Today Leica announces several major firmware updates for the Leica Q2, SL2 and SL2-S, and Leica M10. All of us at Leica Store San Francisco are very excited to bring these updates to you and share some of the interesting features that will be coming to the Leica cameras you already own. We have taken the time to go through all of the technical release notes on each firmware and highlight why they matter to you and what you can expect from these new updates coming to your Leica camera.
Below you will find links to download the firmware and update your camera, as well as links to the technical guides for each update. If you have any questions concerning these updates we are here to help. Feel free to reach out and chat with us or bring your camera in for a complimentary update in-store.
Q2 V4.0 Downloads
Release Notes
Firmware
Q2 Monochrom V2.0 Downloads
New Features
NEW:
→ Exposure metering method Highlight-Weighted
→ iDR (Intelligent Dynamic Range) for the optimization of darker areas
→ Firmware update via Leica FOTOS
IMPROVED:
→ In Playback mode, sorting will occur strictly by recording date
→ Bluetooth connection was optimized
→ Geotagging (via Leica FOTOS)
EXTENDED:
→ Image properties
→ Video formats
→ Data management
Why this Matters to You:
We are particularly excited about the new exposure metering method, “highlighted-waited metering.” This new exposure metering method will be particularly useful on the Q2 Monochrom when you want to preserve those highlights while still increasing the dynamic range of your overall photograph. The iDR (Intelligent Dynamic Range) will further assist you in creating extremely dynamic photographs by boosting the darker portions of the photograph. Remaining features such as the improved playback mode, Bluetooth connection, geo-tagging, and different data and formatting options will only increase the ease of use on the Leica Q2 cameras and make the overall user experience more enjoyable. Of course these 2 firmware updates for the Q2 Monochrom and Q2 will extend to the special editions that have released over the past couple of years as well
SL2 V4.0 Downloads
SL2-S V3.0 Downloads
→ Direct setting of ISO sensitivity via thumbwheel/front dial
→ Configurable time before automatic WLAN shutdown ( Wi-Fi Sleep Mode )
→ Photo and video tagging via joystick
ADVANCED:
→ Additional function support for L-Mount-Alliance lenses
→ Additional functions for direct access via FN button
→ AF metering method Person Detection allows the selection of the primarily focused eye
→ ISO settings in finer increments (1⁄2EV or 1⁄3EV)
→ Power saving mode can be completely deactivated (no AF system shutdown when recording via HDMI)
→ Bugfixes in the firmware
Photo
→ Quick change of AF metering position between most recently used position and image center
→ Exposure and depth of field preview
IMPROVED: Geotagging (via Leica FOTOS)
Video
→ NEW: (SL2-S ONLY): RAW format output via HDMI for external device recording
→ Aperture setting in T-stops (1⁄2 and 1⁄3 increments) in Cine Mode
→ HDMI output compatibility with Leica FOTOS
→ HDMI output compatibility with USB connection
There's a lot to unpack here with the new update for the Leica SL2 and SL2-S. Many of these improvements come from user feedback that we have all heard from SL2 and SL2-S users, so we are very excited to see these new implementations in the SL2 system. The most Notable of the updates comes to the SL2-S. The SL2-S will receive the ability to output Cinema RAW 4K video formatting to HDMI to external recording devices such as Atomos recording units at up to 60fps. In addition, both cameras will receive new exposure and depth of field preview improvements allowing you to see the effects of the aperture setting on the depth of field of your image or the exposure. Both cameras also receive a new way to toggle the focus point between the AF focus point and the center of the frame for Spot, Field, Zone, and tracking AF modes.
The SL2 and SL2-S see several user experience updates allowing the ISO sensitivity to be set by either the thumb wheel or front dial, the ability to program the amount of time before automatic shut down when connected via Wifi to an access point, and the ability to quickly tag your photos and videos using the joystick on the back of the camera. Improvements for supporting more L-Mount alliance lenses mean you will be able to use L-Mount lenses from Sigma and Panasonic with better support and performance. Additional improvements have been made to the ISO settings, AF system, and other general bug fixes.
M10 Firmware Downloads
Firmware M10
Firmware M10 Monochrom
Firmware M10-P
Firmware M10-P ASC
Firmware M10-R
Firmware M10-D
The Visoflex 2 is a major update that was launched with the M11, and many of you were very excited to see that it was backward compatible with the Leica M10. Unfortunately at the time of launch the ability to use the new Visoflex 2 was not yet available. The wait is now over!
The Leica M10, M10-P, M10-R, M10-Monochrom, and M10-D along with all M10 special editions receive a simple update that now allows you to use the new Visoflex 2 with the Leica M10.
What are your thoughts on these improvements? What is your most exciting improvement? Let us know in the comments below!
