Leica
D-Lux 8
Premium compact with 4/3 sensor, fast 24-75mm equivalent Vario-Summilux zoom, OLED EVF, and 4K video.
$1,595
Released Jul 2024
Leica
SL3-S
Fast 24.6MP L-mount hybrid with 6K open-gate video, 30fps burst, and 5-axis stabilization.
$5,295
Released Jan 2025
SL3-S is 7 months newer.
Wins
D-Lux 8
Wins
SL3-S
TL;DR — Key differences
- BSL3-S has higher AF points / zones (779 vs 49)
- BSL3-S has higher ISO max (native) (200,000 vs 25,000)
- BSL3-S has higher EVF resolution (5,760,000 vs 2,360,000)
- BSL3-S has lower ISO min (native) (50 vs 100)
- BSL3-S has higher 4K max frame rate (60 fps vs 30 fps)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
D-Lux 8
130 × 69 × 62 mm
397 g (0.88 lb / 14.00 oz)
SL3-S
141 × 108 × 83 mm
768 g (1.69 lb / 27.09 oz)
D-Lux 8 is 11mm narrower, 39mm shorter, and 21mm thinner than SL3-S.
D-Lux 8 is 371 g lighter than SL3-S.
Depth (front-to-back): 62mm D-Lux 8 · 83mm SL3-S
Sensor size, to scale
D-Lux 8
17.3 × 13 mm · Compact / large-type
225 mm² area
SL3-S
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 8: mount data unavailable
SL3-S
✓ 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 8
Subject recognition
Adds Face, Eye
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 130, 69, 62
Codecs
Adds MP4
Weight
397 g vs 768 g — lower is better
Burst (mechanical)
11 fps vs 7 fps — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
40 fps vs 30 fps — higher is better
Reasons to choose
SL3-S
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 141.2, 108, 82.7
AF points / zones
779 vs 49 — higher is better
ISO max (native)
200,000 vs 25,000 — higher is better
Codecs
Adds H.265, Apple ProRes
EVF resolution
5,760,000 vs 2,360,000 — higher is better
ISO min (native)
50 vs 100 — lower is better
Animal / bird AF
Only SL3-S supports it
Both cameras share
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Touchscreen — Both support touchscreen
- ✓Wi-Fi — Both support wi-fi
- ✓Bluetooth — Both support bluetooth
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
D-Lux 8
Pros
- ✓4/3 sensor compact
- ✓24-75mm f/1.7-2.8 lens
- ✓OLED EVF
- ✓4K video
Cons
- –Fixed zoom lens
- –No weather sealing
- –Premium compact price
SL3-S
Pros
- ✓6K open-gate video
- ✓30fps electronic burst
- ✓24.6MP full-frame
- ✓CFexpress plus SD
Cons
- –Lower resolution than SL3
- –Large body
- –Premium price
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for landscape, D-Lux 8 or SL3-S?
SL3-S scores 8.0/10 versus 0.0/10 for D-Lux 8 — Full-frame sensor — wider dynamic range.
What's the resolution difference between the D-Lux 8 and SL3-S?
D-Lux 8 is 17 MP and SL3-S is 24.6 MP, so the SL3-S captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the D-Lux 8 and SL3-S have in-body image stabilization?
D-Lux 8 does not have IBIS, while sL3-S has 5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the D-Lux 8 or the SL3-S?
D-Lux 8 reaches 40 fps electronic. SL3-S reaches 30 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the D-Lux 8 and SL3-S?
D-Lux 8 weighs 397 g and SL3-S weighs 768 g, so the D-Lux 8 is 371 g lighter.
Do the D-Lux 8 and SL3-S record 4K video?
D-Lux 8: 4K up to 30p. SL3-S: 6K Open Gate (max), 4K up to 60p.
Are the D-Lux 8 and SL3-S weather sealed?
D-Lux 8: No. SL3-S: Yes.
How much does each cost?
D-Lux 8 launched at $1,595 and SL3-S at $5,295. The D-Lux 8 is $3,700 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.