SL3 vs SL2 feel in hand

[jaapv]

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On 6/8/2025 at 2:42 AM, Archiver said:

As an aside, I'm a bit concerned about how easy it is to mark the SL2-S. In the first week of owning one, the edges at the strap points have tiny marks which can be attributed to the Peak Design strap connectors I used. After that, I switched to a nylon and plastic strap and have had no further issues at those points, but marks on the bottom rear edge and on the left edge of the screen have since appeared. And yet, the PD connectors get constant use on my Panasonic G9, S5 and S1 and have never made such marks. In fact, the Panasonic bodies hardly mark at all. Only the left dial and the left back edge of my G9 show wear, and that's after five years of constantly going in and out of camera bags. I wonder if the SL3/S finish is more durable.

Leica would have to switch to composite materials to address this. 

[Jeff S]

13 minutes ago, jaapv said:

Leica would have to switch to composite materials to address this. 

Earlier M cameras addressed this by small plastic protectors above the strap lugs, but these have been omitted in recent models.

[jaapv]

Some composite materials are so premium  that I prefer them over metal, for tactile feel, cosmetic wear resistance and weight. R9 over R8, Sigma lenses over Leica lenses. For Leicamen: The price difference is minimal but you lose brassing and silvering. 

[Jeff S]

I think Leica does a better job regarding weather sealing than Sigma, possibly the reason they eliminated the built-in plastic protectors on the M, and a reason why the L-mount lenses minimize  outer controls/intrusions.  Different philosophies, not just materials. And of course price points.

[jaapv]

It really depends on the lens in question. This podcast is rather revealing:

 https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2022/04/the-lensrentals-podcast-why-you-cant-trust-weather-sealing-w-chris-gampat/

Regarding Sigma, the weathersealing on the Sports series is rather good; not really inferior to the Leica clones. The Contemporary series is more limited, a silicone mount seal and narrow tolerances mainly. 
The Art series varies per lens. 
In general, don’t trust gear without an official IP rating of at least IP54 and that is only weather resistant. 
Weatherproof or weather resistant are undefined terms beloved by marketing types. 
Watertight should be something like IP 68 I.e. an iPhone. 

 

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[Jeff S]

I’m familiar with that, including many related posts from Roger.  In general, though, Leica emphasizes weather sealing more than Sigma or others, as indicated by IP ratings for SL and Q lines, presumably same for the tank-like S system.  Even the M, with all of its legacy limitations, has improved over the years with its digital models.

Typically ignored when discussing Leica’s lack of leading tech.  Viewfinder excellence, too.

[FlashGordonPhotography]

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On 7/1/2025 at 10:10 AM, Ken Abrahams said:

When I switch from the SL3 to the SL2S there is an immediate sense that I have just picked up a tank. Yes it's heavier and it feels good in the hand by comparison. Conversely when I pick up the SL3 it feels significantly lighter than the SL2/SL2S which makes me feel thankful for the lighter design. Going on these "feelings" and making sense of the different weights doesn't make the lighter camera cheaper. The only concernable sense of "cheapness" comes with the SL3' Cf/SD card hatch. For me this might be a validated cheaper feel, compared to the SL2/SL2S. With all the attributes of the SL3 and apart from its weight doesn't collate to cheapness but improved tech and design factors that have addressed the weight factor. The courier dropping off a parcel yesterday handed me a large box which was feather light. He quipped with his courier philosophy that the heavy ones are less expensive packages while the lightest are expensive.       

Interestingly the actual weight savings are small. But I agree that they feel noticablely different to each other. For me, the Sl2 series feels like it’s pulling on my wrist anti clockwise, than the SL3. On the SL3 the grip is a few mm closer to the lens mount and the camera is slightly thicker meaning more of the weight is closer to your hand.

To me the difference is also stark.

Gordon

[la1402]

For me (I have big hands), the thick body and narrow grip, together with the very strange and unlockable left dial, make the SL3 the worst handling body I ever owned. Together with the super slow sensor readout and atrocious AFC it makes for a difficult value proposition. I thought I would use the SL3 for my M lenses but mostly prefer the M11 for that. It’s also disappointing the Leica still did not manage to improve the performance through SW/FW.

[jaapv]

How does the AFC make you prefer the M11???   I agree on the fit for large hands. I take size 9 gloves and prefer the 2 series. 

[la1402]

2 minutes ago, jaapv said:

How does the AFC make you prefer the M11???   I agree on the fit for large hands. I take size 9 gloves and prefer the 2 series. 

Nothing. I just meant I prefer the M11 for M lenses.