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Leica CL vs Olympus E-M5

Portability
82
Imaging
69
Features
58
Overall
64
Leica CL front
 
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59

Leica CL vs Olympus E-M5 Key Specs

Leica CL
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 50000
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Leica L Mount
  • 403g - 131 x 78 x 45mm
  • Announced November 2017
Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Introduced April 2012
  • New Model is Olympus E-M5 II
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Leica CL vs Olympus E-M5 Overview

Following is a thorough analysis of the Leica CL and Olympus E-M5, both Advanced Mirrorless cameras by rivals Leica and Olympus. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the CL (24MP) and E-M5 (16MP) and the CL (APS-C) and E-M5 (Four Thirds) use totally different sensor sizing.

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The CL was launched 5 years after the E-M5 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Leica CL being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going through a full comparison, below is a quick summation of how the CL matches up vs the E-M5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Leica CL over the Olympus E-M5

 CL E-M5 
IntroducedNovember 2017April 2012More modern by 68 months
Screen resolution1040k610kClearer screen (+430k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Leica CL

 E-M5 CL 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Leica CL and Olympus E-M5

 CL E-M5 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Leica CL vs Olympus E-M5 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry around your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Leica CL features external measurements of 131mm x 78mm x 45mm (5.2" x 3.1" x 1.8") accompanied by a weight of 403 grams (0.89 lbs) while the Olympus E-M5 has measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs).

Take a look at the Leica CL and Olympus E-M5 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen during that time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the CL and the E-M5.

Leica CL vs Olympus E-M5 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the CL and E-M5 is 82 and 81 respectively.

Leica CL vs Olympus E-M5 top view buttons comparison

Leica CL vs Olympus E-M5 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be hard to see the gap in sensor sizes only by checking out specs. The pic underneath should provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the CL and E-M5.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The CL due to its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Leica CL will show extra detail utilizing its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more modern CL is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Leica CL vs Olympus E-M5 sensor size comparison

Leica CL vs Olympus E-M5 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica CL vs Olympus E-M5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica CL Portrait photography information
Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography information
73
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
saves RAW files
no manual focus
71
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Leica CL
Street photography with Olympus E-M5
73
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
has touch to focus
great ISO range (50,000)
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
82
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
supports touch focus
weather sealing
above average high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Leica CL Sports photography advice
Olympus E-M5 Sports photography advice
63
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet shooting (1/25,000s)
megapixel count good (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
low battery (220 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
weather sealing
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Leica CL
Travel photography with Olympus E-M5
66
has touch to focus
megapixel count good (24MP)
low battery (220 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
66
weather sealing
supports touch focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
no Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Leica CL Landscape photography highlights
Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography highlights
69
switch lenses (Leica L mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
megapixel count good (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
great ISO range (50,000)
saves RAW files
no manual focus
lack of image stabilization
low battery (220 per charge)
73
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica CL Vlogging details
Olympus E-M5 Vlogging details
33
built-in touchscreen
comes with face detect focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
does not have microphone support
34
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no mic socket
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Leica CL vs Olympus E-M5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica CL and Olympus E-M5
 Leica CLOlympus OM-D E-M5
General Information
Brand Leica Olympus
Model Leica CL Olympus OM-D E-M5
Type Advanced Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2017-11-21 2012-04-30
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Maestro II TruePic VI
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 23.6 x 15.7mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 370.5mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 6014 x 4014 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 50000 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW photos
Minimum boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 49 35
Lens
Lens mount Leica L Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 30 107
Crop factor 1.5 2.1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,040 thousand dots 610 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology - Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots 1,440 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.58x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Highest silent shutter speed 1/25000 secs -
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 9.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 403 grams (0.89 lbs) 425 grams (0.94 lbs)
Dimensions 131 x 78 x 45mm (5.2" x 3.1" x 1.8") 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 71
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.3
DXO Low light score not tested 826
Other
Battery life 220 images 360 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BP-DC12 BLN-1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $3,799 $799