Best Leica Camera
The best Leica camera cost a lot of money, but they can do a lot of things too. They are carefully built and engineered to deliver nothing but the best results for all types of photographers.
The Leica company has a phenomenal reputation for the build quality of its cameras and optics. They are known for their attention to detail when manufacturing and the superior lenses that arguably trump every manufacturer out there.
Knowing that this German brand is leading in terms of picture quality, it is not surprising to learn that a lot of photography enthusiasts want to have their own Leica camera. Well, who wouldn’t, right?
If you’re one of them and you are as close as an inch to purchasing your very own Leica camera, you might be wondering what the best Leica cameras are.
To help you, we have rounded up some of the best Leica cameras available in the market today.
Best Leica Camera #1: Leica T
Featuring a large APS-C 16.5 MP sensor, the Leica T Digital Camera has a 16:9 aspect ratio touchscreen and has no physical buttons at all. Instead, it is controlled by a pair of top-plate dials and a touch interface in most cases.
This camera has an ISO range from 100-12500 and offers 5fps continuous shooting. With this, you can capture images with exquisite detail and clarity, even when shot in low light.
It is also capable of recording Full HD movies with stereo sound. The optimized autofocus of this camera allows you to focus on your subject, even without manually tweaking your camera settings.
In addition, this camera also features a MyCamera option, which allows you to input and save your favorite settings and easily access them with a simple click.
As for the controls, the Leica T Digital Camera is user-friendly enough that composing and checking your shots is very easy.
The Leica T Digital Camera also features the top-of-the-line Leica lens perfect for achieving the brand’s trademark Bokeh. It also has built-in Wi-Fi, which helps you easily upload and share your photos. You also have the option to set up your own hotspot.
What makes this Leica camera incredibly amazing is its M-Adapter T. With it, you can use more than 20 compatible lenses with the Leica-T.
When attached with a Visoflex viewfinder, shooting from a wide variety of perspectives is possible too.
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Best Leica Camera #2: Leica SL
- 4.4 Megapixel viewfinder
Generally considered as a professional camera, the Leica SL has a 4.4 MP EyeRes electronic viewfinder with 0.8 magnification. With it, seeing all the elements of your frame is easy.
Trivia: Leica SL is the first non-rangefinder style 35mm full-frame digital camera from Leica, and at the same time, it also the company’s first full-frame mirrorless camera in the modern sense.
It also comes with intuitive controls, which makes it easy to operate the camera. With extremely fast autofocus and a high-speed burst rate, capturing fleeting moments is also possible.
The Leica SL is also waterproof and dustproof, making it the perfect partner for outdoor adventures. Plus, it is made out of aluminum materials which makes the camera very durable.
It also gives you the option to remotely control the camera from different angles using the Leica SL App. This camera also features a 24-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor, which can process images as fast as 11 fps.
Furthermore, the Leica SL can also shoot full HD 4K video. Uploading and sharing photos and videos is possible too since it has built-in Wi-Fi as well.
Just like any other Leica camera, the Leica SL is compatible with the different Cine lenses too, as long as the right adapter for each lens is used.
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Best Leica Camera #3: Leica M-P
- Minimalizing to the max
Elegant—this is what exactly describes the Leica M-P. Unlike other Leica cameras with the typical front-facing Leica logo design, the Leica M-P comes with an engraved Leica script on the top plate.
It features a MAX 24MP CMOS sensor and Maestro image processor, which reduces the image noise. This produces high-quality images with accurate color and tonal gradations.
Handling the camera is easy too with its ergonomic design, which gives you a good grip while keeping the controls accessible.
The 10x live view zoom feature allows you to focus on your subject at very high precision.
This Leica camera also uses a 0.68x optical rangefinder with split and superimposed manual focusing automatic parallax correction and manual image field selection. It has a top sensitivity of ISO 6400, which is high enough to capture clear and crisp images.
Moreso, the Leica M-P is also capable of full HD 1080p videos and up to 24 consecutive frames at 3 fps.
When it comes to the features of the camera, this one features a 3.0″ 920k-dot LCD, with sapphire glass covering. This helps maintain the overall durability of the camera body’s magnesium alloy and brass build.
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Best Leica Camera #4: Leica M2
Modern and classy—this is what Leica M2 is all about. Besides, the Leica M2 is considered one of the most well-designed Leica film cameras ever released.
The Leica M2 is also known as the first-ever first camera to offer a viewfinder with a 0.72x magnification ratio and a 35-50-90mm frame line. This is a
Much more than its beautiful facade, the Leica M2 is equipped with 35mm lenses, which makes it popular among photography enthusiasts.
This camera will bring out your creativity, too. With it, you will learn how to manually meter light your shots and decide which exposure is best for the scene.
Since this camera comes from Leica, then automatically, it has Leica’s traditional all-metal film advance and knurled rewind knob as well.
Considered as one of the legendary cameras, the Leica M2 is a fully manual camera that has 35mm, 50mm, 90mm frame lines, which means that it does not use any battery at all.
Furthermore, the Leica M2 also comes with a self-timer and rewind lever feature, which is very helpful when shooting fast-moving objects.
Although the Leica M2 is relatively cheaper than the Leica M3, the Leica M2 still gives access to all the desirable Leica M mount lenses. This makes the Leica M2 a more affordable option for photographers who don’t have much to spend on a camera.
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Best Leica Camera #5: Leica CL
If you want a Leica CL with a special feature, then you must give Leica CL a try. This is because the Leica CL is equipped with a 40mm f2 pancake lens, which is the sharpest and most well-designed model Leica has ever made.
The Leica CL is a collaboration of the Leica company and Minolta, a Japanese company. The collaboration gave birth to the most compact camera Leica has ever released.
Up until this day, the Leica CL remains one of the most budget-friendly Leica film cameras available in the market. But what’s special about Leica CL?
First, it has the smallest and lightest interchangeable M mount rangefinder. Loading film on it is easy and smooth too since its back part is detachable.
Second, the Leica CL comes with around 7.5mm CDS cell. This gives you a great spot metering, which is 7% of the film area.
Third, it has the latest 24-megapixel APS-C sensor and Maestro II processor, along with fast continuous shooting and 4K video recording.
Fourth, this camera can shoot at 10fps up to 33 DNG raw images. Its max shutter speed is 1/25000s with the electronic shutter and 1/8000s with the mechanical shutter.
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Best Leica Camera #6: Leica Q2
Unlike other Leica cameras with interchangeable lenses, the Leica Q2 is different. Instead, it has a fixed lens at 28mm f/1.7.
This camera is small and discrete but is powerful enough to take astonishing shots. It sports a whopping 47.3-megapixel full-frame sensor, which delivers excellent-quality images, with great tones and colors.
The Leica Q2 is weather-sealed too. Specifically, its body is water and dust resistant. This camera also has the capacity to shoot 4K and C4K videos.
When used in burst mode, the Leica CL can shoot at up to 10fps with the mechanical shutter or 20fps with the electronic shutter.
Leica Q2 is made out of a magnesium body, which makes this camera even more luxurious.
Furthermore, this camera is equipped with a sharp, stabilized 28mm F1.7 Summilux lens. With this, you can get a clearer view of the scene, alongside wider and better images.
The Leica Q2 comes with different modern conveniences including a built-in Wi-Fi, video capability, and a rear touchscreen. The Leica app also makes it quick and easy to transfer your photos to your smartphone via Wi-Fi.
Shooting videos with the Leica Q2 is relatively easy, too. Particularly, its 47-megapixel sensor shoots gorgeous 4K video at 24 or 30 frames-per-second.
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Best Leica Camera #7: Leica SL2
- 47 megapixel full frame sensor brings new levels of image quality
Coming next to Leica SL, the Leica SL2 is an exceptional camera that can do wonders. This is not surprising, knowing that this camera uses L-mount technology.
The camera also has amazing internals, including a great sensor, in-body stabilization, and 4K capabilities that came straight from the Panasonic Lumix S1R.
On the outside, the Leica SL2 is a sight to behold. It has a beautiful minimalist design, a classy, elegant interface that works brilliantly, and simple but superbly thought out controls.
It has a 47-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor and 5-axis in-body stabilization, which delivers around a 5.5EV shutter speed advantage.
Just like other Leica cameras, the Leica SL2 can capture 4K video at up to 60/50fps too, using the 225 zone contrast AF system, and ‘depth mapping’ operating at a frequency of 480fps.
Leica SL2’s autofocus options are not ordinary. What makes it different is that it doesn’t just detect faces, it can detect bodies too. In addition, it also features autofocus ‘case settings’, wherein each has adjustable parameters for different kinds of moving subjects.
This camera also boasts an impressive turn of speed at 20fps with its electronic shutter and 10fps continuous shooting with its mechanical shutter.
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Best Leica Camera #8: Leica M10-R
- New 40mp full frame color sensor for unprecedented image quality with M-Lenses.
Sporting a 40MP sensor, the Leica M10-R is one of the latest and best full-frame mirrorless cameras available today. Specifically, this camera is beautifully made with retro-feel optics and utterly fuss-free controls.
The 40MP sensor of the Leica M10-R has a regular color filter array and captures full-color images. Regardless of how big the sensors are, the Leica M10-R actually delivers lower noise levels than the previous 24-megapixel sensor.
It comes with Leica’s own Maestro II processor and offers an ISO range of 100–50,000. Unfortunately, this camera does not shoot videos.
At the back of the camera are the fixed LCD display for live view, image playback, and menu navigation. It also has a soft shutter action relatively quiet for a camera with a full-frame focal plane shutter.
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Best Leica Camera #9: Leica M10 Monochrom
The Leica M10 Monochrom is not just like the previous Leica M Monochrom with 24 million pixels. This is because the Leica M10 Monochrom a brand new model with 40 million pixels and is described by the Leica company itself as the best black and white sensor it’s ever made.
There are three reasons why the Leica M10 Monochrom is one of the Leica cameras today. First, it uses a decades-old manual focus rangefinder design. Second, it shoots in black and white only. And third, it is relatively more expensive than any other M-series camera except for Leica’s prestige special editions.
It also has the signature solid, heavy metallic Leica camera body that is carefully engineered, precisely made, and is hand-assembled.
But this camera has no red dot, no Leica logo, and has no colors on the dials too.
As for the dials, they are all mechanical which means that you can set up everything, including the ISO, aperture, and shutter speed setting even before you turn on the camera.
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Best Leica Camera #10: Leica D-Lux 7
- 17 MP 4/3rds sensor - High image quality even in low light. Easy to use under any light conditions
The Leica D-Lux 7 is the redesigned version of the Panasonic LX 100 II. It has a fixed lens, travel zoom camera, perfect for both snapshots and street photography.
This camera is equipped with a 17-megapixel resolution from a 21.77 megapixel Four Thirds CMOS sensor. It also comes along with a wide-angle 24-75mm in 35mm film terms.
As for the lens aperture, it is quite fast and you can manually adjust through the lens ring. If you don’t want to do things manually, the camera also has automatic features.
It also features a UHD 4K video recording capacity, 11fps burst shooting, 2.76m-dot electronic viewfinder, built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, and in-camera charging among others.
All in all, this camera exudes elegance while making it quick and easy to take snapshots.
Conclusion
Leica cameras are eye candies for almost all photographers. The brand of the camera itself already rings a bell, knowing how intricate they are built. Plus, their specifications are really hard to resist.
But, of course, Leica cameras don’t come cheap. They come at a good price, which is definitely worth it, considering everything they have to offer.
Related Questions
Why are Leica cameras so expensive?
Leica cameras are expensive due to a lot of reasons. First, the number of Leica cameras is very limited. Second, they are meticulously made and engineered with high-quality materials to deliver a sturdy camera with the best possible specs.
What makes Leica cameras special?
What makes Leica cameras special are the lenses that they have. Their lenses are way better than other camera lenses because they are smaller, faster, and sharper. They are also hand-assembled with the highest-grade glass available.