24.6MP Full-Frame Sensor. At the heart of the Leica SL2-S is a versatile 24.6MP full-frame CMOS sensor. Leica has removed any and all low-pass filtration to deliver sharp, incredibly detailed imagery.

Maestro III Processor. The updated Maestro III processor, first seen in the SL2, delivers a sensitivity range of ISO 50-100,000 and clocks in with impressive speed-burst shooting at up to 25 fps with an electronic shutter and up to 9 fps with a mechanical shutter all for up to 78 consecutive DNG images and a bottomless pit of unlimited JPEGs.

DCI and UHD 4K 10-Bit Video. The SL2-S shoots DCI and UHD 4K at 60 fps using either the full-frame sensor area or an APS-C/Super 35mm crop, and Full HD in a full-frame format at speeds of up to 180 fps for smooth slow motion. The SL2-S supports internal 10-bit 4:2:2 recording for frame rates up to 30p and 8-bit 4:2:0 for 60p frame rates. All video output to an external recorder via the HDMI port is 10-bit. You can use the dedicated Hybrid Log Gamma Photo Style mode and L-Log gamma profile to expand highlight and shadow details for greater flexibility when color grading. A large firmware update planned for 2021 will add a waveform monitor, color bars with a test tone, segmented video that preserves footage in case your battery dies, automatic follow-focus operation, and 10-bit APS-C 4K/60p capture using the more efficient H.265 codec.

Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization. The SL2-S’s five-axis image-stabilization system keeps things ultra-sharp even when you’re shooting hand-held. The Multishot Mode uses this camera’s sensor-shift stabilization technology to capture and compile eight separate exposures into a single 96MP RAW or JPEG file. Multishot Mode is great when using a tripod or when you’re shooting stationary subjects, since it gives you a more color-accurate, highly detailed image than a single shot would and because the resulting image has a 12000 × 8000 pixel resolution.

Object-Detection Autofocus. Leica’s extremely fast and accurate Object-Detection autofocus system is great for still and video shooting, and its 225 selectable autofocus areas give you extensive control over where the camera will focus. The aforementioned 2021 firmware update will add eye, face, head, and body detection and tracking for even greater performance.

Legendary Lensing. The Leica L-mount system offers users an incredible amount of flexibility when it comes to lensing. The native full-frame SL-series glass benefits from electronic communication for fast autofocus, electronic aperture control, and optical image stabilization. And then there are the adapters—this camera supports Leica M, S, R, and TL lenses. Please note that TL lenses will only cover the APS-C/Super 35mm sensor area.

User-Friendly Design. The SL2-S carries over much of the SL2’s intuitive, user-friendly body design. Its ergonomic design means that you can comfortably shoot for long periods of time, and it boasts a streamlined control interface. A large, 3.2-inch, 2.1m-dot rear touchscreen allows you to swipe through settings and images and to focus on any part of the image with a quick tap. A small black-and-white LCD on top of the camera allows you to quickly check and change your current settings without having to use the rear screen or peek into the viewfinder. The 5.76m-dot EyeRes EVF combines 0.8x magnification and 100% coverage to give you a beautiful view. You get a USB Type-C port for fast file transfer and high-speed in-camera battery charging, an HDMI Type-A port that’s great for video, and 3.5mm mic and headphone jacks for pro-grade audio recording.

Power and Memory. Like the standard SL2, this camera uses the rechargeable BP-SCL4 lithium-ion battery, which is rated for approximately 510 shots per charge. You get dual UHS-II SD memory-card slots for flexible image-storage options, letting you store RAW and JPEG files on different cards, save the same files to both cards, or use one card as overflow storage after the other is full.