Leica SL3-S price, specifications and release date

Leica Camera AG has introduced the SL3-S, its newest full-frame system camera, designed to meet the needs of both professional photographers and videographers. Unveiled on 16 January 2025, this advanced model enhances Leica’s legacy with speed, versatility, and cutting-edge technology, redefining audiovisual workflows.

Central to the SL3-S is a 24-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, offering multi-shot resolutions up to 96 MP. The camera delivers exceptional speed with continuous shooting at up to 30 fps, powered by an advanced hybrid autofocus system combining phase detection, depth mapping, and contrast detection. This innovation ensures precision and reliability in capturing both stills and video.

For videographers, the SL3-S excels with 6K video recording in open-gate format, perfect for multiple aspect ratios and post-production flexibility. With ProRes 4:2:2 HQ support, 5.9K RAW HDMI output, and the ability to record directly to external SSDs, the SL3-S provides professionals with unparalleled options. Its content credentials technology, developed under the Content Authenticity Initiative, adds tamper-proof metadata, ensuring authenticity and transparency in the digital age.

The robust IP54-certified magnesium and aluminium body is splash- and dust-resistant, while the five-axis in-body image stabilisation supports up to 5 stops, providing sharp imagery in challenging conditions. The SL3-S integrates seamlessly with Leica’s renowned M-Lenses, L-Mount system, and cine lens adapters.

Its connectivity options include dual card slots for CFexpress Type B and UHS-II SD cards, HDMI 2.1, USB-C with Camera-to-Cloud functionality, and wireless features like Wi-Fi with MIMO technology and Bluetooth 5.0. Paired with the Leica FOTOS app, full-resolution transfers are a matter of seconds, and forthcoming Adobe frame.io integration promises even greater workflow efficiency.

The SL3-S features a crystal-clear 5.76-million-dot EyeRes® electronic viewfinder with up to 120 fps refresh rate and a tilting 3.2-inch touchscreen, ensuring ease of operation from any angle.

Specifications

• Sensor: CMOS sensor, 25.3 MP/24.6 MP (total/effective)
• Video: 6K recording, ProRes HQ, RAW output, unlimited recording time
• ISO Range: 50–200,000
• Stabilization: 5-axis, 5 stops
• Connectivity: Dual card slots, USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI 2.1
• Weight: 768 g (body only)
• Build: Full metal, IP54 splash and dust resistance

Price and Availability

The Leica SL3-S is available now worldwide at £4,500/$5,295, including VAT.

You can discover more details about the Leica SL3-S at Leica SL3-S Official Page

More detailed specifications for the Leica SL3-S body:

• Type No. 4506
• Order No. 10 643 (EU/US/CN), 10 644 (JP), 10 645 (ROW)
• Buffer memory: 8 GB, capacity, depending on frame rate and picture format, estimated quantity (number of possible images in the buffer memory)
• Continuous shooting DNG DNG + JPG JPG
• 2 fps, 14 bit, AF 2 fps, 14 bit, AF 1000 1000 10005 fps, 14 bit, AF 5 fps, 14 bit, AF 1000 345 1000
• 7 fps, 12 bit, AF 7 fps, 12 bit, AF 680 255 1000
• 15 fps, 12 bit, AF 15 fps, 12 bit, AF 175 175 175
• 30 fps, 12 bit, AF 30 fps, 12 bit, AF 175 175 175
• The values depend on the type of memory card used (SD or CFexpress) / resolution
• Storage medium: UHS-II (recommended), UHS-I, SD/SDHC/SDXC card + CFexpress card type B (recommended)
• Material Full metal housing: magnesium and aluminum, leatherette covering, splash water protected in accordance with IEC Standard 60529 (protection type IP54)
• Lens mount Leica L bayonet with contact strip for communication between lens and camera
• Operating conditions: −10 to +40°C
• Interfaces ISO accessory shoe with additional control contacts, synch jack/timecode interface, HDMI jack 2.1 Type A, USB-C USB3.1 Gen2, Audio-Out 3.5 mm/Audio-In 3.5 mm, communication interface in the bottom cover for multifunction
• Tripod thread A 1⁄4 DIN 4503 (1⁄4”) with stainless steel in the base
• Weight Approx. 768 g (without battery, SD card, body cap)

Leica SL3-S Sensor Specifications

• Sensor size: CMOS sensor, 25.3 MP/24.6 MP (total/effective)
• Image stabilisation: 5-axis image stabilization up to 5-stops
• Filter RGB color filter, UV/IR filter, no low-pass filter
• Processor Leica Maestro series (Maestro IV)
• File formats: MP4 h.265 AAC 48 kHz/16 bit
• Photo: DNG™ (raw data), DNG + JPG, JPG (DCF 2.0, Exif 3.00)
• Video:
• h.264 AAC 48 kHz/16 bit
• h.264 LPCM 48 kHz/24 bit
• ProRes LPCM 48 kHz/24 bit
• MOV h.265 LPCM 48 kHz/24 bit
• RAW LPCM 48 kHz/24 bit
• Image resolution: 35 mm JPG DNG
• L 6000 x 4000 24 MP 6000 x 4000 24 MP
• APS-C JPG DNG
• L 3936 x 2624 10.3 MP 3936 x 2624 10.3 MP
• Colour depth DNG: 14 bit (12 bit also possible depending on the continuous shooting mode), JPG: 8 bit
• Colour space Photo: sRGB
• Video: Rec. 709/Rec. 2020 (HLG/L-Log)
• File size DNG™: approx. 40 MB, depending on resolution and image content; JPG: depending on resolution and image content
• Video: max. length depending on ambient temperature and available memory space

Leica SL3-S Video specifications:

Video recording mode Video mode: P – A – S – M
Cine mode: M
Video Resolution RESOLUTION Aspect ratio
6K OG 5952 x 3968 3:2
C6K 5952 x 3136 17:9
6K 5888 x 3312 (h.265) 16:9
5776 x 3056 (ProRes)
C4K 4096 x 2160 (MOV/MP4) 17:9
4128 x 2176 (RAW)
4K 3840 x 2160 16:9
3.5K 3536 x 2656 4:3 (RAW)
Full HD 1920 x 1080 16:9

Video frame rate, listed; File Format, Resolution, Frame rate, Bit rate, YUV / Bit, Compression, Codec

MP4 4K 3840 x 2160:
59.94 fps 100 Mpbs 4:2:0 / 10 bit Long GOP h.265
50.00 fps 100 Mpbs 4:2:0 / 10 bit Long GOP h.265
29.97 fps 100 Mpbs 4:2:0 / 8 bit Long GOP h.264
25.00 fps 100 Mpbs 4:2:0 / 8 bit Long GOP h.264
23.98 fps 100 Mpbs 4:2:0 / 8 bit Long GOP h.264

FHD, 1920 x 1080:
59.94 fps 28 Mpbs 4:2:0 / 8 bit Long GOP h.264
50.00 fps 28 Mpbs 4:2:0 / 8 bit Long GOP h.264
29.97 fps 20 Mpbs 4:2:0 / 8 bit Long GOP h.264
25.00 fps 20 Mpbs 4:2:0 / 8 bit Long GOP h.264
23.98 fps 24 Mpbs 4:2:0 / 8 bit Long GOP h.264

MOV 6K OG (3:2) 5952 x 3968:
29.97 fps 200 Mbps 4:2:0 / 10 bit Long GOP h.265
25.00 fps 200 Mbps 4:2:0 / 10 bit Long GOP h.265
24.00 fps 200 Mbps 4:2:0 / 10 bit Long GOP h.265
23.98 fps 200 Mbps 4:2:0 / 10 bit Long GOP h.265

C6K (17:9) 5952 x 3136
29.97 fps 200 Mbps 4:2:0 / 10 bit Long GOP h.265
25.00 fps 200 Mbps 4:2:0 / 10 bit Long GOP h.265
24.00 fps 200 Mbps 4:2:0 / 10 bit Long GOP h.265
23.98 fps 200 Mbps 4:2:0 / 10 bit Long GOP h.265

6K (16:9) 5888 x 3312
29.97 fps 200 Mbps 4:2:0 / 10 bit Long GOP h.265
25.00 fps 200 Mpbs 4:2:0 / 10 bit Long GOP h.265
24.00 fps 200 Mpbs 4:2:0 / 10 bit Long GOP h.265
23.98 fps 200 Mpbs 4:2:0 / 10 bit Long GOP h.265

C4K (17:9) 4096 x 2160
59.94 fps 800 Mbps 4:2:2 / 10 bit ALL-I h.264
59.94 fps 600 Mbps 4:2:2 / 10 bit ALL-I h.264
50.00 fps 800 Mbps 4:2:2 / 10 bit ALL-I h.264
50.00 fps 600 Mbps 4:2:2 / 10 bit ALL-I h.264
48.00 fps 800 Mbps 4:2:2 / 10 bit ALL-I h.264
48.00 fps 600 Mbps 4:2:2 / 10 bit ALL-I h.264
47.95 fps 800 Mbps 4:2:2 / 10 bit ALL-I h.264
47.95 fps 600 Mbps 4:2:2 / 10 bit ALL-I h.264
29.97 fps 400 Mbps 4:2:2 / 10 bit ALL-I h.264
25.00 fps 400 Mbps 4:2:2 / 10 bit ALL-I h.264
24.00 fps 400 Mbps 4:2:2 / 10 bit ALL-I h.264
23.98 fps 400 Mbps 4:2:2 / 10 bit ALL-I h.264

4K 3840 x 2160
59.94 fps 800 Mbps 4:2:2 / 10 bit ALL-I h.264
59.94 fps 600 Mbps 4:2:2 / 10 bit ALL-I h.264
50.00 fps 800 Mbps 4:2:2 / 10 bit ALL-I h.264
50.00 fps 600 Mbps 4:2:2 / 10 bit ALL-I h.264
48.00 fps 800 Mbps 4:2:2 / 10 bit ALL-I h.264
48.00 fps 600 Mbps 4:2:2 / 10 bit ALL-I h.264
47.95 fps 800 Mbps 4:2:2 / 10 bit ALL-I h.264
47.95 fps 600 Mbps 4:2:2 / 10 bit ALL-I h.264
29.97 fps 400 Mbps 4:2:2 / 10 bit ALL-I h.264
25.00 fps 400 Mbps 4:2:2 / 10 bit ALL-I h.264
24.00 fps 400 Mbps 4:2:2 / 10 bit ALL-I h.264
23.98 fps 400 Mbps 4:2:2 / 10 bit ALL-I h.264

FHD 1920 x 1080
119.88 fps 400 Mbps 4:2:2 / 10 bit ALL-I h.264
100.00 fps 400 Mbps 4:2:2 / 10 bit ALL-I h.264
59.94 fps 200 Mbps 4:2:2 / 10 bit ALL-I h.264
50.00 fps 200 Mbps 4:2:2 / 10 bit ALL-I h.264
48.00 fps 200 Mbps 4:2:2 / 10 bit ALL-I h.264
47.95 fps 200 Mbps 4:2:2 / 10 bit ALL-I h.264
29.97 fps 200 Mbps 4:2:2 / 10 bit ALL-I h.264
25.00 fps 200 Mbps 4:2:2 / 10 bit ALL-I h.264
24.00 fps 200 Mbps 4:2:2 / 10 bit ALL-I h.264
23.98 fps 200 Mbps 4:2:2 / 10 bit ALL-I h.264

FHD Slow Motion 1920 x 1080

Sensor:
179.82 fps, 100 Mbps 4:2:0 / 10 bit Long GOP h.265
150.00 fps, 119.88 fps, 100.00 fps

RAW C6K (17:9) 5776 x 3056
29.97 fps 1939 Mbps 422HQ ProRes
25.00 fps 1618 Mbps 422HQ ProRes
24.00 fps 1553 Mbps 422HQ ProRes
23.98 fps 1551 Mbps 422HQ ProRes

C4K (17:9) 4096 x 2160
59.94 fps 1944 Mbps 422HQ ProRes
50.00 fps 1622 Mbps 422HQ ProRes
29.97 fps 972 Mbps 422HQ ProRes
25.00 fps 811 Mbps 422HQ ProRes
24.00 fps 779 Mbps 422HQ ProRes
23.98 fps 778 Mbps 422HQ ProRes

FHD 1920 x 1080
59.94 fps 454 Mbps 422HQ ProRes
50.00 fps 378 Mbps 422HQ ProRes
29.97 fps 227 Mbps 422HQ ProRes
25.00 fps 189 Mbps 422HQ ProRes
24.00 fps 182 Mbps 422HQ ProRes
23.98 fps 181 Mbps 422HQ ProRes

RAW 6K (16:9) 5888 x 3312
29.97 fps, 25.00 fps, 23.98 fps

C4K (17:9) 4128 x 2176
59.94 fps, 50.00 fps, 29.97 fps, 25.00 fps, 23.98 fps

3.5K (4:3) 3536 x 2656
50.00 fps, 29.97 fps, 25.00 fps, 23.98 fps

Bit rate 8 bit/10 bit for recordings on SD and CFe card, 10 bit for HDMI output
Video Gamma Rec. 709, L-Log Rec. 2020, HLG Rec. 2020
Further information can be found in the “L-Log Reference Manual” for download on the Leica homepage.