Leica
D-Lux 7
Premium compact with fast 24–75mm f/1.7–2.8 Leica zoom and 4K video.
$1,195
Released Nov 2018
Leica
SL3
60MP L-mount flagship with 8K video and Leica color science.
$6,995
Released Mar 2024
SL3 is 5.3 years newer.
Wins
D-Lux 7
Wins
SL3
4 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- BSL3 has higher AF points / zones (779 vs 49)
- BSL3 has higher ISO max (native) (100,000 vs 25,600)
- BSL3 has higher Resolution (60.3 MP vs 17 MP)
- BSL3 has lower ISO min (native) (50 vs 100)
- BSL3 has higher Burst (electronic) (30 fps vs 15 fps)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
D-Lux 7
134 × 91 × 72 mm
580 g (1.28 lb / 20.46 oz)
SL3
141 × 108 × 85 mm
769 g (1.70 lb / 27.13 oz)
D-Lux 7 is 7mm narrower, 17mm shorter, and 13mm thinner than SL3.
D-Lux 7 is 189 g lighter than SL3.
Depth (front-to-back): 72mm D-Lux 7 · 85mm SL3
Sensor size, to scale
D-Lux 7
17.3 × 13 mm · Micro Four Thirds
225 mm² area
SL3
36 × 24 mm · Full Frame
864 mm² area
3.8× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
D-Lux 7: mount data unavailable
SL3
✓ more lensesLeica L
80+
native lenses available
Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
D-Lux 7
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 134, 91, 72
AA filter
Only D-Lux 7 supports it
Subject recognition
Adds Bird, Vehicle
Pre-Capture / Pre-Release
Only D-Lux 7 supports it
Weight
580 g vs 769 g — lower is better
IBIS effectiveness
6 stops vs 5 stops — higher is better
Reasons to choose
SL3
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 141.2, 108, 84.6
AF points / zones
779 vs 49 — higher is better
ISO max (native)
100,000 vs 25,600 — higher is better
Resolution
60.3 MP vs 17 MP — higher is better
ISO min (native)
50 vs 100 — lower is better
Burst (electronic)
30 fps vs 15 fps — higher is better
Internal RAW video
Only SL3 supports it
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B
Both cameras share
- ✓AF frame coverage — Both 100 %
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓4K max frame rate — Both 60 fps
- ✓Max video bit rate — Both 150 Mbps
- ✓In-body stabilization — Both support in-body stabilization
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
D-Lux 7
Pros
- ✓Fast zoom lens
- ✓Leica color
- ✓4K video
Cons
- –Micro Four Thirds sensor
- –Fixed lens
- –Premium price
SL3
Pros
- ✓60MP
- ✓8K video
- ✓Leica build
- ✓L-mount
Cons
- –Very expensive
- –Heavy
- –Large files
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for landscape, D-Lux 7 or SL3?
SL3 scores 10.0/10 versus 3.5/10 for D-Lux 7 — 60.3MP — massive detail for large prints.
What's the resolution difference between the D-Lux 7 and SL3?
D-Lux 7 is 17 MP and SL3 is 60.3 MP, so the SL3 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the D-Lux 7 and SL3 have in-body image stabilization?
D-Lux 7 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization, while sL3 has 5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the D-Lux 7 or the SL3?
D-Lux 7 reaches 15 fps electronic. SL3 reaches 30 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the D-Lux 7 and SL3?
D-Lux 7 weighs 580 g and SL3 weighs 769 g, so the D-Lux 7 is 189 g lighter.
Do the D-Lux 7 and SL3 record 4K video?
D-Lux 7: 4K up to 60p. SL3: 8K / C8K (max), 4K up to 60p.
Are the D-Lux 7 and SL3 weather sealed?
D-Lux 7: Yes. SL3: Yes.
How much does each cost?
D-Lux 7 launched at $1,195 and SL3 at $6,995. The D-Lux 7 is $5,800 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.