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Leica TL vs Leica SL2 Comparison

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Leica TL

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

Leica TL
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Leica SL2

47 MP | Full frame (36 x 24 mm) CMOS Sensor

Leica SL2
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Leica TL vs Leica SL2 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing TL and SL2, two Mirrorless cameras by Leica. Leica TL is a Advanced Mirrorless class camera and Leica SL2 is a Pro Mirrorless class camera.

Leica TL was introduced to market in November 2016 and Leica SL2 was launched in November 2019. As you can see, TL is 3 years older than SL2. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Leica TL and Leica SL2 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Leica TL Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2016-11-08
  • 16MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 12500
  • Leica TL Mount
  • 3.70" Fixed Type Screen
  • 5.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 384g. 134 x 69 x 33 mm

Leica SL2 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2019-11-06
  • 47MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor
  • No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter
  • ISO 100 - 50000 ( expands to 50 - 50000)
  • Leica L Mount
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3.20" Fixed Type Screen
  • 5760k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 20.0fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (DCI) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 835g. 146 x 107 x 42 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Replaced Leica SL Compare

Leica TL was replaced by Leica TL2. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Leica TL2 vs Leica TL
Leica TL2 vs Leica SL2

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Leica TL and Leica SL2 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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Reasons to choose Leica TL over Leica SL2
Built-in Flash
Yes vs No Useful in low-light
LCD Screen Size
3.7 vs 3.2 0.5 inches larger display
Battery Life
400 shots vs 370 shots 30 more frames with a single charge
Weight
384 g vs 835 g 451 g lighter
Sensor Pixel Area
23.04µm2 vs 18.49µm2 24% larger pixel area
CHECK TL PRICE


Reasons to choose Leica SL2 over Leica TL
In-built Image Stabilization
Sensor-shift vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and slow shutter speeds
Viewfinder
Electronic vs Electronic (Optional) Better framing and control
Max Sensor Resolution
47 MP vs 16 MP 193% more pixels
Max ISO
50.000 vs 12.500 300% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Resolution
2.100k dots vs 1.230k dots 70% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter
1/8000s vs 1/4000s faster mechanical shutter
Continuous Shooting
20.0fps vs 5.0fps 15 fps faster
Microphone Port
Yes vs No High quality audio recording option
Headphone Port
Yes vs No better video control
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs No shoot at tough conditions
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs No creative shooting
Max Video Resolution
3840 x 2160 vs 1920 x 1080 Higher Resolution Video
Top LCD
Yes vs No Help viewing and changing settings easily
Flash Sync Port
Yes vs No Connect off-camera flash
Full-size HDMI Port
Yes vs No Use standard HDMI cables without adapters
Pixel Shift High-Res Mode
Yes (187) vs No Increased resolution with pixel shift
Bluetooth
Yes vs No Connect your camera to other devices via Blueetooth
Storage Slot
2 vs 1 Extra storage slot
UHS Card Support
UHS-II vs none Read/Write in High Speeds
CHECK SL2 PRICE

Common Strengths of Leica TL and Leica SL2
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
LCD Screen Size
3.20" vs 3.20" Large display
LCD Screen Resolution
1.230k dots vs 2.100k dots High resolution screens
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs Yes Remote control your camera with a smartphone
Common Weaknesses of Leica TL and Leica SL2
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No No flexible viewing angles
Leica TL vs Leica SL2: 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 TL and Leica SL2 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Leica TL has external dimensions of 134 x 69 x 33 mm (5.28 x 2.72 x 1.3″) and weighs 384 g (0.85 lb / 13.55 oz) (including batteries). Leica SL2 has external dimensions of 146 x 107 x 42 mm (5.75 x 4.21 x 1.65″) and weighs 835 g (1.84 lb / 29.45 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Leica TL and Leica SL2. Leica TL is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 12mm narrower, 38mm shorter and 9mm thinner than Leica SL2.

Leica TL vs Leica SL2 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Leica TL and Leica SL2 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Leica TL and Leica SL2.

Leica TL vs Leica SL2 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Leica TL and Leica SL2 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Leica TL and Leica SL2.
Leica TL vs Leica SL2 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Leica TL and Leica SL2 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Leica TL is significantly lighter (451g ) than the Leica SL2 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

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 Leica SL2 has a Full frame sensor and Leica TL has a smaller APS-C sensor, Leica TL's lenses for a similar focal length and aperture will generally be lighter and smaller than the Leica SL2 lenses.

Weight Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

TL
SL2
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

TL
SL2
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Thanks to the weather sealed body of SL2, you can use this camera with more confidence under conditions where there is risk of exposure to water and dust compared to TL.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Leica TL's 3.70" LCD screen is slightly larger than Leica SL2's 3.2 screen.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.
Leica TL vs Leica SL2: Sensor Comparison

Leica TL has a 16.0MP APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm ) sized CMOS sensor . On the other hand, Leica SL2 has a 47.0MP Full frame (36 x 24 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Maestro III processor.

Leica SL2's sensor provides 31MP more than Leica TL's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

One other difference between these two cameras that is worth mentioning is that Leica SL2's sensor doesn't have an anti-alias (Low-Pass) filter. Removing anti-alias filter increases the sharpness and level of detail but at the same time, it increases the chance of moire occurring in certain scenes.

Below you can see the TL and SL2 sensor size comparison.

Leica TL vs Leica SL2 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Leica TL and Leica SL2 Cameras


As seen above, Leica SL2 has a 2.3x Larger sensor area than Leica TL. 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 TL vs Leica SL2 Comparison of Available Lenses
Which camera has more lenses?

Number of available lenses is a big decision factor while choosing your interchangeable lens camera. Both Leica TL and Leica SL2 have 53 native lenses available but be careful that since Leica SL2 has a full frame sensor, only 50 of these lenses can cover the full frame sensor of SL2.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. Leica SL2 has a big advantage in this regard because it has a sensor based image stabilization which means that all the lenses mounted to this body will be stabilized. SL2's built-in Image stabilization system is effective to compensate vibration up to 5.5-stops according to CIPA standards.
On the other hand, Leica TL doesn't have this feature so you have to buy a lens with optical stabilization feature. Currently there are 8 lenses for Leica TL mount with Optical Image Stabilization features.

Lens Type # of Leica TL Lenses # of Leica SL2 Lenses
Standard Zoom 8 8 (7 Full Frame)
Standard Prime 11 11 (10 Full Frame)
Wideangle Zoom 4 4 (4 Full Frame)
Wideangle Prime 15 15 (14 Full Frame)
Telephoto Zoom 6 6 (6 Full Frame)
Telephoto Prime 7 7 (7 Full Frame)
SuperZoom n/a n/a
Wideangle Fisheye Prime n/a n/a
Macro Prime 2 2 (2 Full Frame)
Perspective Control Prime n/a n/a
Telephoto Mirror Prime n/a n/a
TOTAL 53 53 (50 Full Frame)

What types of Photography are Leica TL and Leica SL2 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Leica TL and Leica SL2 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 TL for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Leica SL2 for Portrait Photography

GOOD
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) sensor
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Optional External Viewfinder
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 47.0MP
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Leica TL for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Leica SL2 for Street Photography

EXCELLENT
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) sensor
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Optional External Viewfinder
Medium sized Body
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Medium sized Body
Read the details

Leica TL for Sports Photography

GOOD

Leica SL2 for Sports Photography

GOOD
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Optional External Viewfinder
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps
No Image Stabilization
Environmental Sealings
Focus Points
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 20.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
225 Focus Points
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Read the details

Leica TL for Daily Photography

GOOD

Leica SL2 for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) sensor
Medium size Body
384g
Read the details
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Medium size Body
835g
Body Thickness 42mm
Read the details

Leica TL for Landscape Photography

POOR

Leica SL2 for Landscape Photography

GOOD
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) sensor
Live-view
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 47.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details

Leica TL vs Leica SL2: 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 TL and Leica SL2, 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 TL and Leica SL2 scores compare:

Leica TL
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #50 out of 130 in Rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #286 out of 1244 in all Cameras
Leica SL2
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #9 out of 102 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #9 out of 1244 in all Cameras

Leica SL2 is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Leica TL in all criteria except one: Portability.
If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Leica TL. Otherwise, Leica SL2 is the better camera overall.

Leica TL
Leica TL
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Leica SL2
Leica SL2
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Leica SL2 vs Leica TL Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Leica TL Leica SL2
Brand Leica Leica
Announced 2016-11-08 2019-11-06
Body Type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor
Type CMOS CMOS
Size APS-C Full frame
Dimensions 23.6 x 15.7 mm 36 x 24 mm
Area 370.52mm2 864.00mm2
Megapixels 16 megapixels 47 megapixels
Max Resolution 4928 x 3264 8368 x 5584
Max Native Light sensitivity 12,500 ISO 50,000 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 100 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity - 50 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 n/a 225
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Leica TL Leica L
Number of Available Lenses 53 53
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3.70" 3.20"
Resolution 1,230k dots 2,100k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder 5,760k dots
Viewfinder Coverage n/a 100%
Viewfinder Magnification n/a 0.78x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/4000s 1/8000s
Max Electronic Shutter n/a 1/40000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization No Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 4.50 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 5.0 fps 20.0 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 1920 x 1080 3840 x 2160
Video Formats MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 384g 835g
Dimensions 134 x 69 x 33mm 146 x 107 x 42mm
Battery Life 400 shots 370 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS Optional None
DxO Sensor Scores
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