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Leica TL vs Leica 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 TL2

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

Leica TL2
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Leica TL vs Leica TL2 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing the TL and the , two Advanced Mirrorless cameras by Leica. Leica TL was introduced to the market in November 2016 and Leica TL2 was launched in July 2017. There is only 8 months difference between TL and so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

TL and are members of Leica's TL series of cameras. Below you can find the latest models from this series.

Leica TL Series History
Model Release Date Sensor Dimensions Weight
Leica TL2
July 2017 24.0MP - APS-C 134 x 69 x 33mm 399g
Leica TL
November 2016 16.0MP - APS-C 134 x 69 x 33mm 384g

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Leica TL and Leica TL2 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 TL2 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2017-07-10
  • 24MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 50000
  • Leica TL Mount
  • 3.70" Fixed Type Screen
  • 7.0fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 399g. 134 x 69 x 33 mm
  • Replaced Leica TL Compare

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Leica TL and Leica TL2 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Leica TL over Leica TL2
Built-in Flash
Yes vs No Useful in low-light
Battery Life
400 shots vs 250 shots 150 more frames with a single charge
Weight
384 g vs 399 g 15 g lighter
Sensor Pixel Area
23.04µm2 vs 15.34µm2 50% larger pixel area
CHECK TL PRICE


Reasons to choose Leica TL2 over Leica TL
Sensor Resolution
24 MP vs 16 MP 50% more pixels
Max ISO
50.000 vs 12.500 300% higher Max ISO
Continuous Shooting
7.0fps vs 5.0fps 2 fps faster
Max Video Resolution
3840 x 2160 vs 1920 x 1080 Higher Resolution Video
USB Version
USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) vs USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Faster Data transfer from the camera
CHECK PRICE

Common Strengths of Leica TL and Leica TL2
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
Viewfinder
Electronic (Optional) vs Electronic (Optional) Better framing and control
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
LCD Screen Size
3.70" vs 3.70" Large display
LCD Screen Resolution
1.230k dots vs 1.230k 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 TL2
In-body Image Stabilization
No vs No No Built-in stabilization
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No Screen tilts or Flips out independently, perfect for both stills and video
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Leica TL vs Leica TL2: Physical Specs and Body Features Comparison

Size and weight are big decision factors when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, we are going to illustrate the Leica TL and Leica TL2 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 TL2 has external dimensions of 134 x 69 x 33 mm (5.28 x 2.72 x 1.3″) and weighs 399 g (0.88 lb / 14.07 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Leica TL and the Leica TL2. In this case, we can see that Leica TL and Leica TL2 have the exact same height, width and thickness.

Leica TL vs Leica TL2 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of the Leica TL and the Leica TL2 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of the Leica TL and Leica TL2.

Leica TL vs Leica TL2 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of the Leica TL and the Leica TL2 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Leica TL and Leica TL2.
Leica TL vs Leica TL2 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of the Leica TL and the Leica TL2 Size

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Leica TL is 15g lighter than the Leica TL2 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 also have to take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since both Leica TL and Leica TL2 have the same Leica TL lens mount and APS-C sized sensors, lenses will not be a differentiator on total size of the system.

Weight Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

TL
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

TL
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither the Leica TL nor Leica TL2 provides any type of weather sealing in their bodies, 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 TL and Leica TL2's LCD screens have the same diagonal size of 3.70 inches.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.


Leica TL vs Leica TL2: Sensor Comparison

Leica TL has a 16.0MP APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm ) sized CMOS sensor . On the other hand, Leica TL2 has a 24.0MP APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm ) sized CMOS sensor .

Leica TL2's sensor provides 8MP 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.

Below you can see the TL and sensor size comparison.

Leica TL vs Leica TL2 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Leica TL and Leica TL2 Cameras


Leica TL and Leica TL2 have the same sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture. On the other hand, since Leica TL has 50% larger pixel area compared to Leica TL2, it has potential to collect more light on pixel level hence have less noise in low light / High ISO images.

Leica TL vs Leica TL2 Comparison of Available Lenses
Which camera has more lenses?

The number of available lenses is a big deciding factor when choosing your interchangeable lens camera. Leica TL and Leica TL2 have the same Leica TL lens mount and currently there are 66 native lenses available for these cameras.

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 10 lenses with Image stabilization for Leica TL mount.

Lens Type # of Leica TL Lenses # of Leica TL2 Lenses
Standard Zoom 8 8
Standard Prime 15 15
Wideangle Zoom 5 5
Wideangle Prime 21 21
Telephoto Zoom 8 8
Telephoto Prime 7 7
SuperZoom n/a n/a
Wideangle Fisheye Prime n/a n/a
Macro Prime 2 2
Perspective Control Prime n/a n/a
Telephoto Mirror Prime n/a n/a
TOTAL 66 66

Here are some of the most popular Leica TL Mount Lenses on Camera Decision:

Popular Leica TL Mount Lenses for the TL and the
Model Coverage Weight Focusing Street Price
Panasonic Lumix S 35mm F1.8 Lens Panasonic Lumix S 35mm F1.8
35mm FF 295gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Panasonic Lumix S Pro 24-70mm F2.8 Lens Panasonic Lumix S Pro 24-70mm F2.8
35mm FF 935gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Panasonic Lumix S 24-105mm F4 Macro OIS Lens Panasonic Lumix S 24-105mm F4 Macro OIS
35mm FF 680gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Leica APO-Vario-Elmarit-SL 90-280 mm F2.8-4 Lens Leica APO-Vario-Elmarit-SL 90-280 mm F2.8-4
35mm FF 1710gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS S Lens Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS S
35mm FF 2100gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro Art Lens Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro Art
35mm FF 515gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Sigma 24-70 F2.8 DG DN Art Lens Sigma 24-70 F2.8 DG DN Art
35mm FF 835gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90mm F2.8-4 ASPH Lens Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90mm F2.8-4 ASPH
35mm FF 1140gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
What types of Photography are Leica TL and Leica TL2 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Leica TL and Leica TL2 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 TL2 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
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

Check the Best Leica TL Mount Lenses for Portrait Photography
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Optional External Viewfinder
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Leica TL for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Leica TL2 for Street Photography

GOOD
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

Check the Best Leica TL Mount Lenses for Street Photography
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

Leica TL for Sports Photography

GOOD

Leica TL2 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

Check the Best Leica TL Mount Lenses for Sports Photography
Fast Continuous Shooting: 7.0fps
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: 250 shots
Read the details

Leica TL for Daily Photography

GOOD

Leica TL2 for Daily Photography

GOOD
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) sensor
Medium size Body
384g
Read the details
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) sensor
Medium size Body
399g
Read the details

Leica TL for Landscape Photography

POOR

Leica TL2 for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) sensor
Live-view
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Check the Best Leica TL Mount Lenses for Landscape Photography
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Live-view
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Leica TL vs Leica TL2: 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 TL2, 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 TL2 scores compare:

Leica TL
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #64 out of 140 in Rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #324 out of 1275 in all Cameras
Leica TL2
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #49 out of 140 in Rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #257 out of 1275 in all Cameras

Leica TL2 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 TL2 is the better camera overall.

Leica TL
Leica TL
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Leica TL2
Leica TL2
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Leica TL2 vs Leica TL Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Leica TL Leica TL2
Brand Leica Leica
Announced 2016-11-08 2017-07-10
Body Type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor
Type CMOS CMOS
Size APS-C APS-C
Dimensions 23.6 x 15.7 mm 23.6 x 15.7 mm
Area 370.52mm2 370.52mm2
Megapixels 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Max Resolution 4928 x 3264 6016 x 4014
Max Native Light sensitivity 12,500 ISO 50,000 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 n/a 49
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Leica TL Leica TL
Number of Available Lenses 66 66
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3.70" 3.70"
Resolution 1,230k dots 1,230k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic (optional)
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/4000s 1/4000s
Max Electronic Shutter n/a 1/40000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization No No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 4.50 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 5.0 fps 7.0 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
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 384g 399g
Dimensions 134 x 69 x 33mm 134 x 69 x 33mm
Battery Life 400 shots 250 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS Optional Optional
DxO Sensor Scores
Report a correction Report a correction


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