Leica TL2 vs Nikon D800

Here is a extended analysis of the Leica TL2 and Nikon D800, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Leica and Nikon. There exists a large gap between the image resolutions of the TL2 (24MP) and D800 (36MP) and the TL2 (APS-C) and D800 (Full frame) posses totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The TL2 was announced 5 years later than the D800 and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Leica TL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Nikon D800 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving right into a detailed comparison, here is a concise overview of how the TL2 matches up vs the D800 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Leica TL2 & Nikon D800. The whole galleries are available at Leica TL2 Gallery & Nikon D800 Gallery.

For anyone who is looking to carry your camera frequently, you should take into account its weight and volume. The Leica TL2 comes with outside dimensions of 134mm x 69mm x 33mm (5.3" x 2.7" x 1.3") along with a weight of 399 grams (0.88 lbs) whilst the Nikon D800 has sizing of 146mm x 123mm x 82mm (5.7" x 4.8" x 3.2") along with a weight of 900 grams (1.98 lbs).

Examine the Leica TL2 and Nikon D800 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you select during that time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the TL2 versus the D800.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TL2 and D800 is 85 and 54 respectively.

Normally, it's hard to envision the gap between sensor sizing merely by reviewing a spec sheet. The visual here might offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the TL2 and D800.

Clearly, both of those cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The TL2 using its tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF trickier and the Nikon D800 will offer more detail with its extra 12 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The fresher TL2 will have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.