Since the early-1900s, German-owned company Leica has been producing top-end camera optics. Their commitment to exquisite construction and high attention to detail has made them arguably one of the best camera and lens brands. Why is that?
Leica has been renowned for its cameras since the 1950s and their simple design hasn’t changed much since. Not only have the cameras remained fully manual, but also most of the cameras themselves are actually built by hand.
Today Leica cameras remain a top choice among many photographers because of their commitment to excellence. They have been able to produce some of the best lenses and cameras over time and even a secondhand device feels natural in hand.
This article has some of the best Leica cameras with their short description and highlighted features to help you get the best-suited camera for your needs.
1. Leica Q2 (Overall Winner)
The Leica Q2 is the successor of the old Leica Q, and a full-frame compact camera aimed at professional photographers. It boasts a whopping 47.3-megapixel full-frame sensor and is designed with dust and water-resistant capabilities. It offers a continuous shooting speed of up to 20 frames per second. The ISO can be set as low as 50 and reach up to 50,000.
The Q2’s contrast-based autofocus system can be described as swift with a 0.15-second autofocus performance. It can shoot with a maximum resolution of 4K which also includes the Cinematic 4K option. When it comes to image quality, the Q2’s powerful 47-megapixel sensor delivers stunning images with vivid colors and a great amount of detail.
This Leica camera features a three-inch fixed touchscreen with 1.04 million dots resolution. It also offers Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity options.
2. Leica CL
The Leica CL camera features a 24.2 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor and a Maestro II image processor, which is capable of taking continuous shots at 10 frames per second with accurate focus. This camera has the ability to produce clear and excellent results.
The Leica CL is equipped with a 49-point contrast-detection autofocus system, which is fast and accurate. It has an incredible ISO sensitivity range and can be stretched from 100 to 50,000, making it an ideal choice for shooting low-light scenes.
With its three-inch LCD touchscreen, you can easily navigate through the menu and a 2.36m-dot electronic viewfinder makes it easy to see clearly. The camera can record 1080p videos at 60 frames per second and Ultra HD 4K videos at 30 frames per second. You can also connect it with your smartphone through its WiFi connection.
3. Leica TL2
The Leica TL2 is another amazing performer which can capture sharp and crisp images with its powerful 24.2-megapixel CMOS sensor and Maestro II Image Processor. Its autofocus system has an excellent 49-point contrast-detection for enhanced speed and accurate focus.
The ISO sensitivity can reach up to 50,000 and the camera can record FHD 1080p videos at 60 frames per second and Ultra HD 4K videos at 30 frames per second. The maximum continuous shooting capability of the camera is 20 frames per second.
This Leica camera features a 3.7-inch touchscreen and its great MyCamera Menu helps you easily access the most used settings. The camera has 32GB of memory space to store your images and videos and a UHS-II SD card slot is also available if you want to enhance the storage capacity.
With the help of a WiFi connection, you can remotely access the camera and instantly share your experience on social media. The TL2 has a rechargeable battery that can keep it running for a long time on a single charge.
4. Leica X-U (Typ 113)
The Leica X-U (Typ 113) is an excellent camera with a robust and sturdy body. It’s popular among many photographers because of its shock, dust, and water-resistant capabilities. It is designed for underwater photography and its underwater mode enables you to capture clear and bright images and videos.
The X-U (Typ 113) comes equipped with a 16.2 megapixel CMOS sensor along with Summilux 23mm lens that has a focal length of 35mm and excellent ability to reduce distortions and aberrations while capturing images.
The camera performs well in low light conditions and its ISO sensitivity can be stretched up to 12,500. It features a three-inch LCD monitor, can record FHD 1080p videos at 30 frames per second and has a maximum continuous shooting capability of five frames per second.
5. Leica M (Typ 262)
Leica M (Typ 262) is a digital rangefinder camera that can deliver excellent, bright, and crisp images. It features a 24-megapixel CMOS sensor and its Leica Maestro Image Processor ensures incredible imaging performance. It allows you to take continuous shots at three frames per second. This compact camera has a sensitivity range of up to ISO 6400 and performs quite well in low light conditions. Its bottom line feature is rangefinder focusing.
Leica M brings along a 0.68x optical magnification viewfinder and its three-inch LCD screen is protected with a Corning Gorilla glass cover. Another great feature is its quiet shutter cocking mechanism which ensures the operation is completely noiseless.
6. Leica C-Lux (Budget Winner)
Leica’s C-Lux packs a 20.1-megapixel MOS sensor and has a stylish and sleek design. This is the most affordable Leica camera on our list but it can still capture 4K photos and record ultra HD 4K videos at 30 frames per second. The camera features an ISO sensitivity range of up to 25600 and is capable of producing images with a great amount of detail in low-light situations.
THe C-Lux has a maximum shooting capacity of the 10 frames per second. Leica’s DC Vario-Elmar lens with a focal length of 24 to 360mm allows you to take remarkable and detailed images and can be suitable for a wide range of environments. The five-axis optical image stabilization is also there to prevent shakiness and blurriness.
Other key features of the camera include a 2.33m-dot electronic viewfinder, a three-inch LCD touchscreen, and a Bluetooth and a Wi-Fi connectivity option.
Picking the Best Leica Camera
Like any other camera manufacturer, Leica also has a number of camera options for the photographers to choose from. They have been able to earn great respect among the community due to the quality of their products they have been offering so far.
We have reviewed some of the best multi-purpose Leica cameras above and they remain a top choice for many photography enthusiasts. You can also pick one of them.
