Leica SL2-S: A new mirrorless camera with professional cinema specs announced

Leica SL2-S full-frame mirrorless camera announced with 24.6MP sensor with IBIS anti-aliasing and ISO up to 100000.4.

And the camera receives L-mount lenses. The camera can capture up to 25 frames per second 14-bit continuous raw DNG (no sound) internally without limits. Additionally, it is a photographic camera that captures stills, and video up to DCI 4K 30fps in 4: 2: 2 10-bit or DCI 4K 60fps in 4: 2: 0 8-bit. The Leica SL2-S can be pre-ordered for $ 4,895.

For nearly a year, LEICA introduced the full-frame mirrorless SL2 camera. It made headlines with its impressive video specs, like 5K30p, 4K60p, and 10-bit internal video. Shortly after the announcement in November 2019, the German camera company today announced a new Leica SL2-S full-frame mirrorless camera.

Fox automatic

Autofocus is an important topic for mirrorless cameras for video in 2020. The Leica SL2-S features a contrast-based object detection AF system. It can be refreshed up to 480 fps and works in both still and video recording modes. In addition to the subject tracking applications using the body detection mode. Features 225 selectable AF areas.

Leica SL2-S 24.6MP sensor camera with IBIS

At the heart of the new SL2-S is a 24.6-megapixel full-frame BSI CMOS imaging sensor (6072 x 4056) 3: 2 paired with LEICA's Maestro III image processor. This is, of course, a lower resolution than the 47.3 megapixels in the Leica SL2, but for us filmmakers it helps to have fewer pixels, but larger because it promises better performance in low light.

Up to 25 fps 14-bit DNG Raw images

When it comes to the still image function, the camera can capture raw DNG images at up to 25 fps at 14-bit resolution with an electronic shutter (9 fps with a mechanical shutter). The interesting thing to me is that the camera should be able to keep 25fps in DNG raw. And that's for unlimited (or virtually unlimited? - marketing materials not specifically clear) with the built in 4GB buffer.

In theory this means that the camera is already capable of shooting DNG raw video at 6K, 25fps, and 14-bit resolution. This is not possible on paper. However, usability must be tested in the real world first. There will be no audio recording in this mode of course.

Video recording

When it comes to indoor video recording modes, there is no 5K30p mode we saw in SL2. SL2-S at DCI 4K and all internal recording modes are available on H. There is no time limit for video recording. The camera can record internally at the following resolutions and frame rates:

• (2160) 24.00p / 25p / 29.97p - 400MB / s MOV 4: 2: 2 10-bit
• DCI 4K (4096 x 2160) at 50p / 59.94p - 150Mbps MOV 4: 2: 0 8-bit
• UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) @ 23.976p / 25p / 29.97p - 400MB / s MOV 4: 2: 2 10-bit
• UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) @ 50p / 59.94p - 150MB / s MOV 4: 2: 0 8-bit
• Full HD (1920 x 1080) 23.976p / 25p / 29.97p / 50p / 59.94p - 200Mbps MOV 4: 2: 2 10-bit
• Full HD (1920 x 1080) 100p / 119.88p / 180p - 200MB / s MOV 4: 2: 0 8-bit
• UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) @ 23.976p / 25p / 29.97p / 50p / 59.94p - 100 to 150Mbps MP4 4: 2: 0 8-bit
• Full HD (1920 x 1080) at 23.976p / 25p / 29.97p / 50p / 59.94p / 100p / 119.88p / 180p - 20 to 150Mbps MP4 4: 2: 0 8-bit
• (840 x 2160) at 23.976p / 25p / 29.97p / 50p / 59.94p - 100 to 150Mbps MP4 4: 2: 0 8-bit
• Full HD (1920 x 1080) at 23.976p / 25p / 29.97p / 50p / 59.94p / 100p / 119.88p / 180p - 20 to 150Mbps MP4 4: 2: 0 8-bit

The camera uses a dual SD card slot for UHS-II SD cards. There is Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) mode and L-Log gamma profile. Externally, the camera can output up to DCI 4K 59.94fps 4: 2: 2 10-bit via the full size HDMI port

The body of the Leica SL2-S camera

The camera body features a durable, weatherproof magnesium alloy design. The weight of the camera body, battery and memory card is 931 grams. There is a 5.76m-dot EyeRes OLED EVF and a 3.2 x 2.1m-dot touchscreen at the rear.

Additionally, there is an LCD screen on top of the camera for displaying data. The SL2-S has two 3.5mm ports for external microphone and headphones.

The built-in USB Type-C port can be used to quickly transfer files, connect or charge the camera's high-speed battery. The Leica SL2-S uses BP-SCL4 lithium-ion battery packs of 1860mAh capacity

Price and availability in the market

The camera can be pre-ordered now. The camera body is $ 4,895 which is $ 1,000 less than the current SL2. It is also not far from other full-frame cameras that are unmatched in the market anymore. For example, the Canon EOS R5 and LUMIX S1H both sell for just under $ 4000.