Leica SL3vs Now Gen 3
Leica
Leica SL3 (2024)
Starting from £6499 new
Best for Professional & luxury hybrid shooters
View Leica SL3
VS
Polaroid
Now Gen 3 (2024)
Starting from £120 new
Best for Classic Polaroid fans & square-print lovers
View Now Gen 3
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Professional & Luxury Hybrid Shooters — Leica SL3 (2024): Leica's most capable mirrorless — 60MP, 30fps burst, 8K ProRes, and 7.5-stop IBIS with L-mount's growing lens ecosystem.
Classic Polaroid Fans & Square-Print Lovers — Now Gen 3 (2024): The definitive modern Polaroid. Autofocus, USB-C, and full-sized square prints — classic Polaroid experience, updated for today.
Who should buy what
Leica SL3 (2024)
- Leica photographers who want autofocus full-frame in the L-mount system
- SL2 owners upgrading to 60MP and improved autofocus performance
- Professionals who want Leica build quality with L-mount lens versatility
- Photographers who want to share lenses across Leica, Sigma, and Lumix bodies
Now Gen 3 (2024)
- Anyone who wants the classic full-sized square Polaroid print experience
- Instax users who prefer Polaroid's dreamy colour palette and white border
- Party hosts and event photographers who want iconic-looking keepsakes
- Previous Polaroid Now owners upgrading to the Gen 3's improved autofocus
Quick take: The now gen 3 is the most affordable; only the leica sl3 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Leica SL3 (2024) | Now Gen 3 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £6,499 | £120 |
| Sensor | 60MP full-frame BSI CMOS | i-Type / 600 Polaroid film (79 × 79mm / image area 62 × 62mm) |
| Resolution | 60.0MP | — |
| Video | 8K/30p, 4K/60p, Apple ProRes | N/A — instant film camera |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect AF with subject/face/eye detection | Autofocus (0.4m–2m close; 2m–∞ landscape) |
| Stabilisation | 7.5-stop IBIS | N/A |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic | N/A |
| Battery Life | 410 shots (CIPA) | Rechargeable internal battery (USB-C, ~15 packs) |
| Weight | 875g body only | ~445g |
| Dimensions | 146.0 × 104.0 × 42.0mm | 138.2 × 112.6 × 62.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | 0.78" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots | Real-image optical viewfinder |
| Screen | 3.2" fixed touchscreen | N/A |
| Mount | Leica L-mount | i-Type or 600 film (8 shots per pack) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II | N/A — instant film only |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.1, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C (charging) |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Leica SL3 | Now Gen 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Parties & Events | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Creative | — |
More comparisons with Leica SL3
Camera family history