 by jiggyb21
Spelling

[jiggyb21]

Which is why it would be nice to hear somebody with both cameras comment. I think I'm going to rent one for a week and check it out. Maybe then I can report back and actually offer some help around here instead of just asking for it😀

[Markey]

3 hours ago, jiggyb21 said:

But it is that bad. I guess everyone's standards are different but I don't think it's too much to ask, in 2025, for a pro-level camera to track a child kicking a soccer ball around. Yesterday my brother and nephew were kicking a soccer ball so I grabbed my SL3 w 50mm summicron for a few family snaps. I switched to AFc with body tracking because I've never actually tried it out. No one was running around quickly or anything and the focus box was planted on my nephew the whole time. Of the 20 photos I took, exactly 10 focused on the background despite the focus box being around a person the entire time. Luckily this is not really the kind of photography that interests me anyway but it was abismal.  It would just be nice if my expensive camera could focus on a kid kicking a soccer ball.  

Just an SL2s user here ( for a number of years) .

Nothing fast just horses and yes I agree Leica af is that bad .

I still use the camera but wouldn`t buy another .

I`ve been an M shooter since the `80`s but always used Sony or Canon cameras from that era for the faster stuff.

In fact my hit rate with my M3ds was better than the SL2s provided I had a marker to aim for.

 

Edited April 7 by Markey

[NightPix]

3 hours ago, jiggyb21 said:

Of the 20 photos I took, exactly 10 focused on the background despite the focus box being around a person the entire time.

I seldom use AFc so I wonder what's a reasonable hit rate to expect. 50% seems pretty low. 

[jaapv]

3 hours ago, jiggyb21 said:

But it is that bad. I guess everyone's standards are different but I don't think it's too much to ask, in 2025, for a pro-level camera to track a child kicking a soccer ball around. Yesterday my brother and nephew were kicking a soccer ball so I grabbed my SL3 w 50mm summicron for a few family snaps. I switched to AFc with body tracking because I've never actually tried it out. No one was running around quickly or anything and the focus box was planted on my nephew the whole time. Of the 20 photos I took, exactly 10 focused on the background despite the focus box being around a person the entire time. Luckily this is not really the kind of photography that interests me anyway but it was abismal.  It would just be nice if my expensive camera could focus on a kid kicking a soccer ball.  

Strangely my SL2S manages to track my dog running around pretty decently. Not too many OOF shots to weed out (varies around 30 %). But I do use zone focus, AFC  and a dot sight to keep the subject in the approx middle. Same like BIF. The SL3S should do better, comparable to my 5Sii.  Things tend to go haywire if you expect the camera to perform perfectly to the very edges of the frame.  If you want that: get a Sony. 

But then - if you want your images to have the colour and rendering you like: Get a Leica. 😜

[jiggyb21]

1 minute ago, NightPix said:

I seldom use AFc so I wonder what's a reasonable hit rate to expect. 50% seems pretty low. 

I never use it myself but that is due at least in part to it working so poorly. With cameras I've owned in the past, I've always felt comfortable to use it periodically for kids and family.  

My nephew was about 25' from me wearing a white shirt and the treeline about 100' behind him. I'm no camera engineer but I think that's about as easy as it gets. I have no doubt my Canon R5 would've been in focus 100% of the time and three Lumix S5ii probably 70-80%. 

[jiggyb21]

1 minute ago, jaapv said:

Strangely my SL2S manages to track my dog running around pretty decently. Not too many OOF shots to weed out. But I do use zone focus, AFC  and a dot sight to keep the subject in the approx middle. Same like BIF. Thingstend to go haywire if you expect the camera to perform perfectly to the very edges of the frame. 

Honestly, I have more confidence in my SL2s in general than I do my SL3. It's slower too focus for sure, but I never remember missing focus on high contrast subjects very often. To your point though, I always used zone focusing so maybe it's just the human tracking that's poor. Also the SL2s improved so much over time with updates and I'm hoping the same is true of the SL3. The current trend seems to be to release cameras before they're quite ready and fix them later. 

[Ken Abrahams]

On 2/23/2025 at 4:33 PM, tom0511 said:

I have read nearly all SL3-s reviews  ( some of them really great! ) I could find and also looked at high iso comparisons...but many of the high ISO stuff is more bookshelves, so I would be very thankful for more real world experience in regards of:

1) How does the SL3-S compare in color - is it almost same like SL3?

2) Does the good high iso noise behavior lead to an everyday advantage in regards of being able to receive more room to adjust shadows without loosing color or getting too much noise

3) Besides AF and speed, which is your choice for overall camera SL3 or now SL3-S

 

I am sure I have posted (commented) in various places my thoughts on the SL3 and SL3s. 

1) Same Colour

2) SL3S better for noise at high ISO

3)SL3 and SL3s equally - I have both and each camera gives me the options I need. As I have previously posted "if I was a working professional and to choose one, it would be the SL3.

Edited April 8 by Ken Abrahams
s edit

[roma]

I believe the SL3s is the one for me. I love the 24mp files from my M10 and want something with better low light and dynamic range performance (in low light). I also like the tilting screen idea for perspective shots. 

Can someone please tell me how the shutter sound is on SL3s? Is it a ding or something dampened? I need something pretty quiet in temples and monasteries.
 

Can I quickly switch to silent or have something programmed to switch to the electronic shutter if necessary? 

Does anyone know of a video that shows how the mechanical shutter sounds in single-shot mode?

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Hallo,

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[Ken Abrahams]

It’s a beautiful sound especially with a burst of continuous. 😀 Electronic shutter is silent. Program Fn if that’s a function you use often. I find there are not enough programable buttons but you find out which ones you need the most after some time working the camera  
ken 

[Ken Abrahams]

The SL2S gives the SL3/3S cameras a run for their money with regards to grain at high iso. And the SL2S can use 1/16000 sec exposure in A mode where the SL3/3S cannot irrespective of Leica's technical literature for those cameras. Where do I have the time to shoot with all three cameras? I take at least two cameras with lenses attached plus another lens in the bag out for excursions on the street. I have two M adapters so I can shoot both with M lenses if I so choose to use them however usually I will take an SL lens to maximise my usage of AF functions as that is the way one gets to select the best settings for fast auto focus work on the street. The combination of SL3S and the SL Summicron Asph is the best for fast AF Tracking and Eye/face and Body detection. I can literally point the camera at something near and it grabs focus immediately as I am already pushing the shutter action. I tend to try the ridiculous with AF to see "what its got" Some shots where I turn after passing a subject and hit the shutter have miraculously been spot on much to my incredulous amazeballs.