Camera ReviewMorten Byskov - 5050 TravelogOctober 27, 2026Leica SL3-P First Impressions Review, Leica SL3-P sample images, Leica SL3-P sample photos, Leica SL3-P, Leica SL3-P and Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG II ArtComment

Leica SL3-P First Impressions

The Leica SL3-P and Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art — My buddy Chris, trying the Leica SL3-P with my Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art

Leica Now Offers Three SL Cameras

As an avid Leica SL2-S user, I pay special attention when Leica announces new SL cameras. It has happened three times since I got my SL2-S in 2024.

Leica announced the SL3 just days after I got the SL2-S, and I got to review it then. The SL3 introduced a new body style, a 60-megapixel sensor, phase-detect autofocus, and a new menu system with cool-looking fonts. It also added video specs and other features, including an articulating screen.

The SL3-S followed in early 2025, with similar features to the SL3 but with a 24-megapixel sensor.

Fast forward to June of 2026, and we now have the third SL camera (in current production), the SL3-P. With its 45-megapixel sensor, it has been hailed as the “sweet spot” in the SL lineup.

I got to spend a few minutes with the SL3-P this week, which obviously isn’t enough to form a solid opinion. I did, however, take a few shots and will share a few thoughts in this post. I am a still photographer, so I won’t address the camera's video features.

Front window of Revolver Coffee in Vancouver. Sample image from a Leica SL3-P — Revolver Coffee, Vancouver, Leica SL3-P, Panasonic Lumix S 40mm f/2 @ f/2

Cost and Why Not a Panasonic S1R II?

It’s on everybody’s lips in the photography community.

The new Leica SL3-P costs USD $6,690.00 or CAD $9,375.00, while the Panasonic Lumix S1R II, which many speculate has the same sensor, costs around USD $3,000.00 and is currently on sale in Canada for CAD $4,000.00.

This is a significant price difference between two cameras that I believe will deliver very similar image quality. If you shoot JPEGs, some may debate Leica’s creative photo styles (Leica Looks) versus Panasonic LUTs, and if you like either camera's apps, one may sway you depending on taste and preference.

If, however, you shoot RAW only, Panasonic offers picture styles readily available in Lightroom, including a Leica Monochrom preset, which I find quite impressive. Leica doesn't offer this option; you have to use in-camera JPEGs or apply presets/looks in the Leica app.

Leica SL3-P and Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art — Leica SL3-P with my Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art

What is Appealing about the SL3-P?

If the Panasonic S1R II and Leica deliver similar results, what makes photographers pay more than double for a Leica SL3-P?

The best words I can find are build quality, design aesthetics, finesse, and user experience. Let’s break this down.

There is no denying the SL3-P feels more solid in the hand than the Panasonic. It also weighs slightly more at 852 g, including battery and media, versus 795 g for the S1R II.

In terms of design aesthetics, the Leica is a clear winner, in my opinion, with a very minimalist design. If you prefer customization, however, the S1R II has more buttons and dials.

The SL3-P offers finesse through an elegant user interface, which is something perhaps only Hasselblad can match. This leads to a great user experience. I can attest to this after using the SL2-S for more than two years.

Back alley in Vancouver. Sample image from a Leica SL3-P and Voigtländer Nokton 50mm f/1.2 VM, — Vancouver, Leica SL3-P, Voigtländer Nokton 50mm f/1.2 VM

Image Quality

I will not pass a conclusive judgment on the SL3-P's image quality until I've had more time with it. In the few sample images I captured, the photos look as expected and clearly have more resolution than I’m used to with my SL2-S.

That said, viewing the images on my 16” MacBook Pro, I am not sure I personally would benefit much from this resolution bump, but at the same time admit it would be nice at times for landscape photography when I want to crop extensively (which only happens occasionally).

View the sample images in this article, which can be up to 2500 pixels wide depending on your monitor size, or pinch-zoom on mobile.

Wrapping it Up

As it stands, I won’t be getting either the SL3-P or S1R II for my own kit, mostly because my SL2-S has what I need and I only occasionally crave more resolution.

If push came to shove, I'd choose the S1R II, even though I much prefer the Leica camera's build quality and aesthetics. It simply boils down to cost. I find the cost of these higher-end Leica models exorbitant, so I would wait a few years for a used copy to appear, as I did with my SL2-S.

Spending more time with the SL3-P may heighten my excitement about this camera, which, at first glance, seems to earn the “sweet spot” label in the SL lineup. I forgot to mention that the EVF is amazing, and the shutter sound reminds me of a determined Nikon camera. There is a lot to like about this camera, and if you can spare the dough, why not.

Please see more sample images below.