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Fujifilm X-M1 vs Leica TL

The Fujifilm X-M1 and the Leica TL are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in June 2013 and November 2016. Both the X-M1 and the TL are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are equipped with an APS-C sensor. The Fujifilm has a resolution of 16 megapixels, whereas the Leica provides 16.1 MP.

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

Headline Specifications
Fujifilm X-M1
versus
Leica TL
Fujifilm X-M1   Leica TL
Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
Fujifilm X mount lenses Leica T mount lenses
16 MP – APS-C sensor 16.1 MP – APS-C sensor
1080/30p Video 1080/30p Video
ISO 200-6,400 (100 - 25,600) ISO 100-12,500
No viewfinder, LCD framing Viewfinder optional
3.0" LCD – 920k dots 3.7" LCD – 1230k dots
Tilting screen (no touchscreen) Fixed touchscreen
5.6 shutter flaps per second 5 shutter flaps per second
350 shots per battery charge400 shots per battery charge
117 x 67 x 39 mm, 330 g 134 x 69 x 33 mm, 384 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Fujifilm X-M1 and the Leica TL? 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 physical size and weight of the Fujifilm X-M1 and the Leica TL 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.

The X-M1 can be obtained in three different colors (black, silver, brown), while the TL is also available in three color-versions, but different ones (black, silver, titanium).

Size Fujifilm X-M1 vs Leica TL
Compare X-M1 versus TL top
Comparison X-M1 or TL rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Leica TL is notably larger (18 percent) than the Fujifilm X-M1. Moreover, the TL is markedly heavier (16 percent) than the X-M1. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the X-M1 nor the TL are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.

Concerning battery life, the X-M1 gets 350 shots out of its Fujifilm NP-W126 battery, while the TL can take 400 images on a single charge of its Leica BP-DC13 power pack. The power pack in the TL can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras 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.
 
Fujifilm X-M1 117 mm 67 mm 39 mm 330 g 350 n Jun 2013 699ebay.com
2.
 
Leica TL 134 mm 69 mm 33 mm 384 g 400 n Nov 2016 1,695ebay.com
3.
 
Fujifilm X-A10 117 mm 67 mm 40 mm 331 g 410 n Dec 2016 399ebay.com
4.
 
Fujifilm X-E2S 129 mm 75 mm 37 mm 350 g 350 n Jan 2016 699ebay.com
5.
 
Fujifilm X-A2 117 mm 67 mm 40 mm 350 g 410 n Jan 2015 399ebay.com
6.
 
Fujifilm X-T10 118 mm 83 mm 41 mm 381 g 350 n May 2015 799ebay.com
7.
 
Fujifilm X-A1 117 mm 67 mm 39 mm 330 g 350 n Sep 2013 399ebay.com
8.
 
Fujifilm X-E2 129 mm 75 mm 37 mm 350 g 350 n Oct 2013 999ebay.com
9.
 
Fujifilm X-E1 129 mm 75 mm 38 mm 350 g 350 n Sep 2012 999ebay.com
10.
 
Fujifilm X-Pro1 140 mm 82 mm 43 mm 450 g 300 n Jan 2012 1,699ebay.com
11.
 
Leica TL2 134 mm 69 mm 33 mm 399 g 250 n Jul 2017 1,950ebay.com
12.
 
Leica T 134 mm 69 mm 33 mm 384 g 400 n Apr 2014 1,850ebay.com
13.
 
Sony NEX-5R 111 mm 59 mm 39 mm 276 g 330 n Aug 2012 749ebay.com
14.
 
Sony NEX-F3 117 mm 67 mm 42 mm 314 g 470 n May 2012 599ebay.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 manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The X-M1 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 59 percent) than the TL, 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 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. 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.

Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor, but their sensors differ slightly in size. The sensor area in the TL is 1 percent bigger. They nevertheless have the same format factor of 1.5. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Fujifilm X-M1 and Leica TL sensor measures

With 16.1MP, the TL offers a higher resolution than the X-M1 (16MP), but the TL nevertheless has the same individual pixel size (pixel pitch of 4.80μm) as the X-M1 due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the TL is a much more recent model (by 3 years and 4 months) than the X-M1, 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 neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.

The Fujifilm X-M1 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 200 to ISO 6400, which can be extended to ISO 100-25600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Leica TL are ISO 100 to ISO 12500 (no boost).

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. The X-M1 uses Fujifilm's X-Trans layout of photosites, while the TL employs the more common Bayer array.

X-M1 versus TL MP

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. 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.

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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.
 
Fujifilm X-M1 APS-C 16.0 4896 32641080/30p23.412.6137176
2.
 
Leica TL APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/30p23.913.2169081
3.
 
Fujifilm X-A10 APS-C 16.0 4896 32641080/30p23.913.2169181
4.
 
Fujifilm X-E2S APS-C 16.0 4896 32641080/60p23.713.0160880
5.
 
Fujifilm X-A2 APS-C 16.0 4896 32641080/30p23.612.8151579
6.
 
Fujifilm X-T10 APS-C 16.0 4896 32641080/60p23.712.9154679
7.
 
Fujifilm X-A1 APS-C 16.0 4896 32641080/30p23.412.6139076
8.
 
Fujifilm X-E2 APS-C 16.0 4896 32641080/60p23.412.6140077
9.
 
Fujifilm X-E1 APS-C 16.0 4896 32641080/24p23.212.4129875
10.
 
Fujifilm X-Pro1 APS-C 16.0 4896 32641080/24p23.112.3123874
11.
 
Leica TL2 APS-C 24.1 6014 40144K/30p23.913.3175382
12.
 
Leica T APS-C 16.2 4944 32781080/30p23.012.7108275
13.
 
Sony NEX-5R APS-C 16.0 4912 32641080/60i23.713.191078
14.
 
Sony NEX-F3 APS-C 16.0 4912 32641080/60i22.712.3111473
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, and both provide the same movie specifications (1080/30p).

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The X-M1 and the TL are similar in the sense that neither of the two has a viewfinder. The images are, thus, framed using live view on the rear LCD. That said, the TL can be equipped with an optional viewfinder – the Visoflex (Typ 020). The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Fujifilm X-M1 and Leica TL in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

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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.
 
Fujifilm X-M1none n3.0 / 920 tilting n 1/4000s 5.6/s Y n
2.
 
Leica TLoptional n3.7 / 1230 fixed Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
3.
 
Fujifilm X-A10none n3.0 / 1040 tilting n 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
4.
 
Fujifilm X-E2S2360 n3.0 / 1040 fixed n 1/4000s 7.0/s Y n
5.
 
Fujifilm X-A2none n3.0 / 920 tilting n 1/4000s 5.6/s Y n
6.
 
Fujifilm X-T102360 n3.0 / 920 tilting n 1/4000s 8.0/s Y n
7.
 
Fujifilm X-A1none n3.0 / 920 tilting n 1/4000s 5.6/s Y n
8.
 
Fujifilm X-E22360 n3.0 / 1040 fixed n 1/4000s 7.0/s Y n
9.
 
Fujifilm X-E12360 n2.8 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
10.
 
Fujifilm X-Pro11440 n3.0 / 1230 fixed n 1/4000s 6.0/s n n
11.
 
Leica TL2optional n3.7 / 1230 fixed Y 1/4000s 7.0/s n n
12.
 
Leica Toptional n3.7 / 1230 fixed Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
13.
 
Sony NEX-5Roptional n3.0 / 920 tilting Y 1/4000s 10.0/s n n
14.
 
Sony NEX-F3optional n3.0 / 920 tilting n 1/4000s 5.5/s Y n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
padding

One differentiating feature between the two cameras concerns the touch sensitivity of the rear screen. The TL has a touchscreen, while the X-M1 has a conventional panel. Touch control can be particularly helpful, for example, for setting the focus point.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the X-M1 and the TL write their files to SDXC cards. The X-M1 supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the TL cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

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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 Fujifilm X-M1 and Leica TL 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.
 
Fujifilm X-M1Ystereo / mono--mini2.0Y--
2.
 
Leica TLYstereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
3.
 
Fujifilm X-A10-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
4.
 
Fujifilm X-E2SYstereo / monoY-micro2.0Y--
5.
 
Fujifilm X-A2Ystereo / mono--mini2.0Y--
6.
 
Fujifilm X-T10Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0Y--
7.
 
Fujifilm X-A1Ystereo / mono--mini2.0Y--
8.
 
Fujifilm X-E2Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0Y--
9.
 
Fujifilm X-E1Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0---
10.
 
Fujifilm X-Pro1Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
11.
 
Leica TL2Ystereo / mono--micro3.0Y--
12.
 
Leica TYstereo / mono---2.0Y--
13.
 
Sony NEX-5RYstereo / mono--mini2.0Y--
14.
 
Sony NEX-F3Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
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Both the X-M1 and the TL have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The TL was replaced by the Leica TL2, while the X-M1 does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the X-M1 and TL can be found, respectively, in the Fujifilm X-M1 Manual (free pdf) or the online Leica TL Manual.

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Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Which of the two cameras – the Fujifilm X-M1 or the Leica TL – 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.

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Advantages of the Fujifilm X-M1:

  • More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (5.6 vs 5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • More compact: Is smaller (117x67mm vs 134x69mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • Less heavy: Is lighter (by 54g or 14 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
  • Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (59 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in June 2013).

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Reasons to prefer the Leica TL:

  • More framing options: Can be equipped with a hotshoe-mounted accessory-viewfinder.
  • Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.7" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1230k vs 920k dots).
  • Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (400 versus 350) out of a single battery charge.
  • Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
  • More prestigious: Has the Leica luxury appeal, which ensures a high resale value.
  • More modern: Reflects 3 years and 4 months of technical progress since the X-M1 launch.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the TL comes out slightly ahead of the X-M1 (8 : 7 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.

X-M1 07:08 TL

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Fujifilm X-M1 and the Leica TL 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 X-M1 or the TL 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 where reviews by experts come in. 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.
 
Fujifilm X-M13/5+..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2013 699ebay.com
2.
 
Leica TL..........4/5 Nov 2016 1,695ebay.com
3.
 
Fujifilm X-A10........4/54/5 Dec 2016 399ebay.com
4.
 
Fujifilm X-E2S4.5/5....77/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2016 699ebay.com
5.
 
Fujifilm X-A24/5......4.5/54.5/5 Jan 2015 399ebay.com
6.
 
Fujifilm X-T104.5/5+ +..80/1005/55/5 May 2015 799ebay.com
7.
 
Fujifilm X-A1........4.5/54.5/5 Sep 2013 399ebay.com
8.
 
Fujifilm X-E24/5....80/1004.5/55/5 Oct 2013 999ebay.com
9.
 
Fujifilm X-E14/5+ +..79/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2012 999ebay.com
10.
 
Fujifilm X-Pro15/5+ +..79/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2012 1,699ebay.com
11.
 
Leica TL23.5/5..3/5..4/54/5 Jul 2017 1,950ebay.com
12.
 
Leica T3/5......4/54/5 Apr 2014 1,850ebay.com
13.
 
Sony NEX-5R........4.5/54.5/5 Aug 2012 749ebay.com
14.
 
Sony NEX-F34/5....74/1004.5/54.5/5 May 2012 599ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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The review scores listed above should be treated 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, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just use the search menu below. 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: Fujifilm X-M1 vs Leica TL

    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 Fujifilm X-M1 Leica TL
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Fujifilm X mount lenses Leica T mount lenses
    Launch Date June 2013 November 2016
    Launch Price USD 699 USD 1,695
    Sensor Specs Fujifilm X-M1 Leica TL
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor APS-C Sensor
    Sensor Size 23.6 x 15.6 mm 23.6 x 15.7 mm
    Sensor Area 368.16 mm2 370.52 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 28.3 mm 28.3 mm
    Crop Factor 1.5x 1.5x
    Sensor Resolution 16 Megapixels 16.1 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 4896 x 3264 pixels 4928 x 3264 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 4.80 μm 4.80 μm
    Pixel Density 4.34 MP/cm2 4.34 MP/cm2
    Moiré control no AA filter no AA filter
    Movie Capability 1080/30p Video 1080/30p Video
    ISO Setting 200 - 6,400 ISO 100 - 12,500 ISO
    ISO Boost 100 - 25,600 ISO no Enhancement
    Screen Specs Fujifilm X-M1 Leica TL
    Viewfinder Type no viewfinder Viewfinder optional
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.7inch
    LCD Resolution 920k dots 1230k dots
    LCD Attachment Tilting screen Fixed screen
    Touch Input no Touchscreen Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Fujifilm X-M1 Leica TL
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF Contrast-detect AF
    Manual Focusing AidFocus Peakingno Peaking Feature
    Continuous Shooting 5.6 shutter flaps/s 5 shutter flaps/s
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    UHS card support UHS-I no
    Connectivity Specs Fujifilm X-M1 Leica TL
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI micro HDMI
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in Wifi built-in
    Body Specs Fujifilm X-M1 Leica TL
    Battery Type Fujifilm NP-W126 Leica BP-DC13
    Battery Life (CIPA)350 shots per charge400 shots per charge
    In-Camera Charging no USB charging USB charging
    Body Dimensions 117 x 67 x 39 mm
    (4.6 x 2.6 x 1.5 in)
    134 x 69 x 33 mm
    (5.3 x 2.7 x 1.3 in)
    Camera Weight 330 g (11.6 oz) 384 g (13.5 oz)
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