The Leica SL (Typ 601) features two memory card slots. Slot 1 is compatible with SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II) memory cards and slot 2 is compatible with the slower UHS-I SD/SDHC/SDXC cards.
SD cards support capacities of between 1-2GB, SDHC cards support 4-32GB and SDXC cards support 64GB-2TB.
For shooting video at 4K 24 p you will want a card that has a minimum video speed rating of V30 / U3, although a card with a V60 or V90 video rating will run cooler and also help you to offload the files to your computer faster.
It's always a good idea to format a new memory card before use. In the Leica SL's menu's SETUP section, select Format. Then in the submenu select which of the two card slots you want to format and confirm the action.
Recommended UHS-II SDCX Cards
Our top 10 recommended UHS-II SDXC cards based on speed and reliability for the Leica SL (Typ 601) camera are:
| UHS-II Card | Max Write Speed | Max Read Speed | Video Speed Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delkin Devices BLACK | 250 MB/s | 300 MB/s | V90 |
| Delkin Devices Power | 250 MB/s | 300 MB/s | V90 |
| Angelbird AV PRO SD (MK2) | 280 MB/s | 300 MB/s | V90 |
| Nextorage NX-F2PRO | 299 MB/s | 300 MB/s | V90 |
| SanDisk Extreme Pro | 260 MB/s | 300 MB/s | V90 |
| Sony SF-G Tough | 299 MB/s | 300 MB/s | V90 |
| Lexar Professional GOLD 2000X | 260 MB/s | 300 MB/s | V90 |
| OWC Atlas Ultra | 250 MB/s | 300 MB/s | V90 |
| Lexar Professional GOLD 1800x | 210 MB/s | 280 MB/s | V60 |
| Nextorage NX-F2SE Series | 100 MB/s | 280 MB/s | V60 |
Recommended UHS-I SDXC Cards
Our recommended UHS-I SDXC cards based on speed and reliability for the Leica SL (Typ 601) camera are:
| UHS-I Card | Max Write Speed | Max Read Speed | Video Speed Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delkin Devices ADVANTAGE | 100 MB/s | 180 MB/s | V30 |
| Delkin Devices Black | 90 MB/s | 90 MB/s | V30 |
| SanDisk Extreme | 90 MB/s | 180 MB/s | V30 |
| SanDisk Extreme Pro | 90 MB/s | 200 MB/s | V30 |
| Lexar 800x PRO | 45 MB/s | 150 MB/s | V30 |
| Kingston Canvas Go Plus | 70 MB/s | 170 MB/s | V30 |
| SanDisk Ultra | NA | 140 MB/s | V10 |
FAQs
How many images can be stored on a 64GB card?
The Leica SL (Typ 601) can store approximately 1400 DNG images or 2600 L-JPG images on a 64GB card.
Are CFexpress Type B cards supported?
No. The Leica SL (Typ 601) only supports SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II/UHS-I) memory cards. CFexpress Type B cards will not physically fit the camera.
What is the difference between UHS-I and UHS-II memory cards?
UHS-II offers much faster speeds (up to 312 MB/s) compared to UHS-I (up to 104 MB/s). This is possible via a second row of pins and two data lanes for simultaneous upstream and downstream data transfer. The extra row of pins are visible on the back of UHS-II cards. Both card types are backward compatible, but a UHS-II card will only operate at UHS-I speeds in a camera that only supports UHS-I cards.
What is the difference between SDHC and SDXC memory cards?
SDHC cards are formatted using the FAT32 file system which is limited to a maximum file size of 4GB. So when recording video clips, the clip will be split every 4 GB but playback with the camera will be seamless. SDXC cards use the exFAT file system which supports a maximum file size of 16 exabytes (EB), so video clips will not be split. SDHC cards support capacities of between 4-32GB and SDXC cards support 64GB-2TB.
Where can you find the Leica SL (Typ 601) specifications?
Full specifications for the Leica SL (Typ 601) can be found on Leica's website.
