Following a development announcement at Photokina 2018, Leica Camera has now released its S3 medium format system camera.


Angled view of the Leica S3 with the Summarit-S 70mm f/2.5 lens. (Source: Leica Camera.)

Featuring a new 64-megapixel sensor – up from 37.5-megapixels in the S2 – the S3 also utilises the Leica ProFormat developed specially for the Leica S-System. With dimensions of 30 x 45 millimetres, it corresponds to the classic 3:2 aspect ratio of the 35 mm full-frame format, but

offers a 56% larger sensor area. The new camera can record a dynamic range of 15 f-stops and offers a maximum ISO sensitivity setting of 50000. It includes the latest  Leica Maestro II processor and a 2 GB buffer memory to support high-capacity continuous shooting and C-4K video recording, the latter using the full sensor area. A frame rate of 3 fps is available.

Front, rear and top views of the new Leica S camera body. (Source: Leica Camera.)

Features of the new camera include a large and bright SLR viewfinder and LCD monitor with a refresh rate of up to 60 fps in both still picture and video recording mode that includes focus peaking, brightness and exposure data displays, a clipping warning, grids and a histogram that can be superimposed onto the image. Shooting in tethered mode is also possible with the Leica Image Shuttle app and images can be captured in DNG and JPEG format and transferred directly to a computer via a USB 3.0 interface. The Lightroom Tethered Plugin allows the Leica S3 to be connected directly to the image processing package without requiring additional software.

GPS tagging is also available and the camera can save location data in EXIF files. The S3 also has a WLAN module with which the camera can be remotely controlled via the Leica FOTOS 2.0 app.

The Leica S3 is manufactured in Germany and boasts a magnesium body with a Corning Gorilla Glass cover plate over the 3-inch monitor screen. The lens mount made from solid stainless steel. The body is comprehensively weather-sealed and features the familiar controls of the Leica S (Typ 007). The S-Lenses are an integral element of the Leica S-System and their larger image circle creates the characteristic medium format look, plus significantly shallower depth of focus.

The Leica S3 will be available from selected Leica stores and authorised dealers for RRP AU$29,900. Click here for more information.