Leica CL vs Panasonic GX80

The Leica CL (Typ 7323) and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX80 (labelled Panasonic GX85 in some countries) are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in November 2017 and April 2016. Both the CL and the GX80 are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are based on an APS-C (CL) and a Four Thirds (GX80) sensor. The Leica has a resolution of 24.1 megapixels, whereas the Panasonic provides 15.8 MP.

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

Headline Specifications

	VS
Leica CL		Panasonic GX80
Mirrorless system camera		Mirrorless system camera
Leica T mount lenses		Micro Four Thirds lenses
24.1 MP, APS-C Sensor		15.8 MP, Four Thirds Sensor
4K/30p Video		4K/30p Video
ISO 100-50000		ISO 200-25600
Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots)		Electronic viewfinder (2765k dots)
3.0" LCD, 1040k dots		3.0" LCD, 1040k dots
Fixed touchscreen		Tilting touchscreen
10 shutter flaps per second		8 shutter flaps per second
Lens stabilization only		In-body stabilization
220 shots per battery charge		290 shots per battery charge
131 x 78 x 45 mm, 403 g		122 x 71 x 44 mm, 426 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Leica CL (Typ 7323) and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX80? 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 Leica CL and the Panasonic GX80 are illustrated 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 measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The GX80 can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the CL 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 Panasonic GX80 is notably smaller (15 percent) than the Leica CL. However, the GX80 is markedly heavier (6 percent) than the CL. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the CL nor the GX80 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 CL gets 220 shots out of its BP-DC12 battery, while the GX80 can take 290 images on a single charge of its DMW-BLG10 power pack.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, just select a new right or left comparator from among the camera models in the table. Alternatively, you can also move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

Camera Body Specifications

	Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life (CIPA)	Weather Sealing (yes/no)	Camera Launch (announced)	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price (USD)	Camera Model
	Leica CL»	5.2 in	3.1 in	1.8 in	14.2 oz	220	n	Nov 2017	2,795		Leica CL
	Panasonic GX80«	4.8 in	2.8 in	1.7 in	15.0 oz	290	n	Apr 2016	799		Panasonic GX80
	Fujifilm X-T100« »	4.8 in	3.3 in	1.9 in	15.8 oz	430	n	May 2018	599		Fujifilm X-T100
	Fujifilm X-T20« »	4.6 in	3.3 in	1.6 in	13.5 oz	350	n	Jan 2017	899		Fujifilm X-T20
	Fujifilm X-A3« »	4.6 in	2.6 in	1.6 in	12.0 oz	410	n	Aug 2016	399		Fujifilm X-A3
	Leica C-LUX« »	4.4 in	2.6 in	1.8 in	12.0 oz	370	n	Jun 2018	1,049		Leica C-LUX
	Leica TL2« »	5.3 in	2.7 in	1.3 in	14.1 oz	250	n	Jul 2017	1,950		Leica TL2
	Leica TL« »	5.3 in	2.7 in	1.3 in	13.5 oz	400	n	Nov 2016	1,695		Leica TL
	Leica T« »	5.3 in	2.7 in	1.3 in	13.5 oz	400	n	Apr 2014	1,850		Leica T
	Nikon D3500« »	4.9 in	3.8 in	2.8 in	12.9 oz	1550	n	Aug 2018	429		Nikon D3500
	Nikon D5600« »	4.9 in	3.8 in	2.8 in	16.4 oz	970	n	Nov 2016	699		Nikon D5600
	Nikon D3400« »	4.9 in	3.9 in	3.0 in	15.7 oz	1200	n	Aug 2016	499		Nikon D3400
	Olympus E-M10 II« »	4.7 in	3.3 in	1.9 in	13.8 oz	320	n	Aug 2015	649		Olympus E-M10 II
	Olympus E-M10« »	4.7 in	3.2 in	1.8 in	14.0 oz	320	n	Jan 2014	699		Olympus E-M10
	Panasonic GX9« »	4.9 in	2.8 in	1.9 in	14.4 oz	260	n	Feb 2018	849		Panasonic GX9
	Panasonic G80« »	5.0 in	3.5 in	2.9 in	17.8 oz	330	Y	Sep 2016	899		Panasonic G80
	Panasonic GX7« »	4.8 in	2.8 in	2.2 in	14.2 oz	350	n	Aug 2013	999		Panasonic GX7
Convert to Metric
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

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 GX80 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 71 percent) than the CL, 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 tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units 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.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Leica CL features an APS-C sensor and the Panasonic GX80 a Four Thirds sensor. The sensor area in the GX80 is 39 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.5 and 2.0. The sensor in the CL has a native 3:2 aspect ratio, while the one in the GX80 offers a 4:3 aspect.

In terms of underlying technology, both cameras are build around CMOS sensors.

With 24.1MP, the CL offers a higher resolution than the GX80 (15.8MP), but the CL nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 3.92μm versus 3.77μm for the GX80) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the CL is a somewhat more recent model (by 1 year and 7 months) than the GX80, and its sensor might 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 neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Leica CL implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the CL for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 30.1 x 20.1 inch or 76.4 x 51 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24.1 x 16.1 inch or 61.1 x 40.8 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20 x 13.4 inch or 50.9 x 34 cm. The corresponding values for the Panasonic GX80 are 23 x 17.2 inch or 58.3 x 43.8 cm for good quality, 18.4 x 13.8 inch or 46.7 x 35 cm for very good quality, and 15.3 x 11.5 inch or 38.9 x 29.2 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Leica CL (Typ 7323) has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 50000. The corresponding ISO settings for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX80 are ISO 200 to ISO 25600, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-25600.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. 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 table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. 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

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The two cameras under review are similar with respect to both having an electronic viewfinder. However, the one in the GX80 offers a higher resolution than the one in the CL (2765k vs 2360k dots). The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Leica CL and Panasonic GX80 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

One feature that is present on the CL, but is missing on the GX80 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, 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 Leica CL and the Panasonic GX80 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 CL and the GX80 write their files to SDXC cards. The CL supports UHS-II cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 312 MB/s), while the GX80 can use UHS-I cards (up to 104 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 Leica CL (Typ 7323) and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX80 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Both the CL and the GX80 are recent models that are part of the current product line-up. The GX80 replaced the earlier Panasonic GX7, while the CL does not have a direct predecessor. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Leica and Panasonic websites.

Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Which of the two cameras – the Leica CL or the Panasonic GX80 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Reasons to prefer the Leica CL (Typ 7323):

• More detail: Offers more megapixels (24.1 vs 15.8MP) with a 26% higher linear resolution.
• 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.
• Easier setting verification: Features an LCD display on top to control shooting parameters.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10 vs 8 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• 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 price.
• More modern: Is somewhat more recent (announced 1 year and 7 months after the GX80).

Advantages of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX80:

• More detailed viewfinder: Has higher resolution electronic viewfinder (2765k vs 2360k dots).
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.70x vs 0.49x).
• More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
• More compact: Is smaller (122x71mm vs 131x78mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (290 versus 220) out of a single battery charge.
• Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
• Easier fill-in: Has a small integrated flash to brighten shadows of backlit subjects.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (71 percent cheaper at launch).
• More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in April 2016).

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the CL emerges as the winner of the contest (11 : 9 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision 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 Leica CL and the Panasonic GX80 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 comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the CL or the GX80 perform in practice. 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 adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, and photographyblog). 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.

Review Scores

	Camera Model	cam era   labs	dp re   view	e photo   zine	ima ging resource	photo graphy   blog	Camera Launch (announced)	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price (USD)	Camera Model
	Leica CL	..	..	..	..	4/5	Nov 2017	2,795		Leica CL
	Panasonic GX80	+ +	82/100	5/5	4.5/5	5/5	Apr 2016	799		Panasonic GX80
	Fujifilm X-T100	+	79/100	4/5	..	4.5/5	May 2018	599		Fujifilm X-T100
	Fujifilm X-T20	+ +	82/100	5/5	..	4.5/5	Jan 2017	899		Fujifilm X-T20
	Fujifilm X-A3	..	74/100	4.5/5	..	4/5	Aug 2016	399		Fujifilm X-A3
	Leica C-LUX	..	..	4.5/5	..	4/5	Jun 2018	1,049		Leica C-LUX
	Leica TL2	..	..	4/5	..	4/5	Jul 2017	1,950		Leica TL2
	Leica TL	..	..	..	..	4/5	Nov 2016	1,695		Leica TL
	Leica T	..	..	4/5	..	4/5	Apr 2014	1,850		Leica T
	Nikon D3500	..	75/100	4/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2018	429		Nikon D3500
	Nikon D5600	..	79/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4/5	Nov 2016	699		Nikon D5600
	Nikon D3400	+	76/100	4/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2016	499		Nikon D3400
	Olympus E-M10 II	+ +	80/100	5/5	5/5	5/5	Aug 2015	649		Olympus E-M10 II
	Olympus E-M10	..	80/100	5/5	4.5/5	5/5	Jan 2014	699		Olympus E-M10
	Panasonic GX9	+	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2018	849		Panasonic GX9
	Panasonic G80	+ +	84/100	5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2016	899		Panasonic G80
	Panasonic GX7	+	79/100	5/5	4.5/5	5/5	Aug 2013	999		Panasonic GX7
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. 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 are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make your choice using the following search menu. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

Specifications: Leica CL vs Panasonic GX80

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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