Fujifilm X100V vs Leica SL

The Fujifilm X100V and the Leica SL (Typ 601) are two enthusiast cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in February 2020 and October 2015. The X100V is a fixed lens compact, while the SL is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on an APS-C (X100V) and a full frame (SL) sensor. The Fujifilm has a resolution of 26 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.

Headline Specifications

Fujifilm X100V		Leica SL
Fixed lens compact camera		Mirrorless system camera
35mm f/2.0		Leica L mount lenses
26 MP, APS-C Sensor		24 MP, Full Frame Sensor
4K/30p Video		4K/30p Video
ISO 160-12,800 (80 - 51,200)		ISO 50-50,000
Electronic viewfinder (3690k dots)		Electronic viewfinder (4400k dots)
3.0 LCD, 1620k dots		3.0 LCD, 1040k dots
Tilting touchscreen		Fixed touchscreen
11 shutter flaps per second		11 shutter flaps per second
Weathersealed body		Weathersealed body
420 shots per battery charge		400 shots per battery charge
128 x 75 x 53 mm, 478 g		147 x 104 x 39 mm, 847 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Fujifilm X100V 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 Fujifilm X100V and the Leica SL are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The X100V can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the SL is only available in black.

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 larger (59 percent) than the Fujifilm X100V. 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 and possibly misleading, as the X100V has a lens built in, whereas the SL is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup.

The power pack in the X100V can be charged via the USB port, so that it is not always necessary to take the battery charger along when travelling.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. 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.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Fujifilm X100V	128 mm	75 mm	53 mm	478 g	420	Y	Feb 2020	1,399
2.		Leica SL	147 mm	104 mm	39 mm	847 g	400	Y	Oct 2015	7,450
3.		Canon G1 X Mark III	115 mm	78 mm	51 mm	399 g	200	Y	Oct 2017	1,299
4.		Canon 1D X Mark II	158 mm	168 mm	83 mm	1530 g	1210	Y	Feb 2016	5,999
5.		Canon 80D	139 mm	105 mm	79 mm	730 g	960	Y	Feb 2016	1,199
6.		Canon 5DS	152 mm	116 mm	76 mm	930 g	700	Y	Feb 2015	3,699
7.		Fujifilm X-Pro3	141 mm	83 mm	46 mm	497 g	440	Y	Oct 2019	1,799
8.		Fujifilm X-T3	133 mm	93 mm	59 mm	539 g	390	Y	Sep 2018	1,499
9.		Fujifilm X100F	127 mm	75 mm	52 mm	469 g	390	n	Jan 2017	1,299
10.		Fujifilm X-Pro2	141 mm	83 mm	46 mm	495 g	350	Y	Jan 2016	1,699
11.		Fujifilm X-T2	133 mm	92 mm	49 mm	507 g	340	Y	Jul 2016	1,599
12.		Fujifilm X100T	127 mm	74 mm	52 mm	440 g	330	n	Sep 2014	1,299
13.		Fujifilm X-T1	129 mm	90 mm	47 mm	440 g	350	Y	Jan 2014	1,299
14.		Leica SL2	146 mm	107 mm	42 mm	953 g	370	Y	Nov 2019	5,999
15.		Leica M Typ 240	139 mm	80 mm	42 mm	680 g	..	Y	Sep 2012	6,950
16.		Samsung NX1	139 mm	102 mm	66 mm	550 g	500	Y	Sep 2014	1,499
17.		Sony A6600	120 mm	67 mm	69 mm	503 g	810	Y	Aug 2019	1,399
Notes: 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 naturally be influenced heavily by the price. 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 X100V was launched at a lower price than the SL, despite having a lens built in. 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.

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 are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Fujifilm X100V features an APS-C sensor and the Leica SL a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the SL is 135 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.5 and 1.0. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Despite having a smaller sensor, the Fujifilm X100V offers a higher resolution of 26 megapixels, compared with 24 MP of the Leica SL. 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 3.76μm versus 6.00μm for the SL). However, it should be noted that the X100V is much more recent (by 4 years and 3 months) than the SL, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently. 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 X100V has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Fujifilm X100V has a native sensitivity range from ISO 160 to ISO 12800, which can be extended to ISO 80-51200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Leica SL (Typ 601) are ISO 50 to ISO 50000 (no boost).

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.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Fujifilm X100V	APS-C	26.0	6240	4160	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
2.		Leica SL	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	25.0	13.4	1821	88
3.		Canon G1 X Mark III	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
4.		Canon 1D X Mark II	Full Frame	20.0	5472	3648	4K/60p	24.1	13.5	3207	88
5.		Canon 80D	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.6	13.2	1135	79
6.		Canon 5DS	Full Frame	50.3	8688	5792	1080/30p	24.7	12.4	2381	87
7.		Fujifilm X-Pro3	APS-C	26.0	6240	4160	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
8.		Fujifilm X-T3	APS-C	26.0	6240	4160	4K/60p	..	..	..	..
9.		Fujifilm X100F	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
10.		Fujifilm X-Pro2	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
11.		Fujifilm X-T2	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
12.		Fujifilm X100T	APS-C	16.0	4896	3264	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
13.		Fujifilm X-T1	APS-C	16.0	4896	3264	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
14.		Leica SL2	Full Frame	46.7	8368	5584	4K/60p	..	..	..	..
15.		Leica M Typ 240	Full Frame	23.7	5952	3976	1080/25p	24.0	13.3	1860	84
16.		Samsung NX1	APS-C	28.0	6480	4320	4K/30p	24.2	13.2	1363	83
17.		Sony A6600	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	23.8	13.4	1497	82

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, and both provide the same movie specifications (4K/30p).

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The two cameras under review are similar with respect to both having an electronic viewfinder. However, the one in the SL offers a higher resolution than the one in the X100V (4400k vs 3690k dots). The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Fujifilm X100V and Leica SL in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Size (inch)	LCD Resolution (000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Fujifilm X100V	3690	n	3.0	1620	tilting	Y	1/4000s	11.0	Y	n
2.		Leica SL	4400	Y	3.0	1040	fixed	Y	1/8000s	11.0	n	n
3.		Canon G1 X Mark III	2360	n	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/2000s	9.0	Y	Y
4.		Canon 1D X Mark II	optical	Y	3.2	1620	fixed	Y	1/8000s	16.0	n	n
5.		Canon 80D	optical	Y	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/8000s	7.0	Y	n
6.		Canon 5DS	optical	Y	3.2	1040	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0	n	n
7.		Fujifilm X-Pro3	3690	n	3.0	1620	tilting	Y	1/8000s	8.0	n	n
8.		Fujifilm X-T3	3690	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/8000s	11.0	n	n
9.		Fujifilm X100F	2360	n	3.0	1040	fixed	n	1/4000s	8.0	Y	n
10.		Fujifilm X-Pro2	2360	n	3.0	1620	fixed	n	1/8000s	8.0	n	n
11.		Fujifilm X-T2	2360	n	3.0	1040	tilting	n	1/8000s	8.0	n	n
12.		Fujifilm X100T	2360	n	3.0	1040	fixed	n	1/4000s	6.0	Y	n
13.		Fujifilm X-T1	2360	n	3.0	1040	tilting	n	1/4000s	8.0	n	n
14.		Leica SL2	5760	Y	3.2	2100	fixed	Y	1/8000s	10.0	n	Y
15.		Leica M Typ 240	optical	n	3.0	920	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0	n	n
16.		Samsung NX1	2360	Y	3.0	1036	tilting	Y	1/8000s	15.0	Y	n
17.		Sony A6600	2359	n	3.0	922	tilting	Y	1/4000s	11.0	n	Y

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The X100V has one, while the SL does not. While the built-in flash of the X100V is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

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 Fujifilm X100V and the Leica SL 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 X100V and the SL write their files to SDXC cards. The SL features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the X100V only has one slot. The SL supports UHS-II cards (on its first slot), while the X100V can use UHS-I 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 Fujifilm X100V and Leica SL (Typ 601) 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 Microphone	Internal Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Fujifilm X100V	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	3.1	Y	-	Y
2.		Leica SL	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	full	3.0	Y	-	-
3.		Canon G1 X Mark III	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
4.		Canon 1D X Mark II	Y	mono	mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	-	-	-
5.		Canon 80D	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
6.		Canon 5DS	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	mini	3.0	-	-	-
7.		Fujifilm X-Pro3	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	-	3.1	Y	-	Y
8.		Fujifilm X-T3	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.1	Y	-	Y
9.		Fujifilm X100F	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
10.		Fujifilm X-Pro2	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
11.		Fujifilm X-T2	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	3.0	Y	-	-
12.		Fujifilm X100T	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
13.		Fujifilm X-T1	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
14.		Leica SL2	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	full	3.1	Y	-	Y
15.		Leica M Typ 240	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
16.		Samsung NX1	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.0	Y	Y	Y
17.		Sony A6600	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	YES	2.0	Y	Y	Y

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Leica SL (unlike the X100V) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Travel and landscape photographers will find it useful that the SL has an internal geolocalization sensor and can record GPS coordinates in its EXIF data.

The X100V is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Fujifilm. In contrast, the SL has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the SL was succeeded by the Leica SL2. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Fujifilm and Leica websites.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Fujifilm X100V and the Leica SL? Which camera is better? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Advantages of the Fujifilm X100V:

• Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1620k vs 1040k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
• Ready to shoot: Has a lens built-in, whereas the SL requires a separate lens.
• More compact: Is smaller (128x75mm vs 147x104mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
• Less heavy: Is lighter even though it comes with a built-in lens (unlike the SL).
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
• More modern: Reflects 4 years and 3 months of technical progress since the SL launch.

Reasons to prefer the Leica SL (Typ 601):

• Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
• More detailed viewfinder: Has higher resolution electronic viewfinder (4400k vs 3690k dots).
• More complete view: Has a viewfinder with a larger field of view (100% vs 95%).
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.80x vs 0.52x).
• Easier setting verification: Features a control panel on top to check shooting parameters.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
• More flexible: Takes interchangeable lenses and can thus be used with specialty optics.
• Easier geotagging: Features an internal GPS sensor to log localization data.
• More solid recording: Has a full-sized HDMI port for a sturdy connection to an external recorder.
• Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
• Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
• Faster buffer clearing: Supports a more advanced SD data transfer standard (UHS-II vs UHS-I).
• More prestigious: Has the Leica luxury appeal, which ensures a high resale value.
• More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in October 2015).

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the SL emerges as the winner of the match-up (14 : 11 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 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 Fujifilm X100V and the Leica SL place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Prime Lens Compact 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 says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the X100V and the SL in practical situations. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], 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	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Fujifilm X100V	5/5	+ +	86/100	5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2020	1,399
2.		Leica SL	4/5	..	84/100	4.5/5	4/5	Oct 2015	7,450
3.		Canon G1 X Mark III	5/5	+	79/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2017	1,299
4.		Canon 1D X Mark II	..	..	89/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2016	5,999
5.		Canon 80D	4/5	+ +	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2016	1,199
6.		Canon 5DS	..	+	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	3,699
7.		Fujifilm X-Pro3	4/5	+	85/100	4/5	..	Oct 2019	1,799
8.		Fujifilm X-T3	5/5	+ +	88/100	5/5	5/5	Sep 2018	1,499
9.		Fujifilm X100F	5/5	+	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2017	1,299
10.		Fujifilm X-Pro2	..	+	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2016	1,699
11.		Fujifilm X-T2	5/5	+ +	86/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jul 2016	1,599
12.		Fujifilm X100T	5/5	+	81/100	4.5/5	5/5	Sep 2014	1,299
13.		Fujifilm X-T1	5/5	+ +	84/100	5/5	5/5	Jan 2014	1,299
14.		Leica SL2	4/5	..	..	4.5/5	4/5	Nov 2019	5,999
15.		Leica M Typ 240	4/5	..	..	4/5	..	Sep 2012	6,950
16.		Samsung NX1	5/5	..	87/100	5/5	5/5	Sep 2014	1,499
17.		Sony A6600	4/5	+	83/100	4.5/5	4/5	Aug 2019	1,399
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

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. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date 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 would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just make your choice using the following search menu. 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: Fujifilm X100V 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.

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