Leica CL Review

Name: Leica CL
Brand: Leica

Select a Camera to Compare

Add a Camera for comparison

Main Features

24MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor

ISO 100 - 50000

3.00" Fixed Type Screen

2360k dot Electronic viewfinder

10.0fps continuous shooting

4K at 30fps and FHD at 60fps Video Recording

Built-in Wireless

403g. 131 x 78 x 45 mm

CHECK PRICE

Leica CL Overview

First introduced in November 2017 , Leica CL is a 24.0MP Advanced Mirrorless camera with a APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and Leica TL lens mount.

Leica CL Review - Click for Table of Contents

Overview
Pros and Cons
Lens Mount and Lenses
Sensor and Photography Features
Physical Specs
LCD and Viewfinder
Connectivity, Storage and Battery
Video
Other Features
Photography Type Scores
Recommended Accessories
Alternatives
Popular Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Detailed Specifications

Leica CL is the latest member of Leica's Advanced Mirrorless class cameras. Below you can see the latest models in this class and how their main specs have changed with each new model.

Leica Advanced Mirrorless Series History

Model	Release Date	Sensor	Max FPS	Dimensions	Weight
Leica CL	November 2017	24.0MP - APS-C	10.0 fps	131 x 78 x 45mm	403g
Leica TL2 Compare	July 2017	24.0MP - APS-C	7.0 fps	134 x 69 x 33mm	399g
Leica TL Compare	November 2016	16.0MP - APS-C	5.0 fps	134 x 69 x 33mm	384g
Leica T Typ 701 Compare	April 2014	16.0MP - APS-C	5.0 fps	134 x 69 x 33mm	384g

Check the link below to compare specs of the latest cameras in this series side-by-side:
Leica CL vs vs TL vs T Type 701

**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.

Leica CL PROs and CONs Review

Now let's get in to more details of our Leica CL review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

PROs

Built-in Wireless (Wi-fi)

4K at 30fps and FHD at 60fps Video Recording

Touch Screen

Electronic Built-in Viewfinder

Face Detection Focusing

24.0MP - High Resolution Sensor

50.000 Max ISO

49 Focus Points

1.040k dots LCD Resolution

1/8000s High Shutter Speed

1/25000s Electronic Shutter Speed

10.0fps Max Continuous Shooting Speed

403g Light Body

Timelapse Recording

2360kdot Viewfinder Resolution

0.74x magnification - Large Viewfinder

Flash Sync Port

Remote control with a smartphone

Compatible with fast UHS-II cards

USB Charging

Report a correction

Buy Leica CL from AMAZON or B&H PHOTO

CONs

No Sensor shift Image Stabilization

No Articulating Screen

Low Battery Life: 220 shots

No Environmental Sealing

Report a correction

Leica CL Physical Specs

Leica CL weighs 403 g (0.89 lb / 14.22 oz) and has external dimensions of 131 x 78 x 45 mm (5.16 x 3.07 x 1.77″). Considering that the average weight of Mirrorless type cameras is 472g, its weight is about average in its class. On the other hand, with a thickness of only 45mm, it is quite small, 9mm thinner than the average of its class.

Weight Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

Leica CL

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

Leica CL

Min

Average

Max

Here is the front and top view image of Leica CL with the dimensions:

Front and Top View External Dimensions and Size of Leica CL Camera Body

In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Leica CL, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.

Physical size of the Leica CL Body Compared to a Credit Card and an AA Battery

Below you can find the comparison of the weight and thickness of Leica CL with its main competitors:

Leica CL Size Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Weight	vs CL	Thickness	vs CL
Leica TL2 Compare	399g	4g lighter	33mm	12mm thinner
Fujifilm X-E4 Compare	364g	39g lighter	33mm	12mm thinner
Leica Q Compare	640g	237g heavier	93mm	48mm thicker
Leica D-Lux 7 Compare	403g	equal weight	64mm	19mm thicker
Leica Q3 Compare	743g	340g heavier	93mm	48mm thicker
Leica SL Compare	847g	444g heavier	39mm	6mm thinner
Fujifilm X-E1 Compare	350g	53g lighter	38mm	7mm thinner
Leica TL Compare	384g	19g lighter	33mm	12mm thinner

Leica CL Size Comparison Video

Weather Sealing

Leica CL doesn't have any environmental sealings on its body so you got to be extra careful to protect it against water and dust. If you shoot under these conditions very often, consider checking Top Mirrorless Cameras with Weather Sealing page.

Leica CL Lens Mount and Lenses

Leica CL has a Leica TL lens mount and currently there are 66 native lenses available for this mount.

Leica CL doesn't have a sensor based image stabilization system but 10 of these lenses already comes with Optical Image Stabilization.

Weather-sealed Lenses for Leica CL

There are 56 lenses with weather sealing for Leica CL but bear in mind that CL body doesn't have weather sealings.

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

Popular Leica TL Mount Lenses for Leica CL

Model	Focal Length equiv.	Coverage	Weight	Focusing	Street Price
Panasonic Lumix S 35mm F1.8	0mm	35mm FF	295gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Panasonic Lumix S Pro 24-70mm F2.8	0-0mm	35mm FF	935gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Panasonic Lumix S 24-105mm F4 Macro OIS	0-0mm	35mm FF	680gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Leica APO-Vario-Elmarit-SL 90-280 mm F2.8-4	0-0mm	35mm FF	1710gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS S	0-0mm	35mm FF	2100gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro Art	0mm	35mm FF	515gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Sigma 24-70 F2.8 DG DN Art	0-0mm	35mm FF	835gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90mm F2.8-4 ASPH	0-0mm	35mm FF	1140gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo

Here you can find the lenses that are compatible with CL classified by suitability to certain photography types:

Check our Leica CL Lenses page for more detailed lens search.

Leica CL Sensor and Photography Features

Leica CL has a 24.0MP APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Maestro II processor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 6014 x 4014 pixels with aspect ratios of and 3:2. CL has a native ISO range of 100 - 50000 and it can save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post processing.

Leica CL is not the highest resolution APS-C camera. Fujifilm X-T5 with its 40.2MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Leica CL vs Fujifilm X-T5 or take a look at Highest resolution Mirrorless cameras list.

Let's look at how the size of the Leica CL's APS-C sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

Comparison image of Leica CL Sensor Size with other standard sensors

Leica CL LCD and Viewfinder

Leica CL has a Fixed Type 3.00-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 1,040k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.

LCD is Touch screen type, so you can change the settings and set the focus point with your fingertips.

Unfortunately Leica CL doesn't have a Selfie friendly screen. If this feature is important for your shooting style, check here the list of Best Mirrorless Cameras with Selfie Friendly LCD screen.

CL has a built-in Electronic viewfinder, making it easier to shoot in direct sunlight and in other situations where it might be difficult to view the LCD monitor. The viewfinder has a resolution of 2,360kdots and coverage of 100%. 100% coverage ensures that what you see in the viewfinder while shooting matches exactly what you will get later in your image, helping accurate framing your shots and minimizes the need for cropping images later. The magnification ratio of the viewfinder is 0.74x (35mm equivalent).

Leica CL Connectivity, Storage and Battery

Leica CL features built-in wireless (Wi-Fi) connectivity ( 802.11b/g/n) which lets you transfer your photos directly to compatible devices without any physical connection. One other feature that we like is the ability to use our smartphone as a remote to control our CL. You can change camera settings, release shutter, view LCD screen and tranfer files using remote control app.

Leica CL has a USB port to connect your camera to other devices.

Leica CL also features USB charging capability which let's you charge your camera via a usb cable without removing the battery.

Leica CL Battery

Leica CL is powered by BP-DC12 battery which provides a battery life of 220 shots according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of Mirrorless type cameras is 389 shots, Leica CL has a short battery life for its class so we strongly recommend CL owners to invest in some extra batteries.

Battery Life Comparison in Advanced Mirrorless Cameras

Leica CL

Min

Average

Max

Sony A6600 with its 810 shots is the model with longest battery life among Advanced Mirrorless cameras. Check the comparison of Leica CL vs Sony A6600 or take a look at Longest Battery Life Mirrorless cameras list.

Leica CL Features Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Max Video	Battery Life	Wi-fi	Bluetooth	NFC
Leica TL2 Compare	3840 x 2160	250shots	Yes	No	No
Fujifilm X-E4 Compare	3840 x 2160	380shots	Yes	Yes	No
Leica Q Compare	1920 x 1080	shots	Yes	No	No
Leica D-Lux 7 Compare	3840 x 2160	340shots	Yes	Yes	No
Leica Q3 Compare	8192 x 4320	350shots	Yes	Yes	No
Leica SL Compare	3840 x 2160	400shots	Yes	No	No
Fujifilm X-E1 Compare	1920 x 1080	350shots	No	No	No
Leica TL Compare	1920 x 1080	400shots	Yes	No	No

Leica CL Video Features

With Leica CL, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 3840 x 2160 at 30p fps and save in MPEG-4 and H.264 formats. Leica CL's 4K is the common standard resolution in consumer video world.

Microphones, Speaker and Headphone Connections

Leica CL has a built-in Stereo microphone and a Mono speaker. On the other hand, Leica CL doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Mirrorless camera with external microphone connectivity, consider Sony Alpha A7R V or Sony Alpha A7R IV in a similar price range.

Leica CL Other Features

Max Shutter speed

Leica CL can shoot continuously at max speed of 10.0 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/8000 sec. CL also has an electronic shutter which can shoot silently at max speed of 1/25000s. One thing to keep in mind is that electronic shutter may cause rolling shutter / jello effects, and also banding issues under artificial light on your images.

Flash

Unfortunately CL doesn't have a built-in flash but it has a flash shoe for mounting external flashes.

Focusing

Leica CL features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system. The AF system has 49 points to choose from.

Leica CL also features Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.

What type of Photography is Leica CL Good for?

In this section, we review and score Leica CL in 5 different photography areas.

Leica CL for Portrait Photography

Leica CL has a score of 55 for Portrait Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Portrait is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Mirrorless Cameras for Portrait Photography list.

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 of how we scored Leica CL for Portrait Photography

Check the Best Leica TL Mount Lenses for Portrait Photography

Leica CL for Street Photography

Leica CL has a score of 61 for Street Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Street Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Mirrorless Cameras for Street Photography list.

Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing

Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) sensor
Medium sized Body
No Image Stabilization

Read the details of how we scored Leica CL for Street Photography

Check the Best Leica TL Mount Lenses for Street Photography

Leica CL for Sports Photography

Leica CL has a score of 65 for Sports Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Sports Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Mirrorless Cameras for Sports Photography list.

Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
49 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder

Average Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Poor Battery Life: 220 shots
No Image Stabilization

Read the details of how we scored Leica CL for Sports Photography

Check the Best Leica TL Mount Lenses for Sports Photography

Leica CL for Daily Photography

Leica CL has a score of 52 for Daily Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Daily is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Mirrorless Cameras for Daily Photography list.

Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) sensor
Medium size Body

403g
Body Thickness 45mm

Read the details of how we scored Leica CL for Daily Photography

Leica CL for Landscape Photography

Leica CL has a score of 42 for Landscape Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Mirrorless Cameras for Landscape Photography list.

Live-view
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) sensor

Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
No Environmental Sealings

Read the details of how we scored Leica CL for Landscape Photography

Check the Best Leica TL Mount Lenses for Landscape Photography

Leica CL Alternatives

In this section, we analyse how Leica CL compares with other Mirrorless cameras within a similar price range.

Read a more detailed analysis of Leica CL alternatives.

Popular Comparisons of Leica CL

Here are the eight most popular comparisons of the Leica CL amongst Camera Decision readers.

Leica CL Alternatives in DSLR Cameras

It would also be interesting to compare the Leica CL with DSLR Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked DSLR cameras in Leica CL's price range.

Leica CL Conclusion and Scores

Currently, Leica CL has an Overall Score of 62/100 which is based on our evaluation of 69 different technical parameters. Our scores are dynamically updated whenever a new camera is added to our database or when we change our ranking algorithm and the maximum score is always 100. Leica CL is ranked #165 out of 256 in Mirrorless cameras (Top 20 Mirrorless), and ranked #325 out of 1275 in all Cameras (Top 20 Overall).

#325 out of 1275 in Top Ranking Cameras
#165 out of 256 in Top Ranking Mirrorless Cameras
#52 out of 66 in Top Ranking Advanced Mirrorless Cameras
#132 out of 274 in Top Ranking APS-C Sensor Cameras
#15 out of 16 in Top Ranking Leica L Lens Mount Cameras
#90 out of 392 in Largest Viewfinder Magnification Cameras (0.74x)
#62 out of 102 in Lightest Mirrorless Cameras with APS-C sensor(403g)
#85 out of 920 in Top Ranking Cameras with Fixed Type Screen
Geek Score: 0

Leica CL

CHECK PRICE

Main Scores

Imaging

Features

Value for Money

Portability

Overall Score

Check our Smart Finder Tool to filter, sort and compare all digital cameras.

Frequently Asked Questions about Leica CL

Does the Leica CL have Image Stabilization?
Does the Leica CL have RAW support?
Does the Leica CL have Weather Sealing?
Does the Leica CL have built-in GPS?
What is the Max ISO of Leica CL?
What is the Sensor Size of Leica CL?
is the Leica CL a Full Frame (FF) camera?
Does the Leica CL have Touch Screen?
Does the Leica CL have built-in Wireless?
What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Leica CL?
What is the Weight of Leica CL?
What are the Dimensions of Leica CL?

Leica CL Detailed Specifications

General
Brand	Leica
Model	Leica CL
Announced	2017-11-21
Body Type	Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	Leica TL
Number of Lenses	66
Focal Length Multiplier	1.5x
Macro Focus Range	n/a
Screen
Screen Type	Fixed Type
Screen Size	3.00"
Screen Resolution	1,040k dots
Live View
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution	2,360k dots
Viewfinder Coverage	100%
Viewfinder Magnification	0.74x
Photography Features
Min Shutter Speed	30s
Max Mechanical Shutter Speed	1/8000s
Max Electronic Shutter Speed	1/25000s
Max Continuous Shooting	10.0 fps
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Exposure Compensation	Yes
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	no built-in flash
Flash Modes	no built-in flash
External Flash
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Exposure Modes
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	not tested
DxO Color Depth	not tested
DxO Dynamic Range	not tested
DxO Low Light ISO	not tested
	Report a correction

Sensor
Sensor Type	CMOS
Sensor Size	APS-C
Sensor Dimensions	23.6 x 15.7 mm
Sensor Area	370.52mm²
Sensor Resolution	24 megapixels
Max Image Resolution	6014 x 4014
Max Native ISO	50,000
Min Native ISO	100
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
Number of Cross Focus Points	Unknown
Video Features
Video Resolutions	3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max Video Resolution	3840 x 2160
Video Formats	MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	Built-In
HDMI
USB	USB
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Water Proof
Dust Proof
Shock Proof
Crush Proof
Freeze Proof
Weight	403g
Physical Dimensions	131 x 78 x 45mm
Battery Life	220 shots
Battery Type	Battery Pack
Battery Model	BP-DC12
Other Features
Self Timer	Yes (2 or 12 secs)
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None
Storage Type	SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported)
Storage Slots	1
	Report a correction