Leica SL2

    80
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    Highlights

    • 47.3 MP Full Frame CMOS Sensor
    • No Optical Low-pass Filter
    • 100 - 50,000 Native ISO
    • 225 Focus Points
    • 5-Axis Image Stabilization
    • 3.2" 2,100k dot Fixed Screen
    • 5,760k dot Electronic (OLED) Viewfinder
    • 20.0 fps Continuous Shooting
    • 4992 x 3744 Video Shooting
    • 30 min Video Recording Limit
    • Built-In Wi-Fi
    • Wheather Sealed Body
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    Disclosure: We earn money from the affiliate links to products associated with content in this article.

    Overview

    Leica SL2 was announced in 2019 and is a Full Frame (36 x 24 mm) Mirrorless camera with 47.3 Megapixel CMOS sensor. Its native ISO ranges from 100 to 50,000 and expands to 50 - 50,000 in boosted mode. The camera has a Fixed 3.2" screen with 2,100k dot resolution and built-in Electronic (OLED) viewfinder with 5,760k dot resolution. It has a built-in 5-Axis Sensor Shift in body image stabilization.

    Leica SL2 can capture video up to 4992 x 3744 resolution.


    Here is the Leica S series lineup, where you can view and compare the main specifications of the cameras within the same series.

    Leica S series lineup
    Model Date Sensor Native ISO Screen Price
    Image cannot be found Leica SL2-S December
    2020
    24.6 MP
    Full Frame
    100 - 50,000 Fixed 3.2"
    2,100k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Leica SL2 November
    2019
    47.3 MP
    Full Frame
    100 - 50,000 Fixed 3.2"
    2,100k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Leica SL Typ 601 October
    2015
    24 MP
    Full Frame
    50 - 50,000 Fixed 3.0"
    1,040k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Leica S2 September
    2008
    38 MP
    Medium format
    80 - 1,250 Fixed 3.0"
    460k dot

    You can view their side-by-side comparison here: Leica SL2-S vs SL2 vs SL Typ 601 vs S2.

    Pros and Cons

    In this section we present pros and cons of Leica SL2.

    PROS

    •   Video Capture
    •   Large Sensor
    •   High Resolution Sensor - 47.3 Megapixel
    •   225 Focus Points
    •   Touch-to-Focus
    •   Face Detection
    •   Live View Autofocus
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Large Screen - 3.2"
    •   High Resolution Screen - 2,100k dot
    •   High Resolution Viewfinder - 5,760k dot
    •   High Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/8000 sec
    •   High Max Shutter Speed (Electronic) - 1/40000 sec
    •   High Max Continuous Shooting - 20.0 fps
    •   High Video Resolution - 4992 x 3744
    •   High USB Speed
    •   Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   Built-In Bluetooth
    •   Environmental Sealing
    •   USB Charging
    •   2 Storage Slots
    •   Orientation Sensor

    CONS

    •   Expensive
    •   50,000 Highest Native ISO
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Low Video Recording Limit
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   Short Battery Life - 370 shots

    And here are some specifications which fall into average criteria and are neither in PROs nor in CONs category:

    AVERAGE

    •   100 Lowest Native ISO
    •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/250 sec
    •   Weight - 916 g (2.02 lb / 32.31 oz)

    Predecessor

    Here we are comparing Leica SL2 to its predecessor SL Typ 601 and displaying the major changes.

    UPGRADES Leica SL2 vs Leica SL Typ 601
    Cheaper $5999 vs $7450
    Higher Sensor Resolution 47.3 Megapixel vs 24 Megapixel
    More Powerful Processor Maestro III vs Maestro II
    Max Image Resolution 8368 x 5584 vs 6000 x 4000
    More Focus Points 225 vs 49
    Image Stabilization 5-Axis Sensor Shift vs
    Larger Screen 3.2" vs 3.0"
    Higher Resolution Screen 2,100k dot vs 1,040k dot
    Higher Resolution Viewfinder 5,760k dot vs 4,400k dot
    Lower Min Shutter Speed 1800 sec vs 60 sec
    Higher Max Continuous Shooting 20.0 fps vs 11.0 fps
    Higher Video Resolution 4992 x 3744 vs 3840 x 2160
    Wi-Fi Version Wi-Fi 5, 802.11ac/b/g/n, 2.4/5 GHz vs 802.11b/g/n, 2.4 GHz
    Built-In Bluetooth vs
    DOWNGRADES Leica SL2 vs Leica SL Typ 601
    Higher Native ISO 100 vs 50
    Lower Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent) 0.78x vs 0.80x
    Built-in GPS vs
    Heavier 916 g (2.02 lb / 32.31 oz) vs 847 g (1.87 lb / 29.88 oz)
    Shorter Battery Life 370 shots vs 400 shots
    Internal Storage vs 2 GB

    For more detailed comparison between the models please visit Leica SL2 vs SL Typ 601.

    Screen and Viewfinder

    Fixed Touchscreen

    Leica SL2 has a 3.2" Fixed touchscreen with 2,100k dot resolution which is quite high by today's standards.


    Electronic (OLED) Viewfinder

    Camera has a built-in Electronic (OLED) viewfinder with 5,760k dot resolution. It has a 100% coverage and 0.78x magnification.

    Sensor

    Leica SL2 features a 47.3 megapixel Full Frame CMOS sensor with dimensions of 36 x 24 mm and a total area of 864 mm2. Its native ISO range is 100 - 50,000 and expands to 50 - 50,000 in boosted mode.


    Here is a sensor size comparison chart where you can see how Leica SL2's Full Frame sensor compares with other types of sensors:

    Sensor size chart
    Sensor Dimensions Area Aspect Ratio Crop Factor
    Image cannot be displayedMedium Format44 x 33 mm1452 mm24:30.79x
    Image cannot be displayedFull Frame36 x 24 mm864 mm23:21x
    Image cannot be displayedAPS-H27 x 18 mm486 mm23:21.3x
    Image cannot be displayedAPS-C23.6 x 15.6 mm368.2 mm23:21.5x
    Image cannot be displayedAPS-C (Canon)22.3 x 14.9 mm332.3 mm23:21.6x
    Image cannot be displayedMicro Four Thirds17.4 x 13 mm226.2 mm24:32x
    Image cannot be displayed1-inch13.2 x 8.8 mm116.2 mm23:22.7x
    Image cannot be displayed1/1.7-inch7.44 x 5.58 mm41.5 mm24:34.7x
    Image cannot be displayed1/2.3-inch6.17 x 4.55 mm28.1 mm24:35.6x

    Photography Features

    Camera is equipped with Maestro III processor and can take pictures up to 8368 x 5584 resolution.


    Lens Mount

    Leica SL2 has Leica L lens mount. Due to Full Frame sensor its crop factor (also called lens multiplier) is 1x. This means that a 35mm equivalent focal length of the mounted lens will be equal to its actual focal length.


    No Low-Pass Filter

    There is no optical low-pass filter (OLPF), also known as an anti-aliasing filter, in front of the sensor. This results in a slightly sharper image but may also introduce moiré patterns and aliasing artifacts when photographing subjects with fine, repetitive patterns or details.


    In-Body Image Stabilization

    The camera has a built-in 5-Axis Sensor Shift in-body image stabilization (IBIS) with 5.5 stops of compensation. This means that you are still getting vibration reduction when camera is paired with non-image stabilizied lenses. It also works with lenses with optical image stabilization and in combination can achieve even better compensation.

    Check out the cameras which are frequently compared to Leica SL2.

    Connectivity, Battery and Storage

    Built-in Wi-Fi

    Camera has a built-in Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi 5, 802.11ac/b/g/n, 2.4/5 GHz) which allows to easily transfer photos and videos from the camera to other Wi-Fi-enabled devices, such as smartphones, tablets, printers, or computers. This eliminates the need for cables and allows for quick and convenient media sharing and social media integration. It gives you the ability to control your camera remotely using a smartphone or tablet. This is particularly useful for taking self-portraits, group shots, or capturing images in challenging conditions without having to touch the camera. Firmware updates can also be downloaded and installed wirelessly.
      Check out the cameras in our database that have built-in WiFi.


    Bluetooth

    Camera has a built-in Bluetooth (version 4.2) which lets you to connect the camera to a smartphone or a dedicated remote control device. This allows you to remotely trigger the camera, adjust settings and controls remotely through a paired mobile app. While Wi-Fi is generally faster for transferring larger files, Bluetooth can be used for small, selective transfers, it can provide real-time information about your camera's battery status, memory card capacity, and other key settings directly on your paired smartphone or smartwatch.
      Check out the cameras in our database that have built-in Bluetooth.


    USB Input

    Leica SL2 has a USB 3.2 Gen 1x1 (5 GBit/sec) Type-C input for data transfer and battery charging.


    Battery

    Leica SL2 comes with BP-SCL4 battery pack with battery life of 370 shots.


    External Storage Slots

    The camera has Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II) card slots.

    Other Features

    Shutter

    Leica SL2 has Electronic shutter and Mechanical Focal Plane shutter. Shutter speed can go up to 1/40000 sec with electronic shutter and up to 1/8000 sec with mechanical shutter. Camera can shoot continuously up to 20.0 fps.


    Flash

    Leica SL2 has no built-in flash but an external flash may be connected via Hot Shoe. The fastest flash synchronization speed is 1/250 sec. Flash compensation can be set from -2 to +2 EV with 1/3 or 1/2 EV step increments.

    Physical Parameters

    Leica SL2 has dimensions of 146 x 107 x 83 mm (5.75 x 4.21 x 3.27"). It weighs 916 g (2.02 lb / 32.31 oz) which is neither heavy nor lightweight.

    146 mm (5.75")

    107 mm (4.21")

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    107 mm (4.21")

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    83 mm (3.27")

    Image cannot be displayed

    Leica SL2 dimensions

    Leica SL2 for Different Types of Photography

    We give scores to the camera for different type of photography based on its features and specifications. Let us see how Leica SL2 is suitable for six different types of photography.


    Landscape Photography

    EXCELLENT
    88

    Leica SL2 gets a score of 88 and is EXCELLENT choice for Landscape photography.

    •   Large Sensor
    •   Touch Screen
    •   High Resolution Screen - 2,100k dot
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   Environmental Sealing

    Sports Photography

    GOOD
    82

    Leica SL2 gets a score of 82 and is GOOD choice for Sports photography.

    •   50,000 Highest Native ISO
    •   225 Focus Points
    •   Touch-to-Focus
    •   Face Detection
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Touch Screen
    •   High Resolution Screen - 2,100k dot
    •   High Resolution Viewfinder - 5,760k dot
    •   High Max Continuous Shooting - 20.0 fps
    •   Short Battery Life - 370 shots
    •   2 Storage Slots
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Wildlife Photography

    GOOD
    78

    Leica SL2 gets a score of 78 and is GOOD choice for Wildlife photography.

    •   50,000 Highest Native ISO
    •   225 Focus Points
    •   Touch-to-Focus
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Touch Screen
    •   High Resolution Screen - 2,100k dot
    •   High Resolution Viewfinder - 5,760k dot
    •   High Max Continuous Shooting - 20.0 fps
    •   Environmental Sealing
    •   Short Battery Life - 370 shots
    •   2 Storage Slots
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Portrait Photography

    EXCELLENT
    89

    Leica SL2 gets a score of 89 and is EXCELLENT choice for Portrait photography.

    •   Large Sensor
    •   225 Focus Points
    •   Touch-to-Focus
    •   Face Detection
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Large Screen - 3.2"
    •   High Resolution Screen - 2,100k dot
    •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/250 sec
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Street Photography

    EXCELLENT
    85

    Leica SL2 gets a score of 85 and is EXCELLENT choice for Street photography.

    •   Large Sensor
    •   225 Focus Points
    •   Touch-to-Focus
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Touch Screen
    •   High Resolution Screen - 2,100k dot
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   Environmental Sealing
    •   Weight - 916 g (2.02 lb / 32.31 oz)

    Travel Photography

    GOOD
    81

    Leica SL2 gets a score of 81 and is GOOD choice for Travel photography.

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Touch Screen
    •   High Resolution Screen - 2,100k dot
    •   High Video Resolution - 4992 x 3744
    •   Low Video Recording Limit
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   Environmental Sealing
    •   Weight - 916 g (2.02 lb / 32.31 oz)
    •   Short Battery Life - 370 shots

    Leica SL2 Evaluation

    We evaluate Leica SL2 and give score of 80 out of 100. We also give separate scores for 7 different categories according to the available features and specifications some of which are listed below. These evaluations are relative and may change each time a new camera is added to the database.


    OVERALL
    80

    Sensor

    GOOD
    72

    We give Leica SL2 a score of 72 for Sensor parameters.

    •   Large Sensor
    •   High Resolution Sensor - 47.3 Megapixel
    •   100 Lowest Native ISO
    •   50,000 Highest Native ISO

    Photo

    GOOD
    83

    We give Leica SL2 a score of 83 for Photo parameters.

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   High Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/8000 sec
    •   High Max Shutter Speed (Electronic) - 1/40000 sec
    •   High Max Continuous Shooting - 20.0 fps
    •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/250 sec

    Video

    GOOD
    72

    We give Leica SL2 a score of 72 for Video parameters.

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   High Video Resolution - 4992 x 3744
    •   Low Video Recording Limit

    Focusing

    GOOD
    80

    We give Leica SL2 a score of 80 for Focusing parameters.

    •   225 Focus Points
    •   Touch-to-Focus
    •   Face Detection
    •   Live View Autofocus

    Screen and Viewfinder

    GOOD
    82

    We give Leica SL2 a score of 82 for Screen and Viewfinder parameters.

    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Large Screen - 3.2"
    •   High Resolution Screen - 2,100k dot
    •   High Resolution Viewfinder - 5,760k dot

    Connectivity

    EXCELLENT
    95

    We give Leica SL2 a score of 95 for Connectivity parameters.

    •   High USB Speed
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   Built-In Bluetooth

    Battery, Storage and Physical

    GOOD
    70

    We give Leica SL2 a score of 70 for Battery, Storage and Physical parameters.

    •   Environmental Sealing
    •   Weight - 916 g (2.02 lb / 32.31 oz)
    •   Short Battery Life - 370 shots
    •   2 Storage Slots


    For a full specification list please go to the specifications page:

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