These are perhaps the best images you will ever see from a 24-megapixel camera.
Physically, though, its very different.
The rear screen is slightly disappointing.
(Image credit: Rod Lawton)
Its probably fair to consider this a filmmaking tool, not a vlogging camera.
The results, too, are absolutely first rate.
The Leica SL3-S is truly a class act in every sense.
(Image credit: Rod Lawton)
Theres also a joystick for AF point selection, menu navigation and more.
An unmarked function button hardly seems adequate.
The 5.76m-dot EVF is excellent, but the 2.33m-dot rear screen less so.
(Image credit: Rod Lawton)
Even at full brightness its not always easy to see clearly for outdoor shooting.
This is a lens you’re able to confidently use wide open at f/1.4 without any hesitation.
The JPEGs from the SL3-S are very nice indeed.
(Image credit: Rod Lawton)
The camera achieves an excellent tonal range right into darker areas without seeming to sacrifice any midtone contrast.
High-ISO performance is excellent.
I should have set the ISO a lot higher!
The Leica SL3-S’s physical controls are minimalist in the extreme. Apart from three buttons on the back, none of the control dials or function buttons are labelled. You can make up your own control layout!
I was impressed by the IBIS too.
Ive used plenty of other brands that claim higher levels of shake compensation but simply dont deliver it.
5/5
Should I buy the Leica SL3-S?
The menu system is superb. One press of the Menu button displays a quick settings screen and a second press displays the full menu system. Leica has a knack of making every camera feature quickly accessible
The SL3-S offers two card slots, one for CFexpress Type B and one for SD UHS II cards
The SL3-S’s single-shot autofocus is fast and effective, even when shooting wide open at f/1.4 – the depth of field here was razor-thin
This image was shot at ISO 16,000 and the quality is holding up extremely well, with perfectly acceptable noise levels and good fine detail. A little lower down the ISO scale at ISO 6,400, the image quality is remarkable
Leica SL lenses are more expensive than Panasonic or Sigma L-mount alternatives, but all the ones I’ve tried have been optically superb. This was taken with the Leica Summilux-SL50mm f/1.4 supplied for this review
This image shows the kind of spatial depth you can achieve with a full-frame camera and a fast prime lens. I didn’t need to shoot this scene at f/1.4, but doing so has separated the trees in the middle distance from a beautifully blurred foreground and background.
(Image credit: Rod Lawton)
(Image credit: Rod Lawton)
(Image credit: Rod Lawton)
(Image credit: Rod Lawton)
(Image credit: Rod Lawton)
(Image credit: Rod Lawton)
