By Ked · June 2026
June 2026
Leica's SL line is its full-frame, L-mount mirrorless system, and after a decade it has grown into five bodies that split neatly into two generations and two personalities. This guide lays out how they differ so you can match one to how you shoot, and the live used prices for each are on our per-model pages, linked below.
Everything starts with the original Leica SL (Typ 601) from 2015, Leica's first L-mount camera, a 24-megapixel full-frame body famous for its tank-like build and a big, bright electronic viewfinder that was class-leading at the time. It has contrast-detect autofocus but lacks in-body image stabilization.
The SL2 generation (the SL2 in 2019, the SL2-S in 2020) kept the contrast-detect autofocus but added 5-axis in-body stabilization and refined the body. The current SL3 generation (the SL3 in 2024, the SL3-S in 2025) is the bigger leap: it brought the first phase-detect autofocus to an SL body, a smaller and lighter chassis, and a tilting rear screen.
Within each modern SL generation Leica ships a high-resolution body and a lower-resolution, video-and-low-light body that share the same chassis:
| Model | Year | Sensor | Autofocus | IBIS | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SL (Typ 601) | 2015 | 24MP | Contrast | No | The value entry into the system |
| SL2 | 2019 | 47MP | Contrast | Yes | High-resolution stills |
| SL2-S | 2020 | 24MP BSI | Contrast | Yes | Low light and video |
| SL3 | 2024 | 60MP | Phase-detect | Yes | Smaller body, tilting screen, CFexpress |
| SL3-S | 2025 | 24MP BSI | Phase-detect | Yes | Speed and video sibling of the SL3 |
These are the fair-market used prices we track across UsedCameraTracker as of mid-2026: the median active asking price for a standard body in each line. The spread within any one model is wide once you factor in condition, kits, and special editions, so treat these as the center of gravity rather than a fixed figure, and check the live model pages for what is actually listed today.
| Model | Typical used price | Listings tracked |
|---|---|---|
| SL (Typ 601) | around $1,720 | 83 |
| SL2 | around $2,840 | 115 |
| SL2-S | around $2,690 | 107 |
| SL3 | around $6,040 | 66 |
| SL3-S | around $5,030 | 47 |
The pattern is clear. The original SL is by far the cheapest way into the system, the SL2 generation sits in the middle around $2,700 to $2,850, and the current SL3 generation commands a steep premium of roughly $5,000 to $6,000 while supply is still tight. Note that within each generation the speed-and-video S body (the SL2-S, the SL3-S) actually costs a little less than its higher-resolution sibling, so it doubles as the value pick in its pair.
Leica has also released "Reporter" versions of the SL, most prominently the SL2-S Reporter, joined more recently by the SL3 Reporter. These are limited runs in a discreet matte finish with no red dot and Kevlar-style trim, aimed at documentary shooters. They are mechanically identical to the standard body they are based on, the same sensor, autofocus, and stabilization, and they trade at a premium over a comparable standard body. Buy one for the look and the collectibility; the camera underneath is the same.
If autofocus speed matters (tracking, events, anything moving), buy into the SL3 generation, which is the first with phase detection. If you mostly shoot deliberately or with adapted manual-focus glass, an SL2 (or even the original SL) is excellent value and the contrast-detect autofocus is a non-issue. For maximum detail choose the 47MP SL2 or 60MP SL3; for low light and video choose the 24MP SL2-S or SL3-S. And whichever you pick, every one of these takes the same L-mount, M, and R lenses, see what lenses fit the Leica SL.
Ready to shop? Compare current listings and prices on the model pages: SL3, SL3-S, SL2, SL2-S, and SL (Typ 601).