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Leica CL vs Pentax Q

Portability
82
Imaging
68
Features
58
Overall
64
Leica CL front
 
Pentax Q front
Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
47
Overall
39

Leica CL vs Pentax Q Key Specs

Leica CL
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 50000
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Leica L Mount
  • 403g - 131 x 78 x 45mm
  • Announced November 2017
Pentax Q
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 180g - 98 x 57 x 31mm
  • Introduced June 2011
  • Later Model is Pentax Q10
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Leica CL vs Pentax Q Overview

Here, we will be matching up the Leica CL versus Pentax Q, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Leica and Pentax. There is a crucial difference between the image resolutions of the CL (24MP) and Q (12MP) and the CL (APS-C) and Q (1/2.3") offer different sensor size.

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The CL was brought out 6 years later than the Q and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting into a full comparison, here is a simple overview of how the CL scores versus the Q in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Leica CL over the Pentax Q

 CL Q 
IntroducedNovember 2017June 2011More recent by 79 months
Screen resolution1040k460kCrisper screen (+580k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax Q over the Leica CL

 Q CL 
Manually focus More accurate focusing

Common features in the Leica CL and Pentax Q

 CL Q 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Leica CL vs Pentax Q Physical Comparison

When you are planning to lug around your camera, you have to think about its weight and proportions. The Leica CL provides physical 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) and the Pentax Q has measurements of 98mm x 57mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") with a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs).

Compare the Leica CL versus Pentax Q in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the CL compared to the Q.

Leica CL vs Pentax Q size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the CL and Q is 82 and 93 respectively.

Leica CL vs Pentax Q top view buttons comparison

Leica CL vs Pentax Q Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to picture the gap between sensor measurements merely by going over a spec sheet. The graphic here may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the CL and Q.

Clearly, both of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The CL featuring a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF easier and the Leica CL will deliver more detail having its extra 12 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The more modern CL provides an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Leica CL vs Pentax Q sensor size comparison

Leica CL vs Pentax Q Screen and ViewFinder

Leica CL vs Pentax Q Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica CL Portrait photography information
Pentax Q Portrait photography information
72
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
manual focus not available
45
has manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
exports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Leica CL Street photography advice
Pentax Q Street photography advice
73
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
has touch to focus
great ISO range (50,000)
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition (180 grams)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Leica CL Sports photography advice
Pentax Q Sports photography advice
62
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
silent mode (1/25,000 seconds)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery life (220 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
31
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (230 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Leica CL Travel photography details
Pentax Q Travel photography details
66
has touch to focus
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
terrible battery life (220 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
57
lighter than competition (180g)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
not so great battery power (230 shots)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Leica CL Landscape photography highlights
Pentax Q Landscape photography highlights
68
swap lenses (Leica L mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
great ISO range (50,000)
delivers RAW formats
manual focus not available
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery life (220 CIPA)
51
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax Q mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (230 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica CL as a Vlogging camera
Pentax Q as a Vlogging camera
33
screen is touchscreen
offers face detect autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
does not have microphone support
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (180g)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone port
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Leica CL vs Pentax Q Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica CL and Pentax Q
 Leica CLPentax Q
General Information
Brand Name Leica Pentax
Model type Leica CL Pentax Q
Class Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2017-11-21 2011-06-23
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Maestro II -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.6 x 15.7mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 370.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 6014 x 4014 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 50000 6400
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 49 25
Lens
Lens mount type Leica L Pentax Q
Total lenses 30 8
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/25000s -
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 5.60 m
Flash options no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/2000s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 403 gr (0.89 lb) 180 gr (0.40 lb)
Physical dimensions 131 x 78 x 45mm (5.2" x 3.1" x 1.8") 98 x 57 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 47
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.2
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 189
Other
Battery life 220 photographs 230 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BP-DC12 D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $3,799 $695