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Leica SL vs Olympus E-M10 IV

Portability
67
Imaging
72
Features
78
Overall
74
Leica SL front
 
Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV front
Portability
81
Imaging
63
Features
83
Overall
71

Leica SL vs Olympus E-M10 IV Key Specs

Leica SL
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 50 - 50000
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Leica L Mount
  • 847g - 147 x 104 x 39mm
  • Introduced October 2015
  • Additionally Known as Typ 601
  • Replacement is Leica SL2
Olympus E-M10 IV
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 383g - 122 x 84 x 49mm
  • Launched August 2020
  • Replaced the Olympus E-M10 III
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Leica SL vs Olympus E-M10 IV Overview

On this page, we will be contrasting the Leica SL versus Olympus E-M10 IV, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Leica and Olympus. The image resolution of the SL (24MP) and the E-M10 IV (20MP) is relatively close but the SL (Full frame) and E-M10 IV (Four Thirds) boast totally different sensor sizing.

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The SL was revealed 5 years before the E-M10 IV and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before going right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple overview of how the SL matches up against the E-M10 IV with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Leica SL over the Olympus E-M10 IV

 SL E-M10 IV 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M10 IV over the Leica SL

 E-M10 IV SL 
LaunchedAugust 2020October 2015More recent by 58 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Leica SL and Olympus E-M10 IV

 SL E-M10 IV 
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Screen resolution1040k1040kThe same screen resolution
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Leica SL vs Olympus E-M10 IV Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera often, you'll have to take into account its weight and size. The Leica SL has external measurements of 147mm x 104mm x 39mm (5.8" x 4.1" x 1.5") along with a weight of 847 grams (1.87 lbs) while the Olympus E-M10 IV has specifications of 122mm x 84mm x 49mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 1.9") along with a weight of 383 grams (0.84 lbs).

Check the Leica SL versus Olympus E-M10 IV in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you select at that time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the SL vs the E-M10 IV.

Leica SL vs Olympus E-M10 IV size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SL and E-M10 IV is 67 and 81 respectively.

Leica SL vs Olympus E-M10 IV top view buttons comparison

Leica SL vs Olympus E-M10 IV Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is difficult to see the gap in sensor measurements purely by looking through specs. The visual below may offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the SL and E-M10 IV.

All in all, both of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The SL using its bigger sensor will make getting shallow DOF simpler and the Leica SL will result in extra detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The older SL will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Leica SL vs Olympus E-M10 IV sensor size comparison

Leica SL vs Olympus E-M10 IV Screen and ViewFinder

Leica SL vs Olympus E-M10 IV Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica SL Portrait photography highlights
Olympus E-M10 IV Portrait photography highlights
83
you can focus manually
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
features face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
77
manual focus
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Leica SL as a Street photography camera
Olympus E-M10 IV as a Street photography camera
69
sensor size is big (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
includes focus by touch
environment proofing
above average high ISO (50,000)
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
84
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
boasts touch focus
great high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Leica SL Sports photography info
Olympus E-M10 IV Sports photography info
67
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
features tracking autofocus
environment proofing
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery pack (400 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
73
quiet mode (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Leica SL as a Travel photography camera
Olympus E-M10 IV as a Travel photography camera
65
environment proofing
includes focus by touch
decent MP (24MP)
terrible battery pack (400 CIPA)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
85
supports bluetooth
boasts touch focus
resolution is good (20MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Leica SL Landscape photography info
Olympus E-M10 IV Landscape photography info
77
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Leica L mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
no low pass filter
above average high ISO (50,000)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
two card slots
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery pack (400 CIPA)
83
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica SL Vlogging advice
Olympus E-M10 IV Vlogging advice
33
touch screen
features face detection autofocus
video resolution high (4096 x 2160 resolution)
has external microphone socket
does not offer selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
78
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
missing external microphone support
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Leica SL vs Olympus E-M10 IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica SL and Olympus E-M10 IV
 Leica SLOlympus OM-D E-M10 IV
General Information
Company Leica Olympus
Model type Leica SL Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV
Otherwise known as Typ 601 -
Class Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2015-10-21 2020-08-04
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Maestro II TruePic VIII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 36 x 24mm 17.4 x 13mm
Sensor area 864.0mm² 226.2mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 6000 x 4000 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 50000 25600
Minimum native ISO 50 200
RAW data
Minimum boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 49 121
Lens
Lens mount type Leica L Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 30 107
Crop factor 1 2.1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,040k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 4,400k dots 2,360k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.8x 0.62x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Maximum quiet shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 11.0 frames/s 8.7 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 7.20 m (at ISO 200)
Flash options no built-in flash Redeye, fill-in, off, redeye slow-sync (1st-curtain), slow sync (1st-curtain), slow sync (2nd-curtain), manual
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4096 x 2160 (24p), 3840 x 2160 (30p), 1920 x 1080 (120p, 60p, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (120p, 60p, 30p, 24p) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 52 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 52 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 52 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p / 52 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 24p / 52 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution 4096x2160 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 847 gr (1.87 lbs) 383 gr (0.84 lbs)
Physical dimensions 147 x 104 x 39mm (5.8" x 4.1" x 1.5") 122 x 84 x 49mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 88 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 25.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1821 not tested
Other
Battery life 400 photos 360 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BP-SCL4 BLS-50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported on slot 1) SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported)
Card slots Dual 1
Retail price $7,450 $699