Leica has launched the latest camera in its L-Mount SL-System. The company calls the Leica SL3-P its most advanced full-frame mirrorless camera yet. For video shooters, the headline number is 8.1K Open Gate 3:2 capture at up to 30 frames per second (fps).
44-megapixel sensor
At the heart of the SL3-P sits a new 44-megapixel BSI full-frame sensor measuring 8,144 by 5,424 pixels. It delivers up to 14 stops of dynamic range and an ISO range from 50 to 200,000, though video caps out at 100,000.
The sensor also drives Leica’s new hybrid autofocus system, which combines phase detection (PDAF), depth mapping (object detection AF) and contrast detection. Five-axis sensor-shift stabilization rounds out the package.
Open Gate video
The SL3-P’s marquee video feature is 8.1K Open Gate recording, which captures 3:2 footage at up to 29.97 fps. Want RAW? You can record 8K Open Gate to an external recorder over HDMI.
The camera handles 7.2K and 6.4K Open Gate too, both capped at 29.97 fps. Internally, files land on CFexpress Type B and SD UHS-II cards through the dual slots.
Other video resolutions
Switch to 17:9 DCI or 16:9, and the options multiply. 8K still tops out at 29.97fps, but 6K and 4.7K climb to 59.94 fps. Drop to 4K or HD and you can shoot up to 120 fps for slow motion.
There’s a catch with that 120 fps mode. The camera only records slow motion internally in HD, so any 4K 120 fps footage has to be conformed in post. Files save as 10-bit 4:2:2 or 4:2:0 in H.264, H.265 or ProRes, depending on the frame rate and resolution you pick.
Design
Leica describes the SL3-P as having a “deliberately minimalist design with black control elements and without the red Leica logo.” The full-metal body is built for stability, and IP54 certification guards against dust and splashes.
A 5,760,000-dot electronic viewfinder handles the eye-level view. The tilting 3.2-inch touchscreen carries a 2,332,800-dot resolution. Round the back, 3.5 mm sockets cover an external mic and headphones for monitoring your audio.
User interface
Leica calls the SL3-P’s interface “captivatingly clear.” A minimalist icon and menu layout keep photo and video modes separate, with a color code to match: red for stills, yellow for video. The display also flips between horizontal and vertical automatically as you reorient the camera.
Other features
Pair the SL3-P with the Leica FOTOS app and you can link it to mobile devices over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or USB-C. From there, Leica Looks let you style your images on the fly.
The camera supports Camera-to-Cloud through Adobe Frame.io, so photos and video move straight to the cloud as you shoot. It also builds in Content Credentials, developed alongside the Content Authenticity Initiative. That means you can sign your work with tamper-proof metadata to protect your intellectual property.
What we think
For video shooters, the SL3-P’s spec sheet is hard to fault. You get 8K Open Gate internally, or externally when you need RAW, plus a deep menu of resolutions and frame rates for nearly any shoot.
The color-coded menus that split photo and video functions are a genuinely smart touch, and other camera makers would do well to copy it. Build quality is second to none, as you’d expect from Leica.
The catch is the price. The Leica badge commands a premium that’s tough to justify for video alone. If you earn a living shooting both stills and video, though, the SL3-P is an easy camera to want.
Pricing and availability
The Leica SL3-P full-frame mirrorless camera is available now at $6,690 for the body only.
