Leica’s new SL2-S is a video-focused update to last year’s SL-2 model featuring a new 24 megapixel BSI-CMOS sensor and separate recording modes for photos and videos.


Angled view of the new Leica SL2-S camera. (Source: Leica Camera.)

Developed and manufactured in Germany, the SL2-S boasts a dust and splash-proof (IP54), all-metal body with an elegant leather cladding and a straightforward user interface with separate sections for photo and video shooting, developed through the feedback of customers and professional photographers worldwide. The proprietary EyeRes EVF has a resolution of 5.760,000 dots and has been developed with the tightest mechanical and optical tolerances. A new full-frame sensor supports 24-megapixel resolution and delivers a wide dynamic range plus a colour depth of 14 bits per RGB channel. Sensitivity settings of up to ISO 100,000 are supported to enable high-quality low-noise images to be recorded in low light levels.

The new camera’s Maestro III processor and 4GB buffer memory enable continuous shooting at up to 25 fps with buffer capacity limited only by the memory cards used in both UHS-II-compatible SD card slots. The SL2-S also includes a multi-shot mode that combines up to eight consecutive frames, captured while the sensor is shifted in half-pixel increments between frames, to produce high-resolution images of around 96 megapixels.

The Leica SL2-S can record 10-bit 4:2:2 video footage with Leica’s L-LOG gamma profile, at frame rates of up to 60 fps. Integrated viewing LUTs (lookup tables) provide users with full control for optimal color quality and post-processing grading throughout the recording. Another pro-level feature is the camera’s video recording time is only limited by the SD card or external storage capacity. A firmware update to be released in the second quarter of 2021 will enable the Leica SL2-S to support the highly efficient HEVC video compression standard for 10-bit recordings up to 4K/60p (h.265). Videos can be split into one-minute segments, in order to minimise the risk of data loss. Other enhancing features include the automatic Follow Focus, an integrated waveform monitor, Colour-Bar, Timecode Input and Tally Mode, all of which further enhance the camera’s suitability for professional use.

Leica’s Object Detection AF ensures a fast and reliable AF and the SL2-S provides a variety of modes, including face recognition. The SL2-S can also automatically detect whether a subject is stationary or in motion, and switch between motion and focus priority. Efficient multi-axis image in-body stabilisation compensates for camera shake, even with unstabilised lenses. The L-Mount on the Leica SL2-S makes it fully compatible with not just the SL-System’s extensive lens portfolio, but also with TL lenses and, via adapter, lenses from the Leica M, R and S-System. The new camera can also be connected seamlessly to a smartphone or iPad via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth using the Leica FOTOS app, which also enables users to transfer images, control the camera remotely, and view, edit and share pictures in several formats.

The Leica SL2-S is available now for AU$7500 for the camera body. Click here for full details of the new camera.