Field Test: Leica’s Versatile SL2
Future-proofed and incredibly versatile, the German company’s latest full-frame mirrorless camera
After being sworn to secrecy for so long, we can finally talk about the latest product from legendary German camera-maker Leica: their new full-frame mirrorless camera, the SL2. In early October, we joined the brand in Wetzlar, Germany at their Leitz-Park campus for a few days of field testing the SL2 and to gain a better understanding of what exactly makes a Leica a Leica.
On more than one occasion, our shoot-from-the-hip focal length estimate was off, but thanks to the giant .DNG file the SL2 yields, we ended up finding unexpected moments by cropping in on areas of the image in focus. With any of the SL lenses mounted up though, you’d have to actively try to miss a shot, especially with the addition of a new Smart AF mode that autonomously switches between focus priority and shutter-release priority.
Essentially, the SL2 is the most versatile camera Leica has ever produced—and it’s not the most expensive. With the aforementioned L-Mount Alliance bringing more affordable lenses into the fold, Leica has opened the door for more people to justify choosing the SL2 over other similarly priced cameras. The value in a Leica is especially apparent after peeking behind the curtain and seeing the cameras and lenses being crafted. The processes by which Leica equipment is designed and manufactured, as well as the consideration given to the full life of their products, is the best in the industry. When other manufacturers’ bodies need to be replaced, Leica’s are just gaining patina. It’s a different approach to ownership, and one that is increasingly uncommon given how fast technology progresses.
The Leica SL2 will never go out of style as it adheres to timeless design principles. By not fighting in the megapixel battle, Leica has already future-proofed the camera with its exceptional build quality. When you buy a Leica, you’re buying a piece of a brand’s very specific mission: to encourage photographers to go out and bring their visions to life.
COOL HUNTING always gets permission to use the images we publish; however, as an independent publication, we cannot afford to continue fighting unfair claims of copyright infringement, so the images have been removed from this post.
