NEW Leica SL3 | Comprehensive Introduction | All you need to know

This is my introductory video for the new Leica SL3 with live impressions from the camera launch event at the Leica Campus in Wetzlar, Germany. In this video I will explain everything you need to know about Leica's new flagship system camera.
See also my detailed comparison of the new Leica SL3 with the Leica SL2:
NEW Leica SL3 versus Leica SL2 | Detailed Comparison:
• NEW Leica SL3 versus L...
Content:
00:00 Introduction
01:54 Impressions from the Leica SL3 event at Leica Campus in Wetzlar
02:26 The new Leica SL3 has a familiar but improved design
05:48 Newly designed and improved Graphical User Interface (GUI)
06:41 Specifications and new features of the Leica SL3
09:36 Shooting location at the National Car Museum
10:05 The new control screen of the Leica SL3 can now be customized
10:55 Function buttons on the Leica SL3 continue to be customizable
11:59 More about the new menu system of the Leica SL3
12:42 The Leica SL3 is thoughtfully engineered with attention to details
13:41 Sample images shot on Leica Campus and the National Car Museum
23:11 Questions & Answers from the Q&A-session with Leica in Wetzlar
See also the Leica SL3 videos from Swiss KZbinrs:
Rafael Zeier:
• Leica SL3: Zwei grandi...
Cris with no H:
• Leica SL3 | First impr...
Music (if applicable):
epidemicsound.com (licensed)
storyblocks.com (licensed)
motionarray.com (licensed)
#Leica #LeicaSL3

[@sromrell]

Congratulations on the invitation Maths. Your channel is by far my favorite for Leica content. ✌️

[@mathphotographer]

Great - many thanks!

[@dell-tone6472]

And of all the invitee videos, Math has done the most interesting, as I would expect.

[@mathphotographer]

@@dell-tone6472 Many thanks!

[@mathphotographer]

By the way, next SL3 video is now online: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGLPnX2JhsqXn68

[@user-uh5zn4cg8s]

Congratulations on the invitation, and thanks for yet another super detailed and professional camera review. 👍🏻

[@mathphotographer]

My pleasure, many thanks!

[@andymanson]

Videos like this are the reason my Accountant is taking pills for his nerves!! Great job :-)

[@mathphotographer]

Haha, love your comment :) The SL3 - if you go for it - burns quite a hole in your wallet :)

[@andymanson]

@@mathphotographer tbh - I love the M11 sensor / colour science (digital cameras are really the film stocks of the C21st); but I'm left thinking that this camera is the SL team's M5.

[@mathphotographer]

@@andymanson Spot-on, this is a fantastic sensor!

[@mathphotographer]

My new video is out by the way: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGLPnX2JhsqXn68

[@astudent1109]

Many thanks. Much appreciate this helpful review

[@mathphotographer]

Glad it was helpful!

[@saurabhbhardwaj6753]

Awesome as always! I am watching this 4 months after getting my SL2, I wanted to wait for SL3 but then they showed me the silver one and I got weak knees...

[@mathphotographer]

Thanks for the kind feedback. The SL2 is by far not outdated and the silver one is a beauty :) Enjoy shooting your SL2 for another prolonged period and then, when the time is right, consider an upgrade to the SL3 :)

[@RamonVaqueroImage]

Congrats for your Leica invitation, great subsequent video! Not a Leica shooter but this camera looks amazing and beautiful.

[@mathphotographer]

Many thanks Ramon, appreciate the kind feedback.

[@cris_fotografia]

Awesome video! Thanks for this detailed your 💪🏼😉

[@mathphotographer]

Thanks, appreciate the kind feedback.

[@gautambiswas7338]

A great introduction to the new SL3. I am interested to learn more on the improved autofocus tracking in the real world. Thanks

[@mathphotographer]

Thanks a lot, I will produce more videos on the SL3 in the next week and for sure test the autofocus speed and accuracy.

[@daviddb4858]

It must have been fun going to Wetzler, staying at the Leica Hotel, meeting the team at Leica, meeting Leica influencers from around the world, and testing the SL3. It looks like a great camera. I'm looking forward to your field reviews and getting my hands on an SL3.

[@mathphotographer]

Thanks a lot David. "There is always more to come ..." on my channel :)

[@eugenheller4182]

Yes. Ich wurde gerade informiert, dass die Leica SL-3 offiziell erschienen ist. Ich habe gehofft ich finde dein Video online. Sehr cool! Nur 3 aus der Schweiz. Du musst dich sehr geehrt fühlen. Sehr stark!

[@mathphotographer]

Herzlichen Dank Eugen, es war ein tolles Event in Wetzlar mit unserer kleinen aber feinen "Swiss Leica Gang" :)

[@luissalazar2021]

My perspective you are always the best person to educate us about any camera because always tell us about the camera and not about your self. The Leica is the Leica and they do best in anything they put their hands on. Thanks you for sharing!

[@mathphotographer]

Thank you very much for your kind words.

[@ath3263]

Fantastic photos 📸

[@mathphotographer]

Many thanks!

[@brentkingston4389]

Very interesting 👍🏻

[@mathphotographer]

Thanks!

[@RafaelZeier]

Licons 🥰

[@fbonde]

Danke Vielmal, Mat. :)

[@mathphotographer]

Gerne :)

[@sundarAKintelart]

Neat presentation

[@mathphotographer]

Thanks Sundar

[@RS-Amsterdam]

Hello Math, good to see you. Got a couple of links to SL3 videos on YT but I am only watching yours cause based on experience yours is always the best and most detailed, and again thanks for that. The SL3 should be a little smaller than the prior SLs (said the rumours) did you experience that too ? The price here in the Netherlands is 6800 euro (as I looked it up) which is a good price IMO. I hope you will show us (me) some videos in the early future where you put some of your great M lenses on the SL3 and shoot with those (and your opinion of that) Good video, enjoyed it, thanks for sharing.

[@mathphotographer]

Hi RS, great to read your comment. There will be more videos coming next week about the SL3. I think it is fantastic in hand and you feel that it is a bit more compact. I think the speed of the camera has also improved, is quicker alive when you switch it on, etc. etc. You will hear from me soon with more videos. In the meanwhile have a great weekend!

[@janfrosty3392]

Love the main switch, as a European it is more logical as well as multifunctional, some seems to prefer on/off marked old cottage style switch.

[@mathphotographer]

Yes - its a matter of taste but I like the functionality and design built into this new button.

[@DonaldHawk]

Having just got my hands on Q3 will be interested in comparison

[@mathphotographer]

The Q3 and the SL3 produce the same image quality. The main difference is the fixed mounted lens on the Q3 whereas the SL3 is a system camera with access to a lot of lenses. But image quality wise, you get exactly the same sensor goodness :)

[@ctmdarkonestm]

very cool that you got invited i wonder if they'll be adding a multishot mode in a future firmware update

[@mathphotographer]

Yes - I truly enjoyed being there live. Multishot Mode in Drive Mode: will come for sure :)

[@srri8912]

Best SL3 review I have seen so far in the last three or four days. So, are you going to buy one for yourself? 😀 I would like to, but it's too rich for the likes of me. Continue the good work please.

[@mathphotographer]

Thank you so much. I already bought the SL3, take it currently with me wherever I go :)

[@eviltom63]

Thank you very much Math, great review. I have a bit of mixed feelings about upgrading from my SL-2 and get rid of my X2D and buying a SL3. Having a new (better) sensor, phase detection for auto focus and a tilt-display is certainly an improvement. However, I was expecting a bit more, e.g. focus stacking shooting mode (very convenient with the X2D), or an improved IBIS (similar to X2D). A real disappointment is the removal of the multishot mode. I am using this quite a lot in my architecture and landscape work to get super-high resolution images. I have never done videos and would prefer a camera with more improvements for photographers. For improving video capabilities, a SL3-S would be a better option and having the SL3 focused on photography As you are familiar with the X2D as well, what is your take on IBIS, focus stacking and multishot? Did they mention anything why there were downgrading on those functions?

[@iSpike]

📸 The stuff that DREAMS are made of & if you don’t have a dream how can you make it come true. Like a good ROLEX watch a LEICA SL3 is a good investment and wonderful camera to have as a family heirloom to hand down to the next generation of photographer filmmaker. I now know what I am working towards and saving up for.✌🏻😎🇦🇺 fyi - $20k to $30k camera & a couple of lenses (AUD)

[@mathphotographer]

Nice comment, thanks :)

[@cavb748]

Great video Math! Will there be a monochrome SL3?

[@mathphotographer]

Thanks for the kind feedback. Not sure on a Monochrom SL3 ... we will see.

[@salvatoreventura8667]

Very nice review. Please comment in your next SL3 study on the value of this camera for M ecosystem users who do not use autofocus and who usually don’t care about the video recording features. Is the SL3 a useful additional camera and a good value for such M users? Thank you.

[@mathphotographer]

Thanks Salvatore, I will post a video next weeks where I shoot the SL3 with M-lenses, all planned already :)

[@ducgerard2361]

A very interesting video.... fast And clear. But I don t think wé Will make better photos with this New camera. 60 MP or 40.... it The same at the end.. A good Photographer doesn t crop a lot.

[@mathphotographer]

The photographer makes the image, not the camera :) That's what you are essentially saying and I fully agree with it.

[@delgriffith4629]

It appears the control screen housing protrudes from the SL3 body, making it susceptible to bumps, especially on the bottom and left side. 10:05

[@mathphotographer]

Not sure but will have a look, thanks for your observation.

[@hishamosman4341]

This new beast goes head to head with the X2D in terms of price point but has a upper hand with 8k and ProRes video

[@mathphotographer]

Yes indeed, and the SL3 has a much better autofocus system. But the X2D also has a lot of goodness like a larger sensor, the Hasselblad Natural Color Solution, etc. These cameras are actually very different and cannot easily be compared.

[@Xl1rta]

Did Leica address the light leak issue from the top LCD panel on the right hand side?

[@mathphotographer]

I have not noticed any issues with the SL3 so far ...

[@paulhab7267]

Great video Mat what are your views on this and the x2 d 100c I’m looking at the hassleblad x2 d 100c because of the price of sl3 which would be your choice thanks Paul 😊

[@mathphotographer]

I am just in a course of falling in love with the SL3, will need to test more of course but this is a super promising camera. I personally would prefer the Leica SL3 because of its much better autofocus and features.

[@paulhab7267]

@@mathphotographer Thank you 😊

[@domipro123]

What would you choose: SL3 or X2D ? Combined with with lens?

[@mathphotographer]

My currently most favorite combo is the Leica SL3 with the Leica Super-Apo-Summicron-SL 21mm f/2 :) But I love my X2D too and I am glad I do not have to make a decision between the two :)

[@paulf3353]

Great review, I have mixed feelings about it. New sensor and phase detection is great upgrade, but the rest is questionable. This ugly power button.... still dropped resolution in EVF during continuous shooting... don't know... Feels like Leica SL line is more and more becoming Panasonic, shame.

[@mathphotographer]

Thanks Paul. Give me more time to explain with more videos what I already feel, namely that although it might not look spectacular from a specifications perfective it is nevertheless a huge and worthy upgrade. Will work hard to convince you :)

[@peetje28021970]

What is the knob on the finder at the left side above the extra wheel?

[@delgriffith4629]

Apparently it is a cover for a time code interface cable.

[@mathphotographer]

Time code interface, will mention in my next video when I compare the SL2 with the SL3.

[@mathphotographer]

New video just posted today: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGLPnX2JhsqXn68

[@photoeducationbydaniel]

Damn you skipped over the main thing I was hoping they fixed! THE AF system! It's a shame you didn't show that

[@mathphotographer]

So sorry but there are so many topics to cover on the SL3 that it will take several videos to make everyone happy :) I posted today this video here where you find an extensive discussion about the autofocus system of the SL3: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGLPnX2JhsqXn68

[@nelsonclub7722]

I've just kicked out my complete Fujifilm GFX100II kit for two of these with the 14-24 and 24-70 lenses - Fuji is too complicated - also we had a Leica Q3 and they have the same sensor and take the same batteries - we use the wheel on the left for EV exposure - word of warning - if you customise the viewfinder you have to do this on all modes not just one - ok its less complicated than Fuji

[@gurugamer8632]

Please can you do image comparison of x100vi and m11 with 35mm APO 😅

[@mathphotographer]

Thanks Guru, I do not have the X100VI yet but will hopefully get my hands on it next weeks.

[@gurugamer8632]

@@mathphotographer can you do comparison of big daddy full frame M11 (not p) with 35mm APO vs X100Vi please

[@delgriffith4629]

is it ever sunny in Wetzlar? 😉

[@mathphotographer]

Actually, I do not know, lol :) Whenever I was there, there was no sun :)

[@mathphotographer]

Sunny weather in Wetzlar gets onto my bucket list :)

[@yossishtekler7599]

What about video mod and tracking people mod?

[@mathphotographer]

More testing will come on my channel, good points raised by you. I will test autofocus speed and accuracy in later videos in the next weeks.

[@user-ms8qg2rz5s]

First !!!!!!

[@mathphotographer]

Congratulations! :)

[@user-dx2kj3oj5r]

the button for the power switch is so disappointing, I would rather choose the SL2 just for the weight and build quality

[@mathphotographer]

Believe me, you only need to get used to it. Its firmly in my workflow now. Shooting ... then tapping the power button for standby and energy saving ... tapping shutter button ... and boom, back in shooting mode. It really works very well. I had to get used to it too but for me it works now like a charm in my workflow. And it saves significantly battery life.

[@swcblad]

they are using magnisium now….

[@mathphotographer]

:)

[@webersteve1547]

Danke. No vertical tilt screen. No smaller body. Ok, the rest is not really of any importance. The user interface is different - why? I don't like the buttons on the right either - my right hand has only 5 fingers.

[@mathphotographer]

Guess its a matter of taste :) The tilt screen is actually vertical, what's not there is horizontal tilt.

[@marcuss.3824]

Wer hats erfunden ? 🤣 Grüße aus Bayern in die schöne Schweiz

[@mathphotographer]

Grüsse zurück nach Bayern, ich war zwischen den Jahren nach Xmas ein paar Tage in München und fand wie immer Oberbayern mega schön :)

[@uJBk_FOM8I4hmjx67bNAVw]

What have you!

[@mathphotographer]

:)

[@hervey782]

I like most of the Leica designs,also owning a m10… BUT putting this ugly power button which looks like the power button from the 2008 MacBook pro in a camera from 2024 !! It is truly out of my mind what the design team has been doing here!! 😮

[@webersteve1547]

Fully agree. I think it is just cheaper than the manual button

[@johnkasianowicz6536]

FWIW, it’s more functional than the switch on the SL2.

[@mathphotographer]

I already produced (but not posted yet) my next video, detailled comparison of the SL2 and SL3 ... and guess what, I anticipated that the new power button will be seen very controversial :)

[@jonwalker3299]

One of the Leica software engineers stated that this new feature works just like the millions of iPhones in the world. Your phone is always on but goes to sleep, ready to wake up when you move or touch it. It was also explained that there will be new, upcoming features in the Leica Photos App that will be able to do things to the camera IF it is on, but in sleep mode. They said stay tuned for more to come!!

[@mathphotographer]

Video just got posted: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGLPnX2JhsqXn68

[@iczek]

Terrible LCD screen design. Terrible switch on design - laptop!?. Terrible decision to reduce synchro time to 1/200. Terrible decision to reduce the IBIS effectiveness. Nothing innovative. Nothing. Shame on Leica.

[@mathphotographer]

Your feedback is a bit harsh :) But absolutely ok to say of course :) For me the SL3 works perfectly