@photonewspn | photographynews.co.uk
GEAR / 45
Specifications
Sensor 35.8x23.9mm full-frame BSI CMOS, 60.3 megapixels, 36- and 18-megapixel stills setting, up to 240 megapixels in multi-shot mode Storage 1x CFexpress Type B, 1x SD Shutter Mechanical focal plane and electronic rolling, 60 secs to 1/16,000 sec (electronic), 60 mins to 1/8000 sec (mechanical) Flash sync 1/200 sec Drive modes Up to 15fps at full resolution ISO 50-100,000 Lens mount Leica L Still image formats 14-bit DNG Raw, JPEG, 3:2 Video formats 8K/30p, 4K/60p, H.265 4:2:0 8/10 bit Long GOP, H.264 4:2:2 10-bit All-Intra. Full HD/60p ProRes 422 HQ Autofocus Phase, object and contrast detection, 315 points Image stabilisation 5-axis sensor-shift Connectivity USB-C, HDMI, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, timecode Screen Tilting 3.2in touchscreen, 2.33m dots Viewfinder Electronic OLED, 5.76m dots, 0.76x magnification
BRUTAL BEAUTY The minimalist design carries through to the LED info panel and rear screen, with clear menus map custom buttons to your most-used settings, though. Meanwhile, the 5.76-million-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF) is excellent, offering a bright and detailed view that makes the process of composition a pleasure. It reinforces the SL3’s stills- first approach, encouraging deliberate, considered shooting rather than rapid- fire bursts. This is not a camera designed to do everything for you. It is a camera that expects you to be involved in the
Dimensions (wxhxd) 141.2x108x84.6mm Weight 769g (body only)
A photographer’s camera Pick up the SL3 and you can’t mistake what it is. The all-metal body is solid, weighty and built to last, with weather sealing rated to IP54. We used the SL3 and a 50mm prime on a four-day trip to Berlin and can confirm the weight is noticeable, especially with a Leica lens on the front. It’s not the lightest camera on the market, but it feels purposeful rather than cumbersome. It also takes a while to get used to the camera’s handling quirks, given
Leica’s minimalist design philosophy. The control layout is clean, with a strong reliance on the touchscreen interface and fewer buttons than most rivals. And the menu system has been refined and is now one of the most intuitive around, which is a welcome relief in a world of increasingly complex ones. However, without clearly marked controls for the most important settings such as ISO and shutter speed, it still takes some menu digging. You can
process, and work out how best to use it to achieve your ambitions. Autofocus improved The intention of firmware 4.0 was to fix the AF. The honest answer is that, while that has improved significantly, it hasn’t really changed the camera’s fundamental character. The SL3 now uses a hybrid AF system combining phase detection, contrast detection and depth mapping, with AI subject recognition. With the
GERMANY CALLING
The SL3 was a perfect match for sightseeing around Berlin
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