On the eve of Photo Plus Expo, Leica surprised the professional photography world today by announcing the Leica SL, a new pro-level, 35mm full-frame mirrorless camera, accompanied by a brand new ecosystem of lenses, adapters, and accessories. Featuring a 24MP 35mm sensor and an all-new L mount, the Leica SL enters the market accompanied by a Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90mm f/2.8-4 ASPH lens and adapters for both Leica M-mount and R-mount lenses, so it becomes immediately compatible with Leica owners’ existing lens collections.
Leica SL Key Features:
- 24MP 35mm CMOS sensor
- ISO range 50-50,000
- Supports all Leica lenses (SL natively, S, R, M, T & Cine via adapters)
- 4K video at 30fps/1080p at 120fps
- Mechanical shutter speeds 30 min-1/8000 sec, bulb
- Ultrasonic sensor cleaning
- 4.4MP, 0.8x magnification EVF
- Touch-sensitive LCD monitor
- Wi-Fi and GPS built in; compatible with iOS and Android via app
- Milled from solid blocks of aluminum
- Weather sealed against rain and dust
World’s firsts and more
The Leica SL offers several world firsts, starting with the electronic viewfinder. At 4.4MP and 0.8X magnification, it’s the world’s largest and highest-resolution EVF. The ISO range of 50-50,000 is impressive, and Leica claims the fastest SD standard (UHS2) and a backup UHS1 backup SD card slot.
The Leica SL is a solid camera. It is milled from two solid blocks of aluminum and is hand-finished. It is weather-sealed, has integrated Wi-Fi, and can be operated via iOS and Android mobile devices via the Leica SL App, which is free.
The camera has a fast 11fps burst rate at full resolution. It also boasts 4K video at 30fps and 1080p at 120fps, which may be a first for a MILC. Leica also claims the fastest autofocus acquisition in any full-frame camera.
It’s an impressive basis for a system that Leica is clearly developing for the long run.
Other features include: Focus peaking, histogram clipping, a photo live view refresh rate up to 60fps, contrast AF, static and dynamic AF tracking, face detection, 9-field AF zones, EV compensation of +/- 3 stops in 1/3 or 1/2 EV steps, a standard X-jack for flash sync, as well as a hot shoe and TTL mode contacts (a future TTL flash is in the works). the LED is 2.95 inches, and is touch-sensitive with an anti-fingerprint and anti-scratch coating. The camera has a built-in IR filter for infrared photography, and no Low Pass filter.
New mount? Sort of
Leica has renamed the T-mount, which was first seen on the Leica T, Leica’s APS sensor-based MILC, the L mount. All T-mount lenses will work on the Leica SL’s L mount, and new L-mount lenses will mount and be fully functional on the T. When T lenses are mounted on the SL, the camera automatically changes format and only records on an APS-C-sized area of the 35mm sensor.
New Lenses Announced; One Available Next Month
Leica also announced three lenses. The first, the Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90mm f/2.8-4 ASPH is a general-use lens with fast AF and optical image stabilization. Close focusing to 1 foot, the lens is said to have optimal performance at all apertures. It will be available in mid-November, for around $4,950.
The next lens for the Leica SL will be available in June 2016, the Leica APO-Vario-Elmarit-SL 90-280mm f/2.8-4, which will focus down to 2.7 feet, comes with a tripod mount, and is expected to be marketed to sports shooters.
The final lens announced today is a Leica Summilux-SL 50mm f/1.4, a fast normal prime lens that Leica expects to ship in December 2016.
In addition to the three lenses announced for the SL, additional mounts provide access to Leica’s extensive range of best-money-can-buy lenses for its rangefinders and SLRs. There are currently 48 M-mount lenses, 16 S-mount lenses, 51 R-mount lenses, and 21 Cine lenses, all of which can be used via the appropriate adapter.
A new flash and other accessories were also announced; some will become available starting in November; the rest are expected next June.
If you expect a camera with Leica’s standards to go for a Leica price, you’re not wrong. The Leica SL (Typ 601) is expected to sell for around $7,450, and the Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90mm f/2.8-4 ASPH lens will set you back a nifty $4,950. The M-mountand R-mount adapters are already available for $347 each. Adorama is taking pre-orders now.
Opinion: Is the M in trouble?
With a price point in the mid-$7,000 range, the Leica SL will be in the same ballpark, price-wise, as many of the legendary Leica M rangefinder cameras. In fact, the Leica M Monochrom Typ 246 will cost exactly the same, while the M-P is only $500 less and the M Typ 240is about $1,000 less. So on price, the SL makes the M-series a relative bargain.
On features, the M will always have its avid audience of photojournalists, documentary, travel, and street photographers. I don’t see this camera tempting them. The SL adds a high-performance autofocus ecosystem, something the M-series doesn’t offer, as well as the promise of a better TTL flash system, a sore point for M users. I also suspect the EVF will offer enhanced viewing that will be very tempting. So the answer? No, I don’t think the SL will cannibalize M sales. Instead, the Leica SL has enough going for it to entice an entirely new, well-heeled audience to the Leica experience.
