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Could the rumored Leica SL 50 Lux II be M-like in rendering?
  
 
highdesertmesa
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p.3 #1 · Could the rumored Leica SL 50 Lux II be M-like in rendering?


Fred Miranda wrote:
Looks to be the same overall size as the SL3



Yes, I think folks had some wishful thinking regarding size.
Jun 21, 2026 at 03:36 PM
LBJ2
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p.3 #2 · Could the rumored Leica SL 50 Lux II be M-like in rendering?


highdesertmesa wrote:
SL3-P and the new 50 Lux

If this is a photo of the real kit:

SL3 = red dot and the large white Leica logo
SL3-S = red dot and blacked out Leica logo
SL3-P = no red dot and large white Leica logo (?)


Jun 21, 2026 at 03:54 PM
highdesertmesa
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p.3 #3 · Could the rumored Leica SL 50 Lux II be M-like in rendering?


LBJ2 wrote:
If this is a photo of the real kit:

SL3 = red dot and the large white Leica logo
SL3-S = red dot and blacked out Leica logo
SL3-P = no red dot and large white Leica logo (?)

SL3 Reporter = no red dot and black on olive Leica logo


Jun 21, 2026 at 04:11 PM
LBJ2
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p.3 #4 · Could the rumored Leica SL 50 Lux II be M-like in rendering?


highdesertmesa wrote:
SL3 Reporter = no red dot and black on olive Leica logo

We've cracked the code!

My favorite is the red dot and blacked out Leica logo--The Dark Knight look.


Jun 21, 2026 at 04:52 PM
dalegaspi
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p.3 #5 · Could the rumored Leica SL 50 Lux II be M-like in rendering?


hm..looking at the rubber focus ring this may be one of those Portugal-made lenses...so Leica is likely going to make this "inexpensive" just like the Summicron non-APO variant.

EDIT: rumor image says it's going to be "Made in Germany." we'll see.


Jun 21, 2026 at 09:00 PM
SrMi
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p.3 #6 · Could the rumored Leica SL 50 Lux II be M-like in rendering?


dalegaspi wrote:
hm..looking at the rubber focus ring this may be one of those Portugal-made lenses...so Leica is likely going to make this "inexpensive" just like the Summicron non-APO variant.

EDIT: rumor image says it's going to be "Made in Germany." we'll see.

I read a leaked lens review. It says that the lens was designed in-house.
Jun 22, 2026 at 12:20 AM
SrMi
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p.3 #7 · Could the rumored Leica SL 50 Lux II be M-like in rendering?


highdesertmesa wrote:
I think they just mean it will have a modern linear AF motor(s) like the current non-APO SL Crons.

I do not remember the details, but what I gleaned was that the AF "motor" is better than in non-APO Crons.

It seems that we'll be in for a treat with the new 50mm.
Jun 22, 2026 at 12:22 AM
SrMi
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p.3 #8 · Could the rumored Leica SL 50 Lux II be M-like in rendering?


highdesertmesa wrote:
LUF. Assume they pulled it from a page off Leica Rumors before it was taken down.

(You didn't quote anyone, so I assume you mean the photo above and not the original post I made.)

And Leica Rumors is referencing this FredMiranda post . Talk about circular rumors.
Jun 22, 2026 at 12:27 AM
highdesertmesa
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p.3 #9 · Could the rumored Leica SL 50 Lux II be M-like in rendering?


SrMi wrote:
And Leica Rumors is referencing this FredMiranda post . Talk about circular rumors.
Jun 22, 2026 at 07:29 AM
retrofocus
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p.3 #10 · Could the rumored Leica SL 50 Lux II be M-like in rendering?


bwcolor wrote:
For competitive reasons, Leica needs to reduce the size/weight of their SL lenses and bodies. In addition to optical refinements, they will undoubtedly upset the purist and rely increasingly upon firmware distortion corrections.

Wasn't this the big main issue with the SL line from start?


Jun 22, 2026 at 07:53 AM
 


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SlowDriver
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p.3 #11 · Could the rumored Leica SL 50 Lux II be M-like in rendering?


quote]retrofocus wrote:
Wasn't this the big main issue with the SL line from start?

The 3 main criticisms of the original SL were autofocus, cost and size/weight.

Autofocus has been addressed with firmware 4.0.

Cost has to a certain extent been addressed by not increasing the price any further (the SL cost $7,500, same as the SL3) and by rebadging Panasonic/sigma lenses.

Size/weight has up till now not really been addressed. The new 50mm is potentially the first step in that direction.


Jun 22, 2026 at 08:02 AM
RustyBug
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p.3 #12 · Could the rumored Leica SL 50 Lux II be M-like in rendering?


SlowDriver wrote:


The new 50mm is potentially the first step in that direction.

Will be interesting to see where this lands between Karbe' perspective of SL's being top tier for optics vs. M's are for size ... vignetting / CA / distortion, etc. Will it be closer to SL's, M's or Panny in IQ terms. Se'll see ...


Jun 22, 2026 at 08:28 AM
retrofocus
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p.3 #13 · Could the rumored Leica SL 50 Lux II be M-like in rendering?




The 3 main criticisms of the original SL were autofocus, cost and size/weight.

Autofocus has been addressed with firmware 4.0.

Cost has to a certain extent been addressed by not increasing the price any further (the SL cost $7,500, same as the SL3) and by rebadging Panasonic/sigma lenses.

Size/weight has up till now not really been addressed. The new 50mm is potentially the first step in that direction.

Until the future SL series with potential smaller body and smaller lenses become more like an EVF-M but just with AF?


Jun 22, 2026 at 08:33 AM
SlowDriver
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p.3 #14 · Could the rumored Leica SL 50 Lux II be M-like in rendering?


RustyBug wrote:
Will be interesting to see where this lands between Karbe' perspective of SL's being top tier for optics vs. M's are for size ... vignetting / CA / distortion, etc. Will it be closer to SL's, M's or Panny in IQ terms. Se'll see ...

I agree. The purists most likely will not be happy... but then again there are rarely enough purists to keep a system afloat...

I believe there is a market for AF lenses that are more character lenses, a market that right now is not being addressed. You have to use manual focus lenses (or vintage lenses through adapters).

It could potentially be an interesting direction for the SL.
Jun 22, 2026 at 08:43 AM
retrofocus
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p.3 #15 · Could the rumored Leica SL 50 Lux II be M-like in rendering?


SlowDriver wrote:
It could potentially be an interesting direction for the SL.

Yes it would have been for sure if Leica remained under the same ownership. With the new leadership coming in, I am not so sure - they likely will have a close look at profitability of each camera line, and the SL series might hit a roadblock here. Resources might be delegated to M (including EVF-M) and Q-series. It will be interesting to see what will happen to the SL series - maybe a fate like the S-series encountered (and the R-series before)?
Jun 22, 2026 at 09:29 AM
Abuttolph
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p.3 #16 · Could the rumored Leica SL 50 Lux II be M-like in rendering?


retrofocus wrote:
Yes it would have been for sure if Leica remained under the same ownership. With the new leadership coming in, I am not so sure - they likely will have a close look at profitability of each camera line, and the SL series might hit a roadblock here. Resources might be delegated to M (including EVF-M) and Q-series. It will be interesting to see what will happen to the SL series - maybe a fate like the S-series encountered (and the R-series before)?

That is certainly a possibility, but hope that they don't discontinue the SL line. What I would hope for would be some improvements to it, such as faster sensor output, but retaining the simplicity of use and the phenomenal optics. What I would not want to see is the system becoming super complex, like so many are these days. Size and weight improvements would be nice too, but I have to say that I would prefer to haul around the SL system as it is, rather than compromise on quality or have it turn into something that is less faithful to the current quality, simplicity, and user experience.


Jun 22, 2026 at 09:49 AM
SlowDriver
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p.3 #17 · Could the rumored Leica SL 50 Lux II be M-like in rendering?


retrofocus wrote:
It will be interesting to see what will happen to the SL series - maybe a fate like the S-series encountered (and the R-series before)?

You are forgetting the CL/TL2 series... .

The SL is Leica's video solution. I don't see them exiting that market.


Jun 22, 2026 at 10:24 AM
RustyBug
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p.3 #18 · Could the rumored Leica SL 50 Lux II be M-like in rendering?


SlowDriver wrote:
You are forgetting the CL/TL2 series... .

The SL is Leica's video solution. I don't see them exiting that market.

Or, you could think of the SL as being the alternative to everything the M isn't. AF, EVF, IBIS, Video, Pixel Shift, Supertele, tilt, etc. ... yet, retains a nice ability to work well with M glass (i.e. complementary).

While one could look at the Q, it is too limited in FL to be a "system". That leaves you with just the SL. Abandonment of the SL takes a LOT off the table, leaving only M + Q. Given the Alliance to the L mount development and the "dent" it offers in market share, I'd be hard pressed to see them to kick it to the curb. If they pull the plug on SL series, then the amount of dialogue in the Leica ecosystem drops back significantly (imo).

Yeah, I have "no worries" about the SL going anywhere.

I mean, it offers a near Hassy / Fuji MF IQ, too. Pull the plug on the SL, and you just handed that market share to Fuji / Hassy, in addition to the video market share, et al. No single piece that is uber-compelling for the SL (i.e. outperforms AF on Sony, etc.), but it encompasses a lot of touchpoints. Foregoing all that it touches, is giving up a fair amount, so ... yeah, I think it'll be around for a while.

Imo, it's a very versatile platform M > Panny / Siggy > SL APO that ranges from maximum character to maximum optical correction capabilities. It can pretty much roll with whatever you want ... EXCEPT, the rangefinder experience, itself.

I suspect the new, smaller SL 50/1.4 is gonna sit smack in the middle of all that .. a workhorse (not necessarily a mastery of maximum excellence, and the cost / size weight to achieve), with maybe a smidge of character.














Edited on Jun 22, 2026 at 10:53 AM · View previous versions
Jun 22, 2026 at 10:40 AM
SlowDriver
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p.3 #19 · Could the rumored Leica SL 50 Lux II be M-like in rendering?


RustyBug wrote:
Or, you could think of the SL as being the alternative to everything the M isn't. AF, EVF, IBIS, Video, Pixel Shift, Supertele, tilt, etc. ... yet, retains a nice ability to work well with M glass (i.e. complementary).

While one could look at the Q, it is too limited in FL to be a "system". That leaves you with just the SL. Abandonment of the SL takes a LOT off the table, leaving only M + Q. Given the Alliance to the L mount development and the "dent" it offers in market share, I'd be hard pressed to see them...Show more →

You are in my opinion absolutely right.

But if you are a venture capitalist bean counter... the M and Q will keep Leica going for at least another 5-10 years, and with a higher profit margin...

The Leica SL was in my opinion explicitly designed to complement the M (but not to compete with it) and to keep Leica M users within the Leica ecosystem.

As such it needs to be good enough but it does not necessarily have to compete with Sony/Canon/Nikon.
Jun 22, 2026 at 10:52 AM
retrofocus
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p.3 #20 · Could the rumored Leica SL 50 Lux II be M-like in rendering?


SlowDriver wrote:
You are forgetting the CL/TL2 series... .

The SL is Leica's video solution. I don't see them exiting that market.

So far it is, this is correct. But imagine the EVF-M and SL lines merge in the future - it would make the SL itself redundant. All the SL gimmicks could land in some kind of future EVF-M - biggest culprit there is that the EVF-M currently doesn't have AF capability (and video is kind of already there with EVF/LiveView, software fix/addition!).

I think the days for the "pure" SL line are numbered especially now under new ownership. It doesn't take much to see where cost can be streamlined by merging EVF-M and SL. Both the EVF-M and the SL are not the biggest sellers currently, so bundling them up might be a wise business decision. And making the camera body smaller than the SL body is what Leica should have been doing years ago IMO! This way Leica would have actually a competitive MLC system compared to the bigger camera brands with smaller package size, capability to mount both M- and (in the future) AF-based lenses.


Jun 22, 2026 at 11:34 AM
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