Leica SL3 – a first experience report
Last November, when the rumor mill didn't have anything specific to report, my friend Christian Habermeier and I traveling in Iceland. In the luggage were two Leica SL3s from the pre-series. We wanted to put the camera through its paces and push it a little to the limit. The cold water surfers of Iceland seemed like a brilliant project for this. And so one early morning we stood in the north of Iceland at minus 7 degrees Celsius with numb fingers and watched as the surfers enthusiastically and apparently immune to the cold forced themselves into their neoprene.
Tough guys. Leica SL3, 1/320 sec., f 1.4, 320 ISO, Summilux-SL 1.4/50 mm. Image editing and b&w conversion in Lightroom
We were introduced to the cold water surfing scene by Elli Thor, who is not only a very good surfer but also an excellent photographer. It's well worth taking a look at his homepage, and if you want to implement a film or photo project in Iceland and need a local photographer/filmmaker, Elli is certainly a top address.
Elli. Leica SL3, 1/200 sec., f 2.2, 250 ISO, Apo-Summicron SL 2.0/90 mm. Image editing and b&w conversion in Lightroom
What are the main differences between SL2 and SL3
What does the SL3 bring compared to the SL2? In my opinion, these points speak for the latest model in the SL series:
Foldable screen. Leica refused to make the screen foldable for a long time. Now it is there with the stability that is important to Leica
High-resolution sensor with 60 Mpx with the possibility of recording the images in both RAW and JPG in three resolution levels. Dynamic range and noise behavior have been further improved compared to the SL2
Faster image sequences (up to 15 images/second)
Improved autofocus compared to SL2
Case a little smaller, but not as small as the cases from other providers, which in my opinion no longer fit well in the hand because they are too small, at least for me
Video in 8K
The previously ingenious operating concept and menu navigation have been improved again
Elli and his wife Rachel. This picture would not have been possible without the folding screen because I held the camera just above the surface of the water. Leica SL3, 1/250 sec, f 4.5, 2500 ISO, Leica Vario Elmarit SL 2.8-4.0/24-90mm on 56 mm. Image editing and b&w conversion in Lightroom
How does it work with the SL3
Unrivaled ingenious: the operating concept of the Leica SL3 (Leica press photo)
The camera is entirely at the service of the photographer
What I appreciate so much about the Leica SL series is the fact that the camera is entirely at the service of the photographer. Not a lot of fancy buttons and levers, but a concentration on the essentials. In my opinion, the interface on the screen is quicker and more intuitive to use than many different levers and buttons. My friend Christian, who only worked with the S3 before our trip and didn't know the SL cameras, said approvingly: "After half an hour you have the camera under control. Everything is structured logically.” I was very pleased that the Leica developers gave the SL3 a third wheel. This means you can adjust the shutter speed, aperture and ISO with a separate wheel without having to press any buttons first. The new on/off switch took a bit of getting used to for me at the beginning, but with the option to put the camera in standby, you gain time when switching the camera on. It is ready to work in a flash from standby mode.
The SL3 is tough
We were traveling at minus 7 degrees and the SL3 also got a few splashes of water. But it always worked perfectly and without any problems. I've had occasional misfires in extreme weather conditions with camera models from other brands, but the SL series cameras have always worked without any problems. For me, the reliability of a camera is an important criterion when making a purchase decision.
The lenses are a dream
For me, the SL lenses - namely the ones that are produced in Wetzlar - are fantastically good. In my opinion, the three SL zooms 16-35mm, 24-90mm and 90-280mm are the best zooms for full frame cameras on the market. I find that they have a level of quality that other systems can only achieve with fixed focal lengths. The fixed focal length series for the SL with aperture 2.0 (21/24/28/35/50 and 90 mm) are so incredibly good that in combination with the 60 Mpx sensor you can work almost at medium format level. I have the SL 2.0/35 and the 2.0/90mm and I really enjoy working with both of these lenses. Thanks to the L-Mount Alliance, lenses from Panasonic and Sigma can also be connected to the SL3, although - as already mentioned above - I prefer the original Leica SL lenses. But, I admit it, this is a question of cost.
I like the color management
With other camera manufacturers I often find the colors to be a bit over-exaggerated. The Leica cameras are more reserved in this regard. Of course, some things can be corrected in post-production, but the closer the colors are to my optimal feeling, the less time I have to spend on image editing.
A special function for architectural photography
First introduced in the Leica M series, automatic perspective correction has also been available in the SL series since the SL2. When perspective correction is activated, Leica provides each image with the information to correct the falling lines in post-production with Lightroom at the push of a button. If you shoot in RAW, you have both an uncorrected image and, with the push of a button, a perfectly corrected image in which all the falling lines are absolutely straight. I always had the impression that the perspective correction in Lightroom didn't work 100%. In my opinion, the Leica perspective correction is better.
Is there anything that speaks against the SL3?
In my workshops I often let the participants take photos with my SL2. There is great agreement: the operating concept and the image quality are top of the notch. Of course, Leica is not cheap, and not everyone is willing or able to invest so much money in a camera system - even if everyone agrees that the high-quality materials and the well-thought-out operating concept are worth the money. One point of criticism comes here and there from my “testers”: the camera and lenses are heavier than the competitors’ models. Here you essentially pay a price for the robustness of the system, and each person has to weigh up individually whether he/she is prepared to accept the extra weight in exchange for more robustness.
And the autofocus?
In practically all test reports and forums it was/can be read that the autofocus of the Leica SL2 lags behind in performance compared to the competing models. That is so correct. The SL3's autofocus has now been significantly improved, and the eye tracking works perfectly. But I don't want to hide the fact that when it comes to autofocus in extremely fast sports, the SL3 has to admit defeat to cameras such as a Sony a1. It's quite possible that Leica can improve the AF performance through firmware upgrades, but if you photograph Formula 1 or other fast-paced sports, you may be better off with a camera like the Sony a1. In “normal” situations and even in sports that are not ultra-fast, the SL3 is a wonderful tool. When filming, the autofocus on our preproduction model wasn't entirely problem-free. It's quite possible that this is now better in the production model. If you focus manually when filming, the SL3 is a camera that delivers very nice video files with - as already mentioned - up to 8K. I think it's also interesting for filmmakers that you can create different profiles for filming. Once you've done this, you can switch back and forth between different film settings in a flash. I created a “normal” profile with 4K 30fps, one with 4K 60fps, an 8K and a Slomo profile. Switching back and forth while working is then lightning fast.
The autofocus of the SL3 has been significantly improved compared to the SL2. Leica SL3, 1/1000 sec, f 6.3, 3200 ISO, Sigma 100-400mm 5-6.3 DG DN OS on 288 mm
A small picture gallery of the cold water surfers
And finally a little movie
I put together a small film clip especially to visualize the quick sequences of images. All stills were created with the SL3. Have fun diving into the world of cold water surfing.
Special thanks to Elli Thor and his friends. It was an honor to be out and about with you. © all images and video clips by Christian Habermeier and Peter Schäublin.
