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Leica CL vs S1

The Leica CL (Typ 7323) and the Leica S1 Pro are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in November 2017 and August 1996. Both the CL and the S1 are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are based on an APS-C (CL) and a medium format (S1) sensor. The CL has a resolution of 24.1 megapixels, whereas the S1 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
Leica CL
versus
Leica S1
Leica CL   Leica S1
Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
Leica T mount lenses Leica R mount lenses
24.1 MP – APS-C sensor 26.4 MP – Medium Format sensor
4K/30p Video no Video
ISO 100-50,000 ISO 50-1,600
Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots) Optical viewfinder
3.0" LCD – 1040k dots no LCD
Fixed touchscreen no rear screen
10 shutter flaps per second 0.01 shutter flaps per second
131 x 78 x 45 mm, 403 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 Leica CL (Typ 7323) 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 Leica CL 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 views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Leica CL vs Leica S1
Compare CL versus S1 top
Comparison CL 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 (610 percent) than the Leica CL. Moreover, the S1 is substantially heavier (520 percent) than the CL. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the CL 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. 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.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. 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.
 
Leica CL 131 mm 78 mm 45 mm 403 g 220 n Nov 2017 2,795ebay.com
2.
 
Leica S1 339 mm 214 mm 119 mm 2500 g .. n Aug 1996 21,490ebay.com
3.
 
Fujifilm X-T100 121 mm 83 mm 47 mm 448 g 430 n May 2018 599ebay.com
4.
 
Fujifilm X-T20 118 mm 83 mm 41 mm 383 g 350 n Jan 2017 899ebay.com
5.
 
Fujifilm X-A3 117 mm 67 mm 40 mm 339 g 410 n Aug 2016 399ebay.com
6.
 
Leica C-LUX 113 mm 67 mm 46 mm 340 g 370 n Jun 2018 1,049ebay.com
7.
 
Leica TL2 134 mm 69 mm 33 mm 399 g 250 n Jul 2017 1,950ebay.com
8.
 
Leica TL 134 mm 69 mm 33 mm 384 g 400 n Nov 2016 1,695ebay.com
9.
 
Leica Q Typ 116 130 mm 80 mm 93 mm 640 g 300 n Jun 2015 4,249ebay.com
10.
 
Leica T 134 mm 69 mm 33 mm 384 g 400 n Apr 2014 1,850ebay.com
11.
 
Leica S2 160 mm 120 mm 80 mm 1410 g .. Y Sep 2008 22,995ebay.com
12.
 
Nikon D3500 124 mm 97 mm 70 mm 415 g 1550 n Aug 2018 429ebay.com
13.
 
Nikon D5600 124 mm 97 mm 70 mm 465 g 970 n Nov 2016 699ebay.com
14.
 
Nikon D3400 124 mm 98 mm 76 mm 445 g 1200 n Aug 2016 499ebay.com
15.
 
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.
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 CL was launched at a markedly lower price (by 87 percent) than the S1, 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 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. 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 Leica CL features an APS-C sensor and the Leica S1 a medium format sensor. The sensor area in the S1 is 249 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.5 and 0.85. The sensor in the CL has a native 3:2 aspect ratio, while the one in the S1 offers a 1:1 aspect.

Leica CL and Leica S1 sensor measures

With 26.4MP, the S1 offers a higher resolution than the CL (24.1MP), but the S1 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 7.01μm versus 3.92μm for the CL) due to its larger sensor. However, the CL is a much more recent model (by 21 years and 2 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 neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.

The Leica CL (Typ 7323) has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 50000. The corresponding ISO settings for the Leica S1 Pro are ISO 50 to ISO 1600 (no boost).

In terms of underlying technology, the CL 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.

CL 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 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.
 
Leica CL APS-C 24.1 6014 40144K/30p24.013.3178882
2.
 
Leica S1 Medium Format 26.4 5140 5140none........
3.
 
Fujifilm X-T100 APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/15p24.013.4182983
4.
 
Fujifilm X-T20 APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/30p23.913.2170481
5.
 
Fujifilm X-A3 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.813.1166481
6.
 
Leica C-LUX 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.112.348164
7.
 
Leica TL2 APS-C 24.1 6014 40144K/30p23.913.3175382
8.
 
Leica TL APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/30p23.913.2169081
9.
 
Leica Q Typ 116 Full Frame 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.312.7222185
10.
 
Leica T APS-C 16.2 4944 32781080/30p23.012.7108275
11.
 
Leica S2 Medium Format 37.5 7500 5000none23.912.5222482
12.
 
Nikon D3500 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.013.4185183
13.
 
Nikon D5600 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.114.0130684
14.
 
Nikon D3400 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.813.9119286
15.
 
Sony A6400 APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/30p24.013.6143183
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
padding

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The CL indeed provides movie recording capabilities, while the S1 does not. The highest resolution format that the CL can use is 4K/30p.

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the CL has an electronic viewfinder (2360k dots), while the S1 has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Leica CL and Leica S1 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.
 
Leica CL2360 Y3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n n
2.
 
Leica S1optical nnone / none none n .. 0.01/s n n
3.
 
Fujifilm X-T1002360 n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
4.
 
Fujifilm X-T202360 n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 8.0/s Y n
5.
 
Fujifilm X-A3none n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
6.
 
Leica C-LUX2330 n3.0 / 1240 fixed Y 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
7.
 
Leica TL2optional n3.7 / 1230 fixed Y 1/4000s 7.0/s n n
8.
 
Leica TLoptional n3.7 / 1230 fixed Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
9.
 
Leica Q Typ 1163680 n3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/2000s 10.0/s n Y
10.
 
Leica Toptional n3.7 / 1230 fixed Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
11.
 
Leica S2optical Y3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 1.5/s n n
12.
 
Nikon D3500optical n3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
13.
 
Nikon D5600optical n3.2 / 1037 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
14.
 
Nikon D3400optical n3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
15.
 
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 feature that is present on the CL, but is missing on the S1 is a top-level LCD. While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.

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, the CL is one of those camera that have an additional 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 Leica CL has 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.

The CL 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 Leica CL (Typ 7323) 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.
 
Leica CLYstereo / mono----Y--
2.
 
Leica S1-- / --------
3.
 
Fujifilm X-T100Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0Y-Y
4.
 
Fujifilm X-T20Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0Y--
5.
 
Fujifilm X-A3Ystereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
6.
 
Leica C-LUX-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
7.
 
Leica TL2Ystereo / mono--micro3.0Y--
8.
 
Leica TLYstereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
9.
 
Leica Q Typ 116Ystereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
10.
 
Leica TYstereo / mono---2.0Y--
11.
 
Leica S2Y- / ---mini2.0---
12.
 
Nikon D3500Ymono / mono--mini2.0--Y
13.
 
Nikon D5600Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
14.
 
Nikon D3400Ymono / mono--mini2.0--Y
15.
 
Sony A6400Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0YYY
padding

It is notable that the CL 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 CL and the S1 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The S1 was replaced by the Leica S2, while the CL does not have a direct successor. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Leica website.

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Review summary

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Leica CL and the Leica S1? Which camera is better? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.


Reasons to prefer the Leica CL (Typ 7323):

  • Broader imaging potential: Can record not only still images but also 4K/30p movies.
  • More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
  • Easier setting verification: Features an LCD display on top to control shooting parameters.
  • Rear screen: Has a backside LCD (3.0") for image review and settings control.
  • Fewer buttons to press: Is equipped with a touch-sensitive rear screen to facilitate handling.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10 vs 0.01 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
  • Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
  • More compact: Is smaller (131x78mm vs 339x214mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • Less heavy: Is lighter (by 2097g or 84 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
  • Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
  • Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (87 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More modern: Reflects 21 years and 2 months of technical progress since the S1 launch.


Advantages of the Leica S1 Pro:

  • Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
  • 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 CL is the clear winner of the match-up (14 : 2 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.

CL 14:02 S1

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Leica CL and the Leica S1 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 partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the CL or the S1. 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.
 
Leica CL....4.2/5....4/5 Nov 2017 2,795ebay.com
2.
 
Leica S1............ Aug 1996 21,490ebay.com
3.
 
Fujifilm X-T1004/5+4.5/579/1004/54.5/5 May 2018 599ebay.com
4.
 
Fujifilm X-T205/5+ +5/582/1005/54.5/5 Jan 2017 899ebay.com
5.
 
Fujifilm X-A3......74/1004.5/54/5 Aug 2016 399ebay.com
6.
 
Leica C-LUX....3.5/5..4.5/54/5 Jun 2018 1,049ebay.com
7.
 
Leica TL23.5/5..3/5..4/54/5 Jul 2017 1,950ebay.com
8.
 
Leica TL..........4/5 Nov 2016 1,695ebay.com
9.
 
Leica Q Typ 1165/5....80/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2015 4,249ebay.com
10.
 
Leica T3/5......4/54/5 Apr 2014 1,850ebay.com
11.
 
Leica S2............ Sep 2008 22,995ebay.com
12.
 
Nikon D35004/5..4/575/1004/54.5/5 Aug 2018 429ebay.com
13.
 
Nikon D56004/5..4/579/1004.5/54/5 Nov 2016 699ebay.com
14.
 
Nikon D34004/5+4/576/1004/54.5/5 Aug 2016 499ebay.com
15.
 
Sony A64004/5+4/585/1004.5/54/5 Jan 2019 899 amazon.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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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 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 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: Leica CL 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 Leica CL Leica S1
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Leica T mount lenses Leica R mount lenses
    Launch Date November 2017 August 1996
    Launch Price USD 2,795 USD 21,490
    Sensor Specs Leica CL Leica S1
    Sensor Technology CMOS CCD
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor Medium Format Sensor
    Sensor Size 23.6 x 15.7 mm 36.0 x 36.0 mm
    Sensor Area 370.52 mm2 1296 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 28.3 mm 50.9 mm
    Crop Factor 1.5x 0.85x
    Sensor Resolution 24.1 Megapixels 26.4 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 6014 x 4014 pixels 5140 x 5140 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 3.92 μm 7.01 μm
    Pixel Density 6.52 MP/cm2 2.04 MP/cm2
    Moiré control no AA filter no AA filter
    Movie Capability 4K/30p Video no Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 50,000 ISO 50 - 1,600 ISO
    Screen Specs Leica CL Leica S1
    Viewfinder Type Electronic viewfinder Optical viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100% 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.49x
    Viewfinder Resolution 2360k dots
    Top-Level Screen Control Panel no Top Display
    LCD Framing Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 1040k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen
    Touch Input Touchscreen no Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Leica CL Leica S1
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF Manual Focus
    Manual Focusing AidFocus Peakingno Peaking Feature
    Continuous Shooting 10 shutter flaps/s 0.01 shutter flaps/s
    Electronic Shutterup to 1/25000sno E-Shutter
    Time-Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer built-inno Intervalometer
    Fill Flash no On-Board Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards external
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single SSD
    Connectivity Specs Leica CL Leica S1
    External Flash Hotshoe no Hotshoe
    USB Connector no USB no USB
    HDMI Port no HDMI no HDMI
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in no Wifi
    Body Specs Leica CL Leica S1
    Battery Type Leica BP-DC12 Leica external
    Body Dimensions 131 x 78 x 45 mm
    (5.2 x 3.1 x 1.8 in)
    339 x 214 x 119 mm
    (13.3 x 8.4 x 4.7 in)
    Camera Weight 403 g (14.2 oz) 2500 g (88.2 oz)
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