The Latest Leica Rumours

credits: Leica

Leica appears to be preparing another addition to its SL lineup. Reports about a 44-megapixel SL camera have been circulating since late last year, and the latest rumours suggest the model will be called the Leica SL3-P. Of course, Leica naming has been known to change right before launch, something we have seen before with cameras like the M EV1, so the final name is not guaranteed yet.

The “P” suffix is already familiar within Leica’s lineup. The Leica M11-P, released in 2023, was the first camera to include built-in Content Credentials for verifying image authenticity. When the standard M11 was discontinued, the M11-P effectively took its place while keeping largely the same core hardware. It is not confirmed whether the SL3-P will also include this authentication technology, but given Leica’s recent direction and the use of the same suffix, it would make sense if that feature carried over into the SL system as well.

As for the rumoured specifications, the SL3-P is expected to use a 44.3-megapixel full-frame sensor similar to the one found in the Panasonic Lumix S1R II. That would place it neatly between the 60-megapixel SL3 and the older 24-megapixel SL2-S. The BSI-CMOS sensor is said to lack a low-pass filter and, in Panasonic’s implementation, supports features like fast burst shooting up to 40 fps and AI-assisted scene recognition. Exactly which of those features Leica will adopt is still unclear. Autofocus is rumoured to be improved compared to the SL3-S, though video capabilities might be somewhat more limited than other SL3 models. Current expectations point to a possible announcement around May 2026. Pricing has not leaked yet, but it will likely sit well above the Panasonic S1R II, which sells for about $4,200.