Leica’s SL household has all the time been essentially the most “mirrorless” wanting of its cameras, providing professional photographers dealing with that is just like rivals like Canon and Sony. That continues with the launch of the SL3, a 60-megapixel (MP) mannequin that appears nothing like its well-known rangefinder cameras, providing a brand new phase-detect autofocus system, 8K video functionality and extra.
The brand new mannequin has the identical sensor because the M11 rangefinder and Q3 compact fashions, however very a lot resembles the SL2 and ideas the dimensions at a hefty 767 grams. It is also IP54-rated so you may shoot in climate situations starting from 14 to 104°F with out worrying about mud, moisture and so forth.
The largest change within the format is a brand new dial on the left prime (all of the dials are clean as you may customise them any means you need). On the again, Leica moved the three key buttons (play, operate and menu) to the proper, and altered the facility change to a button.
The SL3 now has a brand new 3.2″ 2.3m-dot LCD, and in contrast to previous fashions, it will probably tilt (however not swivel). The EVF has additionally been up to date to a higher-resolution 5.76m-dot 0.78x OLED model. As for storage, it helps each CFexpress kind B and SD UHS-II reminiscence playing cards. It comes with a full-sized HDMI and USB-C charging ports, together with mic/headphone jacks.
The brand new sensor will increase decision from 47 MP on the SL2 as much as 60 MP, a major bump. It is possible just like the sensor Sony makes use of on the A7R V, and helps a large native ISO vary from 50-100,000, with a claimed 15 stops of dynamic vary.
It could possibly shoot bursts as much as 15fps, however extra importantly, provides a brand new phase-detect AF system that is sooner and extra clever, in response to the corporate. It combines part detection, distinction and object autofocus for sooner and extra constant performances. That features face and eye detection, together with a brand new animal detection characteristic. It is also speculated to be higher at monitoring motion, Leica says.
As for video, the SL3 can file internally in DCI 8K 8192 x 4320 at 30 fps and DCI 4K at as much as 60p with a most bitrate of 600Mb/s. It could possibly additionally file externally through the HDMI output, additionally at DCI 8K and DCI 4K as much as 60fps. These resolutions are all obtainable in 10-bit with the selection of L-Log Rec. 2020 and HLG Rec. 2020. It helps ProRes recording, however solely as much as 1080p.
As you are most likely anticipating, the SL3 is not low cost at $6,995, although it’s considerably cheaper than the $9,000 M11. It is now obtainable at B&H Picture Video and elsewhere.
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