Leica SL3P Review: One of the Fastest Cameras on the Market

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During my short review period with the Leica SL3P, I remember putting it in the hands of a few folks. Both a Nikon user and a user of Fujifilm and LUMIX commented at how fast the camera is. It’s fascinating though; I just always felt like the Leica SL3 series of cameras were fast to begin with. But in a meeting with Leica’s reps, I was told that the Leica SL3P is faster than even the Leica SL3s. This mid-tier option shares the same body and design as the other cameras. But brings with it a mid-range full-frame sensor somewhere in the 40MP range. Plus, it’s got a whole lot more speed benefits too.

Admittedly, I’m going to be very frank in saying that I don’t think that we’re done reviewing the Leica SL3P. We didn’t test it for sports or wildlife photography. Instead, we tested it for photojournalism — which is pretty much what Leica cameras were always developed for anyway.

To that end, we still have a lot of testing to do and this review will be updated again at a later point.

The Big Picture: Leica SL3P Review Conclusions

A Leica camera rests on a wooden stool, with a sofa and pillow blurred in the background. — Leica SL3P product image

While I think we still have more testing to do, the Leica SL3P is receiving four out of five stars for the moment. When we call it back in, there’s a chance that may change and go up to five stars or go down to three. What I can tell you is that Leica’s human autofocus is still great for people of color and people in general.

They’ve also taken animals/birds out of beta and added other options too.

A digital camera with a flash attachment sits on a wooden stool indoors. — Leica SL3P product image

For everyone who has ever complained that Leica cameras are expensive, this one really isn’t all that bad. You’re getting speed, resolution, Leica looks, IP durability, Content Credentials, excellent battery life, and access to all the great L-mount lenses.

The Leica SL3P receives four out of five stars.

IP Durability rating
Nice image quality
Content Credentials are still a thing
Improved autofocus
Still no shutter down feature when powered off to protect the camera sensor.
Excellent battery life
I wish Leica had done more with this camera.

Experience

A digital camera with a large lens rests on a wooden stool in a softly lit room. — Leica SL3P product image

We were sent the Leica SL3P from Leica along with their own 24-70mm f2.8. That lens stayed in the box and I took it along with my own Leica 28mm f2 SL, Panasonic 50mm f1.8, Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 Art, and the Viltrox 16mm f1.8 lens. All the lenses are ones that we own. Additionally, I tested the Leica SL3P with the Profoto B10 and the Profoto Pro Controller, which I own.

The Leica SL3P is a camera that when you hold, it’s hard not to fall in love with immediately. Everyone who handled it around me stated how amazingly lightweight and well built it is along with adoring how nice the grip is. The body is identical to both the SL3 and the SL3s — which is a move that Sony, Nikon, and Panasonic all do with their camera bodies to encourage users to switch between bodies easily. It’s much unlike what Canon does. During my testing, I didn’t get a chance to take it out into the rain, but Leica’s IP durability rating is pretty legendary and very trustworthy.

A digital camera on a wooden stool displays its settings menu on the screen.

A camera on a stool shows a selfie of two people on its flip-out screen.

A black camera with a flip-up screen sits on a wooden stool in a dimly lit room.

A Leica camera with a Profoto flash attachment sits on a wooden stool in a dimly lit room.

A Leica camera with a large lens sits on a wooden stool in a softly lit room.

New to this camera is the full-frame sensor that’s somewhere in the 40MP range, a faster burst speed of around 15 FPS in mechanical shutter mode, and that’s really it. Otherwise, it retains lots of the other things that Leica’s other cameras have. It’s been a while, but they all have animal/bird detection out of beta and have included vehicle detection. There’s also still content credentials, the IP durability rating, etc.

If you’re familiar with the SL3 series, you’ll know that Leica did quite a bit to improve it from the SL2 series. There’s a tilting LCD screen, Content Credentials, two top dials for controls, Leica looks, a new battery, etc.

Person in a pink dress with pink and blue hair, posing confidently at an outdoor event. — Leica SL3P sample image edited with the Phoblographer Analog Presets

Something I didn’t get a chance to test is how the SL3P works with older Leica SL batteries. I own the SL2s, and I know that when older batteries are put into some of the cameras that things and settings change. I can assume that the drive speed and a few other settings may stop functioning. And if you’ve been with the Leica SL system for a while, this is worthy to note. At least they used the same battery body — unlike what Sony has done recently.

All of my tests involving the camera’s scene detection systems were done during the day. Anything I did at night and in the dark didn’t require them. Either way the autofocus performed really well with there only being one case I remember where the camera couldn’t get focus on someone.

Unlike what so many people do with other cameras keeping them in AF-C mode, I didn’t feel I really needed to do that here. It felt like shooting with a natural evolution of a DSLR — and ultimately that means that I’m making more decisions as a photographer instead of outsourcing brain power to a device. Therefore, I feel using this camera fights brain rot so much.

Image Quality

Man in New York Knicks gear and gold chain smiling at a street event, surrounded by other fans. — Leica SL3P sample image

As far as image quality goes, there isn’t really a whole lot to talk about. Leica’s image quality is really solid and includes options such as Leica looks and using a ton of different L-mount and adapted M-mount lenses. Using Leica’s Apochromatic lenses gives your images a pop that you’d otherwise not really get with several other optics.

The following images were edited in Capture One using the Phoblographer’s presets.

A bowl of Thai larb salad with herbs, onion, and a spoon, set on a wooden table.

Cards Against Humanity cards are spread on a dark table next to a person’s arm, with more cards in a stack.

Sunlight and leafy shadows fall across a beige, quilted fabric surface, creating abstract patterns.

A “No Trespassing” sign is posted on a fence behind thick green bushes in front of a brick building.

Opened bag of stick-shaped snacks, partially filled, viewed from above on a table with other snack bags nearby.

Ornate wall with Middle Eastern patterns, flags above, and two people sitting below in a warmly lit room.

A lush green tree and bushes grow beside a sidewalk with a parked white car and a stop sign nearby.

A modern restaurant with hanging international flags, patterned walls, and people seated at tables.

Two men sit and talk on a couch in a sunlit living room with plants and a window in the background.

Elevated subway train passes above busy street with cars, shops, and Stanleys Furniture & Patio Covers store.

A glass mug of coffee sits on a wooden tray on a table in a softly lit café.

A white shelf holds hanging ferns and small potted plants near a window in a tiled room.

Wooden shelf with small potted plants and autumn-themed signs reading Blessed and Thankful with pumpkins.

A table with Thai dishes, including papaya salad, herbs, grilled meat, water, and iced tea.

A pile of assorted snack bags, including Lay’s and Doritos, on a wooden table with people in the background.

View inside an open snack bag, showing a small number of chocolate cereal pieces at the bottom.

Open bag of potato chips with seasoned chips visible inside.

A woman sits at a restaurant table with food, smiling, with decorative plates and a Nong Khai sign behind her.

A yellow plate with grilled meat slices and a small dipping sauce on a wooden table with water glasses.

A cozy living room with a blue sofa, pillows, plants, and sunlight streaming through a window with dark curtains.

A group of drummers in blue march in a parade; “Happy Sunny Pride” is written on the street in chalk.

A group of people in blue shirts play drums while parading under a bridge in an urban setting.

A diverse cheerleading group in uniform smiles and holds red pom-poms while marching under an urban overpass.

People marching joyfully in a parade under an overpass; one person twirls a rainbow ribbon in the foreground.

Smiling woman holds a small dog as it licks her cheek under an urban overpass with people in the background.

Bar menu board on a brick wall listing beers, ciders, and cocktails with prices above beer taps and snacks.

A lively group of people play drums under a bridge, wearing matching blue shirts at an outdoor event.

A marching band in blue costumes plays drums on a city street, with a woman leading them and raising her arm.

A lively group of women in blue shirts playing drums while marching in a city parade.

Cheerleaders with red pom-poms lead a lively parade down a city street on a sunny day.

A lively parade with people in blue shirts playing drums and smiling under trees on a sunny day.

Person with bright pink and blue hair in a peach dress posing confidently outdoors at an event.

Sunlight and shadows fall on overgrown plants and debris near a weathered concrete wall.

A small, old house stands in front of a large, modern apartment building on a sunny day.

Crowd celebrating in city street; person holds sign reading 53 years of heartbreak. Now I can finally die in peace.

Five young men pose and smile for the camera on a city street, some wearing basketball jerseys, tall buildings behind them.

Smiling woman in Knicks gear stands among a crowd at a city street event, holding a drink and wearing a gold chain.

Two young women smile outdoors; one holds a drink and wears a Knicks 2023 Champs shirt in a city street scene.

A group of people sit and stand on a metal structure in a city, with tall buildings in the background.

A group of people in sports jerseys cheer and take selfies on a city street, some standing on a fire truck.

Man in a white shirt and blue cap sits, giving a thumbs up, with city skyscrapers in the background.

A man in a Knicks shirt poses atop a truck surrounded by people, with tall buildings in the background.

A group of people gathers on a truck in a city, waving flags and wearing sports jerseys under cloudy skies.

Fans in Knicks gear celebrate on a city street, some sitting on a vehicle, one flashing a peace sign.

Crowd of people in Knicks gear sitting on a truck, surrounded by tall city buildings, taking photos and celebrating.

Group of New York Knicks fans posing and smiling at a street parade, holding a team flag.

A diverse group of young people gather on a city street, some sitting, some standing, many smiling and using phones.

A group of teens sit and celebrate on a parade float in a city with tall buildings in the background.

Fans in sports jerseys cheer and celebrate together on a city street, some holding cameras and phones.

A group of young people in New York Knicks jerseys celebrate on a city street, standing on a vehicle.

Two people pose and gesture beside a crosswalk signal in a city with tall buildings in the background.

Street vendor sells face masks at a crowded outdoor event; people are gathered and some count money.

Smiling woman in sunglasses and a cap at a busy street event, surrounded by people in sports jerseys.

A man in sports gear smiles while standing on a street pole during a city parade, with tall buildings behind him.

Large crowd of people in sports jerseys gathered on a city street with trees and buildings in the background.

A man in a yellow headband and peach hoodie stands on a city street with people and buildings in the background.

A man holds a blue shirt that reads Bitch Im a Knick in front of a crowd on a city street.

A smiling man in an orange cape stands among a crowd at a city street event, with someone filming nearby.

Three young men in sports jerseys pose and celebrate with a New York Knicks flag in a city with tall buildings.

Two people pose in front of tall skyscrapers in New York City on a cloudy day, looking relaxed and casual.

Older woman in sports gear smiles, holding phone, surrounded by a crowd in a city street celebration.

Fans wearing New York Knicks gear hold a blue Champions flag in a city plaza with tall buildings behind.

A young man in a Knicks Champions shirt stands outdoors with trees and tall buildings in the background.

Three men posing outside in a city, one wearing a Knicks jersey, buildings and trees in the background.

Smiling person in a blue Knicks jersey poses in front of a modern building with white, curved beams.

People in sports jerseys gather on a city street with tall buildings and a colorful digital screen in the background.

Fans in New York Knicks jerseys celebrate; one blows a horn and waves a Knicks flag in a lively street crowd.

A smiling woman in a blue dress holds a phone and poses in a busy city street crowd.

Three men in New York Knicks gear pose at an outdoor event on a city street, one holding up his index finger.

The following images were not edited.

A green sofa with a patterned pillow, sunlight and shadows falling across the seat.

Group of smiling people in New York Knicks shirts walking together on a city sidewalk.

Man holding a blue Bitch Im a Knick shirt at a busy city street, surrounded by basketball fans.

Two men pose together at a crowded outdoor event in New York Knicks gear, surrounded by basketball fans.

Two smiling men in New York sports gear stand together on a city street during a parade or event.

A man with an orange and blue beard wears a Champions Knicks shirt, standing by a red fence.

Woman in an orange cap making a peace sign and smiling on a city street with construction barriers.

Do You Really Want to Buy from Leica?

We believe that everyone should be aware of the ethical decisions that they’re making when they spend money. So to do this, we research the companies that whose products we test and make folks aware of both possible concerns and reasons to feel great about giving a company your money.

Here’s what we’ve got for Leica:

One of Leica’s biggest philanthropy projects is the Leica Women Foto Project and the LOBA Women Grant. Sony is one of the only other brands that does something like this.
Leica is one of the only camera manufacturers that offers repairs on really old items. You can have cameras from the mid-1900s repaired even today. None of the Japanese manufacturers offer this level of service. It’s one of the reasons why their products are so expensive.
Leica often works to really stand apart from other brands. One of the ways they’ve been doing this recently has been with their partnership with GigaPixel to make a camera that’s much different.
The brand has been known to rebadge Panasonic cameras essentially and then charge a premium. The same goes for both Sigma lenses and Panasonic lenses. Granted, they do a fair bit of changes to these products to make them feel organically their own. Often they’ll add durability changes and implement tech that the original product didn’t have.
As of 2026, Leica is the only brand to really implement to use of content credentials in a large scale process. With other brands, you often need to pay a fee. That’s because Leica does it via the hardware option.
Leica directly supports photography and photographers by incorporation the reminder that photography is art into their ethos. Hence why they have things like the Leica Gallery all across the world.
Leica’s website is very transparent about their privacy policies.
The company has the Leica Akademie, which helps photographers learn the craft of photography.
Leica UK has been involved in the Unsplash awards previously more than once. Unsplash is a brand we’ve been very critical of in their predatory practices.

Declaration of Journalistic Integrity

The Phoblographer is one of the last standing dedicated photography publications that speaks to both art and tech in our articles. We put declarations up front in our reviews to adhere to journalistic standards that several publications abide by. These help you understand a lot more about what we do:

At the time of publishing this review, Leica is not an advertiser with the Phoblographer. Regardless, this has nothing to do with our reviews.
Note that our reviews are constantly works in progress. This review will be updated later on.
None of our reviews on the Phoblographer, are sponsored. That’s against FTC laws and we adhere to them just the same way that newspapers, magazines, and corporate publications do.
Leica loaned the product and accessories to the Phoblographer for review. There was no money exchange between Leica and the Phoblographer for this to happen.
Leica knows that they cannot influence the site’s reviews. If we don’t like something or if we have issues with it, we’ll let folks know. We were the first publication to inform about the issue with the Leica M10R and how it renders the color orange.
Leica sent the product to Phoblographer in NYC to loan the camera to us. Our home office is based in New York.
At the time of publishing, the Phoblographer is the only photography publication that is a member of Adobe’s Content Authenticity Initiative. We champion human-made art and are frank with our audience. We are also the only photography publication that labels when an image is edited or not.

More can be found on our Disclaimers page.

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