Leica SL (Typ 601)

30 reviews

Dec, 2024

Positive
performance (17)
durability (13)
design (10)
portability (8)
reliability (5)

Negative
price (11)
lens (6)
size (5)
low-light (3)
flash (1)

General overview
Price comparison

alaTest has collected and analyzed 30 reviews of Leica SL (Typ 601). The average rating for this product is 4.1/5, compared to an average rating of 4.3/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras for all reviews. Reviewers really like the reliability and usability. The design and durability are also mentioned favorably, but some have doubts about the contrast and low light performance. There are mixed comments on the sensor and portability.

performance, durability, design, usability, reliability

price, lens, size, low-light, contrast

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Digital Compact Cameras the Leica SL (Typ 601) is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 90/100 = Excellent quality.

Review analysis

(Based on 30 reviews)

Expert Reviews

User Reviews

Review Ratings

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durability
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design
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Showing 20 review(s)

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Showing 1 - 10 of 20 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (10)

Expert review by : Carey Rose (dpreview.com)

Leica SL Review

The Leica SL is the company's first DSLR-style full-frame digital camera, aimed squarely at professionals and amateurs alike so long as their pockets are sufficiently deep. Does its rock-solid build translate into rock-solid performance? Find out in...

As with many previous Leica cameras, it's hard to rationally recommend the Leica SL to a person based strictly on its merits as a photographic tool. For less money, there are cameras that have more sophisticated autofocus systems, higher resolution, a...

Feb, 2017

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Expert review by (dpreview.com)

Leica SL (Typ 601) First impressions review

* Please note that the Leica SL that we used for these tests is a near but not final production camera running pre-production firmware. As such, image quality may not reflect the output of final shipping cameras (although it is likely to be very close).

Oct, 2015

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Expert review by : Jim Fisher (pcmag.com)

Leica SL (Typ 601)

The Leica SL (Typ 601) is an expensive, forward-thinking full-frame mirrorless camera that is a joy to use.

Full-frame image sensor. Responsive, accurate autofocus system. 10.5fps shooting rate. Dust- and splash-proof design. Aluminum body. Huge, sharp EVF. Touch-screen LCD. In-camera Wi-Fi and GPS. Dual SD slots. 4K video recording. Uncompressed 4K HDMI...

Expensive. Lens system in its infancy. Some controls can't be remapped. Omits built-in flash.

Conclusions The Leica SL (Typ 601) is a strong performer, offering 4K video, a full-frame 24-megapixel image sensor, fast, accurate autofocus, and superb build quality. But you pay for it. Leica cameras are expensive—chalk that up to boutique appeal...

Oct, 2015

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Expert review by : Lori Grunin (cnet.com)

Leica SL (Typ 601) review

Sony has dominated the full-frame mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera space with its A7 series since it launched two years ago -- not terribly hard, as Sony's had the only cameras in that space until now. Enter the Leica SL, a powerful pro-oriented...

The Leica SL's photo and video quality are first-rate, its continuous shooting is fast with excellent autofocus in good light, and it has almost all the features you might want. Plus it has some very streamlined aspects to its design and operation.

The grip is really uncomfortable, very-low-light autofocus is a bit slow, and the body and lenses are huge for a mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera.

With Leica-quality photo and video plus fast performance, the Leica SL has a lot to recommend. But the uncomfortable grip, big body and lens, and high price might make many buyers hesitate.

Oct, 2015

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Expert review by : Mark Goldstein (photographyblog.com)

Leica SL (Typ 601) Review

The Leica SL (Typ 601) is a 24 megapixel compact system camera with a 35mm full-frame (24 x 36mm) CMOS sensor with no optical low pass filter, 4K video with a frame rate of 30 frames per second, the fastest auto-focusing of any full-frame system...

The Leica SL (Typ 601) is a very difficult camera to pigeon-hole, offering some cutting-edge mirrorless camera technologies in a body that's as large as a pro-DSLR, with impeccable build quality and a price-tag to match. Effectively Leica's main rival...

Feb, 2016

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Expert review by (imaging-resource.com)

Leica SL (Typ 601) Review

The Leica SL is a thoroughly modern, professional mirrorless camera. As you'd expect from Leica, the SL's build quality is above reproach.

Superb build quality; Amazing EVF; Great image quality from RAW files; Good high ISO performance; Very good dynamic range; Very low shutter lag; Fast AF on stationary objects; Class-leading ~11 fps burst mode; 4K DCI and UHD video; Full HD up to 120p....

Big for a full-frame mirrorless camera; Very slow buffer clearing; Contrast-detect AF system struggles with moving subjects; In-camera JPEGs are muted and dull; Very limited native lens selection (but supports many other Leica lenses via adapters);...

The Leica SL is a thoroughly modern, professional mirrorless camera. As you'd expect from Leica, the SL's build quality is above reproach. And whether coupled with one of Leica's new SL lenses or one of their other legendary optics via an adapter, the...

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Expert review by : Andy Westlake (trustedreviews.com)

Leica SL (Typ 601)

There's something about Leica that makes many photographers go slightly weak at the knees. It's a name that's indelibly associated with some of the greatest photographers of all time, including the likes of Annie Leibovitz, Robert Frank, and Henri...

Dec, 2016

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Expert review by : Angela Nicholson (techradar.com)

Leica SL (Typ 601)

High quality build ; Extensive Leica lens compatibility – some via adaptors ; High quality components

Large and heavy ; High price ; Slight banding visible in some high ISO images

The SL has some great technology and lovely build quality. It can also produce superb images, but it's too big and heavy in comparison with the CSC competition. The only directly compatible lens to date is also very large and does not have a constant...

Feb, 2016

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Expert review by : Mike Lowe (pocket-lint.com)

Shooting with the Leica SL: A mirrorless marvel or giant-scale misfire? (hands-on)

All the talk about Leica's "next big thing" was fixed on an interchangeable-lens Leica Q. And that was enough hype to get us ultra excited, given how much we love that particular compact camera . Such a concept has almost occurred in the Leica SL, the...

Immense build quality, super-fast autofocus, outstanding electronic viewfinder, adept with video (4K30/1090p120)

It's a big chunk of design, wildly expensive, not especially ergonomic

Oct, 2015

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Expert review by (stuff.tv)

Leica SL review

Leica's new mirrorless system camera is a beast that'll savage your bank balance

Compatible with many Leica lens via adapter ; Fast autofocus and handling ; Impressive electronic viewfinder ; Largely excellent image quality ; Superb build quality

Very expensive ; Heavy and large for its category ; Only one fully compatible lens at launch

A professional camera with the price to match

Feb, 2016

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