Leica’s recently launched SL2 comes hot on the heels of the highly successful predecessor, which hit the market in 2015, the SL. Taking into account feedback from photographers and existing SL owners, Leica sought to push the envelope of technological innovation and performance as far as it could go, while still respecting its heritage of design and legacy.
Along with improved ergonomics and a more comfortable grip, and the established and simplified three-button control layout, cutting-edge new features include in-body image stabilisation to unlock newfound potential from legendary Leica M-Lenses.
The only mirrorless camera designed and crafted in Germany, the all-metal construction of the body boasts IP54 certification, ensuring elevated weather sealing for those working in more rugged conditions.
Internally, the SL2 full-frame 47-megapixel CMOS sensor boasts a colour depth of 14 bits per RGB channel and a sensitivity of up to ISO 50,000. In terms of autofocus, the camera features Leica’s new Object Detention AF to ensure fast and reliable AF. The system also automatically detects whether a subject is stationary or in motion, and subsequently switches between motion and focus priority.
Also, under the hood is the new Maestro III processor which effectively boosts AF speed and allows for virtually lag-free shutter release in any shooting situation. The SL2 can capture up to 10fps with the mechanical shutter, and 20fps with the electronic shutter.
Those seeking to capture ultra-high-resolution images will appreciate the multi-shot mode, whereby the tripod-mounted camera can record up to eight consecutive frames, producing an image of around 187 megapixels. And to store all your files, the camera has two UHS-II-compatible SD card slots.
The camera’s electronic viewfinder boasts a resolution of 5.76 megapixels, while the touchscreen has increased in size to a 3.2-inch diagonal, and now offers a significantly higher resolution of 2.1 megapixels.
Those capturing motion will be pleased to learn that the SL2 can record up to 60 frames per second in Cine 4K mode, and up to 180 frames per second in Full-HD mode. Activating Cine mode transforms the SL2 into a manually controlled cine camera as ISO becomes ASA, the shutter speed is marked in degrees on the rotary disk shutter, and the f-stops indicating the aperture ratio are replaced by T-stops, which measure the actual amount of light transmitted through the lens.
Connecting audio equipment is via a built-in headphones and mic jack, along with an HDMI connector for external monitors. Thanks to two dedicated status menus for stills and video recording, the parameters for either shooting mode can be adjusted entirely separately from each other.
Featuring an L-bayonet lens mount, the Leica SL2 is compatible with SL-System lenses, TL-System lenses and Leica’s M, S, and R-Systems lenses via adapter, offering more than 170 Leica lens options.
The Leica SL2 will be available via Leica Stores and authorised Leica dealers AU$9,900 (body only).
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TECHNICAL DATA LEICA SL2
Camera type
Mirrorless full-frame system camera
Type no.
2998
Buffer memory
4 GB: DNG™: 78 recordings / JPG: > 100 recordings
Storage medium
UHS-II (recommended), UHS-I, SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card
Material
Full-metal housing made of aluminum and magnesium, leatherette, cover, splash-water protected in compliance 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, HDMI jack 2.0b Type A, USB 3.1 Gen1 Type C, Audio-Out 3.5 mm/Audio-In 3.5 mm, communication interface in the base cover for multifunction hand grip
Dimensions (WxHxD)
146 x 107 x 42 mm
Weight
approx. 835 g (without battery)
SENSOR
Sensor size
CMOS sensor, pixel pitch: 4.3 μm / Fullframe (47.3 MP): 8368 x 5584 pixels / APS-C (20.2 MP): 5504 x 3664 pixels
Image Stabilization
5 axis Body Image Stabilization. Camera stabilizes up to 5.5 stops.
Filter
RGB color filter, UV/IR filter, no low-pass filter
Processor
Leica Maestro series (Maestro III)
File formats
Photo: DNG™ (raw data), DNG + JPG, JPG (DCF, Exif 2.31) Video: MP4: H.264/MPEG-4 AVC (Audio Format: 2ch 48 kHz/16 bit, AAC), MOV: H.264/MPEG-4 AVC (Audio Format: 2ch 48 kHz/16 bit, AC-3)
Picture resolution
DNG™: 8368 x 5584 pixels (46.7 MP) JPG: 8368 x 5584 pixels (46.7 MP), 6000 x 4000 pixels (24 MP), 4272 x 2848 pixels (12 MP)
Color depth
DNG™: 14 bit, JPG: 8 bit
Color space
Picture: sRGB, ECI-RGB v2.0, Adobe RGB Video: Rec. 709/Rec. 2020 (HLG)/L-Log
File size
DNG™: 84.4 MB JPG: depending on resolution and image content Video: max. length: 29 min, max. file size: 96 GB
Recording Mode Video
Video mode: P - A - S – M / Cine mode: M
Video resolution/frame rate
MOV 5K: 29.97 fps, 25 fps, 23.98 fps / MOV C4K: 59.94 fps, 50 fps, 29.97 fps, 25 fps, 24 fps / MOV 4K: 59.94 fps, 50 fps, 29.97 fps, 25 fps, 23.98 fps / MOV FHD: 180 fps, 150 fps, 120 fps, 100 fps, 59.94 fps, 50 fps, 29.97 fps, 25 fps, 23.98 fps / MP4 4 K: 59.94 fps, 50 fps, 29.97 fps, 25 fps, 23.98 fps / MP4 FHD: 180 fps, 150 fps, 120 fps, 100 fps, 59.94 fps, 50 fps, 29.97 fps, 25 fps, 23.98 fps
Bit Rate
8/10 bit for recordings on SD card, 10 bit via HDMI output
Video Gamma
Rec. 709, L-Log Rec. 2020, HLG Rec. 2020
Viewfinder (EVF)
Resolution: 5,760,000 dots, 120 fps, magnification: 0.78x, aspect ratio: 4:3, frame coverage: 100%, exit pupil position: 21 mm, setting range +2/-4 diopters, with eye sensor for automatic switchover between viewfinder and LCD panel, time delay 0.005 s
LCD panel
3.2" (backlight LED) with anti-fingerprint and anti-scratch coating, 2,100,000 pixels (dots), format 3:2, touch control available
Top display
1.28" highly reflective trans-reflective monochrome LCD, 128 x 128 pixels, viewing angle 120°; anti-fingerprint coating
SHUTTER
Shutter type
Electronically controlled focal plane shutter/electronic shutter
Shutter speeds
Mech. shutter: 30 min to 1⁄8000 s / Electr. shutter function: 1 s to 1⁄40000 s / Flash Synch: up to 1/250 s
Shutter button
Two-stage (1st stage: Activation of the camera electronics including autofocus and exposure metering, 2nd stage: Taking the picture)
Self-timer
Delay time: 2 s or 12 s
Picture Series
Single Continuous Low Speed (3 fps), Continuous Medium Speed (6 fps), Continuous High Speed (10 fps without AFc/AE/WB), Continuous Super Speed (20 fps with electr. shutter function without AFc/AE/WB), Interval Shooting, Exposure Bracketing, Multishot
Multishot
Generates 2 DNGs: 1x 47 MP, 1x 187 MP (8 pictures are combined into one high-res image)
FOCUSING
Working range
30cm to ∞, With macro setting: from 17 cm
Focus Mode
Automatic (Autofocus in modes iAF/AFs/AFc/Touch AF) or manual. With manual setting: Auto Magnification and Focus Peaking optionally available as focus aids
Autofocus system
Based on contrast metering and depth mapping
Autofocus modes
Smart AF (autonomously selects AFs and AFc), AFs (picture taken only after successful focusing), AFc (picture can be taken at any time), AF setting can be saved
Autofocus Metering methods
Spot (can be shifted), Field (can be shifted), Multi-Field, Zone, Face detection, object Tracking, optional Touch AF
Autofocus Metering Fields
225
EXPOSURE
Exposure metering
TTL ('Through The Lens' exposure metering)
Exposure Metering Methods
Spot, Center-Weighted, Multi-Field
Exposure modes
Automatic program (P), Aperture priority (A): manual aperture setting, Shutter priority mode (S): manual shutter speed setting Manual (M): manual setting for shutter speed and aperture
Exposure Compensation
±3 EV in 1⁄3 EV increments or 1/2 EV increments
Automatic bracketing
3 or 5 exposures, up to ±3 EV, in 1⁄3 EV increments Shift function: up to ±3 EV, additional LPG-HDR
ISO sensitivity range
Auto ISO: ISO 100 to ISO 50000, Manual: ISO 50 to ISO 50000
White balance
Automatic (Auto), Daylight 5200 K, Cloudy 6000 K, Shadow 7000 K, Tungsten 3200 K, HMI 5600 K, Fluorescent Warm 4000 K, Fluorescent Cold 4500 K, Flash 5400 K, Gray Card Live View, Gray Card, Color Temperature 2000 K to 11500 K
FLASH
Flash unit connector
About the accessory shoe
Flash sync time
1⁄250 s, slower shutter speeds available, automatic changeover to TTL linear flash mode with HSS-compatible Leica flash units if sync time is undercut
Flash exposure metering
Using center-weighted TTL pre-flash metering with Leica flash units (SF 26, 40, 40MkII, 58, 60, 64) or with system-compatible flash units, flash remote control SF C1
Flash exposure compensation
SF 40: ±2 EV in 1⁄2 EV increments, SF 60: ±2 EV in 1⁄3 EV increments
EQUIPMENT
Microphone
Stereo internal + microphone input 3.5 mm stereo jack
Speaker
Mono internal + headphones output 3.5 mm stereo jack
WLAN
The Leica FOTOS app is required to use the WLAN function. The Leica app is available from the Apple App Store™ or the Google Play Store™. Compliant with Wi-Fi IEEE802.11b/g/n, 2.4 GHz, channel 1-11 (2412-2462 MHz) and Wi-Fi IEEE802.11ac, 2.4 GHz & 5 GHz, channel 39-48 (5180-5240 MHz), channel 52-64 (5260-5320 MHz), channel 100-140 (5500-5700 MHz) (standard WLAN protocol), encryption method: WLAN-compatible WPA™/WPA2™
Bluetooth
Bluetooth v4.2 (Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)), 2402 to 2480 MHz
GPS
Via Leica FOTOS app
POWER SUPPLY
Rechargeable battery (Leica BP-SCL4)
Lithium-ion rechargeable battery, rated voltage: 7.2 V (DC); capacity: 1860 mAh (min.), approx. 370 recordings (based on CIPA standard, without EVF); charging time: approx. 140 min (after deep discharge); manufacturer: Panasonic Energy (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Made in China
USB Power Supply
USB charger function in standby mode or when switched off, USB power supply when switched on
Charger (Leica BC-SCL4)
Input: AC 100–240 V, 50/60 Hz, 0.25 A, automatic switchover; Output: DC 8.4 V 0.85 A; Manufacturer: Salom Electric (Xiamen) Co., Ltd., Made in China
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