Leica SL RAW at a glance
| RAW format | DNG — Digital Negative (.DNG) |
|---|---|
| Sensor | 24 MP full-frame |
| Resolution | 24 megapixels |
| Typical RAW size | about 22-28 MB |
| Released | 2015 |
| RAW options | 14-bit DNG RAW, lossless compressed by default. |
Editing SL files with imagic
imagic opens .DNG files from the Leica SL natively on Windows and macOS. Point it at a card or shoot folder and it builds previews, scores every frame for sharpness, closed eyes, and composition, and groups near-duplicate bursts — so a full shoot collapses to its keepers before you edit anything.
Processing runs through the bundled RawTherapee engine, entirely on your machine: batch-apply one look across the keepers and export JPEGs in a single pass. Nothing uploads, which matters at about 22-28 MB per frame. The 7-day trial is full-featured and needs no card; licenses are one-time, from €19.
Frequently asked questions
What RAW format does the Leica SL use?
The Leica SL writes DNG files with the .DNG extension. 14-bit DNG RAW, lossless compressed by default.
How big are Leica SL RAW files?
Expect about 22-28 MB per frame from the 24 MP full-frame sensor, depending on compression settings and scene detail. A full shoot adds up quickly, which is why culling before editing matters on this body.
How can I open Leica SL .DNG files for free?
imagic opens DNG files from the Leica SL natively on Windows and macOS — the 7-day trial needs no card. It culls the shoot with AI quality scoring, groups duplicates, and batch-processes keepers locally through its RawTherapee engine.
More about DNG
The SL's .DNG files share their structure with every Adobe (open specification) body using DNG — the full DNG guide covers compression variants, free openers, and conversion options in depth.
Other Leica bodies
Cull a SL shoot before your coffee cools
AI quality scoring, duplicate grouping, and local batch processing for .DNG — free for 7 days, no card required.