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Leica CL vs Olympus E-PL5

Portability
82
Imaging
69
Features
58
Overall
64
Leica CL front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60

Leica CL vs Olympus E-PL5 Key Specs

Leica CL
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 50000
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Leica L Mount
  • 403g - 131 x 78 x 45mm
  • Revealed November 2017
Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Launched September 2012
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Leica CL vs Olympus E-PL5 Overview

In this write-up, we are looking at the Leica CL vs Olympus E-PL5, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Leica and Olympus. There exists a crucial gap between the sensor resolutions of the CL (24MP) and E-PL5 (16MP) and the CL (APS-C) and E-PL5 (Four Thirds) use totally different sensor measurements.

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The CL was manufactured 5 years after the E-PL5 which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting in to a detailed comparison, below is a short summary of how the CL scores vs the E-PL5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Leica CL over the Olympus E-PL5

 CL E-PL5 
LaunchedNovember 2017September 2012More modern by 64 months
Display resolution1040k460kCrisper display (+580k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Leica CL

 E-PL5 CL 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Leica CL and Olympus E-PL5

 CL E-PL5 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Leica CL vs Olympus E-PL5 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to consider its weight and measurements. The Leica CL features exterior measurements of 131mm x 78mm x 45mm (5.2" x 3.1" x 1.8") and a weight of 403 grams (0.89 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PL5 has proportions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs).

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Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have attached during that time. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the CL against the E-PL5.

Leica CL vs Olympus E-PL5 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the CL and E-PL5 is 82 and 88 respectively.

Leica CL vs Olympus E-PL5 top view buttons comparison

Leica CL vs Olympus E-PL5 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be hard to envision the gap between sensor sizes purely by reviewing a spec sheet. The pic here will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the CL and E-PL5.

As you can see, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The CL featuring a larger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Leica CL will offer you greater detail due to its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics far more aggressively. The younger CL will have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Leica CL vs Olympus E-PL5 sensor size comparison

Leica CL vs Olympus E-PL5 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica CL vs Olympus E-PL5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica CL Portrait photography features
Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography features
73
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
lack of manual focus
71
manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Leica CL
Street photography with Olympus E-PL5
73
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
boasts focus by touch
above average ISO range (50,000)
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
85
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
includes focus via touch
good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Leica CL
Sports photography with Olympus E-PL5
63
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
quiet mode (1/25,000s)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
bad battery life (220 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Leica CL as a Travel photography camera
Olympus E-PL5 as a Travel photography camera
66
boasts focus by touch
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
bad battery life (220 shots)
does not posses selfie friendly display
75
includes focus via touch
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
lack of Time Lapse function
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Landscape Comparison

Leica CL Landscape photography info
Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography info
69
switch lenses (Leica L mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
above average ISO range (50,000)
delivers RAW formats
lack of manual focus
lack of image stabilization
bad battery life (220 CIPA)
74
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica CL Vlogging features
Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging features
33
touchscreen enabled
comes with face detection autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
does not posses selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
no external mic socket
78
display is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lack of mic jack
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Leica CL vs Olympus E-PL5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica CL and Olympus E-PL5
 Leica CLOlympus PEN E-PL5
General Information
Brand Name Leica Olympus
Model Leica CL Olympus PEN E-PL5
Class Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2017-11-21 2012-09-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Maestro II -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 23.6 x 15.7mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 370.5mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3
Maximum resolution 6014 x 4014 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 50000 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 49 35
Lens
Lens mounting type Leica L Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 30 107
Focal length multiplier 1.5 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,040k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/25000s -
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames per second 8.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1)
Flash modes no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 403 gr (0.89 pounds) 325 gr (0.72 pounds)
Dimensions 131 x 78 x 45mm (5.2" x 3.1" x 1.8") 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 72
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.3
DXO Low light score not tested 889
Other
Battery life 220 photographs 360 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BP-DC12 BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $3,799 $400