Hands-On with the Leica SL3 & the Leica ZM 2 and ZM 11 Timepieces
Leica is a brand that protects its identity and legacy with care, from iconic cameras to precision-crafted timepieces.
By Pierre Vogel
Senior Photographer
When I first got into photography at 12, one thought kept me up late at night: I want a digital Leica.
That might sound like an odd thing for a 12-year-old to want, but back then, the M8 had just dropped, and I was utterly mesmerized. A vintage-style body with a screen? It was the ultimate combo, the best of both worlds.
Magnum Agency
The first thing that comes to mind when I hear the word Leica? Magnum Photos. And what is the one thing that Robert Capa’s raw shots from the Spanish Civil War, Henri Cartier-Bresson’s razor-sharp compositions, or Josef Koudelka’s haunting images of Prague in 1968 have in common? Leica.
Okay, Leica isn’t the only thing they have in common. They also all used the legendary 35mm lens – a focal length known for mirroring human vision. Here’s the catch: to bring your subject into the foreground, you’ve got to get in close. Like, really close. As Capa famously said, “If your pictures aren’t good enough, you weren’t close enough.”
So, getting close is crucial; however, it means nothing if your camera can’t deliver when it matters. That’s a major reason why Leica is so revered: its bulletproof reliability. Even in the toughest conditions, Leica cameras are always ready to capture that decisive moment.
Getting Hands-On with the SL3
So, as you can no doubt imagine, when I got the offer to try out the Leica SL3, it was hard to hide my excitement. I said yes in less than a heartbeat.
A few days later, I’m handed a camera that feels like a piece of fine engineering - sleek, solid, and meticulously built. Every detail is dialed in. This is, without a doubt, a worthy successor to Leica’s legendary legacy.
Before diving into what makes the SL3 special, I should mention that I’ve always shot with DSLRs. A reflex camera. That means the photographer uses a mirror to see directly through the lens. Press the shutter, the mirror flips up, the sensor grabs the image, and then the mirror drops back down so you can frame your next shot. It’s that signature click-clack sound every photo lover knows.
The SL3, though, is a different beast; it has no mirror and no optical viewfinder. Instead, you get a digital viewfinder with a live feed of exactly what the sensor sees.
Now, I’ve never been totally sold on mirrorless (i.e., digital viewfinder) cameras; they always felt a little too dim, a little too laggy. That is until the moment I looked through the SL3’s EVF… Wow! Bright, smooth, and razor-sharp.
I was impressed. Really impressed. I zipped it into my bag, itching to hit the streets and start shooting.
Watch Photography
Alongside the SL3, I was lucky enough to get my hands on two Leica timepieces – the ZM2 and ZM11. So naturally, I headed into the studio to shoot these watches with, you guessed it, a Leica.
With its 60-megapixel sensor, the SL3 is an absolute studio powerhouse. I found my groove quickly, thanks to the intuitive layout of the dials and buttons that places everything right under your fingers, making fine-tuning fast, precise, and effortless.
Leica Watches
Leica’s watches are every bit as refined, elegant, and tough as the brand’s cameras – carrying that same minimalist, functional design DNA the German brand has championed from day one.
The 41mm ZM 2 ($13,480), in particular, with its stunning black dial accented by sleek, ultra-legible indices, feels like a direct nod to Leica’s visual language.
Moreover, its domed sapphire crystal is a beautiful detail that watch lovers and Leica fans will instantly recognize as a subtle tribute to the curve of a classic Leica lens.
The ZM 11, which is also 41mm, stands out for its striped dial, especially the Midnight Blue model ($7,450). Its striped design instantly reminds me of 1930s aircraft with grooved aluminum panels.
Finally, the straps of both models are fully interchangeable, thanks to a clever quick-swap system that lets you switch up the look in just seconds.
For more information about the brand’s cameras or watches, visit the Leica website.