Leica TL vs TL2

The Leica TL and the Leica TL2 are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in November 2016 and July 2017. Both the TL and the TL2 are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are equipped with an APS-C sensor. The TL has a resolution of 16.1 megapixels, whereas the TL2 provides 24.1 MP.

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

Headline Specifications

Leica TL		Leica TL2
Mirrorless system camera		Mirrorless system camera
Leica T mount lenses		Leica T mount lenses
16.1 MP – APS-C sensor		24.1 MP – APS-C sensor
1080/30p Video		4K/30p Video
ISO 100-12,500		ISO 100-50,000
Viewfinder optional		Viewfinder optional
3.7" LCD – 1230k dots		3.7" LCD – 1230k dots
Fixed touchscreen		Fixed touchscreen
5 shutter flaps per second		7 shutter flaps per second
400 shots per battery charge		250 shots per battery charge
134 x 69 x 33 mm, 384 g		134 x 69 x 33 mm, 399 g

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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Leica TL and the Leica TL2? 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

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Leica TL and the Leica TL2. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The TL can be obtained in three different colors (black, silver, titanium), while the TL2 is available in two color-versions (black, silver).

In this particular case, the Leica TL and the Leica TL2 have exactly the same width and height, and, thus, have identically-sized bodies. However, the TL2 is slightly heavier (4 percent) than the TL. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the TL nor the TL2 are weather-sealed.

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.

The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Leica TL	134 mm	69 mm	33 mm	384 g	400	n	Nov 2016	EUR 1 649	ebay.com
2.		Leica TL2	134 mm	69 mm	33 mm	399 g	250	n	Jul 2017	EUR 1 949	ebay.com
3.		Canon M6	112 mm	68 mm	45 mm	390 g	295	n	Feb 2017	EUR 799	ebay.com
4.		Fujifilm X-E2S	129 mm	75 mm	37 mm	350 g	350	n	Jan 2016	EUR 699	ebay.com
5.		Fujifilm X-Pro1	140 mm	82 mm	43 mm	450 g	300	n	Jan 2012	EUR 1 599	ebay.com
6.		Fujifilm X-T10	118 mm	83 mm	41 mm	381 g	350	n	May 2015	EUR 699	ebay.com
7.		Fujifilm X70	113 mm	64 mm	44 mm	340 g	330	n	Jan 2016	EUR 699	ebay.com
8.		Leica C-LUX	113 mm	67 mm	46 mm	340 g	370	n	Jun 2018	EUR 970	ebay.com
9.		Leica CL	131 mm	78 mm	45 mm	403 g	220	n	Nov 2017	EUR 2 490	ebay.com
10.		Leica D-LUX 8	130 mm	69 mm	62 mm	397 g	300	n	Jul 2024	EUR 1 599	amazon.com
11.		Leica T	134 mm	69 mm	33 mm	384 g	400	n	Apr 2014	EUR 1 499	ebay.com
12.		Leica X2	124 mm	69 mm	52 mm	345 g	450	n	May 2012	EUR 1 749	ebay.com
13.		Panasonic G7	125 mm	86 mm	77 mm	410 g	350	n	May 2015	EUR 699	ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. 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 TL was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 13 percent) than the TL2, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. 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 imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 1.5. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

While the two cameras under review share the same sensor size, the TL2 offers a higher resolution of 24.1 megapixels, compared with 16.1 MP of the TL. This megapixels advantage translates into a 22 percent gain in linear resolution. On the other hand, these sensor specs imply that the TL2 has a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 3.92μm versus 4.80μm for the TL). However, it should be noted that the TL2 is a somewhat more recent model (by 8 months) than the TL, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that at least partly compensate for the smaller pixel size. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Leica TL2 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the TL2 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 30.1 x 20.1 inches or 76.4 x 51 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24.1 x 16.1 inches or 61.1 x 40.8 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20 x 13.4 inches or 50.9 x 34 cm. The corresponding values for the Leica TL are 24.6 x 16.3 inches or 62.6 x 41.5 cm for good quality, 19.7 x 13.1 inches or 50.1 x 33.2 cm for very good quality, and 16.4 x 10.9 inches or 41.7 x 27.6 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Leica TL has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 12500. The corresponding ISO settings for the Leica TL2 are ISO 100 to ISO 50000 (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.

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Leica TL	APS-C	16.1	4928	3264	1080/30p	23.9	13.2	1690	81
2.		Leica TL2	APS-C	24.1	6014	4014	4K/30p	23.9	13.3	1753	82
3.		Canon M6	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.4	12.6	1317	78
4.		Fujifilm X-E2S	APS-C	16.0	4896	3264	1080/60p	23.7	13.0	1608	80
5.		Fujifilm X-Pro1	APS-C	16.0	4896	3264	1080/24p	23.1	12.3	1238	74
6.		Fujifilm X-T10	APS-C	16.0	4896	3264	1080/60p	23.7	12.9	1546	79
7.		Fujifilm X70	APS-C	16.0	4896	3264	1080/60p	23.7	13.0	1608	80
8.		Leica C-LUX	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.1	12.3	481	64
9.		Leica CL	APS-C	24.1	6014	4014	4K/30p	24.0	13.3	1788	82
10.		Leica D-LUX 8	Four Thirds	16.8	4736	3552	4K/30p	23.1	13.4	1557	75
11.		Leica T	APS-C	16.2	4944	3278	1080/30p	23.0	12.7	1082	75
12.		Leica X2	APS-C	16.1	4928	3264	none	23.2	12.4	1275	74
13.		Panasonic G7	Four Thirds	15.8	4592	3448	4K/30p	22.8	12.4	904	71
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 two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the TL2 provides a better video resolution than the TL. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the TL is limited to 1080/30p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The TL and the TL2 are similar in the sense that neither of the two has a viewfinder. The images are, thus, framed using live view on the rear LCD. However, optional viewfinders – the Visoflex (Typ 020) for the TL and the Visoflex (Typ 020) for the TL2 – are available as accessories. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Leica TL and Leica TL2 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.		Leica TL	optional	n	3.7 / 1230	fixed	Y	1/4000s	5.0/s	Y	n
2.		Leica TL2	optional	n	3.7 / 1230	fixed	Y	1/4000s	7.0/s	n	n
3.		Canon M6	optional	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	9.0/s	Y	n
4.		Fujifilm X-E2S	2360	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	n	1/4000s	7.0/s	Y	n
5.		Fujifilm X-Pro1	1440	n	3.0 / 1230	fixed	n	1/4000s	6.0/s	n	n
6.		Fujifilm X-T10	2360	n	3.0 / 920	tilting	n	1/4000s	8.0/s	Y	n
7.		Fujifilm X70	optional	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	8.0/s	Y	n
8.		Leica C-LUX	2330	n	3.0 / 1240	fixed	Y	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
9.		Leica CL	2360	Y	3.0 / 1040	fixed	Y	1/8000s	10.0/s	n	n
10.		Leica D-LUX 8	2360	n	3.0 / 1860	fixed	Y	1/4000s	11.0/s	n	Y
11.		Leica T	optional	n	3.7 / 1230	fixed	Y	1/4000s	5.0/s	Y	n
12.		Leica X2	optional	n	2.7 / 230	fixed	n	1/2000s	5.0/s	Y	n
13.		Panasonic G7	2360	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	7.0/s	Y	n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The TL has one, while the TL2 does not. While the built-in flash of the TL is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the TL and the TL2 write their files to SDXC cards. The TL2 supports UHS-II cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 312 MB/s), while the TL 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 Leica TL and Leica TL2 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.		Leica TL	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
2.		Leica TL2	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	3.0	Y	-	-
3.		Canon M6	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	Y
4.		Fujifilm X-E2S	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
5.		Fujifilm X-Pro1	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
6.		Fujifilm X-T10	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
7.		Fujifilm X70	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
8.		Leica C-LUX	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
9.		Leica CL	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-
10.		Leica D-LUX 8	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	3.0	Y	-	Y
11.		Leica T	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	-	2.0	Y	-	-
12.		Leica X2	Y	- / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
13.		Panasonic G7	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-

Both the TL and the TL2 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The TL was replaced by the Leica TL2, while the TL2 does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the TL and TL2 can be found, respectively, in the Leica TL Manual (free pdf) or the online Leica TL2 Manual.

Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Is there a clear favorite between the Leica TL and the Leica TL2? Which camera is better? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Reasons to prefer the Leica TL:

• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (400 versus 250) on a single battery charge.
• Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced segment (13 percent cheaper at launch).
• More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in November 2016).

Arguments in favor of the Leica TL2:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (24.1 vs 16.1MP), which boosts linear resolution by 22%.
• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/30p).
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (7 vs 5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.0 vs 2.0).
• Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-II standard.
• More modern: Was introduced somewhat (8 months) more recently.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the TL2 emerges as the winner of the match-up (6 : 4 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. 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 Leica TL and the Leica TL2 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the TL and the TL2 in practical situations. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. 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.		Leica TL	..	..	..	..	..	4/5	Nov 2016	EUR 1 649	ebay.com
2.		Leica TL2	3.5/5	..	3/5	..	4/5	4/5	Jul 2017	EUR 1 949	ebay.com
3.		Canon M6	..	..	..	80/100	4/5	4/5	Feb 2017	EUR 799	ebay.com
4.		Fujifilm X-E2S	4.5/5	..	..	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2016	EUR 699	ebay.com
5.		Fujifilm X-Pro1	5/5	+ +	..	79/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2012	EUR 1 599	ebay.com
6.		Fujifilm X-T10	4.5/5	+ +	..	80/100	5/5	5/5	May 2015	EUR 699	ebay.com
7.		Fujifilm X70	4.5/5	..	..	76/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2016	EUR 699	ebay.com
8.		Leica C-LUX	..	..	3.5/5	..	4.5/5	4/5	Jun 2018	EUR 970	ebay.com
9.		Leica CL	..	..	4.2/5	..	..	4/5	Nov 2017	EUR 2 490	ebay.com
10.		Leica D-LUX 8	..	..	..	..	..	..	Jul 2024	EUR 1 599	amazon.com
11.		Leica T	3/5	..	..	..	4/5	4/5	Apr 2014	EUR 1 499	ebay.com
12.		Leica X2	3/5	..	..	..	3/5	4/5	May 2012	EUR 1 749	ebay.com
13.		Panasonic G7	4/5	+ +	3.5/5	80/100	5/5	4.5/5	May 2015	EUR 699	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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Check TL2 offers at
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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just use the search menu below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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