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Leica CL vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
82
Imaging
69
Features
58
Overall
64
Leica CL front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55

Leica CL vs Sony NEX-5 Key Specs

Leica CL
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 50000
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Leica L Mount
  • 403g - 131 x 78 x 45mm
  • Introduced November 2017
Sony NEX-5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Revealed June 2010
  • New Model is Sony NEX-5N
Photography Glossary

Leica CL vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Leica CL vs Sony NEX-5, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Leica and Sony. There is a large difference among the image resolutions of the CL (24MP) and NEX-5 (14MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The CL was revealed 7 years after the NEX-5 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple summation of how the CL grades against the NEX-5 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Leica CL over the Sony NEX-5

 CL NEX-5 
RevealedNovember 2017June 2010More modern by 91 months
Display resolution1040k920kClearer display (+120k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Leica CL

 NEX-5 CL 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Leica CL and Sony NEX-5

 CL NEX-5 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Leica CL vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you need to think about its weight and size. The Leica CL has 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) while the Sony NEX-5 has specifications of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Check the Leica CL vs Sony NEX-5 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the CL compared to the NEX-5.

Leica CL vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the CL and NEX-5 is 82 and 89 respectively.

Leica CL vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Leica CL vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes just by checking out specifications. The picture underneath may provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the CL and NEX-5.

Plainly, both of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different resolution. You can anticipate the Leica CL to show extra detail because of its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images a bit more aggressively. The more modern CL provides a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Leica CL vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Leica CL vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica CL vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica CL Portrait photography highlights
Sony NEX-5 Portrait photography highlights
73
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
lack of manual focus
72
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Leica CL
Street photography with Sony NEX-5
73
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
includes focus via touch
great high ISO (50,000)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
76
tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Leica CL Sports photography information
Sony NEX-5 Sports photography information
63
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
silent shooting (1/25,000s)
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
no image stabilization
not so great battery (220 shots)
has no phase detect AF
52
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Leica CL as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Travel photography camera
66
includes focus via touch
MP count decent (24MP)
not so great battery (220 shots)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
59
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
missing Timelapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Leica CL
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-5
69
swap lenses (Leica L mount)
screen size is good (3")
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
great high ISO (50,000)
saves RAW formats
lack of manual focus
no image stabilization
not so great battery (220 per charge)
68
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica CL Vlogging highlights
Sony NEX-5 Vlogging highlights
33
touchscreen functionality
provides face detect focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
doesn't have mic support
28
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
missing external microphone port
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Leica CL vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica CL and Sony NEX-5
 Leica CLSony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Company Leica Sony
Model type Leica CL Sony Alpha NEX-5
Category Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2017-11-21 2010-06-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Maestro II Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.6 x 15.7mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 370.5mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 6014 x 4014 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 50000 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 49 25
Lens
Lens support Leica L Sony E
Amount of lenses 30 121
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,040k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Max silent shutter speed 1/25000 seconds -
Continuous shutter speed 10.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash modes no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD
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 pounds) 287 gr (0.63 pounds)
Physical dimensions 131 x 78 x 45mm (5.2" x 3.1" x 1.8") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 69
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.2
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 796
Other
Battery life 220 photos 330 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BP-DC12 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported) SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $3,799 $599