State of Leica Color Science Cross Platform

[o2mpx]

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Posing a hypothetical and generalized question (given so many variables), if one looks at files from the M10R/SL2/Q2 range, compared to M11/SL3/Q3 range, is it a definite improvement from most people's subjective (emphasize subjective) perspective?

Posing the question a different way, if one has a free voucher for 3 cameras based on preference of color science, would one choose the M11/SL3/Q3 range given it's the latest state of color science from Leica? Or would one mix and match and select from both ranges?

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[Smogg]

In this case, you need to choose quickly and not think for long, otherwise you can accidentally buy X2D😂
 

But seriously, I would choose the M10R from the list if the only criterion was color.

[costa43]

34 minutes ago, o2mpx said:

Posing a hypothetical and generalized question (given so many variables), if one looks at files from the M10R/SL2/Q2 range, compared to M11/SL3/Q3 range, is it a definite improvement from most people's subjective (emphasize subjective) perspective?

Posing the question a different way, if one has a free voucher for 3 cameras based on preference of color science, would one choose the M11/SL3/Q3 range given it's the latest state of color science from Leica? Or would one mix and match and select from both ranges?

I own both the M10-R and M11-P and have owned the Q3. When the WB is set in camera to the same reading, I can match the colour within 30 seconds of all of them in most scenes to a point that it would be hard to tell which was which. 

[jakontil]

5 hours ago, o2mpx said:

Posing a hypothetical and generalized question (given so many variables), if one looks at files from the M10R/SL2/Q2 range, compared to M11/SL3/Q3 range, is it a definite improvement from most people's subjective (emphasize subjective) perspective?

Posing the question a different way, if one has a free voucher for 3 cameras based on preference of color science, would one choose the M11/SL3/Q3 range given it's the latest state of color science from Leica? Or would one mix and match and select from both ranges?

Color depends on the engineering at that time of finalizing each iteration.. how they want to tweak to their taste, leave the users debating 

[pgh]

5 hours ago, o2mpx said:

Posing a hypothetical and generalized question (given so many variables), if one looks at files from the M10R/SL2/Q2 range, compared to M11/SL3/Q3 range, is it a definite improvement from most people's subjective (emphasize subjective) perspective?

Posing the question a different way, if one has a free voucher for 3 cameras based on preference of color science, would one choose the M11/SL3/Q3 range given it's the latest state of color science from Leica? Or would one mix and match and select from both ranges?

Give me an M10/P/D instead.

If I have to, I will take the M10R.

M11 last. 

The SL2 is its own thing, closely related to M10R I guess but not the same. I guess I’d slot it after the M10R and before the M11.

So no, certainly not definite improvement. Only change.

The definite improvement in the M11 is in the resolution and in the high ISO and dynamic range, but depending on how you use a camera both of those are kept in check by the need to shoot higher shutter speeds at base. For me, that makes all gains marginal. The only feature of the M11 that’s appealing to me is the latitude of the sensor - but you give up too much for something that in practical use (for me) doesn’t matter all that often. In other words, I very rarely shoot in crazy dynamic lighting situations so it’s mostly a moot point. 

Key words here are “for me” - not going to speak for anyone else here. This is all subjective. The days of buying a new camera because of objective increases in IQ are past, for me.

Even as an X2D owner I feel this. Actually, it’s probably the camera that cured me of it - the IQ is so much better than the M10 and yet the M10 still yields a color and a file I prefer, and in almost all cases it’s still so good you have to really scrutinize what the practical benefit of 100 mp sensor with the consensus best color is really for, in your work at least. There are other reasons for that camera but I digress. 

Edited May 29 by pgh

[jaapv]

Tweaking one's postprocessing skills gives far better results than agonizing over minor differences in camera technology.

[frame-it]

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6 hours ago, o2mpx said:

Posing a hypothetical and generalized question (given so many variables), if one looks at files from the M10R/SL2/Q2 range, compared to M11/SL3/Q3 range, is it a definite improvement from most people's subjective (emphasize subjective) perspective?

Posing the question a different way, if one has a free voucher for 3 cameras based on preference of color science, would one choose the M11/SL3/Q3 range given it's the latest state of color science from Leica? Or would one mix and match and select from both ranges?

sell the 3 vouchers and get an X2d or GFX100Smk2

[jaapv]

Without considering using it?  Have you ever tried walking in the bush with a 1000 mm lens on medium format ( assuming they even exist for these cameras) ? I did-with Mamiya -once and never, ever, again. Instead of hundreds of good images I got only a dozen decent slides. What value a slightly easier colour process? 

[pgh]

1 minute ago, jaapv said:

Without considering using it?  Have you ever tried walking in the bush with a 1000 mm lens on medium format ( assuming they even exist for these cameras) ? I did-with Mamiya -once and never, ever, again. 

That….is a fringe use case. I’d venture most photographers go their entire life without using a 1000mm lens, in the bush or not. 

[jaapv]

For me it is essential. You need to double the focal length. But what I meant to say is that 135 has its place and medium format has. That should be the first consideration for choosing a system. 

[jpark114]

Well if I compare my M11-P with SL2, photos taken with SL2 requires much less adjustment in color.

I wish my M11-P has 60 mega pixel sensor with color science from SL2, but I guess you can't have everything.

[jaapv]

Lovely catch phrase, Colour Science. I’m sure that the marketeer who came up with it got a Schwarzwâlder Kirschtorte the next day.

In reality this has very little to do with science; these are the calibration choices of some anonymous engineer. 

I always profile my cameras to have  virtually the same basic colour output in ACR, as it harmonizes and simplifies my workflow.  The only remaining minor differences are caused by the transmission spectrum of the Bayer filter, but Leica strives to keep it similar across camera models. 

[Photoworks]

On 5/29/2025 at 12:20 AM, o2mpx said:

if one looks at files from the M10R/SL2/Q2 range, compared to M11/SL3/Q3 range

1st I don't think there is a need for all 3 systems.

The are plus and minus on all of them, you just have to decide on what is important to you.

M10-R, is a lovely camera, the best in the M10 range in the reproduction of color, and DR is an older sensor of the S3, it gets hot and eats battery.

SL2 is still a workhorse for me in the studio, even with SL3, the camera is very stable and the menu is still faster to use than SL3.

Q2, a good camera, with a very sharp lens, has limitations in high ISO.

Leica finally came together with a menu layout and camera buttons with M11, SL2, Q2

M11, in many ways an improved camera over M10, is still slow to operate and image quality is top-notch, I don't have the magenta cast on my camera, and edit all my selects anyway in capture one because it has better profiles than Adobe.

SL3, I love the resolution, improved AF, CF card, and faster connection. Colors are very good.  
CF cards are faster to read, so I can now use tethered shooting in a camera and capture one at the same time.
The touch menu is a nice touch, but it needs a revision in placement and function. the icons on the screen just cover too much and are useless because they are slow and used with long touch which is aggravating. for me another minus is the PDAF missing in AFs, limiting the camera to contrast AF. The Fotos APP is still below what the competition can do, the only shooting mode is a single shot.
all video formats are cropped.

Q3 has improved AF and USB-C ports and is capable of shooting clean above 3200 ISO.

 

If I would buy now, I will get all the latest ones if the price is no problem.

Color is subjective, but editing is just a limitation of the editing software and your experience.  I tend to use Capture one, because they have color profiles that work from day one on camera release, unlike Adobe, and i can tether on Mac and iPad