Clicky

Leica CL vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
82
Imaging
68
Features
58
Overall
64
Leica CL front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61

Leica CL vs Sony NEX-5N 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
  • Released November 2017
Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Announced October 2011
  • Superseded the Sony NEX-5
  • Updated by Sony NEX-5R
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Leica CL vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Leica CL vs Sony NEX-5N, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Leica and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the image resolutions of the CL (24MP) and NEX-5N (16MP) but they come with the exact same sensor measurements (APS-C).

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

The CL was manufactured 6 years later than the NEX-5N and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving straight into a thorough comparison, below is a simple view of how the CL grades versus the NEX-5N when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards
	
	

Reasons to pick Leica CL over the Sony NEX-5N

 CL NEX-5N 
AnnouncedNovember 2017October 2011More recent by 75 months
Display resolution1040k920kSharper display (+120k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Leica CL

 NEX-5N CL 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Leica CL and Sony NEX-5N

 CL NEX-5N 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Leica CL vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera often, you need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Leica CL provides outer dimensions of 131mm x 78mm x 45mm (5.2" x 3.1" x 1.8") with a weight of 403 grams (0.89 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5N has dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

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

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you select at that moment. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the CL against the NEX-5N.

Leica CL vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the CL and NEX-5N is 82 and 89 respectively.

Leica CL vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Leica CL vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements only by looking at a spec sheet. The visual below should give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the CL and NEX-5N.

Clearly, the two cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Leica CL to give extra detail due to its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop pics much more aggressively. The more modern CL will have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Leica CL vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Leica CL vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Leica CL vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica CL Portrait photography features
Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography features
72
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
manual focus not available
73
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Street Comparison

Leica CL Street photography features
Sony NEX-5N Street photography features
73
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
supports focus via touch
above average high ISO (50,000)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
80
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
offers touch to focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Sports Comparison

Leica CL Sports photography highlights
Sony NEX-5N Sports photography highlights
62
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
quiet mode (1/25,000s)
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
no image stabilization
not so great battery life (220 per charge)
lacks phase detect auto focus
58
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good battery pack (460 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Travel Comparison

Leica CL Travel photography information
Sony NEX-5N Travel photography information
66
supports focus via touch
good MP (24 megapixels)
not so great battery life (220 shots)
does not have a selfie friendly display
70
good battery pack (460 CIPA)
offers touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
missing Timelapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly screen
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Landscape Comparison

Leica CL Landscape photography factors
Sony NEX-5N Landscape photography factors
68
interchangeable lenses (Leica L mount)
screen is a good size (3")
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
above average high ISO (50,000)
delivers RAW formats
manual focus not available
no image stabilization
not so great battery life (220 per charge)
71
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (460 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
missing Timelapse recording
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Vlogging Comparison

Leica CL as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Vlogging camera
33
touchscreen
offers face detection focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
missing external microphone socket
33
screen is touchscreen
includes face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
missing microphone socket
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Leica CL vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica CL and Sony NEX-5N
 Leica CLSony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Company Leica Sony
Model type Leica CL Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Class Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2017-11-21 2011-10-03
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor 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 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 6014 x 4014 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 50000 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 49 25
Lens
Lens support Leica L Sony E
Available lenses 30 121
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,040k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
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 rate 10.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported 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 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 403g (0.89 lbs) 269g (0.59 lbs)
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 77
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.7
DXO Low light rating not tested 1079
Other
Battery life 220 photographs 460 photographs
Battery type 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
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported) SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $3,799 $550