What is the pixel pitch of the Leica SL3?
The Leica SL3 provides 60.3 megapixels from a full frame sensor. This pixel density gives rise to a size of the individual pixel of 3.79µm.
The pixel size or pixel pitch can be calculated by dividing the sensor area by the pixel count and then taking the square root. In particular, the sensor in the Leica SL3 measures 36.0mm in width and 24.0mm in height, so that the total imaging area of the sensor amounts to 864 mm2. Moreover, the Leica SL3 has 9 520 horizontal pixels and 6 336 vertical pixels, for a total of 60.3 megapixels. Then, the size (height or width) of each individual pixel can be calculated as the square root of the ratio of the sensor area (864 mm2) to the MP count (60 318 720).
Larger pixels provide advantages with respect to gathering light, particularly in low-light situations. Large pixels notably have a better signal to noise ratio, meaning that they can better differentiate between incoming photons and the noisy signals that the internal processes of the camera create. As a result, big pixels are particularly helpful to the photographer when shooting with high ISO settings.
Sensor specs and performance
The table below compares the sensor specs of the Leica SL3 to those of several similar cameras. The reported DXO values are indicators of the sensor's imaging quality (higher is better), covering color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape), and high-ISO noise (DXO Sports). Larger sensor cameras tend to outperform cameras of the same generation that are equipped with a smaller imager. On the other hand, larger sensors are more expensive and require bigger and heavier lenses than smaller light receptors.
Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Leica SL3 | Full Frame | 60.3 | 9520 | 6336 | 8K/30p | 25.4 | 14.8 | 3295 | 97 | |
2. | Leica M11 | Full Frame | 60.3 | 9528 | 6328 | none | 26.3 | 14.8 | 3376 | 100 | |
3. | Leica Q3 | Full Frame | 60.3 | 9528 | 6328 | 8K/30p | 25.4 | 14.7 | 3216 | 96 | |
4. | Leica SL | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/30p | 25.0 | 13.4 | 1821 | 88 | |
5. | Leica SL2 | Full Frame | 46.7 | 8368 | 5584 | 4K/60p | 25.3 | 14.3 | 2866 | 95 | |
6. | Leica SL2-S | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/60p | 25.2 | 14.1 | 3504 | 95 | |
7. | Nikon Z8 | Full Frame | 45.4 | 8256 | 5504 | 8K/30p | 26.3 | 14.2 | 2548 | 98 | |
8. | Panasonic S5 II | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 6K/30p | 25.4 | 14.6 | 3158 | 96 | |
9. | Sony A1 | Full Frame | 49.8 | 8640 | 5760 | 8k/30p | 25.9 | 14.5 | 3163 | 98 | |
10. | Sony A7R V | Full Frame | 60.2 | 9504 | 6336 | 8k/24p | 26.5 | 14.8 | 3187 | 100 | |
11. | Sony A9 III | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/120p | 25.4 | 14.7 | 3243 | 96 | |
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age. |
Further information on the sensor in the Leica SL3 and the camera's operation can be found in the camera manual.
In the United States, the Leica SL3 was initially launched in March 2024 at a price of $6,999.
Camera to camera comparisons
If you would like to see a side-by-side review with another camera, just use the search menu below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.
Camera Model | Leica SL3 | |
---|---|---|
Camera Type | Mirrorless system camera | |
Camera Lens | Leica L mount lenses | |
Launch Date | March 2024 | |
Launch Price | USD 6 999 | |
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 | 60.3 Megapixels | |
Image Resolution | 9 520 x 6 336 pixels | |
Pixel Pitch | 3.79 μm | |
Pixel Density | 6.98 MP/cm2 | |
Moiré control | no AA filter | |
Movie Capability | 8K/30p Video | |
ISO Setting | 100 - 100 000 ISO | |
ISO Boost | 50 - 100 000 ISO | |
Image Processor | Maestro IV | |
Screen Specs | ||
Viewfinder Type | Electronic viewfinder | |
Viewfinder Field of View | 100% | |
Viewfinder Magnification | 0.76x | |
Viewfinder Resolution | 5760k dots | |
Top-Level Screen | Control Panel | |
LCD Framing | Live View | |
LCD Size | 3.2 inch | |
LCD Resolution | 2333k dots | |
LCD Attachment | Tilting screen | |
V-logging Friendliness | No front-flip | |
Touch Input | Touchscreen | |
Shooting Specs | ||
Focus System | On-Sensor Phase-detect | |
Manual Focusing Aid | Focus Peaking | |
Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/8000s | |
Continuous Shooting | 5 shutter flaps/s | |
Silent Shooting | Electronic Shutter | |
Time Lapse Photography | Intervalometer Built-in | |
Image Stabilization | In-body stabilization | |
Fill Flash | no On-Board Flash | |
Storage Medium | CFexB or SDXC cards | |
Single or Dual Card Slots | Dual card slots | |
UHS card support | UHS-II | |
Connectivity Specs | ||
External Flash | Hotshoe | |
USB Connector | USB 3.1 | |
HDMI Port | full HDMI | |
Microphone Port | External MIC port | |
Headphone Socket | Headphone port | |
Wifi Support | Wifi built-in | |
Bluetooth Support | Bluetooth built-in | |
Body Specs | ||
Environmental Sealing | Weathersealed body | |
Battery Type | Leica BP-SCL6 power pack | |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 320 shots per charge | |
In-Camera Charging | USB charging | |
Body Dimensions |
141 x 108 x 85 mm (5.6 x 4.3 x 3.3 in) |
|
Camera Weight | 769 g (27.1 oz) |
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