.DNG · 2020 · 24 MP full-frame

Leica SL2-S RAW Files: Open, Cull & Edit .DNG Free

A speed and low-light-focused sibling to the SL2, used by event and documentary photographers wanting faster bursts. Lower resolution than the SL2 keeps files smaller even during longer shooting sessions. Event coverage on this body produces meaningful frame counts that benefit from automated sorting before editing.

Leica SL2-S RAW at a glance

RAW formatDNG — Digital Negative (.DNG)
Sensor24 MP full-frame
Resolution24 megapixels
Typical RAW sizeabout 22-28 MB
Released2020
RAW options14-bit DNG RAW, lossless compressed by default.

Editing SL2-S files with imagic

imagic opens .DNG files from the Leica SL2-S 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 SL2-S use?

The Leica SL2-S writes DNG files with the .DNG extension. 14-bit DNG RAW, lossless compressed by default.

How big are Leica SL2-S 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 SL2-S .DNG files for free?

imagic opens DNG files from the Leica SL2-S 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 SL2-S'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

Leica M10-R Leica M11 Leica Q3 Leica M (Typ 240) Leica Q Leica SL Leica M10 Leica Q2

Cull a SL2-S shoot before your coffee cools

AI quality scoring, duplicate grouping, and local batch processing for .DNG — free for 7 days, no card required.