Other Leica SL Articles

The Leica SL (type 601) Review: Part 2 - User Experience

Meeting with the Leica SL (type 601) Designers and other bits and pieces

Leica Das Wesentliche - SL Launch at Leitz Park

The LEICA SL (TYP 601): Part 1 - Introduction and Initial Thoughts

By now you’ve probably heard of this new full-frame autofocus camera and system from Leica Camera – the Leica SL. There have been rumours milling around social networks and forums for weeks and speculation has been at an all-time high. Most of the rumours initially pointed to a new M camera, possibly with autofocus. This rumour then changed to an interchangeable lens mirrorless camera based on the Leica Q, which isn’t quite accurate. The Q really surprised many of us when it was launched because it was Leica’s first real success at nailing autofocus, by meeting and exceeding the performance of competing products. It’s clear that Leica’s technological partnering with Panasonic and others has been a very good match as it’s allowed Leica to catch up to the competition, and in the case of the freshly announced SL, possibly leapfrog it!

Personally, I’ve wanted Leica to make the SL for years. While the Leica M is my camera of passion and creativity, it’s hasn’t always been the most capable tool for a majority of assignments I do. Being a proficient photographer depends very heavily on using the right tools for the job, and for a lot of my work I require a camera capable of meeting the demanding requirements of fast paced changing situations, and this is where the realm of professional autofocus cameras with zoom lenses have major advantages over cameras like the Leica M.

The M is all about simplicity and keeping things minimal, and is most suited to documentary and basic portrait work, which is where it’s DNA comes from. Speaking of DNA, the new SL is positioned as a professional mirrorless camera system with many similarities from the S-System, and the name refers to the German word ‘Spiegellos”, meaning “ Mirrorless” . The SL name has also been derived from Leica’s first SLR camera, originally named the ‘Leica SL’.....or another way to look at is that it can't be named an SLR, as it lacks the reflex mirror, so 'SL' will suffice.

From Wikipedia