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Leica SL PDF User Manual

Did you lose or misplace the instruction manual that came with your Leica SL (Typ 601)? It happens all too easily, but fortunately Leica makes a soft copy available that you can browse through online, print out, or download (see the pdf file below). It is certainly good practice to carefully familiarize oneself with the many different functionalities and options that the Leica SL offers, and the official user manual is without doubt an authoritative and comprehensive source of respective information.

That said, the instruction booklet can be a dry read, so that a dedicated camera guide book from a professional photographer that illustrates the camera's core functions in a real life photography context can be a very helpful complement. Yes, getting one of these camera guides (see here at amazon) would involve an additional expense, but if that book helps to exploit the camera's potential to the full, the (small) additional investment may well be worth it.

Also, you might want to check out the video tutorial on the Leica SL (Typ 601) below.

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In any case, the Leica SL is an advanced imaging tool, whose many features merit serious attention. This mirrorless interchangeable lens camera was announced on October 20th, 2015, which means that, as of today, the camera is 3104 days old (young?). The camera has meanwhile been discontinued and was succeeded by the Leica SL2 as a replacement in the same line of cameras.

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Leica's instruction manual for the Leica SL

The camera's instruction manual is 146 pages long. The pdf version is embedded below. As you browse through, you will hopefully find the information you are looking for. You can also print out a hard copy by right clicking on the manual and then choosing the respective menu option. For convenience, a summary of the key specs of the Leica SL is included towards the bottom of this webpage.

Don't forget to bookmark this page for future reference (Ctrl-Shift-D on a Windows PC; Cmd-Shift-D on a Mac). Happy browsing!

Click on the button below to download the pdf version of the Leica SL (Typ 601) manual to your computer. The file will open in a new browser window.

Download the Manual

If you prefer to read the user guide in another language, please check the respective availability on Leica's support site. That site also provides complementary online resources, such as information on the compatibility of various camera accessories or the availability of firmware updates that are not necessarily comprehensively covered in the instruction manual.

Printed, hardcopy versions of the Leica SL manual can sometimes be found online. You can check the availability on amazon and ebay via the buttons below.

amazon.com ebay.com

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Video tutorial for the Leica SL (Typ 601)

Perhaps instead of reading through a manual or operations guide, you might prefer to better familiarize yourself with your Leica SL by watching a video tutorial. It can notably help to quickly get to know the key functions and to set up your camera according to your particular preferences and needs.

Once again, the Leica SL is a sophisticated imaging tool and not exploiting its capabilities to the full would be a pity. Hence, taking the time to study online information material or to read through a well-written camera guide book is highly recommended to make the most of your purchase.

Find Leica SL guide book at
amazon.com

Leica SL FAQ

Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the Leica SL.

What is the technology behind the imaging sensor in the Leica SL?

The camera has a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor at its core.

Which image processing chip is used in the Leica SL to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?

Leica equipped the Leica SL with the Maestro II image processor.

What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Leica SL?

The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 50 to ISO 50000.

What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Leica SL (Typ 601)?

Leica does not publish a shutter rating for the Leica SL. Yet, shutters in comparable cameras from other manufacturers are said to be good for at least 100 000 actuations. It should be noted, though, that this number represents a Mean Time before Failure. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust an expected shutter life of 100 000 shots over, say, three years, one would have to take about 100 pictures each and every day.

Is completely silent shooting possible with the Leica SL?

The camera has an electronic shutter option, so that it is indeed feasible to capture images without any shutter noise.

Do I need to purchase an external camera trigger to shoot time-lapse sequences with the Leica SL?

No, the Leica SL (Typ 601) has an intervalometer built-in, so that low frequency shooting (for example, flower blooming, sunset, moon rise) can be undertaken without the need to purchase a separate external intervalometer and related software.

Is it difficult to use manual focus lenses with the Leica SL?

The Leica SL offers focus peaking as a manual focus aid. This feature works by placing a colored highlight on in-focus zones within the image.

What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with the Leica SL for flash photography?

The Leica SL's flash sync speed is 1/250 sec.

Does the Leica SL support the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus interface for SD cards?

Yes, the camera can indeed use UHS-II cards (data transfer speed of up to 312 MB/s) in its first slot, and UHS-I cards (up to 104 MB/s) in its second slot.

Which battery does the Leica SL use?

The camera gets its power from the Leica BP-SCL4 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.

Is there a vertical grip available for the Leica SL?

Yes, Leica offers the HG-SCL4 as an optional accessory to facilitate shooting in portrait orientation and to provide additional battery power.

Does the Leica SL support geotagging?

The Leica SL has a built-in GPS (Global Positioning System) module and can embed location information in the EXIF data of the captured image.

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Further reading

How does the Leica SL stack up against available alternatives? If you would like to see a side-by-side review with another camera, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. An an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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    Core camera specifications

    Here is a list of the main features and technical characteristics of the Leica SL (Typ 601).

    Specifications Summary
    Camera Model Leica SL
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Leica L mount lenses
    Launch Date October 2015
    Launch Price USD 7 450
    Sensor Specs
    Sensor Technology CMOS
    Sensor Format Full Frame Sensor
    Sensor Size 36.0 x 24.0 mm
    Sensor Area 864 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 43.3 mm
    Crop Factor 1.0x
    Sensor Resolution 24 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 6 000 x 4 000 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 6.00 μm
    Pixel Density 2.78 MP/cm2
    Moiré control no AA filter
    Movie Capability 4K/30p Video
    ISO Setting 50 - 50 000 ISO
    Image Processor Maestro II
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 88
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 25.0
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 13.4
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 1821
    Screen Specs
    Viewfinder Type Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.80x
    Viewfinder Resolution 4400k dots
    Top-Level Screen Control Panel
    LCD Framing Live View
    LCD Size 3.0 inch
    LCD Resolution 1040k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen
    Touch Input Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF
    Manual Focusing AidFocus Peaking
    Maximum Shutter Speed 1/8000s
    Continuous Shooting 11 shutter flaps/s
    Shutter Life Expectancy100 000 actuations
    Silent ShootingElectronic Shutter
    Time Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer Built-in
    Fill Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Dual card slots
    UHS card support Single UHS-II
    Connectivity Specs
    External Flash Hotshoe
    Studio Flash PC Sync socket
    USB Connector USB 3.0
    HDMI Port full HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port
    Headphone Socket Headphone port
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in
    Geotagging GPS built-in
    Body Specs
    Environmental SealingWeathersealed body
    Battery Type Leica BP-SCL4 power pack
    Battery Life (CIPA)400 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 147 x 104 x 39 mm
    (5.8 x 4.1 x 1.5 in)
    Camera Weight 847 g (29.9 oz)

    Did you notice an error on this page? If so, please get in touch, so that we can correct the information.

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