Canon 1D Mark II vs Leica S Typ 007

The Canon EOS-1D Mark II and the Leica S (Typ 007) are two professional cameras that were announced, respectively, in January 2004 and September 2014. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are based on an APS-H (1D Mark II) and a medium format (S Typ 007) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 8.2 megapixels, whereas the Leica provides 37.5 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Canon 1D Mark II		Leica S Typ 007
Digital single lens reflex		Digital single lens reflex
Canon EF mount lenses		Leica S mount lenses
8.2 MP – APS-H sensor		37.5 MP – Medium Format sensor
no Video		4K/24p Video
ISO 100-1,600 (50 - 3,200)		ISO 100-6,400
Optical viewfinder		Optical viewfinder
2.0" LCD – 230k dots		3.0" LCD – 922k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
8.3 shutter flaps per second		3.5 shutter flaps per second
Weathersealed body		Weathersealed body
156 x 158 x 80 mm, 1535 g		160 x 120 x 80 mm, 1260 g

Check 1D Mark II offers at
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Check S Typ 007 offers at
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS-1D Mark II and the Leica S (Typ 007)? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Canon 1D Mark II and the Leica S Typ 007 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Leica S Typ 007 is notably smaller (22 percent) than the Canon 1D Mark II. Moreover, the S Typ 007 is markedly lighter (18 percent) than the 1D Mark II. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.

Concerning battery life, the 1D Mark II gets 1200 shots out of its Canon NP-E3 battery, while the S Typ 007 can take .. images on a single charge of its Leica BP-PRO1 power pack. As can be seen in the images above, the 1D Mark II has a battery grip built in. This facilitates image-taking in portrait orientation and gives it additional battery power. In order to provide similar functionality for the S Typ 007, Leica provides the Multi-Function Handgrip S vertical grip as an optional accessory (see here on ebay).

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Canon 1D Mark II	156 mm	158 mm	80 mm	1535 g	1200	Y	Jan 2004	EUR 4 499	ebay.com
2.		Leica S Typ 007	160 mm	120 mm	80 mm	1260 g	..	Y	Sep 2014	EUR 24 999	ebay.com
3.		Canon 1D	156 mm	158 mm	80 mm	1585 g	500	Y	Sep 2001	EUR 6 499	ebay.com
4.		Canon 1D Mark II N	156 mm	158 mm	80 mm	1565 g	1200	Y	Aug 2005	EUR 4 199	ebay.com
5.		Canon 1D Mark III	156 mm	157 mm	80 mm	1155 g	2200	Y	Feb 2007	EUR 4 309	ebay.com
6.		Canon 1D Mark IV	156 mm	157 mm	80 mm	1230 g	1500	Y	Oct 2009	EUR 4 699	ebay.com
7.		Canon 1Ds	156 mm	158 mm	80 mm	1265 g	600	Y	Sep 2002	EUR 8 999	ebay.com
8.		Canon 1Ds Mark II	156 mm	158 mm	80 mm	1215 g	1200	Y	Sep 2004	EUR 7 999	ebay.com
9.		Canon 1Ds Mark III	150 mm	160 mm	80 mm	1385 g	1800	Y	Aug 2007	EUR 7 999	ebay.com
10.		Canon 5D	152 mm	113 mm	75 mm	895 g	400	Y	Aug 2005	EUR 3 399	ebay.com
11.		Canon 5DS	152 mm	116 mm	76 mm	930 g	700	Y	Feb 2015	EUR 3 499	ebay.com
12.		Canon 5DS R	152 mm	116 mm	76 mm	930 g	700	Y	Feb 2015	EUR 3 699	ebay.com
13.		Leica S2	160 mm	120 mm	80 mm	1410 g	..	Y	Sep 2008	EUR 18 599	ebay.com
14.		Leica S3	160 mm	120 mm	80 mm	1260 g	..	Y	Sep 2018	EUR 18 599	ebay.com
15.		Leica S Typ 006	160 mm	120 mm	80 mm	1260 g	..	Y	Sep 2012	EUR 19 499	ebay.com
16.		Leica S-E Typ 006	160 mm	120 mm	80 mm	1260 g	..	Y	Sep 2014	EUR 16 899	ebay.com
17.		Leica SL	147 mm	104 mm	39 mm	847 g	400	Y	Oct 2015	EUR 6 899	ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The 1D Mark II was launched at a markedly lower price (by 82 percent) than the S Typ 007, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon 1D Mark II features an APS-H sensor and the Leica S Typ 007 a medium format sensor. The sensor area in the S Typ 007 is 146 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.3 and 0.8. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

With 37.5MP, the S Typ 007 offers a higher resolution than the 1D Mark II (8.2MP), but the S Typ 007 has smaller individual pixels (pixel pitch of 6.00μm versus 8.17μm for the 1D Mark II). Yet, the S Typ 007 is a much more recent model (by 10 years and 7 months) than the 1D Mark II, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the S Typ 007 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Leica S Typ 007 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the S Typ 007 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 37.5 x 25 inches or 95.3 x 63.5 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 30 x 20 inches or 76.2 x 50.8 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 25 x 16.7 inches or 63.5 x 42.3 cm. The corresponding values for the Canon 1D Mark II are 17.5 x 11.7 inches or 44.5 x 29.7 cm for good quality, 14 x 9.3 inches or 35.6 x 23.7 cm for very good quality, and 11.7 x 7.8 inches or 29.7 x 19.8 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon EOS-1D Mark II has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 1600, which can be extended to ISO 50-3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Leica S (Typ 007) are ISO 100 to ISO 6400 (no boost).

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Canon 1D Mark II	APS-H	8.2	3504	2336	none	22.3	11.1	1003	66
2.		Leica S Typ 007	Medium Format	37.5	7500	5000	4K/24p	25.1	13.7	2763	93
3.		Canon 1D	APS-H	4.1	2496	1662	none	..	..	..	..
4.		Canon 1D Mark II N	APS-H	8.2	3504	2336	none	22.3	11.2	975	66
5.		Canon 1D Mark III	APS-H	10.1	3888	2592	none	22.7	11.7	1078	71
6.		Canon 1D Mark IV	APS-H	16.0	4896	3264	1080/30p	22.8	12.0	1320	74
7.		Canon 1Ds	Full Frame	11.0	4064	2704	none	21.8	11.0	954	63
8.		Canon 1Ds Mark II	Full Frame	16.6	4992	3328	none	23.3	11.3	1480	74
9.		Canon 1Ds Mark III	Full Frame	21.0	5616	3744	none	24.0	12.0	1663	80
10.		Canon 5D	Full Frame	12.7	4368	2912	none	22.9	11.1	1368	71
11.		Canon 5DS	Full Frame	50.3	8688	5792	1080/30p	24.7	12.4	2381	87
12.		Canon 5DS R	Full Frame	50.3	8688	5792	1080/30p	24.6	12.4	2308	86
13.		Leica S2	Medium Format	37.5	7500	5000	none	23.9	12.5	2224	82
14.		Leica S3	Medium Format	64.0	9800	6533	4K/24p	25.6	14.4	3143	98
15.		Leica S Typ 006	Medium Format	37.5	7500	5000	none	23.9	12.2	824	76
16.		Leica S-E Typ 006	Medium Format	37.5	7500	5000	none	25.1	13.7	2763	93
17.		Leica SL	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	25.0	13.4	1821	88
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The S Typ 007 indeed provides for movie recording, while the 1D Mark II does not. The highest resolution format that the S Typ 007 can use is 4K/24p.

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The 1D Mark II and the S Typ 007 are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder. The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The viewfinder in the 1D Mark II offers a wider field of view (100%) than the one in the S Typ 007 (98%), so that a larger proportion of the captured image is visible in the finder. On the other hand, the viewfinder of the S Typ 007 has a higher magnification (0.87x vs 0.55x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Canon 1D Mark II and Leica S Typ 007 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Max Shutter Speed *	Max Shutter Flaps *	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Canon 1D Mark II	optical	Y	2.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/8000s	8.3/s	n	n
2.		Leica S Typ 007	optical	Y	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.5/s	n	n
3.		Canon 1D	optical	Y	2.0 / 120	fixed	n	1/16000s	8.0/s	n	n
4.		Canon 1D Mark II N	optical	Y	2.5 / 230	fixed	n	1/8000s	8.5/s	n	n
5.		Canon 1D Mark III	optical	Y	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/8000s	10.0/s	n	n
6.		Canon 1D Mark IV	optical	Y	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/8000s	10.0/s	n	n
7.		Canon 1Ds	optical	Y	2.0 / 120	fixed	n	1/8000s	3.0/s	n	n
8.		Canon 1Ds Mark II	optical	Y	2.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/8000s	4.0/s	n	n
9.		Canon 1Ds Mark III	optical	Y	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0/s	n	n
10.		Canon 5D	optical	Y	2.5 / 230	fixed	n	1/8000s	3.0/s	n	n
11.		Canon 5DS	optical	Y	3.2 / 1040	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0/s	n	n
12.		Canon 5DS R	optical	Y	3.2 / 1040	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0/s	n	n
13.		Leica S2	optical	Y	3.0 / 460	fixed	n	1/4000s	1.5/s	n	n
14.		Leica S3	optical	Y	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	n	n
15.		Leica S Typ 006	optical	Y	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/4000s	1.5/s	n	n
16.		Leica S-E Typ 006	optical	Y	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/4000s	1.5/s	n	n
17.		Leica SL	4400	Y	3.0 / 1040	fixed	Y	1/8000s	11.0/s	n	n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

The 1D Mark II writes its imaging data to Compact Flash or SD cards, while the S Typ 007 uses Compact Flash or SDXC cards. Both cameras feature dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. The S Typ 007 supports UHS-II cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 312 MB/s), while the 1D Mark II cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS-1D Mark II and Leica S (Typ 007) and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Canon 1D Mark II	Y	- / -	-	-	-	1.1	-	-	-
2.		Leica S Typ 007	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	Y	-	-
3.		Canon 1D	Y	- / -	-	-	-	FW	-	-	-
4.		Canon 1D Mark II N	Y	- / -	-	-	-	1.1	-	-	-
5.		Canon 1D Mark III	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
6.		Canon 1D Mark IV	Y	stereo / -	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
7.		Canon 1Ds	Y	- / -	-	-	-	FW	-	-	-
8.		Canon 1Ds Mark II	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Canon 1Ds Mark III	Y	mono / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
10.		Canon 5D	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
11.		Canon 5DS	Y	mono / mono	Y	-	mini	3.0	-	-	-
12.		Canon 5DS R	Y	mono / mono	Y	-	mini	3.0	-	-	-
13.		Leica S2	Y	- / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
14.		Leica S3	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	Y	-	-
15.		Leica S Typ 006	Y	- / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
16.		Leica S-E Typ 006	Y	- / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
17.		Leica SL	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	full	3.0	Y	-	-

It is notable that the S Typ 007 offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the 1D Mark II does not provide wifi capability.

Both cameras feature a PC Sync terminal to control professional strobe lights, which will be appreciated by studio photographers.

Travel and landscape photographers will find it useful that the S Typ 007 has an internal geolocalization sensor and can record GPS coordinates in its EXIF data.

Both the 1D Mark II and the S Typ 007 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The 1D Mark II was replaced by the Canon 1D Mark II N, while the S Typ 007 was followed by the Leica S3. Further information on the features and operation of the 1D Mark II and S Typ 007 can be found, respectively, in the Canon 1D Mark II Manual (free pdf) or the online Leica S Typ 007 Manual.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Canon 1D Mark II and the Leica S Typ 007? Which camera is better? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Reasons to prefer the Canon EOS-1D Mark II:

• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• More complete view: Has a viewfinder with a larger field of view (100% vs 98%).
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (8.3 vs 3.5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• More portrait friendly: Features an integrated vertical grip for easier portrait shooting.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (82 percent cheaper at launch).
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in January 2004).

Advantages of the Leica S (Typ 007):

• More detail: Has more megapixels (37.5 vs 8.2MP), which boosts linear resolution by 114%.
• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• Better image quality: Is equipped with a larger and more technologically advanced sensor.
• Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
• Broader imaging potential: Can capture not only stills but also 4K/24p video.
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.87x vs 0.55x).
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.0" vs 2.0") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (922k vs 230k dots).
• More compact: Is smaller (160x120mm vs 156x158mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 275g or 18 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
• Easier geotagging: Features an internal GPS sensor to log localization data.
• Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.0 vs 1.1).
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-II standard.
• More prestigious: Has the Leica luxury appeal, which ensures a high resale value.
• More modern: Reflects 10 years and 7 months of technical progress since the 1D Mark II launch.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the S Typ 007 is the clear winner of the contest (18 : 7 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon 1D Mark II and the Leica S Typ 007 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the 1D Mark II or the S Typ 007 perform in practice. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Canon 1D Mark II	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Jan 2004	EUR 4 499	ebay.com
2.		Leica S Typ 007	4/5	..	..	..	..	..	Sep 2014	EUR 24 999	ebay.com
3.		Canon 1D	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Sep 2001	EUR 6 499	ebay.com
4.		Canon 1D Mark II N	..	..	..	..	..	..	Aug 2005	EUR 4 199	ebay.com
5.		Canon 1D Mark III	..	..	..	..	..	..	Feb 2007	EUR 4 309	ebay.com
6.		Canon 1D Mark IV	5/5	..	..	89/100	..	..	Oct 2009	EUR 4 699	ebay.com
7.		Canon 1Ds	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Sep 2002	EUR 8 999	ebay.com
8.		Canon 1Ds Mark II	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Sep 2004	EUR 7 999	ebay.com
9.		Canon 1Ds Mark III	..	..	..	+ +	4.5/5	..	Aug 2007	EUR 7 999	ebay.com
10.		Canon 5D	..	88/100	..	+ +	o	..	Aug 2005	EUR 3 399	ebay.com
11.		Canon 5DS	..	+	..	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	EUR 3 499	ebay.com
12.		Canon 5DS R	5/5	+	..	83/100	5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	EUR 3 699	ebay.com
13.		Leica S2	..	..	..	..	..	..	Sep 2008	EUR 18 599	ebay.com
14.		Leica S3	..	..	..	..	..	..	Sep 2018	EUR 18 599	ebay.com
15.		Leica S Typ 006	..	..	..	..	..	..	Sep 2012	EUR 19 499	ebay.com
16.		Leica S-E Typ 006	..	..	..	..	..	..	Sep 2014	EUR 16 899	ebay.com
17.		Leica SL	4/5	..	4/5	84/100	4.5/5	4/5	Oct 2015	EUR 6 899	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Other camera comparisons

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