Leica SL2-S Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera (2020)
Product Gallery
Product Overview
Leica SL2-S is a full-frame mirrorless camera based on the SL2 released in 2019. Tuned for videography, the SL2-S shares with the SL2 much of the same design and technical features except for a new, lower-resolution BSI sensor and enriched video recording features.
The SL2-S captures up to Cine 4K and 4K UHD up to 60fps in 10-bit 4:2:2 with Leica's L-LOG gamma. Leica also plans to support HEVC video compression via firmware update in the future.
Thanks to Leica's L-Mount Alliance with Panasonic and Sigma as well as Leica's L-to-M mount converter, the SL2-S has access to a large selection of high-quality lenses.
Designed and crafted in Germany, the SL2-S and its stablemate SLs are the most premium full-frame mirrorless cameras on the market today.
Ratings
What we found**
Neofiliac score 77% (not directly comparable across industries)
Pros
- Long battery life
- 5.5 stops of IBIS
- Extraordinary 20.0 fps burst rate
- Weather-sealed
- High resolution EVF
- Supports both WiFi and Bluetooth
Cons
- Very heavy
- Viewfinder with low 0.78x magnification
What external reviewers found***
External score 81% (not directly comparable across industries)
Pros
- Excellent build quality
- Excellent image quality
- Excellent viewfinder
- Good battery life
Cons
- Autofocus can be frustrating
- No tilting screen
- Firmware update could be faster
Price Comparison
Specifications
Connectivity
Ports
HDMI + Headphone + Microphone + Remote Control + USB 3.2 Gen 1
Wireless Connectivity
802.11ac + Bluetooth
Construction
Battery | Capacity
1860 mAh
Form Factor
Mirrorless camera
Image Size
Full frame (36 x 24 mm)
Lens Mount
Leica L-mount
Material
Full-metal housing made of aluminum and magnesium, leatherette cover
Microphone
Stereo
Sensor | Resolution
24 MP (6000 x 4000)
Sensor | Type
CMOS
Speakers
Mono
Dimensions
Size | Depth
83 mm / 3.27 in
Size | Height
107 mm / 4.21 in
Size | Width
146 mm / 5.75 in
Weight
931 g / 32.90 oz
Display
Display Diagonal
3.2 inch
Display Type
Fixed TFT LCD
Resolution
2,100,000 dots
Viewfinder | Coverage
100%
Viewfinder | Magnification
0.78x
Viewfinder | Resolution
5,760,000 dots
Viewfinder | Type
Electronic
Function
AE Bracketing
±3 (3, 5 frames at 1/3 EV steps)
Autofocus
225 focus points
Crop Factor
1.0
Exposure Compensation
±3 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)
Exposure Mode
Auto / Aperture Priority / Shutter Priority / Manual
Flash Sync Speed
1⁄250 sec
GPS
No
Image Stabilization
5.5 stops
Intervalometer
Yes
ISO Range
100 ~ 50000 (expands to 50 ~ 50000)
Operating Temperature
-10 to +40°C
Processor
Maestro III
Touch Screen
Yes
Video Codecs
MPEG-4, H.264
Video Recording
Up to C4K 60p 4:2:2 10bit / FHD 180p 4:2:0 8bit / FHD 60p 4:2:2 10bit
Weather Resistance
Yes
Performance
Battery Life
510 shots
Max Burst Rate
20.0 fps
Shutter Speed
1/16000 s (electronic) / 1/8000 s (mechanical) ~ 1800 s
Storage
2x SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards, UHS-II compatible
Production
Battery
BP-SCL4
Debut
2020-12-10
Made In
Germany
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Launch Comparison
Clear List
3rd-Party Review Videos
External Reviews
dpreview[1]
Reviewer score 78%The camera can capture DCI and UHD 4K 60p/50p video with an APS-C (Super35) crop. For full-frame capture you'll need to drop down to 29.97p, and this time you can capture oversampled 10-bit 4:2:2 internally and externally. The SL2-S allows you to set both the maximum ISO and minimum shutter speed.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Excellent image quality
- Excellent viewfinder
- Good battery life
Cons
- Firmware update could be faster
pcmag[2]
Reviewer score 89%The SL2-S can snap shots in ready-to-share JPG format or Raw DNG. It doesn't have as many pixels as the 47MP SL2, but uses thin cover glass for better results with vintage Leica M lenses. Photos are very editable, with loads of room to adjust color, shadows, highlights, and contrast.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Excellent image quality
- High-end alloys
- Built-in L-Log and HLG for HDR
- Wide ISO 50-100000 sensitivity range
- Stabilized sensor
Cons
- No tilting screen
techradar[3]
Reviewer score 76%The Leica SL2-S is part of the L Mount Alliance, which means that you can use lenses made by Sigma, Panasonic and any third-party manufacturers. Despite the lower resolution sensor, there's still plenty of detail captured in most ordinary situations, especially at lower or normal-range ISOs. The all-purpose metering mode generally works well to produce well-balanced images, but if faced with a high-contrast situation, switching to spot metering can be beneficial. Video quality is impressive, but we'd expect it to be too smooth and detailed.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Excellent image quality
- Wide range of lenses and zooms
- Excellent build quality
Cons
- Autofocus can be frustrating
User Reviews
Comments
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References
- ^ Leica SL2-S initial review. [dpreview]. https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/leica-sl2-s-initial-review. 2020-12-10. Retrieved 2022-01-21.
- ^ Leica SL2-S Review. [pcmag]. https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/leica-sl2-s. 2021-08-12. Retrieved 2021-08-12.
- ^ Leica SL2-S review. [techradar]. https://www.techradar.com/reviews/leica-sl2-s. 2021-03-18. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
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Scores are not directly comparable across industries.
These key takeaways ("pros" and "cons") and summaries are identified from third-party reviews. They may differ from the original texts.
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