Canon 1D Mark II N vs Leica SL
The Canon EOS-1D Mark II N and the Leica SL (Typ 601) are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in August 2005 and October 2015. The 1D Mark II N is a DSLR, while the Leica SL is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on an APS-H (1D Mark II N) and a full frame (Leica SL) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 8.2 megapixels, whereas the Leica provides 24 MP.
Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.
Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS-1D Mark II N and the Leica SL (Typ 601)? 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 physical size and weight of the Canon 1D Mark II N and the Leica SL are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. 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.
If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Leica SL is considerably smaller (38 percent) than the Canon 1D Mark II N. Moreover, the Leica SL is substantially lighter (46 percent) than the 1D Mark II N. 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 N gets 1200 shots out of its Canon NP-E3 battery, while the Leica SL can take 400 images on a single charge of its Leica BP-SCL4 power pack. As can be seen in the images above, the 1D Mark II N 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 Leica SL, Leica provides the HG-SCL4 vertical grip as an optional accessory (see here on ebay).
The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.
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 N | 156 mm | 158 mm | 80 mm | 1565 g | 1200 | Y | Aug 2005 | US$ 3 999 | ebay.com | |
2. | Leica SL | 147 mm | 104 mm | 39 mm | 847 g | 400 | Y | Oct 2015 | US$ 7 449 | ebay.com | |
3. | Canon 1D | 156 mm | 158 mm | 80 mm | 1585 g | 500 | Y | Sep 2001 | US$ 6 499 | ebay.com | |
4. | Canon 1D Mark II | 156 mm | 158 mm | 80 mm | 1535 g | 1200 | Y | Jan 2004 | US$ 4 499 | ebay.com | |
5. | Canon 1D Mark III | 156 mm | 157 mm | 80 mm | 1155 g | 2200 | Y | Feb 2007 | US$ 4 499 | ebay.com | |
6. | Canon 1D Mark IV | 156 mm | 157 mm | 80 mm | 1230 g | 1500 | Y | Oct 2009 | US$ 4 999 | ebay.com | |
7. | Canon 1Ds Mark II | 156 mm | 158 mm | 80 mm | 1215 g | 1200 | Y | Sep 2004 | US$ 7 999 | ebay.com | |
8. | Canon 1Ds Mark III | 150 mm | 160 mm | 80 mm | 1385 g | 1800 | Y | Aug 2007 | US$ 7 999 | ebay.com | |
9. | Canon 5D | 152 mm | 113 mm | 75 mm | 895 g | 400 | Y | Aug 2005 | US$ 3 299 | ebay.com | |
10. | Canon 5D Mark II | 152 mm | 114 mm | 75 mm | 850 g | 850 | Y | Sep 2008 | US$ 3 499 | ebay.com | |
11. | Canon 5D Mark IV | 151 mm | 116 mm | 76 mm | 890 g | 900 | Y | Aug 2016 | US$ 3 499 | amazon.com | |
12. | Canon 5DS | 152 mm | 116 mm | 76 mm | 930 g | 700 | Y | Feb 2015 | US$ 3 699 | ebay.com | |
13. | Canon 80D | 139 mm | 105 mm | 79 mm | 730 g | 960 | Y | Feb 2016 | US$ 1 199 | ebay.com | |
14. | Leica M Typ 240 | 139 mm | 80 mm | 42 mm | 680 g | 500 | Y | Sep 2012 | US$ 6 949 | ebay.com | |
15. | Leica SL2 | 146 mm | 107 mm | 42 mm | 953 g | 370 | Y | Nov 2019 | US$ 5 999 | amazon.com | |
16. | Leica SL2-S | 146 mm | 107 mm | 83 mm | 931 g | 510 | Y | Dec 2020 | US$ 4 899 | amazon.com | |
17. | Nikon D750 | 141 mm | 113 mm | 78 mm | 750 g | 1230 | Y | Sep 2014 | US$ 2 299 | ebay.com | |
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. | |||||||||||
The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The 1D Mark II N was launched at a markedly lower price (by 46 percent) than the Leica SL, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. 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 generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have 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 N features an APS-H sensor and the Leica SL a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the Leica SL is 58 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.3 and 1.0. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.
With 24MP, the Leica SL offers a higher resolution than the 1D Mark II N (8.2MP), but the Leica SL has smaller individual pixels (pixel pitch of 6.00μm versus 8.17μm for the 1D Mark II N). Yet, the Leica SL is a much more recent model (by 10 years and 2 months) than the 1D Mark II N, 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 Leica SL has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.
The resolution advantage of the Leica SL implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the Leica SL for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 30 x 20 inches or 76.2 x 50.8 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24 x 16 inches or 61 x 40.6 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20 x 13.3 inches or 50.8 x 33.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Canon 1D Mark II N 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 N 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 SL (Typ 601) are ISO 50 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.
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. Of the two cameras under consideration, the Leica SL offers substantially better image quality than the 1D Mark II N (overall score 22 points higher). The advantage is based on 2.7 bits higher color depth, 2.2 EV in additional dynamic range, and 0.9 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.
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 N | APS-H | 8.2 | 3504 | 2336 | none | 22.3 | 11.2 | 975 | 66 | |
2. | Leica SL | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/30p | 25.0 | 13.4 | 1821 | 88 | |
3. | Canon 1D | APS-H | 4.1 | 2496 | 1662 | none | .. | .. | .. | .. | |
4. | Canon 1D Mark II | APS-H | 8.2 | 3504 | 2336 | none | 22.3 | 11.1 | 1003 | 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 Mark II | Full Frame | 16.6 | 4992 | 3328 | none | 23.3 | 11.3 | 1480 | 74 | |
8. | Canon 1Ds Mark III | Full Frame | 21.0 | 5616 | 3744 | none | 24.0 | 12.0 | 1663 | 80 | |
9. | Canon 5D | Full Frame | 12.7 | 4368 | 2912 | none | 22.9 | 11.1 | 1368 | 71 | |
10. | Canon 5D Mark II | Full Frame | 21.0 | 5616 | 3744 | 1080/30p | 23.7 | 11.9 | 1815 | 79 | |
11. | Canon 5D Mark IV | Full Frame | 30.1 | 6720 | 4480 | 4K/30p | 24.8 | 13.6 | 2995 | 91 | |
12. | Canon 5DS | Full Frame | 50.3 | 8688 | 5792 | 1080/30p | 24.7 | 12.4 | 2381 | 87 | |
13. | Canon 80D | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 23.6 | 13.2 | 1135 | 79 | |
14. | Leica M Typ 240 | Full Frame | 23.7 | 5952 | 3976 | 1080/25p | 24.0 | 13.3 | 1860 | 84 | |
15. | Leica SL2 | Full Frame | 46.7 | 8368 | 5584 | 4K/60p | 25.3 | 14.3 | 2866 | 95 | |
16. | Leica SL2-S | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/60p | 25.2 | 14.1 | 3504 | 95 | |
17. | Nikon D750 | Full Frame | 24.2 | 6016 | 4016 | 1080/60p | 24.8 | 14.5 | 2956 | 93 | |
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 also of capturing video footage. The Leica SL indeed provides for movie recording, while the 1D Mark II N does not. The highest resolution format that the Leica SL can use is 4K/30p.
Feature comparison
Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the Leica SL has an electronic viewfinder (4400k dots), while the 1D Mark II N has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (100%), but the viewfinder of the Leica SL has a higher magnification than the one of the 1D Mark II N (0.80x 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 N and Leica SL in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.
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 N | optical | Y | 2.5 / 230 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 8.5/s | n | n | |
2. | Leica SL | 4400 | Y | 3.0 / 1040 | fixed | Y | 1/8000s | 11.0/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 | optical | Y | 2.0 / 230 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 8.3/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 Mark II | optical | Y | 2.0 / 230 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 4.0/s | n | n | |
8. | Canon 1Ds Mark III | optical | Y | 3.0 / 230 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 5.0/s | n | n | |
9. | Canon 5D | optical | Y | 2.5 / 230 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 3.0/s | n | n | |
10. | Canon 5D Mark II | optical | Y | 3.0 / 920 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 3.9/s | n | n | |
11. | Canon 5D Mark IV | optical | Y | 3.2 / 1620 | fixed | Y | 1/8000s | 7.0/s | n | n | |
12. | Canon 5DS | optical | Y | 3.2 / 1040 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 5.0/s | n | n | |
13. | Canon 80D | optical | Y | 3.0 / 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/8000s | 7.0/s | Y | n | |
14. | Leica M Typ 240 | optical | n | 3.0 / 920 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 3.0/s | n | n | |
15. | Leica SL2 | 5760 | Y | 3.2 / 2100 | fixed | Y | 1/8000s | 10.0/s | n | Y | |
16. | Leica SL2-S | 5760 | Y | 3.2 / 2100 | fixed | Y | 1/8000s | 20.0/s | n | Y | |
17. | Nikon D750 | optical | Y | 3.2 / 1229 | tilting | n | 1/4000s | 6.0/s | Y | n | |
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one. |
One differentiating feature between the two cameras concerns the touch sensitivity of the rear screen. The Leica SL has a touchscreen, while the 1D Mark II N has a conventional panel. Touch control can be particularly helpful, for example, for setting the focus point.
The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the Leica SL is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).
The Leica SL has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.
The 1D Mark II N writes its imaging data to Compact Flash or SD cards, while the Leica SL uses SDXC cards. Both cameras feature dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. The Leica SL supports UHS-II cards on its first slot and UHS-I on its second one, while the 1D Mark II N 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 N and Leica SL (Typ 601) and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.
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 N | Y | - / - | - | - | - | 1.1 | - | - | - | |
2. | Leica SL | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | full | 3.0 | Y | - | - | |
3. | Canon 1D | Y | - / - | - | - | - | FW | - | - | - | |
4. | Canon 1D Mark II | 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 Mark II | Y | - / - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
8. | Canon 1Ds Mark III | Y | mono / - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
9. | Canon 5D | Y | - / - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
10. | Canon 5D Mark II | Y | mono / mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
11. | Canon 5D Mark IV | Y | mono / mono | Y | Y | mini | 3.0 | Y | Y | - | |
12. | Canon 5DS | Y | mono / mono | Y | - | mini | 3.0 | - | - | - | |
13. | Canon 80D | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | mini | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
14. | Leica M Typ 240 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
15. | Leica SL2 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | full | 3.1 | Y | - | Y | |
16. | Leica SL2-S | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | full | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
17. | Nikon D750 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | mini | 2.0 | Y | - | - |
It is notable that the Leica SL 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 N 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 Leica SL has an internal geolocalization sensor and can record GPS coordinates in its EXIF data.
Both the 1D Mark II N and the Leica SL have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The 1D Mark II N was replaced by the Canon 1D Mark III, while the Leica SL was followed by the Leica SL2. Further information on the features and operation of the 1D Mark II N and Leica SL can be found, respectively, in the Canon 1D Mark II N Manual (free pdf) or the online Leica SL Manual.
Review summary
So what is the bottom line? Which of the two cameras – the Canon 1D Mark II N or the Leica SL – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.
Advantages of the Canon EOS-1D Mark II N:
- Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
- Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
- More portrait friendly: Features an integrated vertical grip for easier portrait shooting.
- Longer lasting: Can take more shots (1200 versus 400) on a single battery charge.
- More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (46 percent cheaper at launch).
- More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in August 2005).
Reasons to prefer the Leica SL (Typ 601):
- More detail: Has more megapixels (24 vs 8.2MP), which boosts linear resolution by 71%.
- Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
- Better image quality: Scores substantially higher (22 points) in the DXO overall evaluation.
- Richer colors: Generates noticeably more natural colors (2.7 bits more color depth).
- More dynamic range: Captures a broader range of light and dark details (2.2 EV of extra DR).
- Better low-light sensitivity: Can shoot in dim conditions (0.9 stops ISO advantage).
- Broader imaging potential: Can capture not only stills but also 4K/30p video.
- More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
- Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.80x vs 0.55x).
- Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.0" vs 2.5") for image review and settings control.
- More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1040k vs 230k dots).
- Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
- Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (11 vs 8.5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
- Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
- Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
- More compact: Is smaller (147x104mm vs 156x158mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
- Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 718g or 46 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
- More legacy lens friendly: Can use many non-native lenses via adapters.
- 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: Supports Ultra High Speed (UHS-II and UHS-I) SDXC cards.
- More prestigious: Has the Leica luxury appeal, which ensures a high resale value.
- More modern: Reflects 10 years and 2 months of technical progress since the 1D Mark II N launch.
If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the Leica SL is the clear winner of the contest (24 : 6 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape 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 N and the Leica SL place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings 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 remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the 1D Mark II N or the Leica SL. 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 expert reviews are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera 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.
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 N | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | Aug 2005 | US$ 3 999 | ebay.com | |
2. | Leica SL | 4/5 | .. | 4/5 | 84/100 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Oct 2015 | US$ 7 449 | ebay.com | |
3. | Canon 1D | .. | .. | .. | + + | .. | .. | Sep 2001 | US$ 6 499 | ebay.com | |
4. | Canon 1D Mark II | .. | .. | .. | + + | .. | .. | Jan 2004 | US$ 4 499 | ebay.com | |
5. | Canon 1D Mark III | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | Feb 2007 | US$ 4 499 | ebay.com | |
6. | Canon 1D Mark IV | 5/5 | .. | .. | 89/100 | .. | .. | Oct 2009 | US$ 4 999 | ebay.com | |
7. | Canon 1Ds Mark II | .. | .. | .. | + + | .. | .. | Sep 2004 | US$ 7 999 | ebay.com | |
8. | Canon 1Ds Mark III | .. | .. | .. | + + | 4.5/5 | .. | Aug 2007 | US$ 7 999 | ebay.com | |
9. | Canon 5D | .. | 88/100 | .. | + + | o | .. | Aug 2005 | US$ 3 299 | ebay.com | |
10. | Canon 5D Mark II | 4/5 | 91/100 | .. | 79/100 | 4/5 | .. | Sep 2008 | US$ 3 499 | ebay.com | |
11. | Canon 5D Mark IV | 4.5/5 | + + | 4/5 | 87/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Aug 2016 | US$ 3 499 | amazon.com | |
12. | Canon 5DS | .. | + | .. | 83/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Feb 2015 | US$ 3 699 | ebay.com | |
13. | Canon 80D | 4/5 | + + | 4.5/5 | 84/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Feb 2016 | US$ 1 199 | ebay.com | |
14. | Leica M Typ 240 | 4/5 | .. | .. | .. | 4/5 | .. | Sep 2012 | US$ 6 949 | ebay.com | |
15. | Leica SL2 | 4/5 | .. | 4.5/5 | .. | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Nov 2019 | US$ 5 999 | amazon.com | |
16. | Leica SL2-S | 4/5 | .. | 4/5 | .. | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Dec 2020 | US$ 4 899 | amazon.com | |
17. | Nikon D750 | 5/5 | + + | 4/5 | 90/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Sep 2014 | US$ 2 299 | 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. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.
Other camera comparisons
Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.
- Canon 1D Mark II N vs Canon R5
- Canon 1D Mark II N vs Fujifilm X-S10
- Canon 1D Mark II N vs Fujifilm XQ1
- Canon 1D Mark II N vs Olympus E-M1 II
- Canon 1D Mark II N vs Olympus XZ-2
- Canon 1D Mark II N vs Sony HX95
- Canon 650D vs Leica SL
- Fujifilm X-A2 vs Leica SL
- Fujifilm X-T1 vs Leica SL
- Leica Q3 vs Leica SL
- Leica SL vs Olympus E-450
- Leica SL vs Panasonic LF1
Specifications: Canon 1D Mark II N vs Leica SL
Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.
Camera Model | Canon 1D Mark II N | Leica SL |
---|---|---|
Camera Type | Digital single lens reflex | Mirrorless system camera |
Camera Lens | Canon EF mount lenses | Leica L mount lenses |
Launch Date | August 2005 | October 2015 |
Launch Price | USD 3,999 | USD 7,449 |
Sensor Specs | Canon 1D Mark II N | Leica SL |
Sensor Technology | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor Format | APS-H Sensor | Full Frame Sensor |
Sensor Size | 28.7 x 19.1 mm | 36.0 x 24.0 mm |
Sensor Area | 548.17 mm2 | 864 mm2 |
Sensor Diagonal | 34.5 mm | 43.3 mm |
Crop Factor | 1.3x | 1.0x |
Sensor Resolution | 8.2 Megapixels | 24 Megapixels |
Image Resolution | 3504 x 2336 pixels | 6000 x 4000 pixels |
Pixel Pitch | 8.17 μm | 6.00 μm |
Pixel Density | 1.49 MP/cm2 | 2.78 MP/cm2 |
Moiré control | Anti-Alias filter | no AA filter |
Movie Capability | no Video | 4K/30p Video |
ISO Setting | 100 - 1,600 ISO | 50 - 50,000 ISO |
ISO Boost | 50 - 3,200 ISO | no Enhancement |
Image Processor | DIGIC II | Maestro II |
DXO Sensor Quality (score) | 66 | 88 |
DXO Color Depth (bits) | 22.3 | 25.0 |
DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 11.2 | 13.4 |
DXO Low Light (ISO) | 975 | 1821 |
Screen Specs | Canon 1D Mark II N | Leica SL |
Viewfinder Type | Optical viewfinder | Electronic viewfinder |
Viewfinder Field of View | 100% | 100% |
Viewfinder Magnification | 0.55x | 0.80x |
Viewfinder Resolution | 4400k dots | |
Top-Level Screen | Control Panel | Control Panel |
LCD Framing | Live View | |
Rear LCD Size | 2.5inch | 3.0inch |
LCD Resolution | 230k dots | 1040k dots |
LCD Attachment | Fixed screen | Fixed screen |
Touch Input | no Touchscreen | Touchscreen |
Shooting Specs | Canon 1D Mark II N | Leica SL |
Focus System | Phase-detect AF | Contrast-detect AF |
Manual Focusing Aid | no Peaking Feature | Focus Peaking |
Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) | 1/8000s | 1/8000s |
Continuous Shooting | 8.5 shutter flaps/s | 11 shutter flaps/s |
Electronic Shutter | no E-Shutter | up to 1/16000s |
Time-Lapse Photography | no Intervalometer | Intervalometer built-in |
Fill Flash | no On-Board Flash | no On-Board Flash |
Storage Medium | CF or SD cards | SDXC cards |
Single or Dual Card Slots | Dual card slots | Dual card slots |
UHS card support | no | Single UHS-II |
Connectivity Specs | Canon 1D Mark II N | Leica SL |
External Flash | Hotshoe | Hotshoe |
Studio Flash | PC Sync socket | PC Sync socket |
USB Connector | USB 1.1 | USB 3.0 |
HDMI Port | no HDMI | full HDMI |
Microphone Port | no MIC socket | External MIC port |
Headphone Socket | no Headphone port | Headphone port |
Wifi Support | no Wifi | Wifi built-in |
Geotagging | no internal GPS | GPS built-in |
Body Specs | Canon 1D Mark II N | Leica SL |
Environmental Sealing | Weathersealed body | Weathersealed body |
Battery Type | Canon NP-E3 | Leica BP-SCL4 |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 1200 shots per charge | 400 shots per charge |
Body Dimensions |
156 x 158 x 80 mm (6.1 x 6.2 x 3.1 in) |
147 x 104 x 39 mm (5.8 x 4.1 x 1.5 in) |
Camera Weight | 1565 g (55.2 oz) | 847 g (29.9 oz) |
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