Capture Pro Shots With Leica's 8 Best Cameras in 2023
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Leica is a German camera brand that has existed for over a century, and they've always been at the top of the game. Many of their cameras are hand-built in their factory in Germany, which explains the high price tag.
Are you wondering what the best Leica camera is, then look no further! We've listed the top 8 Leica cameras on the market right now.
A camera is an excellent asset in your gearbox, but far from the only one. Explore what else there is of essential camera equipment.
- powerful mirrorless camera – packed into a compact body
- minimalistic menu – a joy to scroll through
- excellent performance – with a great image sensor
- upgraded AF – incredible full-frame image sensor
- excellent 4K video performance – at 60 frames per second
- IP54 weather-sealing rating – to handle various weather
- improved 25fps continuous shooting – excellent for fast shots
- nice AF system – no match to competitors using phase-detect AF
- shoots good videos – but not as well as the original SL2
- an excellent mirrorless camera – with a classic design
- for photography only – no video or AF system
- 60MP full-frame sensor – and great lens compatibilities
- a niche photography camera – only shoots monochrome
- Excellent full-frame image sensor – with great viewfinder
- Quiet mechanical shutter – some dust and water resistance
- incredible 41 mp sensor – with great optical viewfinder
- great for outdoor shooting – with a quiet mechanical shutter
- sturdy & compact body – great when requiring a light camera
- fixed-lens camera – with incredible manual focus
- excellent electronic viewfinder – and a fast processor
- perfect weather sealing – useful for most weather situations
- compact camera – with great video quality
- ideal for traveling – excellent for snapshots and quick photos
- excellent ISO performance – works best when the sun is up
8 of the best Leica cameras in 2023
1. Leica CL
- powerful mirrorless camera – packed into a compact body
- minimalistic menu – a joy to scroll through
- excellent performance – with a great image sensor
The Leica CL is a powerful mirrorless camera packed into a compact camera body.
The camera weighs in at only 353gs, which is around 12,4 oz, so it's safe to say that it is lightweight and compact.
Compared to other camera systems, the menus are minimalistic and are a joy to scroll through.
The camera has excellent performance with a fantastic image sensor and good video capabilities. At a little over $3,000, it's an expensive camera for its specs, but it's Leica, so that's expectable.
Key features
- Type: Mirrorless
- Mount: Leica mount
- Sensor: 24.3MP APS-C
- Continuous shooting: 10 fps
- AF system: 49-point
- Shutter speeds: 1/25000s to 30 s
- ISO: 100 - 50,000
- Best video: 4K/30p and Full HD/60p
- Battery life: 220 shots
- Screen: 3.0″ 1.24M-dot
- Skill level: Intermediate
Pros
- Great exposure preview on the EVF
- Great focusing capabilities
- Good dynamic range
- Great ISO range
Cons
- Pricey
- Lack of image stabilization
2. Leica SL2
- upgraded AF – incredible full-frame image sensor
- excellent 4K video performance – at 60 frames per second
- IP54 weather-sealing rating – to handle various weather
The Leica SL2 is an excellent upgrade from the Leica SL, with upgraded autofocus capabilities and an incredible full-frame image sensor.
The Leica SL2 has an EVF that displays a fantastic 5,76 million dots. The camera also has an excellent 4K video performance at 60 frames per second.
Furthermore, it has an IP54 weather-sealing rating, meaning it can handle quite a bit of the different weather you might meet.
Key features
- Type: Mirrorless
- Mount: Leica L mount
- Sensor: 47,3MP full-frame CMOS sensor
- Continuous shooting: 20 fps
- AF system: 425-point
- Shutter speeds: 1/8000s to 30 s (up to 1/40000s with electronic shutter)
- ISO: 100 - 50,000
- Best video: 4K/60p
- Battery life: 370 shots
- Screen: 3.2″ 5.67M-dot fully articulated
- Skill level: Intermediate
Pros
- Great video resolution
- Great interface design
- Great image quality
- Good design
Cons
- Fixed LCD touchscreen
- Pricey
3. Leica SL2-S
- improved 25fps continuous shooting – excellent for fast shots
- nice AF system – no match to competitors using phase-detect AF
- shoots good videos – but not as well as the original SL2
The Leica SL2-S comes with an improved battery life over the SL2.
It also comes with an improved 25 frame per second continuous shooting, which is excellent for every who needs a fast camera.
The autofocus system functions pretty well. However, it's no match to other competitors using the phase-detect autofocus system.
While the video quality isn't as good as the original SL2, it's still more than capable of shooting good videos.
Key features
- Type: Mirrorless
- Mount: Leica L mount
- Sensor: 24MP full-frame BSI-CMOS sensor
- Continuous shooting: 25 fps
- AF system: 225-point
- Shutter speeds: 1/16000s to 30 s
- ISO: 100 - 50,000
- Best video: 4K/30p
- Battery life: 510 shots
- Screen: 3.2″ 5.67M-dot fully articulated
- Skill level: Beginner
Pros
- Great image sensor
- High continuous shooting capabilities
- Great autofocus
- Great weather sealing
Cons
- Pricey
- Fixed rear screen
4. Leica M11
- an excellent mirrorless camera – with a classic design
- for photography only – no video or AF system
- 60MP full-frame sensor – and great lens compatibilities
The Leica M11 is an excellent full-frame mirrorless camera with a classic design.
The camera is compact and sturdy and can fit pretty much anywhere, so it's ideal for things like street fashion photography or other types of photography where you don't want too heavy equipment.
The Leica M11 is for photography only, and it doesn't come with video or an AF system.
Considering this and the price tag, you should probably only invest in this one if you're a professional!
Key features
- Type: Digital Rangefinder
- Mount: Leica M-mount
- Sensor: 60MP Full-Frame BSI-CMOS
- Continuous shooting: 4,5 fps
- AF system: N/A
- Shutter speeds: 1/16000s to 30 s
- ISO: 64 - 50,000
- Best video: N/A
- Battery life: 700 shots
- Screen: 3.0″ 3M-dot fully articulated
- Skill level: Professional
Pros
- Incredible 60MP full-frame sensor
- Beautiful design
- Great viewfinder
- Quiet shutter
- Great lens compatibilities
Cons
- Pricey
- No video support
5. Leica M10 Monochrom
- a niche photography camera – only shoots monochrome
- Excellent full-frame image sensor – with great viewfinder
- Quiet mechanical shutter – some dust and water resistance
The Leica M10 is a niche camera because it only shoots monochrome. This means that the camera can only shoot in black and white.
Considering this and the high price tag, this only fits professionals who focus on black and white photography. It also only does photography, so you should probably look elsewhere if you plan to shoot video.
But with that in mind, it's a fantastic camera for this purpose only, probably one of the best on the market!
Key features
- Type: Digital Rangefinder
- Mount: Leica-M mount
- Sensor: 41MP Full-Frame CMOS
- Continuous shooting: 4,5 fps
- AF system: N/A
- Shutter speeds: 1/4000s to 8 s
- ISO: 160 - 100,000
- Best video: N/A
- Battery life: 600 shots
- Screen: 3.0″ 1.0368M-dot fully articulated
- Skill level: Professional
Pros
- Excellent full-frame monochrome image sensor
- Great viewfinder
- Wi-Fi capabilities
- Quiet mechanical shutter
- Some dust and water resistance
Cons
- Pricey
- Manual focus only
6. Leica M10-R
- incredible 41 mp sensor – with great optical viewfinder
- great for outdoor shooting – with a quiet mechanical shutter
- sturdy & compact body – great when requiring a light camera
The Leica M10-R has an incredible 41 mp sensor, making it one of the bigger resolutions on this list.
The camera has a clean design and a quiet mechanical shutter, making it great for outdoor shooting.
It is built sturdy and compact, just like most other Leica cameras, perfect for any situation requiring a light camera.
Key features
- Type: Rangefinder
- Mount: Leica-M mount
- Sensor: 41MPfull-frame CMOS
- Continuous shooting: 4.5 fps
- AF system: N/A
- Shutter speeds: 1/4000s to 8 s
- ISO: 100 - 50,000
- Best video: N/A
- Battery life: 600 shots
- Screen: 3.0″ 1.0368M-dot
- Skill level: Professional
Pros
- Incredible full-frame image sensor
- Beautiful design
- Quiet mechanical shutter
- Great optical viewfinder
Cons
- Pricey
- No video support
7. Leica Q2
- fixed-lens camera – with incredible manual focus
- excellent electronic viewfinder – and a fast processor
- perfect weather sealing – useful for most weather situations
The Leica Q2 is a fixed-lens full-frame camera with an incredible manual focus system and a so and so autofocus system.
It also has an excellent electronic viewfinder and a fast processor, making this camera a real competitor.
It has perfect weather sealing making it useful for most weather situations.
Key features
- Type: Fixed-lens
- Mount: Fixed-lens
- Sensor: 47,3MP Full-frame CMOS
- Continuous shooting: 20 fps
- AF system: 225-point
- Shutter speeds: 1/40000s to 1 s
- ISO: 50 - 50,000
- Best video: 4K/24p
- Battery life: 350 shots
- Screen: 3.0″ 1.04M-dot fully articulated
- Skill level: Intermediate
Pros
- Great weather sealing
- Great full-frame sensor
- Good autofocus functions
Cons
- Pricey
- No built-in flash
- Fixed LCD panel
8. Leica D-Lux 7
- compact camera – with great video quality
- ideal for traveling – excellent for snapshots and quick photos
- excellent ISO performance – works best when the sun is up
Lastly, we have the Leica D-Lux 7, a compact camera perfect for traveling photographers.
Compared to the other cameras on this list, it's relatively affordable, at around $1,400.
The Leica D-Lux 7 excels for traveling photojournalists or street photographers and is excellent for taking snapshots and quick photos.
The camera has an excellent ISO performance. However, it will produce the best pictures when the sun is still up.
Key features
- Type: Fixed lens
- Mount: Fixed lens
- Sensor: 17MP CMOS
- Continuous shooting: 11 fps
- AF system: 49-point
- Shutter speeds: 1/4000s to 30s
- ISO: 200 - 25,600
- Best video: 4K/30p
- Battery life: 300 shots
- Screen: 3.0″ 1.24M-dot fully articulated
- Skill level: Intermediate
Pros
- Compact
- Good battery performance
- Great video quality
- Great ISO range
- Quiet shutter
Cons
- Fixed lens mount
- No phase-detection AF
Discover the best Olympus cameras
I hope this article helped you decide on which Leica camera you should keep an eye out for.
If you're still not convinced, you could always rent or subscribe to one on Wedio!
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If you're interested in more luxurious cameras with a classic design, check out the best Olympus cameras.
About the instructors
FAQ
What is the best Leica camera?
The Leica CL.
What is the best Leica film camera?
The Leica CL.
Why is Leica the best camera?
Leica cameras are compact, lightweight, sturdy and have great performance.
Is a Leica camera worth it?
If you're in need of a compact, lightweight and sturdy camera, a Leica camera is definitely worth it.
