Canon R6 Mark II vs Leica CL

The Canon EOS R6 Mark II and the Leica CL (Typ 7323) are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in November 2022 and November 2017. Both the R6 Mark II and the CL are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are based on a full frame (R6 Mark II) and an APS-C (CL) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 24 megapixels, whereas the Leica 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

Canon R6 Mark II		Leica CL
Mirrorless system camera		Mirrorless system camera
Canon RF mount lenses		Leica T mount lenses
24 MP – Full Frame sensor		24.1 MP – APS-C sensor
4k/60p Video		4K/30p Video
ISO 100-102,400 (100 - 204,800)		ISO 100-50,000
Electronic viewfinder (3690k dots)		Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots)
3.0" LCD – 1620k dots		3.0" LCD – 1040k dots
Swivel touchscreen		Fixed touchscreen
12 shutter flaps per second		10 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilization		Lens stabilization only
Weathersealed body		not weather sealed
450 shots per battery charge		220 shots per battery charge
138 x 98 x 88 mm, 670 g		131 x 78 x 45 mm, 403 g

Check R6 Mark II price at
amazon.com
Check CL offers at
ebay.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS R6 Mark II and the Leica CL (Typ 7323)? 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 Canon R6 Mark II and the Leica CL. 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.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Leica CL is notably smaller (24 percent) than the Canon R6 Mark II. Moreover, the CL is substantially lighter (40 percent) than the R6 Mark II. It is worth mentioning in this context that the R6 Mark II is splash and dust resistant, while the CL 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 R6 Mark II gets 450 shots out of its Canon LP-E6NH battery, while the CL can take 220 images on a single charge of its Leica BP-DC12 power pack. The power pack in the R6 Mark II can be charged via the USB port, so that it is not always necessary to take the battery charger along 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.		Canon R6 Mark II	138 mm	98 mm	88 mm	670 g	450	Y	Nov 2022	EUR 2 899	amazon.com
2.		Leica CL	131 mm	78 mm	45 mm	403 g	220	n	Nov 2017	EUR 2 490	ebay.com
3.		Canon M6	112 mm	68 mm	45 mm	390 g	295	n	Feb 2017	EUR 799	ebay.com
4.		Canon R3	150 mm	143 mm	87 mm	1015 g	760	Y	Sep 2021	EUR 5 999	amazon.com
5.		Canon R5	138 mm	98 mm	88 mm	738 g	320	Y	Jul 2020	EUR 4 499	amazon.com
6.		Canon R5 C	142 mm	101 mm	111 mm	770 g	320	Y	Jan 2022	EUR 4 999	amazon.com
7.		Canon R6	138 mm	98 mm	88 mm	680 g	360	Y	Jul 2020	EUR 2 699	amazon.com
8.		Canon R7	132 mm	90 mm	92 mm	612 g	660	Y	May 2022	EUR 1 499	amazon.com
9.		Fujifilm X-H2S	136 mm	93 mm	85 mm	660 g	580	Y	May 2022	EUR 2 749	amazon.com
10.		Fujifilm X100F	127 mm	75 mm	52 mm	469 g	390	n	Jan 2017	EUR 1 399	ebay.com
11.		Leica C-LUX	113 mm	67 mm	46 mm	340 g	370	n	Jun 2018	EUR 970	ebay.com
12.		Leica TL	134 mm	69 mm	33 mm	384 g	400	n	Nov 2016	EUR 1 649	ebay.com
13.		Leica TL2	134 mm	69 mm	33 mm	399 g	250	n	Jul 2017	EUR 1 949	ebay.com
14.		OM System OM-1	135 mm	92 mm	73 mm	599 g	520	Y	Feb 2022	EUR 2 199	ebay.com
15.		Panasonic GH5 II	139 mm	98 mm	87 mm	727 g	400	Y	May 2021	EUR 1 699	amazon.com
16.		Panasonic GH6	138 mm	100 mm	100 mm	823 g	360	Y	Feb 2022	EUR 2 799	amazon.com
17.		Sony A7 IV	131 mm	96 mm	80 mm	659 g	580	Y	Oct 2021	EUR 2 799	amazon.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 obviously take relative prices into account. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The R6 Mark II was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 11 percent) than the CL, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. 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 size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant 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 associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon R6 Mark II features a full frame sensor and the Leica CL an APS-C sensor. The sensor area in the CL is 57 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.0 and 1.5. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Despite having a smaller sensor, the CL offers a slightly higher resolution of 24.1 megapixels, compared with 24 MP of the R6 Mark II. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 3.92μm versus 5.98μm for the R6 Mark II). Moreover, it should be noted that the R6 Mark II is much more recent (by 4 years and 11 months) than the CL, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixels. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the CL has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The R6 Mark II has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Canon EOS R6 Mark II has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 102400, which can be extended to ISO 100-204800. The corresponding ISO settings for the Leica CL (Typ 7323) 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.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). 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.		Canon R6 Mark II	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	4k/60p	25.4	14.6	3154	96
2.		Leica CL	APS-C	24.1	6014	4014	4K/30p	24.0	13.3	1788	82
3.		Canon M6	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.4	12.6	1317	78
4.		Canon R3	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	6K/60p	25.0	14.7	4086	96
5.		Canon R5	Full Frame	44.8	8192	5464	8K/30p	25.3	14.6	3042	95
6.		Canon R5 C	Full Frame	44.8	8192	5464	8k/60p	25.4	14.5	3082	96
7.		Canon R6	Full Frame	20.0	5472	3648	4k/60p	24.2	14.3	3394	90
8.		Canon R7	APS-C	32.3	6960	4640	4k/60p	24.1	13.8	2092	84
9.		Fujifilm X-H2S	APS-C	26.0	6240	4160	6.2k/30p	24.3	13.9	2224	86
10.		Fujifilm X100F	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.9	13.2	1704	81
11.		Leica C-LUX	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.1	12.3	481	64
12.		Leica TL	APS-C	16.1	4928	3264	1080/30p	23.9	13.2	1690	81
13.		Leica TL2	APS-C	24.1	6014	4014	4K/30p	23.9	13.3	1753	82
14.		OM System OM-1	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/60p	23.4	13.4	1553	77
15.		Panasonic GH5 II	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/60p	23.7	13.1	1136	79
16.		Panasonic GH6	Four Thirds	25.0	5776	4336	5.7K/60p	23.4	13.4	1555	77
17.		Sony A7 IV	Full Frame	32.7	7008	4672	4K/60p	25.4	14.7	3379	97
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the R6 Mark II provides a higher frame rate than the CL. It can shoot video footage at 4k/60p, while the Leica is limited to 4K/30p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The two cameras under consideration are similar with respect to both having an electronic viewfinder. However, the one in the R6 Mark II offers a substantially higher resolution than the one in the CL (3690k vs 2360k dots). The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Canon R6 Mark II, the Leica CL, and comparable 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 R6 Mark II	3690	n	3.0 / 1620	swivel	Y	1/8000s	12.0/s	n	Y
2.		Leica CL	2360	Y	3.0 / 1040	fixed	Y	1/8000s	10.0/s	n	n
3.		Canon M6	optional	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	9.0/s	Y	n
4.		Canon R3	5760	Y	3.2 / 4150	swivel	Y	1/8000s	12.0/s	n	Y
5.		Canon R5	5760	Y	3.2 / 2100	swivel	Y	1/8000s	12.0/s	n	Y
6.		Canon R5 C	5760	Y	3.2 / 2100	swivel	Y	1/8000s	12.0/s	n	n
7.		Canon R6	3690	n	3.0 / 1620	swivel	Y	1/8000s	12.0/s	n	Y
8.		Canon R7	2360	n	3.0 / 1620	swivel	Y	1/8000s	15.0/s	n	Y
9.		Fujifilm X-H2S	5760	Y	3.0 / 1620	swivel	Y	1/8000s	15.0/s	n	Y
10.		Fujifilm X100F	2360	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	n	1/4000s	8.0/s	Y	n
11.		Leica C-LUX	2330	n	3.0 / 1240	fixed	Y	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
12.		Leica TL	optional	n	3.7 / 1230	fixed	Y	1/4000s	5.0/s	Y	n
13.		Leica TL2	optional	n	3.7 / 1230	fixed	Y	1/4000s	7.0/s	n	n
14.		OM System OM-1	5760	n	3.0 / 1640	swivel	Y	1/8000s	10.0/s	n	Y
15.		Panasonic GH5 II	3680	n	3.0 / 1840	swivel	Y	1/8000s	12.0/s	n	Y
16.		Panasonic GH6	3680	n	3.0 / 1840	full-flex	Y	1/8000s	14.0/s	n	Y
17.		Sony A7 IV	3686	n	3.0 / 1037	swivel	Y	1/8000s	10.0/s	n	Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One feature that differentiates the R6 Mark II and the CL is in-body image stabilization (IBIS). The R6 Mark II reduces the risk of handshake-induced blur with all attached lenses, while the CL offers no blur reduction with lenses that themselves do not provide optical image stabilization.

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, both cameras under consideration feature an 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 Canon R6 Mark II and the Leica CL both have 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.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the R6 Mark II and the CL write their files to SDXC cards. The R6 Mark II features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the CL only has one slot. Both cameras support UHS-II cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 312 MB/s.

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 R6 Mark II and Leica CL (Typ 7323) 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 R6 Mark II	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
2.		Leica CL	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-
3.		Canon M6	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	Y
4.		Canon R3	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
5.		Canon R5	Y	mono / mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
6.		Canon R5 C	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
7.		Canon R6	Y	mono / mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
8.		Canon R7	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
9.		Fujifilm X-H2S	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	full	3.0	Y	-	Y
10.		Fujifilm X100F	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
11.		Leica C-LUX	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
12.		Leica TL	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
13.		Leica TL2	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	3.0	Y	-	-
14.		OM System OM-1	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	3.0	Y	-	Y
15.		Panasonic GH5 II	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	full	3.2	Y	-	Y
16.		Panasonic GH6	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	full	3.2	Y	-	Y
17.		Sony A7 IV	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	full	3.2	Y	-	Y

It is notable that the R6 Mark II has a microphone port, which is missing on the CL. Such an external microphone input can help to substantially improve the quality of audio recordings when a good external microphone is used.

The R6 Mark II is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Canon. In contrast, the CL has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). There has not been a direct replacement model for the CL from Leica. Further information on the features and operation of the R6 Mark II and CL can be found, respectively, in the Canon R6 Mark II Manual (free pdf) or the online Leica CL Manual.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Canon R6 Mark II and the Leica CL? Which camera is better? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Arguments in favor of the Canon EOS R6 Mark II:

• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• Better image quality: Features a larger and more technologically advanced imaging 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.
• Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (4k/60p versus 4K/30p).
• Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
• Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
• Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
• More detailed viewfinder: Has higher resolution electronic viewfinder (3690k vs 2360k dots).
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.76x vs 0.49x).
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1620k vs 1040k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (12 vs 10 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (450 versus 220) on a single battery charge.
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• Better sealing: Is weather sealed to enable shooting in dusty or wet environments.
• Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization built-in.
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced segment (11 percent cheaper at launch).
• More modern: Reflects 4 years and 11 months of technical progress since the CL launch.

Reasons to prefer the Leica CL (Typ 7323):

• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• Easier setting verification: Features a control panel on top to check shooting parameters.
• More compact: Is smaller (131x78mm vs 138x98mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 267g or 40 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
• More prestigious: Has the Leica luxury appeal, which ensures a high resale value.
• More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in November 2017).

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the R6 Mark II is the clear winner of the match-up (23 : 6 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.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon R6 Mark II and the Leica CL 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 specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the R6 Mark II or the CL 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 why expert reviews are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular 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.

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 R6 Mark II	5/5	+ +	4.5/5	91/100	4.5/5	5/5	Nov 2022	EUR 2 899	amazon.com
2.		Leica CL	..	..	4.2/5	..	..	4/5	Nov 2017	EUR 2 490	ebay.com
3.		Canon M6	..	..	..	80/100	4/5	4/5	Feb 2017	EUR 799	ebay.com
4.		Canon R3	5/5	o	4.5/5	..	5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2021	EUR 5 999	amazon.com
5.		Canon R5	4.5/5	+	4/5	91/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jul 2020	EUR 4 499	amazon.com
6.		Canon R5 C	..	+ +	..	..	..	..	Jan 2022	EUR 4 999	amazon.com
7.		Canon R6	5/5	+ +	4/5	90/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jul 2020	EUR 2 699	amazon.com
8.		Canon R7	4.5/5	+	5/5	87/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	May 2022	EUR 1 499	amazon.com
9.		Fujifilm X-H2S	5/5	+	5/5	90/100	5/5	5/5	May 2022	EUR 2 749	amazon.com
10.		Fujifilm X100F	5/5	+	3.9/5	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2017	EUR 1 399	ebay.com
11.		Leica C-LUX	..	..	3.5/5	..	4.5/5	4/5	Jun 2018	EUR 970	ebay.com
12.		Leica TL	..	..	..	..	..	4/5	Nov 2016	EUR 1 649	ebay.com
13.		Leica TL2	3.5/5	..	3/5	..	4/5	4/5	Jul 2017	EUR 1 949	ebay.com
14.		OM System OM-1	5/5	..	..	87/100	5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2022	EUR 2 199	ebay.com
15.		Panasonic GH5 II	4.5/5	..	4.5/5	85/100	4.5/5	5/5	May 2021	EUR 1 699	amazon.com
16.		Panasonic GH6	5/5	+ +	5/5	87/100	5/5	5/5	Feb 2022	EUR 2 799	amazon.com
17.		Sony A7 IV	5/5	+ +	4.5/5	89/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2021	EUR 2 799	amazon.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, 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

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