Sony FX30 vs Leica CL Comparison

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Sony FX30

26 MP | APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

$2,098at Amazon›Check price atB&H›

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Leica CL

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

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Sony FX30

$2,098at Amazon

Leica CL

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Sony FX30

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Leica CL

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Sony FX30 vs Leica CL Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing the FX30 and the CL, two Advanced Mirrorless cameras from Sony and Leica. Sony FX30 was introduced to the market in September 2022 and Leica CL was launched in November 2017. As you can see, CL is 5 years older than FX30. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Sony FX30 and Leica CL before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Sony FX30 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2022-09-28

26MP - APS-C BSI-CMOS Sensor

ISO 100 - 32000 ( expands to 50-102400)

Sony E Mount

Sensor-shift Image Stabilization

3.00" Fully articulated Screen

1.0fps continuous shooting

4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution

240fps High-Speed Video

Built-in Wireless

646g. 130 x 78 x 85 mm

Weather-sealed Body

Leica CL Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2017-11-21

24MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor

ISO 100 - 50000

Leica L 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

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Sony FX30 and Leica CL compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

**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 Sony FX30 over Leica CL

RAW Video Recording	Yes vs No	High Video quality
Gyroscopic Stabilization	Yes vs No	Stabilize video in post process
On-body Mounting Points	Yes vs No	Attach accessories without the need of a cage
Tally Light	Yes vs No	Indicates when camera is recording
Shutter Angle Setting	Yes vs No	Easily set the shutter angle for video
Video Record Limit	Unlimited vs Limited	Record clips longer than 30 minutes
XLR Input	Sony XLR-H1 Top Handle vs No	Interface for high-quality sound recording
Lens Breathing Correction	Yes vs No	Corrects Lens Breathing for supported lenses
In-built Image Stabilization	Sensor-shift vs None	Sharper images at longer focal lengths and slow shutter speeds
LCD Screen	Fully articulated vs Fixed Type	Flexible shooting positions
Sensor Resolution	26 MP vs 24 MP	8% more pixels
Number of Focus Points	759 vs 49	710 more focus points
LCD Resolution	2.360k dots vs 1.040k dots	126% higher resolution screen
Battery Life	570 shots vs 220 shots	350 more frames with a single charge
Microphone Port	Yes vs No	High quality audio recording option
Headphone Port	Yes vs No	better sound monitoring
Environmental Sealing	Yes vs No	Extra protection against water and dust
4:2:2 Chroma Subsampling	Yes vs No	Less compressed color data
Full-size HDMI Port	Yes vs No	Use standard HDMI cables without adapters
Selfie & Vlogger 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 Bluetooth
Storage Slot	2 vs 1	Extra storage slot
Digital video stabilization	Yes vs No	Stabilizes your videos in-camera
CFexpress Card Support	Yes (Type A) vs none	Read/Write in Ultra High Speeds
Animal Eye AF Tracking	Yes vs No	Easily lock and track focus on animals
Webcam Function	Yes vs No	Use your camera as a Webcam
Anti Flicker	Yes vs No	Reduced uneven color and exposure under flickering light
Eye Tracking Focus	Yes vs No	Autofocus system locks on the eye and tracks the subject

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Reasons to choose Leica CL over Sony FX30

Viewfinder	Electronic vs None	Better framing and control under bright light
Max Native ISO	50.000 vs 32.000	56% higher Max Native ISO
Continuous Shooting	10.0fps vs 1.0fps	9 fps faster
Weight	403 g vs 646 g	243 g lighter
Sensor Pixel Area	15.35µm2 vs 14.10µm2	8% larger pixel area

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Common Strengths of Sony FX30 and Leica CL

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	Easy focusing on portrait shots
Max Resolution	26 MP vs 24 MP	Bigger prints and more details
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-II	Read/Write in High Speeds

Common Weaknesses of Sony FX30 and Leica CL

Built-in Flash	No vs No	Require external flash

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Sony FX30 vs Leica CL: 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 Sony FX30 and Leica CL side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Sony FX30 has external dimensions of 130 x 78 x 85 mm (3.07 x 5.12 x 3.35″) and weighs 646 g (1.42 lb / 22.79 oz) (including batteries). 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).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Sony FX30 and the Leica CL.

Comparison image of the Sony FX30 and the Leica CL Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of the Sony FX30 and Leica CL.

Comparison image of the Sony FX30 and the Leica CL Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Sony FX30 and Leica CL.

Top View Comparison image of the Sony FX30 and the Leica CL Size

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Leica CL is significantly lighter (243g ) than the Sony FX30 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 also have to take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since both Sony FX30 and Leica CL 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

FX30

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

FX30

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

With its weather-sealed body, we believe that the FX30 has a big advantage over the CL which doesn't provide any kind of environmental sealing.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Sony FX30 and Leica CL's LCD screens have the same diagonal size of 3.00 inches.

Sony FX30 vs Leica CL: Sensor Comparison

Sony FX30 has a 26.0MP APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Bionz XR processor. On the other hand, Leica CL has a 24.0MP APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Maestro II processor.

Below you can see the FX30 and CL sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Sony FX30 and Leica CL Cameras

Sony FX30 and Leica CL have almost the same sensor size, so neither of them has any significant advantage over the other in terms of providing control over depth of field when used with the same focal length and aperture.

Sensor size sets the circle of confusion, so it drives how much depth of field each of these bodies gives you at a given aperture. You can calculate it exactly for the Sony FX30 or the Leica CL, including hyperfocal distance.

Sony FX30 vs Leica CL 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. When we look at the available lenses for these two cameras, we see that the Sony FX30 has an advantage over the Leica CL. There are 364 lenses for the Sony FX30's Sony E mount, but on the other hand, there are only 146 lenses for the Leica CL's Leica L lens mount.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. Sony FX30 has a big advantage in this regard because it has a sensor based image stabilization (IS) which means that all the lenses mounted to this body will be stabilized. FX30's built-in Image stabilization system is effective for compensating vibration up to 5.5-stops according to CIPA standards.
On the other hand, Leica CL doesn't have this feature so you have to buy a lens with optical stabilization feature. Currently there are 18 lenses for Leica L mount with Optical Image Stabilization features.

Lens Type	# of Sony FX30 Lenses	# of Leica CL Lenses
Standard Zoom	29	15
Standard Prime	70	30
Wideangle Zoom	22	10
Wideangle Prime	107	39
Telephoto Zoom	28	13
Telephoto Prime	63	20
SuperZoom	14	3
Wideangle Fisheye Prime	6	4
Macro Prime	15	5
Perspective Control Prime	7	4
Telephoto Mirror Prime	n/a	n/a
TOTAL	364	146

Now let's compare some sample lenses from each mount with typical Focal ranges for Sony FX30 and Leica CL to see how these lenses compare:

Fast Standard Zoom Lenses

Model		FF Equiv.	Weight	Weight w/ Cam	Length	Street Price
	Sony E 16-55mm F2.8 G ( Check Size)	24 - 82.5mm	494gr	1,140gr	100mm	Amazon B&H Photo
	Panasonic S 24-70mm F2.8 ( Check Size)	24 - 70mm	935gr	1,338gr	140mm	Amazon B&H Photo

Compare Sony E 16-55mm F2.8 G vs Panasonic S 24-70mm F2.8

Fast Tele Zoom Equivalent Lenses

Model		FF Equiv.	Weight	Weight w/ Cam	Length	Street Price
	Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS ( Check Size)	82.5 - 315mm	345gr	991gr	108mm	Amazon B&H Photo
	Panasonic S 70-200 F2.8 ( Check Size)	70 - 200mm	1570gr	1,973gr	209mm	Amazon B&H Photo

Compare Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS vs Panasonic S 70-200 F2.8

Fast Normal Prime Equivalent Lenses

Model		FF Equiv.	Weight	Weight w/ Cam	Length	Street Price
	Sony E 35mm F1.8 OSS ( Check Size)	52.5mm	155gr	801gr	45mm	Amazon B&H Photo
	Panasonic S 50mm F1.4 ( Check Size)	50mm	955gr	1,358gr	130mm	Amazon B&H Photo

Compare Sony E 35mm F1.8 OSS vs Panasonic S 50mm F1.4

Fast Wideangle Zoom Equivalent Lenses

Model		FF Equiv.	Weight	Weight w/ Cam	Length	Street Price
	Sony E 10-18mm F4 OSS ( Check Size)	15 - 27mm	225gr	871gr	64mm	Amazon B&H Photo
	Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG DN Art ( Check Size)	14 - 24mm	795gr	1,198gr	131mm	Amazon B&H Photo

Compare Sony E 10-18mm F4 OSS vs Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG DN Art

24-105mm f4 Equivalent Lenses

Model		FF Equiv.	Weight	Weight w/ Cam	Length	Street Price
	Sony E 16-70mm F4 ZA OSS ( Check Size)	24 - 105mm	308gr	954gr	75mm	Amazon B&H Photo
	Panasonic S 24-105mm F4 ( Check Size)	24 - 105mm	680gr	1,083gr	118mm	Amazon B&H Photo

Compare Sony E 16-70mm F4 ZA OSS vs Panasonic S 24-105mm F4

Super-Tele Zoom Equivalent Lenses

Model		FF Equiv.	Weight	Weight w/ Cam	Length	Street Price
	Sony E 70-350mm F4.5-6.3 G ( Check Size)	105 - 525mm	625gr	1,271gr	142mm	Amazon B&H Photo
	Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 OS ( Check Size)	100 - 400mm	1135gr	1,538gr	197mm	Amazon B&H Photo

Compare Sony E 70-350mm F4.5-6.3 G vs Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 OS

What types of Photography are Sony FX30 and Leica CL Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Sony FX30 and Leica CL 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.

Sony FX30 for Portrait Photography

GOOD

Leica CL for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Large APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 26.0MP
Image Stabilization
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Check the Best Sony E Mount Lenses for Portrait Photography

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

Check the Best Leica L Mount Lenses for Portrait Photography

Sony FX30 for Street Photography

EXCELLENT

Leica CL for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Large APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fully articulated LCD Screen
Medium sized Body
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Check the Best Sony E Mount Lenses for Street Photography

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

Check the Best Leica L Mount Lenses for Street Photography

Sony FX30 for Sports Photography

GOOD

Leica CL for Sports Photography

GOOD

Image Stabilization
Anti Flicker feature
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
759 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 570 shots
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No Built-in Viewfinder
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
Read the details

Check the Best Sony E Mount Lenses for Sports Photography

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

Check the Best Leica L Mount Lenses for Sports Photography

Sony FX30 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Leica CL for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Large APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) sensor
Anti Flicker feature
Environmental Sealings
Medium size Body
646g
Body Thickness 85mm
Read the details

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

Sony FX30 for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Leica CL for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Large APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 26.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details

Check the Best Sony E 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

Check the Best Leica L Mount Lenses for Landscape Photography

Sony FX30 vs Leica CL: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision regarding which camera best suits your needs and budget. However, if you're curious about how we rated the Sony FX30 and the Leica CL, below you'll find their scores across 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 Sony FX30 and Leica CL scores compare:

Sony FX30

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #6 out of 157 in Rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #55 out of 1384 in all Cameras

Leica CL

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #57 out of 157 in Rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #414 out of 1384 in all Cameras

Sony FX30 is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Leica CL in all criteria except one: Portability. But the size difference between these cameras are negligible in real world so it is not a big disadvantage for Sony FX30.

Sony FX30

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Leica CL

Check price at AMAZON

Check price at B&H PHOTO

General	Sony FX30	Leica CL
Brand	Sony	Leica
Announced	2022-09-28	2017-11-21
Body Type	Rangefinder-style mirrorless	Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor
Type	BSI-CMOS	CMOS
Size	APS-C	APS-C
Dimensions	23.5 x 15.6 mm	23.6 x 15.7 mm
Area	366.60mm²	370.52mm²
Megapixels	26 megapixels	24 megapixels
Max Resolution	6192 x 4128	6014 x 4014
Max Native Light sensitivity	32,000 ISO	50,000 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity	102400 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	759	49
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	Sony E	Leica L
Number of Available Lenses	364	146
Screen
Type	Fully articulated	Fixed type
Size	3.00"	3.00"
Resolution	2,360k dots	1,040k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	None	Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution	no electronic viewfinder	2,360k dots
Viewfinder Coverage	n/a	100%
Viewfinder Magnification	n/a	0.74x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter	1/8000s	1/8000s
Max Electronic Shutter	n/a	1/25000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization	Sensor-shift	No
Built-in Flash
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	1.0 fps	10.0 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	3840 x 2160
Video Formats	XAVC S, XAVC HS, XAVC S-I, H.264, H.265	MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	Built-In	Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	646g	403g
Dimensions	130 x 78 x 85mm	131 x 78 x 45mm
Battery Life	570 shots	220 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	None
DxO Sensor Scores
	Report a correction	Report a correction

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