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Canon T5 vs Leica S1

The Canon EOS Rebel T5 (called Canon 1200D in some regions) and the Leica S1 Pro are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in February 2014 and August 1996. The T5 is a DSLR, while the S1 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on an APS-C (T5) and a medium format (S1) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 17.9 megapixels, whereas the Leica provides 26.4 MP.

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

Headline Specifications
Canon T5
versus
Leica S1
Canon T5   Leica S1
Digital single lens reflex Mirrorless system camera
Canon EF mount lenses Leica R mount lenses
17.9 MP – APS-C sensor 26.4 MP – Medium Format sensor
1080/30p Video no Video
ISO 100-6,400 (100 - 12,800) ISO 50-1,600
Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
3.0" LCD – 460k dots no LCD
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) no rear screen
3 shutter flaps per second 0.01 shutter flaps per second
130 x 100 x 78 mm, 480 g 339 x 214 x 119 mm, 2500 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS Rebel T5 and the Leica S1 Pro? 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

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Canon T5 and the Leica S1 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Canon T5 vs Leica S1
Compare T5 versus S1 top
Comparison T5 or S1 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Leica S1 is considerably larger (458 percent) than the Canon T5. Moreover, the S1 is substantially heavier (421 percent) than the T5. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the T5 nor the S1 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. A larger imaging sensor will tend to go along with bigger and heavier lenses, although exceptions exist. You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Canon EF Lens Catalog (T5) and the Leica R Lens Catalog (S1). Mirrorless cameras, such as the S1, have moreover the advantage that they can use many lenses from other systems via adapters, as they have a relatively short flange to focal plane distance.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. 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.

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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 T5 130 mm 100 mm 78 mm 480 g 500 n Feb 2014 449ebay.com
2.
 
Leica S1 339 mm 214 mm 119 mm 2500 g .. n Aug 1996 21,490ebay.com
3.
 
Canon T100 129 mm 102 mm 77 mm 436 g 500 n Feb 2018 399 amazon.com
4.
 
Canon T6 129 mm 101 mm 78 mm 485 g 500 n Mar 2016 449ebay.com
5.
 
Canon T6i 132 mm 101 mm 78 mm 555 g 440 n Feb 2015 749ebay.com
6.
 
Canon T6s 132 mm 101 mm 78 mm 565 g 440 n Feb 2015 649ebay.com
7.
 
Canon SL1 117 mm 91 mm 69 mm 407 g 380 n Mar 2013 549ebay.com
8.
 
Canon T5i 133 mm 100 mm 79 mm 580 g 440 n Mar 2013 649ebay.com
9.
 
Canon T4i 133 mm 100 mm 79 mm 575 g 440 n Jun 2012 849ebay.com
10.
 
Canon T3 130 mm 100 mm 78 mm 495 g 700 n Feb 2011 449ebay.com
11.
 
Canon T3i 133 mm 100 mm 80 mm 570 g 440 n Feb 2011 599ebay.com
12.
 
Canon T2i 129 mm 98 mm 62 mm 530 g 440 n Feb 2010 699ebay.com
13.
 
Leica CL 131 mm 78 mm 45 mm 403 g 220 n Nov 2017 2,795ebay.com
14.
 
Leica TL2 134 mm 69 mm 33 mm 399 g 250 n Jul 2017 1,950ebay.com
15.
 
Leica Q Typ 116 130 mm 80 mm 93 mm 640 g 300 n Jun 2015 4,249ebay.com
16.
 
Leica S2 160 mm 120 mm 80 mm 1410 g .. Y Sep 2008 22,995ebay.com
17.
 
Sony A6400 120 mm 67 mm 50 mm 403 g 410 Y Jan 2019 899 amazon.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The 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 T5 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 98 percent) than the S1, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors 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 are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon T5 features an APS-C sensor and the Leica S1 a medium format sensor. The sensor area in the S1 is 290 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.6 and 0.85. The sensor in the T5 has a native 3:2 aspect ratio, while the one in the S1 offers a 1:1 aspect.

Canon T5 and Leica S1 sensor measures

With 26.4MP, the S1 offers a higher resolution than the T5 (17.9MP), but the S1 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 7.01μm versus 4.31μm for the T5) due to its larger sensor. However, the T5 is a much more recent model (by 17 years and 5 months) than the S1, 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 S1 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Leica S1 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the S1 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 25.7 x 25.7 inches or 65.3 x 65.3 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 20.6 x 20.6 inches or 52.2 x 52.2 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 17.1 x 17.1 inches or 43.5 x 43.5 cm. The corresponding values for the Canon T5 are 25.9 x 17.3 inches or 65.8 x 43.9 cm for good quality, 20.7 x 13.8 inches or 52.7 x 35.1 cm for very good quality, and 17.3 x 11.5 inches or 43.9 x 29.3 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon EOS Rebel T5 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 6400, which can be extended to ISO 100-12800. The corresponding ISO settings for the Leica S1 Pro are ISO 50 to ISO 1600 (no boost).

In terms of underlying technology, the T5 is build around a CMOS sensor, while the S1 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.

T5 versus S1 MP

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. 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 table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar 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 T5 APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p21.911.372463
2.
 
Leica S1 Medium Format 26.4 5140 5140none........
3.
 
Canon T100 APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p21.911.469563
4.
 
Canon T6 APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.011.778166
5.
 
Canon T6i APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p22.712.091971
6.
 
Canon T6s APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p22.612.091570
7.
 
Canon SL1 APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p21.811.384363
8.
 
Canon T5i APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p21.711.268161
9.
 
Canon T4i APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p21.711.272262
10.
 
Canon T3 APS-C 12.2 4272 2848720/30p21.911.075562
11.
 
Canon T3i APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.111.579365
12.
 
Canon T2i APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.111.578466
13.
 
Leica CL APS-C 24.1 6014 40144K/30p24.013.3178882
14.
 
Leica TL2 APS-C 24.1 6014 40144K/30p23.913.3175382
15.
 
Leica Q Typ 116 Full Frame 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.312.7222185
16.
 
Leica S2 Medium Format 37.5 7500 5000none23.912.5222482
17.
 
Sony A6400 APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/30p24.013.6143183
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The T5 indeed provides movie recording capabilities, while the S1 does not. The highest resolution format that the T5 can use is 1080/30p.

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The T5 and the S1 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 adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Canon T5 and Leica S1 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 T5optical n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
2.
 
Leica S1optical nnone / none none n .. 0.01/s n n
3.
 
Canon T100optical n2.7 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
4.
 
Canon T6optical n3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
5.
 
Canon T6ioptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
6.
 
Canon T6soptical Y3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
7.
 
Canon SL1optical n3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/4000s 4.9/s Y n
8.
 
Canon T5ioptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
9.
 
Canon T4ioptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
10.
 
Canon T3optical n2.7 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
11.
 
Canon T3ioptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel n 1/4000s 3.7/s Y n
12.
 
Canon T2ioptical n3.0 / 1040 fixed n 1/4000s 3.7/s Y n
13.
 
Leica CL2360 Y3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n n
14.
 
Leica TL2optional n3.7 / 1230 fixed Y 1/4000s 7.0/s n n
15.
 
Leica Q Typ 1163680 n3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/2000s 10.0/s n Y
16.
 
Leica S2optical Y3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 1.5/s n n
17.
 
Sony A64002359 n3.0 / 922 tilting Y 1/4000s 11.0/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 T5 has one, while the S1 does not. While the built-in flash of the T5 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The T5 writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the S1 uses external storage.

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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 Rebel T5 and Leica S1 Pro 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 T5Ymono / mono--mini2.0---
2.
 
Leica S1-- / --------
3.
 
Canon T100Ymono / mono--mini2.0YY-
4.
 
Canon T6Ymono / mono--mini2.0YY-
5.
 
Canon T6iYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
6.
 
Canon T6sYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
7.
 
Canon SL1Ymono / monoY-mini2.0---
8.
 
Canon T5iYstereo / monoY-mini2.0---
9.
 
Canon T4iYstereo / monoY-mini2.0---
10.
 
Canon T3Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
11.
 
Canon T3iYmono / monoY-mini2.0---
12.
 
Canon T2iYstereo / -Y-mini2.0---
13.
 
Leica CLYstereo / mono----Y--
14.
 
Leica TL2Ystereo / mono--micro3.0Y--
15.
 
Leica Q Typ 116Ystereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
16.
 
Leica S2Y- / ---mini2.0---
17.
 
Sony A6400Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0YYY
padding

It is notable that the T5 has a hotshoe, while the S1 does not. This socket makes it possible to easily attach optional accessories, such as an external flash gun.

Both the T5 and the S1 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The S1 was replaced by the Leica S2, while the T5 was followed by the Canon T6. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Canon and Leica websites.

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Review summary

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Canon T5 and the Leica S1? Which camera is better? 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 Rebel T5:

  • Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
  • Broader imaging potential: Can record not only still images but also 1080/30p movies.
  • Rear screen: Has a backside LCD (3.0") for image review and settings control.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (3 vs 0.01 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • More compact: Is smaller (130x100mm vs 339x214mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • Less heavy: Is lighter (by 2020g or 81 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
  • Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
  • Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (98 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More modern: Reflects 17 years and 5 months of technical progress since the S1 launch.

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Advantages of the Leica S1 Pro:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (26.4 vs 17.9MP), which boosts linear resolution by 17%.
  • Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
  • More legacy lens friendly: Can use many non-native lenses via adapters.
  • More prestigious: Has the Leica luxury appeal, which ensures a high resale value.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in August 1996).

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the T5 is the clear winner of the match-up (10 : 5 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.

T5 10:05 S1

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon T5 and the Leica S1 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 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 T5 or the S1 perform in practice. 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 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.

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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 T53/5+....4/54.5/5 Feb 2014 449ebay.com
2.
 
Leica S1............ Aug 1996 21,490ebay.com
3.
 
Canon T100..o3/5..3.5/53.5/5 Feb 2018 399 amazon.com
4.
 
Canon T64/5o4/573/1004/54/5 Mar 2016 449ebay.com
5.
 
Canon T6i5/5....75/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2015 749ebay.com
6.
 
Canon T6s5/5+..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2015 649ebay.com
7.
 
Canon SL14/5+..78/1004/54/5 Mar 2013 549ebay.com
8.
 
Canon T5i......76/1004.5/54.5/5 Mar 2013 649ebay.com
9.
 
Canon T4i4/5+ +..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2012 849ebay.com
10.
 
Canon T3..80/100..69/1004/54.5/5 Feb 2011 449ebay.com
11.
 
Canon T3i3/5o..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2011 599ebay.com
12.
 
Canon T2i..+ +..77/1004/54.5/5 Feb 2010 699ebay.com
13.
 
Leica CL....4.2/5....4/5 Nov 2017 2,795ebay.com
14.
 
Leica TL23.5/5..3/5..4/54/5 Jul 2017 1,950ebay.com
15.
 
Leica Q Typ 1165/5....80/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2015 4,249ebay.com
16.
 
Leica S2............ Sep 2008 22,995ebay.com
17.
 
Sony A64004/5+4/585/1004.5/54/5 Jan 2019 899 amazon.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
padding

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods 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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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 use the search menu below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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    Specifications: Canon T5 vs Leica S1

    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 T5 Leica S1
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Canon EF mount lenses Leica R mount lenses
    Launch Date February 2014 August 1996
    Launch Price USD 449 USD 21,490
    Sensor Specs Canon T5 Leica S1
    Sensor Technology CMOS CCD
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor Medium Format Sensor
    Sensor Size 22.3 x 14.9 mm 36.0 x 36.0 mm
    Sensor Area 332.27 mm2 1296 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 26.8 mm 50.9 mm
    Crop Factor 1.6x 0.85x
    Sensor Resolution 17.9 Megapixels 26.4 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 5184 x 3456 pixels 5140 x 5140 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 4.31 μm 7.01 μm
    Pixel Density 5.39 MP/cm2 2.04 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter no AA filter
    Movie Capability 1080/30p Video no Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 6,400 ISO 50 - 1,600 ISO
    ISO Boost 100 - 12,800 ISO no Enhancement
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 63 ..
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 21.9 ..
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 11.3 ..
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 724 ..
    Screen Specs Canon T5 Leica S1
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 95% 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.50x
    LCD Framing Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 460k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen
    Shooting Specs Canon T5 Leica S1
    Focus System Phase-detect AF Manual Focus
    Continuous Shooting 3 shutter flaps/s 0.01 shutter flaps/s
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards external
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single SSD
    Connectivity Specs Canon T5 Leica S1
    External Flash Hotshoe no Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 no USB
    HDMI Port mini HDMI no HDMI
    Wifi Support no Wifi no Wifi
    Body Specs Canon T5 Leica S1
    Battery Type Canon LP-E10 Leica external
    Body Dimensions 130 x 100 x 78 mm
    (5.1 x 3.9 x 3.1 in)
    339 x 214 x 119 mm
    (13.3 x 8.4 x 4.7 in)
    Camera Weight 480 g (16.9 oz) 2500 g (88.2 oz)
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