Upgrade Guide
Leica Leica M6→Leica SL2
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Strong upgrade
The SL2 improves across 3 key areas at a reasonable price gap. Most Leica M6 owners will notice the difference.
What's new in the SL2
-
Weather sealingAdded — fully sealed body
-
StabilisationIBIS added — significant for handheld and video
-
Battery life370 shots (CIPA) vs Single 3V battery (light meter only — mechanical shutter needs no power)
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | Leica M6 | SL2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | — | ||
| Street | — | ||
| Travel | — | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | ||
| Filmmaking | — | ||
| Documentary | — | ||
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Landscape | — | ||
| Wildlife | — | ||
| Casual | — | ||
| Food | — | ||
| Macro | — | ||
| Architecture | — | ||
| Astrophotography | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | Leica M6 | SL2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,200 | £4,200 | |
| Released | — | 2019 | |
| Sensor | 35mm film (no digital sensor) | Full-frame CMOS 35mm | |
| Resolution | — | 47MP | |
| Video | None (film camera) | 5K 30fps, 4K 60fps, 1080p 180fps | |
| Autofocus | Manual focus, coupled rangefinder (0.72x) | Contrast-detect AF, AI-based scene recognition | |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops | |
| Burst Rate | Manual film advance | 20fps | |
| Battery Life | Single 3V battery (light meter only — mechanical shutter needs no power) | 370 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 585g | 835g (body only) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Yes | ↑ |
| Viewfinder | Optical rangefinder, 0.72x magnification | EVF 0.78× 5.76M-dot | |
| Screen | None (film camera) | 3.2" fixed touchscreen, 2.10M-dot | |
| Mount | Leica M-mount | Leica L-Mount | |
| Memory Cards | None (35mm film) | 2× SD UHS-II |
Compare side-by-side
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