Red Dot Forum Camera Talk: Leica SL3 - A Closer Look

[@HernanFariasCamus]

Great video .... I feel as you said in the first few minutes of the episode , there is a lot of information on the SL3 online available to everyone , what is missing is real world usage of the camera in real world scenarios with REAL photographers and videographers. What I mean by this is you can't fully judge a camera by paid KZbinrs anymore , they have just become a marketing tool for camera companies and trust in them by professional working photographers has started to diminish as we realise they are just marketing tools to sell you a products. Waiting for real world usage reviews by real photographers 📷

[@RedDotForum]

We are all about real-world images. David will be using the SL3 for actual landscape work in the very near future, and will have a full, in-depth review based on usage. You can see examples for other Leica cameras here: www.reddotforum.com/content/category/reviews/

[@ae2350]

Thank you guys! I just got my hands on the SL3 and the getting the back button autofocus to work was driving me crazy…and then I thought, I bet Josh and David talked about this! 👍🏿

[@jacobh5817]

Great episode, guys. Thanks. Took one SL3 home, right after the introduction here in Switzerland. Tried and tested it in our studio. I’m a fashion/beauty photographer and I always test with some dark color linen, velvet and silk fabrics. Those are difficult textures for a camera to get them right. The SL2 was already good at it, but the SL3 is a step up here. Virtually no moire and nice deep shades, while maintaining the texture. The SL3 and the one on order, will replace my two SL2s. However, the SL2-S will stay for the reasons you mentioned. I’m a bit annoyed though that with the SL3 the flash sync speed went down from 1/250 to 1/200.

[@GastonShutters]

Awesome Episode guys. Another thing I do with my SL3 is to configure the button next to joystick to turn on/ off IBIS, since during the day with fast Shutter Speed is not needed and it seems that when the IBIS is on is on all the time stabilizing the sensor. Would be nice to have a feature like some other cameras where it engages when half pressing the shutter.

[@RedDotForum]

Great tip!

[@jiggyb21]

Really Right Stuff told me that they absolutely plan to release an L-bracket for the SL3.

[@JJCPhotography]

thank you guys！Great camera talk！

[@pupkid8613]

hey guys, could we have a regular RSS feed for the audio version so it could be listened to on any Podcast app? would be great. thanks!

[@peterivarsson9267]

I cant figure out how to lock exposure without “press and hold” the shutter or the joystick. Love the image quality, and AF for portrait is amazing. Shot some tractor pulling, travel, landscapes and portraits with it.

[@o2mpx]

Perhaps not easy to see from You Tube, but the camera bag comparison of SL3 vs SL2 resolution 60 vs 47 mp and detail seemed not very significant, and from recollection the difference between the SL2 and original SL 47 vs 24mp seemed a lot more substantial.

[@NickToumpelis]

Great video, thank you for you effort and time in making this. David mentioned a set of presets that he has made for the SL2, posted somewhere on Red Dot Forum. Can you share the link here?

[@randallbrander8157]

I have the SL2-S and love it. I also have the Q3 and I love it too. I have shot in 8k and 6k in video on the Q3. I will stick to Cinema 4k 60 but I should go to 4k 30 to save file size but I am happy with that. There is a 30 minute time limit recording video on the Q3. Sl2-S can do 4k 60 also. I have friends that complain about the crop but I look at the advantage of crop. It brings the subject closer. 60mp 3:2 files are wonderful and I love cropping in. I also like the fixed lens and size for that surprising moment to capture the image fast. On the Leica L mount lenses can be shared by My Panasonic S5II & S5IIX cameras. Using Sigma, Panasonic and Leica lenses works fantastically on all three cameras. So the three lenses I take with me are two Primes and a Zoom. Leica 24-70mm f/2.8, Sigma 24mm f/1.4 & 45mm f/2.8 Compact Prime. Guess what lens goes on each camera? S5II = 24mm, S5IIx = 24-70mm and that's right the Sigma 45mm on the SL2-S. I only take out two cameras at a time though. Leica Q3 28mm and the SL2-S 45mm. Then the Panasonic on the next trip. Love the lenses plus the others which I haven't mentioned too. Question: 100mm macro or the 135mm entices you more to shoot with. I like the urban and park scenes more than birding and wildlife so I am thinking more of the 100mm for the macro. What do You Guys think? Cheers!

[@randallbrander8157]

Those Dummy Batteries are in all of my studio cameras. Still waiting for the the Leica dummy batteries. Apple 29/30w power usb c brick works most for cameras. Cheers!

[@geddonjt]

While I’m sure this camera takes great photos, there are significant compromises versus other Leica offerings. The lack of internal memory and skipping the content authentication are really puzzling and seem to position the M11-P as the flagship. And the louder shutter and bad battery life are a shame. Great video as always guys

[@peterlund4501]

Focus stacking? Does the sl3 provide focus stacking?

[@RedDotForum]

Not at this point. The SL3, just like the SL601 and SL2, features a live depth of field readout on the top display to enable easy hyperfocal distance setting. We would love to see both a more automated hyperfocal function as well as built-in focus stacking. Both are possible via firmware, so if this is something you'd like to see, reach out to Leica customer care and make the request.

[@kfwisner]

I can’t give up focus stacking to migrate to the SL system (from Fuji GFX). Hope they cure this with firmware.

[@HeyHey-qp9eh]

Batman and Starbucks on the show ❤😂❤❤

[@arda.ohannessian]

Hi guys, love your show. Just a quick comment - I've heard the rolling shutter on the SL3 is quite noticeable due to the high pixel count of the sensor. Any comments...?

[@wayman1108]

For the group display. When it is on, you can move down the joystick to browse through this group of photos like normal review.

[@bedlamknights]

Great video, thanks for putting it together! In the comparison shot @51:43 between the SL3 and SL2s (showing all 3 bags in each frame), which of these two are rendering color more accurately in your studio?

[@HeathHolden]

I updated mine via the app, it did become unresponsive but eventually shut down and on restart was all good, also there is quite a delay when pressing the play button. No big deal, but it’s there.

[@kennethmalament4926]

Brilliant Thank you

[@Ldsm11]

Great Episode! Thanks!

[@RedDotForum]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@georged3553]

Maybe I missed something. Why did you use ISO 200 instead of ISO 100 for the initial comparisons?

[@RedDotForum]

Virtually no difference in DR and SNR between ISO 100 and 200. Typically, in landscape or general photography, a little bit faster shutter speed and/or a little more depth of field (smaller aperture) are worth shooting at ISO 200 instead of 100.

[@christianwilmes]

Thx everyone !!!! :)

[@CharlesTay]

Great video

[@thomastuorto9929]

Focus peaking in every brand camera is the same as in the Leica, = not accurate. Pretty sure RRS is switch to a universal L-Bracket. Maybe not for all cameras but that is the impression I get when seeing this company come out with one for the first time. They set up to manufacture a product like eg; SL-2 L-Bracket & run a batch of say 50 or 100 & then move on to another product. I wouldn’t doubt they are not in the shop full time with the add of so many other accessories brands out there. RRS is a top quality company with Kirk in second place of companies I know of.

[@owendavies5997]

Can hear you fine

[@simongentry]

everyone who wants to work with presets in lightroom, capture one etc... should be required to take a class in darkroom techniques.

[@Nearest_Neighbor]

Nice gate keeping.

[@RedDotForum]

David here. Everyone can certainly benefit from time in the darkroom, but so can practice in digital processing. I started working in a professional photo lab at 14 years old (family business). Plenty of experience in the darkroom along with decades of practice in digital processing. The technology has continued to evolve and the tools available to photographers today is greater than ever. I'm happy to create and share presets to help people get more out of their cameras, with less work. But that is just the starting point to each photographer's creative possibilities.

[@mikenel1000]

Good

[@boostedgixxer]

This is a disappointing and incomplete update. The sensor and new menu are nice but the autofocus is clearly lagging behind the competition. No one expected it to be at the competitions level but hopefully it doesn’t end up as frustrating to use as the autofocus of the sl2. This camera should have content authenticity. Other brands are releasing it in firmware updates on cameras that are years old. No excuse for it not to be on a brand new camera for professionals when leica were one of the first to use it. Using a Q battery in a camera of this kind is silly. A new long lasting battery should have been produced. Leica does good built in memory and this camera should have it. Giving us two different card slots like this is a mid level camera while charging flagship prices is foolishness. Not updating the EVF and or back screen is another miss. I love my M for the unique experience and was really looking forward to this new SL but I think I will pass. This is frankly a lazy update.

[@Bollywoodhollywood2023]

😂 immature photographers 😂😂