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Leica SL2 vs Nikon P500

Portability
57
Imaging
80
Features
83
Overall
81
Leica SL2 front
 
Nikon Coolpix P500 front
Portability
67
Imaging
36
Features
44
Overall
39

Leica SL2 vs Nikon P500 Key Specs

Leica SL2
(Full Review)
  • 47MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 50000
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Leica L Mount
  • 835g - 146 x 107 x 83mm
  • Released November 2019
  • Replaced the Leica SL
Nikon P500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 160 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-810mm (F3.4-5.7) lens
  • 494g - 116 x 84 x 103mm
  • Released February 2011
  • Updated by Nikon P510
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Leica SL2 vs Nikon P500 Overview

Here is a detailed comparison of the Leica SL2 and Nikon P500, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Leica and Nikon. There exists a huge gap among the resolutions of the SL2 (47MP) and P500 (12MP) and the SL2 (Full frame) and P500 (1/2.3") have different sensor sizing.

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The SL2 was released 8 years later than the P500 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Leica SL2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Nikon P500 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving into a in depth comparison, here is a simple summation of how the SL2 scores against the P500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Leica SL2 over the Nikon P500

 SL2 P500 
ReleasedNovember 2019February 2011Fresher by 107 months
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution2100k921kClearer screen (+1179k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Nikon P500 over the Leica SL2

 P500 SL2 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Leica SL2 and Nikon P500

 SL2 P500 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Leica SL2 vs Nikon P500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera, you will have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Leica SL2 has physical measurements of 146mm x 107mm x 83mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 3.3") and a weight of 835 grams (1.84 lbs) whilst the Nikon P500 has measurements of 116mm x 84mm x 103mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 4.1") having a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs).

Check the Leica SL2 and Nikon P500 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have at that time. Following is a front view size comparison of the SL2 vs the P500.

Leica SL2 vs Nikon P500 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SL2 and P500 is 57 and 67 respectively.

Leica SL2 vs Nikon P500 top view buttons comparison

Leica SL2 vs Nikon P500 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its tough to visualize the gap in sensor sizing just by viewing a spec sheet. The graphic here might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SL2 and P500.

Clearly, both of the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The SL2 because of its bigger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh simpler and the Leica SL2 will result in extra detail as a result of its extra 35 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs more aggressively. The newer SL2 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Leica SL2 vs Nikon P500 sensor size comparison

Leica SL2 vs Nikon P500 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica SL2 vs Nikon P500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Leica SL2
Portrait photography with Nikon P500
88
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is excellent (47MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
provides face detection focus
saves RAW formats
34
you can focus manually
features face detection focusing
can't use external flash
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Leica SL2 Street photography advice
Nikon P500 Street photography advice
72
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
offers touch to focus
weather proof
good high ISO (50,000)
fixed screen
50
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
heavier than competition in class (494g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Leica SL2
Sports photography with Nikon P500
80
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shooting (1/40,000 seconds)
fast continuous shooting (20.0 fps)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is excellent (47 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proof
terrible battery (370 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
36
incredible zoom range (23-810mm 35.2 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (1.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (220 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Leica SL2
Travel photography with Nikon P500
65
weather proof
connects via bluetooth
offers touch to focus
sensor resolution is excellent (47MP)
terrible battery (370 shots)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
47
built-in flash
really wide (23mm)
very long reach (810mm)
missing Time Lapse function
terrible battery power (220 CIPA)
heavier than competition in class (494 grams)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.4)
Leica struggles with L-Mount camera sales, tougher than Q or M

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Leica SL2
Landscape photography with Nikon P500
83
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Leica L mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is excellent (47 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
does not have anti-alias filter
good high ISO (50,000)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
has dual storage slots
terrible battery (370 shots)
39
you can focus manually
really wide (23mm)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
terrible battery power (220 per charge)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica SL2 Vlogging advice
Nikon P500 Vlogging advice
36
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
high res video (4096 x 2160 pixels)
includes external microphone jack
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
27
really wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
missing external mic jack
heavier than competition in class (494g)
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Leica SL2 vs Nikon P500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica SL2 and Nikon P500
 Leica SL2Nikon Coolpix P500
General Information
Brand Leica Nikon
Model type Leica SL2 Nikon Coolpix P500
Class Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2019-11-06 2011-02-09
Body design SLR-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by Maestro III Expeed C2
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Full frame 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 36 x 24mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 864.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 47 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 8368 x 5584 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 50000 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 160
RAW support
Lowest boosted ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 225 9
Lens
Lens mount type Leica L fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 23-810mm (35.2x)
Highest aperture - f/3.4-5.7
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 30 -
Focal length multiplier 1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3.2 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 2,100k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology - TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 5,760k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.78x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 1800s 8s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1500s
Highest silent shutter speed 1/40000s -
Continuous shooting speed 20.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 8.00 m
Flash modes no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM/4096 x 2160 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM/4096 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM/4096 x 2160 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM/4096 x 2160 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM/3840 x 2160 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM/3840 x 2160 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM/3840 x 2160 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM/3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM/1920 x 1080 @ 120p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM/1920 x 1080 @ 100p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM/1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM/1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM/1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM/1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM/1920 x 1080 @ 23.98p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Maximum video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 835 grams (1.84 lb) 494 grams (1.09 lb)
Physical dimensions 146 x 107 x 83mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 3.3") 116 x 84 x 103mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 4.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 370 photos 220 photos
Form of battery Built-in Battery Pack
Battery ID BP-SCL4 EN-EL5
Self timer Yes Yes (10 or 2 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported on slot 1) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Dual Single
Price at launch $5,995 $399