Unfiltered First Impressions | LEICA SL3

In this unfiltered review, I take a closer look at the newly released Leica SL3. Designed for professionals, this camera boasts impressive features and performance. Is it worth the hype? Find out in this honest and detailed review of the Leica SL3 coming all the way from the home of Leica in Wetzlar, Germany.

Full Article with Sample Photos

SHOP WOTANCRAFT BAGS

► ABOUT ME

JOIN ME CHANNEL MEMBERSHIP FOR ONLY $4.99 A MONTH
Support the channel and take your photography to the next level. For the price of a coffee, you’ll get:
* Early Access to new content
* Priority Answers to your questions
* Exclusive Bonus Content
* Access to a Private Facebook Group where I review photos and give monthly assignments
Join now and be part of our creative community!

CHANNEL ETHICS STATEMENT
Leica paid my expenses for this trip but my review and thoughts are genuine and Leica doesn't see or have any input on this review. I'm a photojournalist and have strong roots as a journalist and I consider myself relatively successful. I also photograph luxury resorts in exotic places for a living so a free trip to Germany in the winter time isn't enough to purchase my opinion. That would cost two camera bodies and several Noctilux lenses. In all honesty, I only review equipment I own or that I'm interested in owning and my reviews and thoughts are always genuine.

TIMESTAMPS
0:00 INTRO
1:20 UI AND DESIGN
1:40 SIZE
2:28 ON\OFF SWITCH
3:08 TILTABLE SCREEN
3:43 BUTTON LAYOUT
3:57 JOY FOR JOYSTICK
5:07 NEW SENSOR
5:33 NO INTERNAL STORAGE
6:30 AUTOFOCUS
6:53 NEW BATTERY
7:00 CONNECTIVITY
8:06 ISO
8:25 ACCESSORY KIT
8:58 VIDEO
9:00 CONCLUSION

[AlexCaesar]

Appreciate you asking them the real questions! I love my Leicas, but too many of these YouTube gear reviewers are full on Leica simps who give off a marketing/sales vibe and never talk about any cons or challenge any decisions the brand makes. Glad you got invited out there!

[jklphoto]

Happy to see they had the good sense to invite you Justin! Respect. Only need one opinion to decide if I wanted to buy this camera. Yours. TY!

[benjhaisch]

Dude! Congrats on the Wetzlar trip! Stoked to see they got you on the list.

[rozcappello]

Quick and concise. Great job identifying both the major and subtle important upgrades.

[smor]

Thx😅 for the good news about future update of joystick SL2 🎉

[wanderingwongs]

Thanks for the video, Justin. As an SL2 user, are the changes enough to upgrade?

[zoltankaparthy]

B&H taking body orders at US$5, 995. Leica fixed length lenses at ~$5K. Going head-to-head with the X2D. If Leica has the AF that Sony has it is killer. Now if HB just had the really fast AF. Upgrade? Hopefully. The SL3 looks like a winner. Leica makes nice gear.

[cw]

Will transferring files will be fast with the app with other leica cameras?

[iSpike]

📸 The stuff that DREAMS are made of & if you don’t have a dream how can you make it come true. Like a good ROLEX watch a LEICA SL3 is a good investment and wonderful camera to have as a family heirloom to hand down to the next generation of photographer filmmaker. I now know what I am working towards and saving up for.✌🏻😎🇦🇺 fyi - $20k to $30k camera & a couple of lenses (AUD)

[pothast]

Verschlimmbessern :D Great!!!! I love it :)

[cityproofdad]

is that Chris and Jordan from PetaPixel with you there in Germany leica press??

[guillaumebouqueau]

Nice of Leica to release the SL3 on my 45th BD but I can’t afford it. 😄

[paulbegg.photography]

Interesting changes to the SL. It's a serious piece of kit aimed at a particular market, and likely too much camera for the average Joe - who possibly wants to travel light - something the M System speaks to. For commercial work, studio work - it's likely a winner, especially with the awesome autofocus tech. Are you planning to buy and replace the Sony kit? Hmmm .... 🤭

[brianhigginsphoto]

dude is so comfy at 100mph... f'n love it.

[FacesOfLA]

Can you change your image for your video of you kissing the camera? It looks really odd.

[cw]

I agree with you I really care about a 1TB SSD internal storage for example with a 1Gbps is just a small electronic chip to do all that, and they don’t even to invent a new one

[bad_photography]

Who is the good looking guy at 9:45 ? 😮

[madtom]

So, you're going to get one??? 😂

[cw]

If a German saw my comment write for me the term that man said

[Caracalaba]

Almost all physical changes make it look less of a Leica. Adding a chamfer, and a giant On button with a glowing disc around...really??