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Leica CL vs Canon M6 Comparison

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Leica CL

24 MP | APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) CMOS Sensor

Leica CL
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Canon M6

24 MP | APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) CMOS Sensor

Canon M6
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Leica CL vs Canon M6 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing CL and M6, two Advanced Mirrorless cameras from Leica and Canon. Leica CL was introduced to market in November 2017 and Canon M6 was launched in February 2017. There is only 9 months difference between CL and M6 so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Leica CL and Canon M6 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Leica CL Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2017-11-21
  • 24MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 50000
  • Leica TL Mount
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 2360k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 10.0fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 403g. 131 x 78 x 45 mm

Canon M6 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2017-02-15
  • 24MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Canon EF-M Mount
  • 3.00" Tilting Screen
  • 9.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 390g. 112 x 68 x 45 mm
  • Replaced Canon EOS M3 Compare

Canon M6 was replaced by Canon EOS M6 Mark II. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Canon EOS M6 Mark II vs Canon EOS M6
Canon EOS M6 Mark II vs Leica CL

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Leica CL and Canon M6 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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Reasons to choose Leica CL over Canon EOS M6
Viewfinder
Electronic vs Electronic (Optional) Better framing and control
Max ISO
50.000 vs 25.600 95% higher Max ISO
Max Mech. Shutter
1/8000s vs 1/4000s faster mechanical shutter
Continuous Shooting
10.0fps vs 9.0fps 1 fps faster
Sensor Pixel Area
15.35µm2 vs 13.84µm2 10% larger pixel area
Max Video Resolution
3840 x 2160 vs 1920 x 1080 Higher Resolution Video
CHECK CL PRICE


Reasons to choose Canon EOS M6 over Leica CL
LCD Screen
Tilting vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
Built-in Flash
Yes vs No Useful in low-light
Battery Life
295 shots vs 220 shots 75 more frames with a single charge
Weight
390 g vs 403 g 13 g lighter
Microphone Port
Yes vs No High quality audio recording option
Selfie & Vlogger Friendly LCD
Yes vs No Rotate LCD for taking Selfies
NFC Connection
Yes vs No Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Bluetooth
Yes vs No Connect your camera to other devices via Blueetooth
Digital video stabilization
Yes vs No Stabilizes your videos in-camera
CHECK M6 PRICE

Common Strengths of Leica CL and Canon EOS M6
Wireless Connection
Yes vs Yes Better connectivity
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
Touch Screen
Yes vs Yes Easy control of camera functions
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Max Resolution
24 MP vs 24 MP Bigger prints and more details
LCD Screen Resolution
1.040k dots vs 1.040k dots High resolution screens
Continuous Shooting
10.0fps vs 9.0fps Fast shooting speeds
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs Yes creative shooting
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs Yes Remote control your camera with a smartphone
UHS Card Support
UHS-II vs UHS-1 Read/Write in High Speeds
Common Weaknesses of Leica CL and Canon EOS M6
In-body Image Stabilization
No vs No No Built-in stabilization
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Leica CL vs Canon M6: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Leica CL and Canon M6 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Leica CL has external dimensions of 131 x 78 x 45 mm (5.16 x 3.07 x 1.77″) and weighs 403 g (0.89 lb / 14.22 oz) (including batteries). Canon M6 has external dimensions of 112 x 68 x 45 mm (4.41 x 2.68 x 1.77″) and weighs 390 g (0.86 lb / 13.76 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Leica CL and Canon M6. Canon M6 is 19mm narrower and 10mm shorter than Leica CL but they have the same thickness of 45mm.

Leica CL vs Canon M6 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Leica CL and Canon M6 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Leica CL and Canon M6.

Leica CL vs Canon M6 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Leica CL and Canon M6 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Leica CL and Canon M6.
Leica CL vs Canon M6 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Leica CL and Canon M6 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Canon M6 is 13g lighter than the Leica CL but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you have to also take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since both Leica CL and Canon M6 have the same APS-C sized sensor, their lenses for a similar focal length and aperture will be similar in size and weight.

Weight Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

CL
M6
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

CL
M6
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Leica CL nor Canon EOS M6 provides any type of weather sealing in their body, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Mirrorless Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Leica CL and Canon M6's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3.00".

On the other hand, Canon M6 features a Tilting screen where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over the head levels whereas the Leica CL has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to M6.
Leica CL vs Canon M6: Sensor Comparison

Both Leica CL and Canon M6 have APS-C sized 24.0 MP resolution sensors so sensor size and resolution is not a differentiator between these two cameras.

Below you can see the CL and M6 sensor size comparison.

Leica CL vs Canon M6 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Leica CL and Canon M6 Cameras


As seen above, Leica CL has a 1.1x Larger sensor area than Canon M6. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.

Leica CL vs Canon M6 Comparison of Available Lenses
Which camera has more lenses?

Number of available lenses is a big decision factor while choosing your interchangeable lens camera. When we look at the available lenses for these two cameras, we see that Leica CL has an advantage over Canon M6. There are 53 lenses for Leica CL's Leica TL mount, on the other hand there are only 29 lenses for Canon M6's Canon EF-M lens mount.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. None of these bodies have sensor based image stabilization so you have to buy lenses with Optical stabilization feature. Currently there are 8 lenses for Leica TL mount and 6 lenses for Canon EF-M mount with IS.

Lens Type # of Leica CL Lenses # of Canon M6 Lenses
Standard Zoom 8 1
Standard Prime 11 5
Wideangle Zoom 4 2
Wideangle Prime 15 11
Telephoto Zoom 6 1
Telephoto Prime 7 6
SuperZoom n/a 1
Wideangle Fisheye Prime n/a 1
Macro Prime 2 1
Perspective Control Prime n/a n/a
Telephoto Mirror Prime n/a n/a
TOTAL 53 29

What types of Photography are Leica CL and Canon M6 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Leica CL and Canon M6 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Leica CL for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Canon M6 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Optional External Viewfinder
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Leica CL for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Canon M6 for Street Photography

GOOD
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) sensor
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Medium sized Body
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Optional External Viewfinder
Medium sized Body
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Leica CL for Sports Photography

GOOD

Canon M6 for Sports Photography

GOOD
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
49 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Environmental Sealings
Poor Battery Life: 220 shots
Read the details
Fast Continuous Shooting: 9.0fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
49 Focus Points
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Optional External Viewfinder
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Environmental Sealings
Poor Battery Life: 295 shots
Read the details

Leica CL for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Canon M6 for Daily Photography

GOOD
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) sensor
Medium size Body
403g
Body Thickness 45mm
Read the details
Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Medium size Body
390g
Body Thickness 45mm
Read the details

Leica CL for Landscape Photography

POOR

Canon M6 for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Live-view
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Live-view
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Leica CL vs Canon M6: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Leica CL and Canon M6, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Leica CL and Canon M6 scores compare:

Leica CL
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #57 out of 130 in Rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #312 out of 1243 in all Cameras
Canon M6
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #23 out of 130 in Rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #164 out of 1243 in all Cameras

Canon M6 is the clear winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Leica CL in all criteria.
It has better general image quality, more features, more compact body and offers more value for the money

Leica CL
Leica CL
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Canon M6
Canon M6
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Canon M6 vs Leica CL Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Leica CL Canon EOS M6
Brand Leica Canon
Announced 2017-11-21 2017-02-15
Body Type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor
Type CMOS CMOS
Size APS-C APS-C
Dimensions 23.6 x 15.7 mm 22.3 x 14.9 mm
Area 370.52mm2 332.27mm2
Megapixels 24 megapixels 24 megapixels
Max Resolution 6014 x 4014 6000 x 4000
Max Native Light sensitivity 50,000 ISO 25,600 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 100 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 49 49
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Leica TL Canon EF-M
Number of Available Lenses 53 29
Screen
Type Fixed type Tilting
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 1,040k dots 1,040k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder Resolution 2,360k dots no electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage 100% n/a
Viewfinder Magnification 0.74x n/a
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/8000s 1/4000s
Max Electronic Shutter 1/25000s n/a
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization No No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range no built-in flash 5.00 m (at ISO 100)
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 10.0 fps 9.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160 1920 x 1080
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 403g 390g
Dimensions 131 x 78 x 45mm 112 x 68 x 45mm
Battery Life 220 shots 295 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score not tested 78
DxO Color Depth not tested 23.4
DxO Dynamic Range not tested 12.6
DxO Low Light ISO not tested 1317
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