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Leica SL2-S

 
Leica SL2-S front
 
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 50000
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Leica L Mount
  • 931g - 146 x 107 x 83mm
  • Announced December 2020
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Lenses
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
55
Imaging
76
Features
84
Overall
79

Leica SL2-S overview

Leica SL2-S is Leica's Pro Mirrorless camera first released on December of 2020. The camera has a 24MP, CMOS Full frame sized sensor and has a peak resolution of 6000 x 4000.

The SL2-S is positioned #33 out of 70 in Pro Mirrorless cameras and all-around #52 out of 1465 for cameras in our collection. You can test our Smart camera finder to get camera listings based on your personalized factors.

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The following is a graph of multiple criteria used in the scoring system.

Leica SL2-S family

The Leica SL2-S comes with a history of related cameras. Down below, you can take a look at all earlier and most recent models along with main features.

ModelVisualizeResolutionSensor SizeMax fpsReleased
Leica-SL2-S front thumbnailLeica SL2-S24MPFull frame20.0 fps2020
Leica-SL2 front thumbnailLeica SL2
SL2-S vs SL2
47MPFull frame20.0 fps2019
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Leica-SL front thumbnailLeica SL
SL2-S vs SL
24MPFull frame11.0 fps2015

Leica SL2-S Pros and Cons

Below is a list of positives and negatives of the Leica SL2-S based on features which are typically seen as useful in a camera.

above average ISO range (50,000)
above average min ISO (100)
big sensor size (Full frame)
builtin Top display
connects via bluetooth
exports RAW files
fast continuous shooting (20.0 frames per second)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
good resolution screen (2,100 thousand dots)
good video quality (4096 x 2160 resolution)
great battery power (510 shots)
has face detect autofocus
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has tracking focus
includes HDMI socket
includes headphone socket
includes mic socket
interchangeable lenses (Leica L mount)
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
no anti-alias filter
offers focus via touch
pretty good screen size (3.2 inch)
quiet mode (1/16,000 seconds)
touchscreen functionality
two card slots
weather sealing
you can focus manually
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
heavier than average in class (931g)
lack of phase detect autofocus
no articulating screen
Photography Glossary

Leica SL2-S Sensor info

The spec of the sensor on the Leica SL2-S is 36mm x 24mm (Full frame). The 864 mm² sensor has the capability to resolve 6000 x 4000 pixels and aspect ratios of 3:2. The camera boasts Image Stabilization (Sensor based). Optical stabilization is more effective than digital stabilization since the latter may cause cropping.

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The CMOS sensor boasts 24 megapixels and has a native ISO range of 100 to 50000. This ISO can also be extended electronically to a low of 50. RAW files are saved so you have wider room to maneuver in post.

Leica chose to skip the anti-alias filter with the Leica SL2-S. This will result in more clear pictures but may create moire in certain conditions.

The picture underneath shows the SL2-S's sensor dimensions in comparison to other common sizes. The SL2-S sensor comes with a crop factor of 1 and is shown in green.

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To get an idea of specific aspect ratios, you should refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Leica SL2-S dimensions

Leica SL2-S is 2.05 pounds (931 grams / 32.84 oz) and features external dimensions of 146mm x 107mm x 83mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 3.3"). The weight of general Pro Mirrorless camera is 722 grams and the Leica SL2-S is heavier in comparison with various rivals.

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Down below is a shot of the Leica SL2-S besides a softdrink so you're able to have a feel for its scale.

Leica SL2-S dimensions scale

The top view just below will highlight the button layout on the SL2-S.

Leica SL2-S topview buttons dials

Leica SL2-S Lens info

The SL2-S works with the Leica L mount and has 52 lenses available for purchase. Below is a small number of the lenses we have in our database which will fit the SL2-S.

ModelVisualizeFocal LengthApertureStabilizedWeight
Sigma-28mm-F1.4-DG-HSM-A-Leica-L lensSigma 28mm F1.4 DG HSM A28mmf/1.40g
Panasonic-Lumix-S-50mm-F1.8 lensPanasonic Lumix S 50mm F1.850mmf/1.8 300g
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Panasonic-Lumix-S-Pro-70-200mm-F4-OIS lensPanasonic Lumix S Pro 70-200mm F4 OIS70-200mmf/4 985g
Panasonic-Lumix-S-20-60mm-F3.5-5.6 lensPanasonic Lumix S 20-60mm F3.5-5.620-60mmf/3.5-5.6 350g
Sigma-14mm-F1.8-DG-HSM-Art-Leica-L lensSigma 14mm F1.8 DG HSM Art14mmf/1.81170g
Panasonic-Lumix-S-24mm-F1.8 lensPanasonic Lumix S 24mm F1.824mmf/1.8310g
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Sigma-24mm-F3.5-DG-L-Mount lensSigma 24mm F3.5 DG24mmf/3.5 225g
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Leica SL2-S Connectivity

The SL2-S has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • Bluetooth Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Cameras that incorporate NFC and Bluetooth support are able to be controlled wirelessly by smartphones. You can send pictures and usually change camera settings without the hassle of connecting physically to the camera.

Several applications even enable a Liveview and press the shutter when you aren't close to the camera. If the camera features a HDMI out, it can easily be connected to an external monitor. Most cameras enable you to charge the battery through the USB socket.

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Leica SL2-S Video info

The highest video quality on the Leica SL2-S is 4096 x 2160 and it can shoot in MPEG-4 and H.264 format. 2160p gives an excellent quality for video recording. You will be able to crop to Full HD to get clearer results. Be wary of the massive file sizes and make sure you have got high quality SD cards that have fast write speed. The camera does feature both headphone and mic socket making it extremely useful while capturing audio.

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Leica SL2-S Weather Sealing

Leica SL2-S features weather sealing making it a very good selection to use during rough environments. This can be especially beneficial if you are not sure about the conditions you might face during outdoor photography.

Leica SL2-S Display and Viewfinder

The Leica SL2-S has a 3.2 inch fixed display screen supporting a resolution of 2,100 thousand dots.

Moreover the display screen is touch friendly so you will be able to shift focus points as well as adjust settings using your finger. The SL2-S also has a builtin Top display so that you can quickly checkout the camera's settings.

Leica SL2-S screen and viewfinder Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

The ViewFinder details regarding Leica SL2-S are as follows:

  • ViewFinder Electronic
  • ViewFinder Resolution 5,760 thousand dots
  • ViewFinder Coverage 100%
  • ViewFinder Magnification 0.78x

In those sunny outdoor conditions which make the camera screens washed out and challenging to view, viewfinders can be particularly helpful.

Leica SL2-S Shutter info

Leica SL2-S has the capability to shoot continuously at 20.0 frames per second. The maximum shutter speed is 1/8000s. The camera also features silent electronic shutter of 1/16000s. Keep in mind that the electronic shutter could result in "rolling shutter" in certain lighting conditions.

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Leica SL2-S Flash and Hot shoe info

Leica SL2-S boasts external flash ability but with missing in-built flash. The maximum flash sync is 1/250s.

Leica SL2-S Autofocus info

Leica SL2-S boasts just Contrast Detect Auto Focus and is missing Phase Detect Auto Focus. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot more snappier & accurate in comparison with Contrast Detect autofocusing. The camera has Face detect which can be helpful for people photography.

The AF system has 225 focus points to choose from. Leica SL2-S has touch to focus. You can use your fingers to adjust where you focus. It also boasts Tracking Auto Focus for objects that move. Leica SL2-S has got manual focus when required during low light occasions or you require more precise focus control.

Photography Glossary

Leica SL2-S Battery life

The battery power (BP-SCL4) for the Leica SL2-S is fashioned to last for 510 images as per the CIPA measurements which is higher than the usual ın comparison with its class. The typical Pro Mirrorless camera battery life is 460. Olympus E-M1X comes with the highest (870) battery life within this kind of cameras.

Following is a listing of Pro Mirrorless cameras that come with the best battery life:

Leica SL2-S for specific kinds of photography

The following bar chart presents a overview of the Leica SL2-S for specific kinds of photography. To look at more, browse to the specific section underneath.

Leica SL2-S Portrait photography info

The Leica SL2-S has a score of 85 which is outstanding, and means the camera is a outstanding fit for portrait photography. Photographing portrait photos leans greatly towards sensor resolution, support for RAW photos along with the option to use external flash.

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you can focus manually
good resolution (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
includes face detection focus
supports RAW files

Street photography with Leica SL2-S

Having a very good points tally of 66, the Leica SL2-S is a good option to buy for street photography. A decent street photography camera features a perfect balance of picture quality and portability.

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has image stabilization (Sensor based)
large sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
offers touch to focus
weather sealing
above average ISO range (50,000)
screen does not articulate
heavier than competitors (931g)

Leica SL2-S as a Sports photography camera

A impressive sports photography points total of 83 means the Leica SL2-S is a fantastic option for photographing sports. A camera really should have great tracking plus fast continuous shooting for sports photography.

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high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet mode (1/16,000 seconds)
high fps (20.0 frames/s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports tracking autofocus
weather sealing
good battery power (510 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus

Leica SL2-S Travel photography information

Size is extremely crucial in picking a camera for travel. Overall, the Leica SL2-S gets a very good 65 for a travelling camera which makes it a very decent fit to purchase for your holidays.

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great battery pack (510 per charge)
weather sealing
connects via bluetooth
supports focus by touch
good MP (24 megapixels)
more heavy than average in class (931g)
display isn't selfie friendly

Leica SL2-S as a Landscape photography camera

If you find yourself planning to buy a digital camera for landscape pictures, the most essential factor will no doubt be image quality. The Leica SL2-S at it's awesome rating of 85 for a landscape camera is a great pick within the current marketplace.

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focusing manually
change lenses (Leica L mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
doesnt have low pass filter
good ISO range (50,000)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
better than average battery (510 shots)
has dual storage slots

Leica SL2-S Vlogging highlights

A vlogging camera really should have a articulating display screen, microphone port and ideally IBIS. Considering all the details, the Leica SL2-S is not very good as a vlog camera as it receives a low score of 32.

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built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
high quality video (4096 x 2160 pixels)
has external microphone port
does not have selfie friendly display
more heavy than competitors in class (931g)

Leica SL2-S Alternatives

If you are looking for replacements to the SL2-S, here is a range of the top ranked cameras that fall into the category of Pro Mirrorless.

The line chart listed below offers you an overview of the SL2-S vs it's top rated competitors shown above.

There are more cameras you may have a look at as alternative options. To go through a full comparison, click the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Brand
Leica
Model
Leica SL2-S
Class
Pro Mirrorless
Announced
2020-12-10
Physical type
SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CMOS
Sensor size
Full frame
Sensor dimensions
36 x 24mm
Sensor area
864.0mm²
Sensor resolution
24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
3:2
Highest resolution
6000 x 4000
RAW format
Highest native ISO
50000
Lowest native ISO
100
Lowest boosted ISO
50
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points
225
Lens
Lens mounting type
Leica L
Total lenses
36
Crop factor
1
Screen
Display type
Fixed Type
Display diagonal
3.2 inch
Resolution of display
2,100 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
Electronic
Viewfinder resolution
5,760 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage
100%
Viewfinder magnification
0.78x
DXO scores
DXO All around score
not tested
DXO Color Depth score
not tested
DXO Dynamic range score
not tested
DXO Low light score
not tested
Features
Lowest shutter speed
1800 seconds
Highest shutter speed
1/8000 seconds
Highest quiet shutter speed
1/16000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate
20.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation
Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range
no built-in flash
Flash modes
no built-in flash
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize
1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions
4096 x 2160 @ 60p / 150 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 50p / 150 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 30p / 400 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 25p / 400 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 400 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 150 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 50p / 150 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 400 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 400 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 400 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 120p / 20 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 100p / 20 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 23.98p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution
4096x2160
Video data format
MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless
Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
931 gr (2.05 pounds)
Physical dimensions
146 x 107 x 83mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 3.3")
Other
Battery life
510 photos
Type of battery
Battery Pack
Battery model
BP-SCL4
Self timer
Yes (12 or 2 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage
Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported on slot 1)
Card slots
2
Retail price
$4,895