Leica Announces the SL2 Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera: My First-Hand Impressions

Leica has just announced its successor to its full-frame mirrorless camera, and it just might be a sign they are listening to the demands of professional photographers. The Leica SL2 has a 47.3-megapixel sensor, an updated Maestro III processor, and is capable of 20 fps bursts. It can shoot video up to 5K 30 fps, C4K 60 fps, and has 5-axis IBIS. 

The original Leica SL hit the market in 2015 with several interesting takes on what a mirrorless full-frame camera could be. Last year, I took the SL for a week in the desert and was surprised just how well the three-year-old camera performed. However, the mirrorless market is a lot different today, with a lot of competition, with even higher demands from photographers.

Medium Format Quality From a Full-Frame Mirrorless: Review of the Leica Sl (Typ 601)

In late 2015 the luxury camera company Leica released the Leica SL (Type 601) a full-frame mirrorless camera that came packed with top of the line features ready to compete with Canon and Nikon’s flagship DSLRs. Roughly two years later, and with several new advancements in camera offerings, how does the Leica perform? Can it still compete with other flagship models?

To find out I took the Leica with me on my recent trip to Las Vegas for WPPI and put it through a solid week of shooting in the Nevada deserts. In this review, I’m going to cover my impressions, show sample images, and try to give you an idea of just who this camera is for.