Leitz Leicaflex SL film camera review
By: Thorsten Overgaard. March 2004. Updated December 17, 2022.
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32 years in a box
I got my first Leicaflex SL in 2004, and then it was brand new in the box. It had been sitting in a camera store for 32 years. Since that first one arrived, I have used the camera extensively all over the world, and it came to live alongside my Leicaflex SL mot (the version that can be used with motor winder, very few were made of this model).
My Leicaflex SL and the Leicaflex SL mot side by side.
This
specific "As new" Leicaflex SL camera was build in 1973 as the 3.346th last Leicaflex SL to be build. A total of 80.995 Leicaflex SL cameras were made in black and chrome, then the SL2 model was released
This one has been on a shelf in Bremen, Germany since it was build. A Bremen photo shop had it in stock till 2004 when the photo shop was bought by a photo chain. They wanted to clean up the stock and Photografica photo shop in Denmark was offered the camera along with some "new" lenses from back then. I managed to snatch the camera at Photografica for a very decent price.
The reason I couldn't resist this SL was that I already had a Leicaflex SL mot in black which I had sent to Leica in Solms, Germany in 2004 and got a new top plate, front plate and bottom plate.
As well as new buttons on the top. Here you can see the two together:
My Leitz Leicaflex SL in black, here with
Leica 50 mm Summicron-R f/2.0 from Canada.
The original Leitz Leicaflex, the following Leitz Leicaflex SL and the Leitz Leicaflex SL2 that was later replaced by the Leica R3 all have an extremely nice shutter sound and is build like a
tank. These babies will go to work like my other cameras.
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Video review of the Leicaflex SL |
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By Thorsten von Overgaard |
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This
specific camera was build in 1972. I got this camera and some
other Leica cameras/lenses from a private owner in exchange
for my Nikon F3 gear and have no history of the camera besides
that. I had used the camera very little as the lightmeter
was off. But I then decided to get it not just repaired and
cleaned/lubricated/adjusted - but also to get it cosmetic
renovated.
This was done at Leica Solms in 2004 and the above
photo is the camera that came back. The photo below shows
the camera before it went to Solms.
The
camera got a new top plate, front plate and bottom plate.
As well as new buttons on the top.
The
SL has an extremely nice shutter sound and is build like a
tank. This reborn baby will go to work like my other cameras.
Leica SL mot with Leica 80mm Summilux-R f/1.4 and Tie Her Up leather Rock'n'Roll strap. © 2016 Thorsten Overgaard.
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Leicaflex SL
Manuals and user guides |
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By Thorsten von Overgaard |
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Download the manuals as PDF and put it on your phone and computer for quick reference. I usually "study a camera" for buttons, signs and symbols that I can't figure out, then I look them up in the manual. Even it is a simple camera, it has many features long forgotten.
Leica SL2
manual [PDF]
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Leicaflex SL batteries |
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By Thorsten von Overgaard |
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The Leiacflex uses 1.3V batteries you cannot really get anymore. There are several solutions to this:
1) Take out the battery and use the Leicaflex without battery as a completely manual camera. Use an external light meter and no risk of leaking batteries inside the camera.
2) Buy an all-in-one batteri and adapter at Amazon "Exell 1.35-Volt Zinc Air Coin Cell Battery replaces MR9"
3) Buy an adapter like the KANTO Camera MR-9 Mercury Battery Adapter and then an SR43 on Amazon or elsewhere. The adapter reduces the battery to 1.35V.
Leicaflex SL with the 19mm Elmarit f/2.8. © Thorsten Overgaard.
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Leicaflex SL mot
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By Thorsten von Overgaard |
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Only 827 black Leicaflex SL mot were made 1968-1974, so I was happy to have one of them. I had mine restored to new condition, then took it around the world and dropped it a few times. Still works, with scars. i
My Leitz Leicaflex SL mot in black (Serial no 1282435), here with
80 mm Summilux-R f/1.4 as it looked when it arrived from a complete refurbisning at Leica in Solms/Wetzlar.
 The Leicaflex SL2 mot with the motor attached. Photo by Istvan Penzes.
Motor
The SL mot is called so because one can attach a motor. The
motor for this camera is larger than the camera itself so
I doubt I will ever attach one to it.
There
were made 70.995 SL cameras and 827 SL MOT cameras from 1968-1974.
The figures are not exact, but is the blocks of serial numbers
allocated by Leica for these camera models. After the SL and
SL MOT came SL2 and SL2 MOT – and after that R3.
After I got the camera back I started using it almost daily. Most SLR assignments I do with an SL and an R8 and this SL mot's 'maiden voyage' was a one month reportage trip to South East Asia after the tsunami. It got a great deal of heat, dust and a few bumps but did a terrific job without complining. You can see some of those shots at the "After The Tsunami" site www.afterthetsunami.org
The Leicaflex SL2 mot with the motor attached. Photo by Istvan Penzes.
My Leitz Leicaflex SL mot before it went to
Leica in Solms for CLA and cosmetic upgrade (CLA=Cleaning,
Lubricating, Adjustment):
Leica SL (2015) and Leica SL2 (2020)
In October 2015 Leica Camera AG revealed the Leica SL type 601 that had been designed under the codename "Max". While it is a full-frame mirrorless camera, it is more a dSLR without the mirror. It is somewhat the Leica R10 that never came, but here it is and it takes all Leica lenses ever made (Leica L, Leica M, Leica R, Leica S, Leitz Zine, etc).
Leica SL type 601 "Max"
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Video: The history of the Leica SL (2020)
and the Leicaflex SL (1964) |
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By Thorsten von Overgaard |
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Leica SL special editions |
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By Thorsten von Overgaard |
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The 50 year anniversary (of Leica cameras) edition of the Leicaflex SL2. Photo from the article "The Leicaflex SL2 Could be the Best Leica SLR Ever Made" by James Tocchio.
To celebrate the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Leica issued 1000 Leicaflex SL cameras with engravings (black and silver). Read more about it at LHSA.
Black version of the Leicaflex limited edition 1972 Olympic Games in Munich.
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Leica R and Leica SL chronological overview |
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By Thorsten Overgaard |
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Further resources |
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Leica Camera Compendium by Thorsten Overgaard |
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Leica Lens Compendium by Thorsten Overgaard |
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Leica History by Thorsten Overgaard |
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Film cameras
Leica R mount |
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Digital cameras
Leica R mount |
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Digital cameras
Leica L mount |
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Leicaflex (1964-1968) |
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Leicaflex SL (1968-1974) |
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Leicaflex SL2 (1974-1976) |
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Leica R3 (1976-1979) |
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Leica R4 MOT electronic /
Leica R4/Minolta SD-7
(1980-1986) |
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Leica R4s (1983-1985) |
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Leica R4-sP/
Leica R4s-2 (1985-1986) |
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Leica R5 (1986-1991) |
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Leica RE (1990-1994) |
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Leica R6 (1987-1992) |
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Leica R6.2 (1992-1997) |
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Leica R7 (1991-1996) |
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Leica R8 (1996-2002) |
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Leica R9 (2002-2009) |
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Leica R8/R9 DMR
Digital Modue-R (2004-2007) |
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Leica T (2014-2016) |
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Leica SL (2015-2019) |
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Leica TL (2016-2017) |
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Leica TL2 (2017-2022) |
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Leica CL (2017-2022) |
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Leica SL2 (2019- ) |
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Leica SL2-S (2021- ) |
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(See the overview of the Leica M models on this page).
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