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Leica SL2 vs Olympus E-M5

Portability
57 Imaging
79 Features
83 Overall
80
Leica SL2 front
 
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
Portability
81 Imaging
51 Features
70 Overall
58

Leica SL2 vs Olympus E-M5 Key Specs

Leica SL2
(Full Review)
  • 47MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • 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
  • Introduced November 2019
  • Older Model is Leica SL
Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Announced April 2012
  • Replacement is Olympus E-M5 II
Photography Glossary

Leica SL2 vs Olympus E-M5 Overview

Below, we will be looking at the Leica SL2 versus Olympus E-M5, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by brands Leica and Olympus. There is a substantial difference between the image resolutions of the SL2 (47MP) and E-M5 (16MP) and the SL2 (Full frame) and E-M5 (Four Thirds) enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

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The SL2 was released 7 years after the E-M5 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras come with the identical body type (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before diving through a complete comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the SL2 grades against the E-M5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Leica SL2 over the Olympus E-M5

					

					

						
 SL2 E-M5 
AnnouncedNovember 2019April 2012More modern by 92 months
Screen dimension3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution2100k610kCrisper screen (+1490k dot)
					

				


				

					

						
Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Leica SL2

					

					

						
 E-M5 SL2 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
					

				


				

					

						
Common features in the Leica SL2 and Olympus E-M5

					

					

						
 SL2 E-M5 
Manual focus  More precise focusing
Selfie screen  Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen  Quickly navigate
					

				

				

	
	
	
	

				

					

						
Leica SL2 vs Olympus E-M5 Physical Comparison

					

					

						
If you're looking to carry around your camera often, you have to think about its weight and volume. The Leica SL2 provides external dimensions of 146mm x 107mm x 83mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 3.3") having a weight of 835 grams (1.84 lbs) and the Olympus E-M5 has sizing of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs).
Contrast the Leica SL2 versus Olympus E-M5 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the SL2 and the E-M5.
Leica SL2 vs Olympus E-M5 size comparison
Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the SL2 and E-M5 is 57 and 81 respectively.
Leica SL2 vs Olympus E-M5 top view buttons comparison					

				


				

					

						
Leica SL2 vs Olympus E-M5 Sensor Comparison

					

					

						
Usually, its hard to envision the contrast between sensor sizes only by checking a spec sheet. The image below will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SL2 and E-M5.
As you can see, both of the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SL2 due to its bigger sensor will make shooting bokeh easier and the Leica SL2 will give more detail as a result of its extra 31 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The more recent SL2 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

						Leica SL2 vs Olympus E-M5 sensor size comparison
					

				


				

					

						
Leica SL2 vs Olympus E-M5 Screen and ViewFinder

					

					

											

					Leica SL2 vs Olympus E-M5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison				


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Photography Type Scores

					

				

				
Portrait Comparison
 Leica SL2 as a Portrait photography camera
 Olympus E-M5 as a Portrait photography camera
87
 has manual focus
 amazing megapixels (47 megapixels)
 sensor size is great (Full frame)
 has face detect focus
 delivers RAW files
70
 has manual focus
 megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
 sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
 includes face detect focusing
 exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison
Street photography with Leica SL2
Street photography with Olympus E-M5
72
 has image stabilization (Sensor based)
 sensor size is great (Full frame)
 delivers RAW files
 features touch to focus
 weather sealing
 great ISO range (50,000)
 screen does not articulate
82
 has a tilting screen
 built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
 exports RAW formats
 supports touch focus
 weather sealing
 good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison
Leica SL2 Sports photography information
Olympus E-M5 Sports photography information
79
 high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
 quiet shooting (1/40,000 seconds)
 fast shooting (20.0 frames per second)
 has image stabilization (Sensor based)
 amazing megapixels (47 megapixels)
 sensor size is great (Full frame)
 has tracking focus
 weather sealing
 not so great battery life (370 CIPA)
 has no phase detect auto focus
67
 built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
 sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
 includes tracking focus
 weather sealing
 does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison
Leica SL2 Travel photography factors
Olympus E-M5 Travel photography factors
65
 weather sealing
 has bluetooth
 features touch to focus
 amazing megapixels (47 megapixels)
 not so great battery life (370 per charge)
 does not posses selfie friendly display
66
 weather sealing
 supports touch focus
 megapixel count good (16MP)
 lack of Time Lapse mode
 doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison
Leica SL2 Landscape photography highlights
Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography highlights
83
 has manual focus
 switch lenses (Leica L mount)
 nice screen size (3.2 inches)
 has image stabilization (Sensor based)
 amazing megapixels (47MP)
 sensor size is great (Full frame)
 does not have anti aliasing filter
 great ISO range (50,000)
 delivers RAW files
 weather sealing
 2 card slots
 not so great battery life (370 CIPA)
73
 has manual focus
 interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
 good sized screen (3")
 built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 megapixel count good (16MP)
 sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
 good ISO range (25,600)
 exports RAW formats
 weather sealing
 lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison
Leica SL2 Vlogging information
Olympus E-M5 Vlogging information
35
 touchscreen functionality
 has image stabilization (Sensor based)
 has face detect focus
 high video quality (4096 x 2160 pxls)
 comes with microphone support
 does not posses selfie friendly display
34
 screen is touchscreen
 built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 includes face detect focusing
 high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
 doesn't have selfie friendly display
 lack of mic jack
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Leica SL2 vs Olympus E-M5 Specifications

					

					

											


					

						Detailed spec comparison table for Leica SL2 and Olympus E-M5
 Leica SL2Olympus OM-D E-M5
General Information
Company Leica Olympus
Model type Leica SL2 Olympus OM-D E-M5
Category Pro Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Introduced 2019-11-06 2012-04-30
Body design SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Maestro III TruePic VI
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 36 x 24mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 864.0mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 47 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter    
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and  16:9
Maximum resolution 8368 x 5584 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 50000 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW files    
Lowest boosted ISO 50 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing    
Touch focus    
Continuous autofocus    
Autofocus single    
Autofocus tracking    
Selective autofocus    
Autofocus center weighted    
Autofocus multi area    
Autofocus live view    
Face detect autofocus    
Contract detect autofocus    
Phase detect autofocus    
Total focus points 225 35
Lens
Lens support Leica L Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 30 107
Crop factor 1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3.2 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 2,100k dot 610k dot
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch screen    
Display technology - Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 5,760k dot 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.78x 0.58x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 1800 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/40000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 20.0 frames per sec 9.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Manually set exposure    
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance    
Image stabilization    
Integrated flash    
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe    
Auto exposure bracketing    
WB bracketing    
Highest flash sync - 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment    
Average    
Spot    
Partial    
AF area    
Center weighted    
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 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic input    
Headphone input    
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth    
NFC    
HDMI    
USB USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal    
Water proofing    
Dust proofing    
Shock proofing    
Crush proofing    
Freeze proofing    
Weight 835 grams (1.84 lb) 425 grams (0.94 lb)
Dimensions 146 x 107 x 83mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 3.3") 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 71
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 826
Other
Battery life 370 pictures 360 pictures
Form of battery Built-in Battery Pack
Battery ID BP-SCL4 BLN-1
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature    
Storage media Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported on slot 1) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 2 One
Pricing at launch $5,995 $799