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Canon D60 vs Leica S2

The Canon EOS-D60 and the Leica S2 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in February 2002 and September 2008. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are based on an APS-C (D60) and a medium format (S2) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 6.3 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 D60
versus
Leica S2
Canon D60   Leica S2
Digital single lens reflex Digital single lens reflex
Canon EF mount lenses Leica S mount lenses
6.3 MP – APS-C sensor 37.5 MP – Medium Format sensor
no Video no Video
ISO 100-1,000 ISO 80-1,250
Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
1.8" LCD – 114k dots 3.0" LCD – 460k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
3 shutter flaps per second 1.5 shutter flaps per second
not weather sealedWeathersealed body
150 x 107 x 75 mm, 855 g 160 x 120 x 80 mm, 1410 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS-D60 and the Leica S2? 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.

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Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Canon D60 and the Leica S2. 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 width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Canon D60 vs Leica S2
Compare D60 versus S2 top
Comparison D60 or S2 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Leica S2 is notably larger (20 percent) than the Canon D60. Moreover, the S2 is substantially heavier (65 percent) than the D60. It is noteworthy in this context that the S2 is splash and dust-proof, while the D60 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

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 D60 gets 620 shots out of its Canon BP-511 battery, while the S2 can take .. images on a single charge of its Leica BP-PRO1 power pack.

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.

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Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon D60 150 mm 107 mm 75 mm 855 g 620 n Feb 2002 2,999ebay.com
2.
 
Leica S2 160 mm 120 mm 80 mm 1410 g .. Y Sep 2008 22,995ebay.com
3.
 
Canon T7 129 mm 101 mm 78 mm 475 g 500 n Feb 2018 449 amazon.com
4.
 
Canon XC10 125 mm 102 mm 122 mm 1040 g 370 n Apr 2015 2,499ebay.com
5.
 
Canon 40D 146 mm 108 mm 74 mm 822 g 750 n Aug 2007 1,299ebay.com
6.
 
Canon 30D 144 mm 106 mm 74 mm 785 g 750 n Feb 2006 1,399ebay.com
7.
 
Canon 20D 144 mm 106 mm 72 mm 770 g 700 n Aug 2004 1,499ebay.com
8.
 
Canon 10D 150 mm 107 mm 75 mm 850 g 500 n Feb 2003 1,999ebay.com
9.
 
Canon Rebel 142 mm 99 mm 72 mm 649 g 400 n Aug 2003 899ebay.com
10.
 
Canon D30 150 mm 107 mm 75 mm 750 g 540 n May 2000 2,999ebay.com
11.
 
Contax N Digital 152 mm 138 mm 80 mm 990 g 100 n Feb 2002 7,399ebay.com
12.
 
Leica S3 160 mm 120 mm 80 mm 1260 g .. Y Sep 2018 18,995ebay.com
13.
 
Leica S-E Typ 006 160 mm 120 mm 80 mm 1260 g .. Y Sep 2014 16,900ebay.com
14.
 
Leica S Typ 007 160 mm 120 mm 80 mm 1260 g .. Y Sep 2014 24,490ebay.com
15.
 
Leica S Typ 006 160 mm 120 mm 80 mm 1260 g .. Y Sep 2012 21,950ebay.com
16.
 
Leica S1 339 mm 214 mm 119 mm 2500 g .. n Aug 1996 21,490ebay.com
17.
 
Nikon D100 144 mm 116 mm 81 mm 780 g 370 n Feb 2002 1,999ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
padding

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The D60 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 87 percent) than the S2, 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.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants 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. 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 tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon D60 features an APS-C sensor and the Leica S2 a medium format sensor. The sensor area in the S2 is 294 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.6 and 0.8. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Canon D60 and Leica S2 sensor measures

With 37.5MP, the S2 offers a higher resolution than the D60 (6.3MP), but the S2 has smaller individual pixels (pixel pitch of 6.00μm versus 7.38μm for the D60). Yet, the S2 is a much more recent model (by 6 years and 7 months) than the D60, 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 S2 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Leica S2 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the S2 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 D60 are 15.4 x 10.2 inches or 39 x 26 cm for good quality, 12.3 x 8.2 inches or 31.2 x 20.8 cm for very good quality, and 10.2 x 6.8 inches or 26 x 17.3 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon EOS-D60 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 1000. The corresponding ISO settings for the Leica S2 are ISO 80 to ISO 1250 (no boost).

In terms of underlying technology, the D60 is build around a CMOS sensor, while the S2 uses a CCD imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

D60 versus S2 MP

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. 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 adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Canon D60 APS-C 6.3 3072 2048none20.39.830147
2.
 
Leica S2 Medium Format 37.5 7500 5000none23.912.5222482
3.
 
Canon T7 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p23.813.3168481
4.
 
Canon XC10 1-inch 12.0 4000 30004K/30p21.711.819761
5.
 
Canon 40D APS-C 10.1 3888 2592none22.111.370364
6.
 
Canon 30D APS-C 8.2 3504 2336none21.510.873659
7.
 
Canon 20D APS-C 8.2 3504 2336none21.911.072162
8.
 
Canon 10D APS-C 6.3 3072 2048none21.110.957157
9.
 
Canon Rebel APS-C 6.3 3072 2048none21.010.854455
10.
 
Canon D30 APS-C 3.1 2160 1440none........
11.
 
Contax N Digital Full Frame 6.1 3040 2008none21.510.5128359
12.
 
Leica S3 Medium Format 64.0 9800 65334K/24p25.614.4314398
13.
 
Leica S-E Typ 006 Medium Format 37.5 7500 5000none25.113.7276393
14.
 
Leica S Typ 007 Medium Format 37.5 7500 50004K/24p25.113.7276393
15.
 
Leica S Typ 006 Medium Format 37.5 7500 5000none23.912.282476
16.
 
Leica S1 Medium Format 26.4 5140 5140none........
17.
 
Nikon D100 APS-C 6.0 3008 2000none20.49.939448
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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Neither the D60 nor the S2 offer Live View, so that they cannot project the live image that the sensor receives onto the rear screen. Moreover, both cameras are still-image focused and cannot record videos.
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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The D60 and the S2 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 S2 offers a wider field of view (96%) than the one in the D60 (95%), so that a larger proportion of the captured image is visible in the finder. In addition, the viewfinder of the S2 has a higher magnification (0.86x vs 0.54x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Canon D60 and Leica S2 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

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Core Features
# image 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 D60optical Y1.8 / 114 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
2.
 
Leica S2optical Y3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 1.5/s n n
3.
 
Canon T7optical n3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
4.
 
Canon XC10none n3.0 / 1030 tilting Y 1/2000s 3.8/s n Y
5.
 
Canon 40Doptical Y3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/8000s 6.5/s Y n
6.
 
Canon 30Doptical Y2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/8000s 5.0/s Y n
7.
 
Canon 20Doptical Y1.8 / 118 fixed n 1/8000s 5.0/s Y n
8.
 
Canon 10Doptical Y1.8 / 118 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
9.
 
Canon Rebeloptical n1.8 / 118 fixed n 1/4000s 2.5/s Y n
10.
 
Canon D30optical Y1.8 / 114 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
11.
 
Contax N Digitaloptical Y2.0 / 200 fixed n 1/8000s 4.0/s n n
12.
 
Leica S3optical Y3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s n n
13.
 
Leica S-E Typ 006optical Y3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/4000s 1.5/s n n
14.
 
Leica S Typ 007optical Y3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/4000s 3.5/s n n
15.
 
Leica S Typ 006optical Y3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/4000s 1.5/s n n
16.
 
Leica S1optical nnone / none none n .. 0.01/s n n
17.
 
Nikon D100optical Y1.8 / 118 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
padding

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The D60 has one, while the S2 does not. While the built-in flash of the D60 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The D60 writes its imaging data to Compact Flash cards, while the S2 uses Compact Flash or SDHC cards. The S2 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the D60 only has one slot.

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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-D60 and Leica S2 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Canon D60Y- / ----1.1---
2.
 
Leica S2Y- / ---mini2.0---
3.
 
Canon T7Ymono / mono--mini2.0YY-
4.
 
Canon XC10Ystereo / monoYYmini2.0YY-
5.
 
Canon 40DY- / ----2.0---
6.
 
Canon 30DY- / ----2.0---
7.
 
Canon 20DY- / ----1.1---
8.
 
Canon 10DY- / ----1.1---
9.
 
Canon RebelY- / ----1.1---
10.
 
Canon D30Y- / ----1.0---
11.
 
Contax N DigitalY- / ----FW---
12.
 
Leica S3Ystereo / monoYYmini3.0Y--
13.
 
Leica S-E Typ 006Y- / ---mini2.0---
14.
 
Leica S Typ 007Ystereo / monoYYmini3.0Y--
15.
 
Leica S Typ 006Y- / ---mini2.0---
16.
 
Leica S1-- / --------
17.
 
Nikon D100Y- / ----1.1---
padding

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

Both the D60 and the S2 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The D60 was replaced by the Canon 10D, while the S2 was followed by the Leica S Typ 006. Further information on the features and operation of the D60 and S2 can be found, respectively, in the Canon D60 Manual (free pdf) or the online Leica S2 Manual.

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Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Canon D60 better than the Leica S2 or vice versa? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

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Arguments in favor of the Canon EOS-D60:

  • Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (3 vs 1.5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • More compact: Is smaller (150x107mm vs 160x120mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • Less heavy: Is lighter (by 555g or 39 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
  • Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (87 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in February 2002).

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Advantages of the Leica S2:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (37.5 vs 6.3MP), which boosts linear resolution by 144%.
  • 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.
  • More complete view: Has a viewfinder with a larger field of view (96% vs 95%).
  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.86x vs 0.54x).
  • Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.0" vs 1.8") for image review and settings control.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (460k vs 114k dots).
  • Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
  • Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (2.0 vs 1.1).
  • Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
  • More prestigious: Has the Leica luxury appeal, which ensures a high resale value.
  • More modern: Reflects 6 years and 7 months of technical progress since the D60 launch.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the S2 is the clear winner of the contest (15 : 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 wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

D60 07:15 S2

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon D60 and the Leica S2 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 partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the D60 or the S2. 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 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.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon D60......+ +o.. Feb 2002 2,999ebay.com
2.
 
Leica S2............ Sep 2008 22,995ebay.com
3.
 
Canon T7..o3.5/5..3.5/53.5/5 Feb 2018 449 amazon.com
4.
 
Canon XC10......80/100.... Apr 2015 2,499ebay.com
5.
 
Canon 40D..+ +..+ +4.5/54.5/5 Aug 2007 1,299ebay.com
6.
 
Canon 30D..+ +..+ +o.. Feb 2006 1,399ebay.com
7.
 
Canon 20D......+ +.... Aug 2004 1,499ebay.com
8.
 
Canon 10D......+ +.... Feb 2003 1,999ebay.com
9.
 
Canon Rebel......+ +.... Aug 2003 899ebay.com
10.
 
Canon D30......+ +.... May 2000 2,999ebay.com
11.
 
Contax N Digital............ Feb 2002 7,399ebay.com
12.
 
Leica S3............ Sep 2018 18,995ebay.com
13.
 
Leica S-E Typ 006............ Sep 2014 16,900ebay.com
14.
 
Leica S Typ 0074/5.......... Sep 2014 24,490ebay.com
15.
 
Leica S Typ 006............ Sep 2012 21,950ebay.com
16.
 
Leica S1............ Aug 1996 21,490ebay.com
17.
 
Nikon D100......+ +o.. Feb 2002 1,999ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
padding

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. 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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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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    Specifications: Canon D60 vs Leica S2

    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 Specifications
    Camera Model Canon D60 Leica S2
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Digital single lens reflex
    Camera Lens Canon EF mount lenses Leica S mount lenses
    Launch Date February 2002 September 2008
    Launch Price USD 2,999 USD 22,995
    Sensor Specs Canon D60 Leica S2
    Sensor Technology CMOS CCD
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor Medium Format Sensor
    Sensor Size 22.7 x 15.1 mm 45.0 x 30.0 mm
    Sensor Area 342.77 mm2 1350 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 27.3 mm 54.1 mm
    Crop Factor 1.6x 0.8x
    Sensor Resolution 6.3 Megapixels 37.5 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 3072 x 2048 pixels 7500 x 5000 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 7.38 μm 6.00 μm
    Pixel Density 1.84 MP/cm2 2.78 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter no AA filter
    Movie Capability no Video no Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 1,000 ISO 80 - 1,250 ISO
    Screen Specs Canon D60 Leica S2
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 95% 96%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.54x 0.86x
    Top-Level Screen Control Panel Control Panel
    Rear LCD Size 1.8inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 114k dots 460k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen Fixed screen
    Shooting Specs Canon D60 Leica S2
    Focus System Phase-detect AF Phase-detect AF
    Continuous Shooting 3 shutter flaps/s 1.5 shutter flaps/s
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium CF cards CF or SDHC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Dual card slots
    Connectivity Specs Canon D60 Leica S2
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    Studio Flash PC Sync socket PC Sync socket
    USB Connector USB 1.1 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port no HDMI mini HDMI
    Wifi Support no Wifi no Wifi
    Body Specs Canon D60 Leica S2
    Environmental Sealingnot weather sealedWeathersealed body
    Battery Type Canon BP-511 Leica BP-PRO1
    Body Dimensions 150 x 107 x 75 mm
    (5.9 x 4.2 x 3.0 in)
    160 x 120 x 80 mm
    (6.3 x 4.7 x 3.1 in)
    Camera Weight 855 g (30.2 oz) 1410 g (49.7 oz)
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