When developing the Leica SL3-S, Leica focused on the high demands of professional photography and videography. In doing so, the brand prioritized speed, flexibility and versatility.
A new BSI CMOS full-frame sensor with 24-megapixel native resolution, 48- and 96-megapixel multi-shot modes, and a new autofocus system form the core of the Leica SL3-S. Securely protected by an IP54-certified solid all-metal body, Leica combines the strengths of three focus technologies here: the latest generation in phase detection AF (PDAF), depth map (object detection AF) and contrast detection AF enable continuous shooting with the Leica SL3-S at up to 30 frames per second with full autofocus support. Together with a high dynamic range and the impressive ISO range of 50 to 200,000, the SL3-S delivers excellent quality photos and videos in all shooting situations.
The Leica SL3-S is also the first camera in the SL-System to be equipped with content credentials technology in accordance with the Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI) for photos. If desired, each image can be signed with tamper-proof metadata, such as the camera model and author information, as well as creation and editing data.
The Leica SL3-S records videos in a resolution of up to 6K and offers 3:2 open-gate recording, a feature that provides flexibility when creating video content for a wide variety of channels. For example, portrait format videos can be recorded in 4K, 9:16 without any loss of quality and the field of view in recorded material can also be determined retrospectively. The Leica SL3-S records HDMI-RAW in 5.9K at 30 fps to external display recorders. What’s more, thanks to the fast CFexpress type B interface, ProRes 4:2:2 HQ in 5.8K at 30 fps or C4K at 60 fps can also be internally recorded without any recording time limits. It is also possible to record directly to an external SSD hard drive via the USB-C interface, which further increases the flexibility of the Leica SL3-S.
The Maestro IV processor with L2 technology effortlessly handles enormous amounts of data, resulting in images with superb color rendering, high dynamic range and excellent noise behavior in the L-Log color space. This processor has been lauded internationally for its optimal quality.
In addition, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi with MIMO technology enable fast, stable connection to the Leica FOTOS App, with which DNG images can be transferred in full resolution in a matter of seconds. Over the course of 2025, the Camera-to-Cloud function will also become available via Adobe frame.io, which videos and photos can be uploaded directly from the camera to the Adobe frame.io cloud for further processing.
The EyeRes® viewfinder of the Leica SL3-S is equipped with a painstakingly produced optical system of glass lenses. It displays the subject crystal clear at all times with up to 120 images per second and a resolution of 5.76 million pixels. Another feature of the SL3-S is the tilting 3.2-inch high-res touchscreen with a high-quality tilting mechanism, which makes it even easier to take photos and videos from different angles.
A further highlight is the interface, already familiar to users of the SL3. As with the SL3, the optimizations to the SL3-S include ergonomic and haptic features, as well as the user interface and menu navigation. The Cine mode has been tailored specifically to the needs of professional video production. The SL3-S is noticeably lighter and more compact than its predecessors and feels even better in the hand thanks to its optimized design. In addition, the complete range of accessories already available for the Leica SL3 are also compatible with the SL3-S.
