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Leica CL vs Pentax K-3 II

The Leica CL (Typ 7323) and the Pentax K-3 II are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in November 2017 and April 2015. The CL is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, while the K-3 II is a DSLR. Both cameras are equipped with an APS-C sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 24.1 megapixels.

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

Headline Specifications
Leica CL
versus
Pentax K-3 II
Leica CL   Pentax K-3 II
Mirrorless system camera Digital single lens reflex
Leica T mount lenses Pentax K mount lenses
24.1 MP – APS-C sensor 24.1 MP – APS-C sensor
4K/30p Video 1080/60i Video
ISO 100-50,000 ISO 100-51,200
Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots) Optical viewfinder
3.0" LCD – 1040k dots 3.2" LCD – 1037k dots
Fixed touchscreen Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
10 shutter flaps per second 8.3 shutter flaps per second
Lens stabilization onlyIn-body stabilization
not weather sealedWeathersealed body
220 shots per battery charge720 shots per battery charge
131 x 78 x 45 mm, 403 g 131 x 100 x 77 mm, 800 g
logo
Check CL offers at
ebay.com
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Check K-3 II offers at
ebay.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Leica CL (Typ 7323) and the Pentax K-3 II? 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 Pentax K-3 II 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.

The K-3 II can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the CL is only available in black.

Size Leica CL vs Pentax K-3 II
Compare CL versus K-3 II top
Comparison CL or K-3 II rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Pentax K-3 II is notably larger (28 percent) than the Leica CL. Moreover, the K-3 II is substantially heavier (99 percent) than the CL. It is noteworthy in this context that the K-3 II is splash and dust-proof, while the CL does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

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 Leica BP-DC12 battery, while the K-3 II can take 720 images on a single charge of its Pentax D-LI90 power pack.

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
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Leica CL 131 mm 78 mm 45 mm 403 g 220 i Nov 2017 US$ 2 795ebay.com
2.
 
Pentax K-3 II 131 mm 100 mm 77 mm 800 g 720 i Apr 2015 US$ 1 099ebay.com
3.
 
Fujifilm X-A3 117 mm 67 mm 40 mm 339 g 410 i Aug 2016 US$ 399ebay.com
4.
 
Fujifilm X-T20 118 mm 83 mm 41 mm 383 g 350 i Jan 2017 US$ 899ebay.com
5.
 
Fujifilm X-T100 121 mm 83 mm 47 mm 448 g 430 i May 2018 US$ 599ebay.com
6.
 
Leica C-LUX 113 mm 67 mm 46 mm 340 g 370 i Jun 2018 US$ 1 049ebay.com
7.
 
Leica T 134 mm 69 mm 33 mm 384 g 400 i Apr 2014 US$ 1 849ebay.com
8.
 
Leica TL 134 mm 69 mm 33 mm 384 g 400 i Nov 2016 US$ 1 695ebay.com
9.
 
Leica TL2 134 mm 69 mm 33 mm 399 g 250 i Jul 2017 US$ 1 949ebay.com
10.
 
Nikon D3400 124 mm 98 mm 76 mm 445 g 1200 i Aug 2016 US$ 499ebay.com
11.
 
Nikon D3500 124 mm 97 mm 70 mm 415 g 1550 i Aug 2018 US$ 429ebay.com
12.
 
Nikon D5600 124 mm 97 mm 70 mm 465 g 970 i Nov 2016 US$ 699ebay.com
13.
 
Nikon D7200 136 mm 107 mm 76 mm 765 g 1110 i Mar 2015 US$ 1 199ebay.com
14.
 
Pentax K-3 131 mm 100 mm 77 mm 800 g 560 i Oct 2013 US$ 1 299ebay.com
15.
 
Pentax K-3 III 135 mm 104 mm 74 mm 820 g 800 i Mar 2021 US$ 1 999 amazon.com
16.
 
Pentax K-5 II 131 mm 97 mm 73 mm 760 g 740 i Sep 2012 US$ 1 099ebay.com
17.
 
Pentax K-S2 123 mm 91 mm 73 mm 678 g 410 i Feb 2015 US$ 749ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
  empty Camera
Model

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 K-3 II was launched at a markedly lower price (by 61 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.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant 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. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor, but their sensors differ slightly in size. The sensor area in the K-3 II is 1 percent smaller. 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.

Leica CL and Pentax K-3 II sensor measures

Even though the CL has a slightly larger sensor, both cameras offer the same resolution of 24.1 megapixels. This implies that the CL has a lower pixel density and larger individual pixels (with a pixel pitch of 3.92μm versus 3.90μm for the K-3 II), which gives it a potential advantage in terms of light gathering capacity. In addition, the CL is much more recent (by 2 years and 7 months) than the K-3 II, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time. 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.

Unlike the CL, the K-3 II has the capacity to capture high quality composite images by combining multiple shots after shifting its sensor by miniscule distances. This multi-shot, pixel-shift mode is most suitable for photography of stationary objects (landscapes, studio scenes).

The Leica CL (Typ 7323) has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 50000. The corresponding ISO settings for the Pentax K-3 II are ISO 100 to ISO 51200 (no boost).

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. 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 K-3 II MP

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.

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Sensor Characteristics
  empty 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.
 
Pentax K-3 II APS-C 24.1 6016 40001080/60i23.613.6110680
3.
 
Fujifilm X-A3 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.813.1166381
4.
 
Fujifilm X-T20 APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/30p23.913.2170481
5.
 
Fujifilm X-T100 APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/15p24.013.4182983
6.
 
Leica C-LUX 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.112.348164
7.
 
Leica T APS-C 16.2 4944 32781080/30p23.012.7108275
8.
 
Leica TL APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/30p23.913.2169081
9.
 
Leica TL2 APS-C 24.1 6014 40144K/30p23.913.3175382
10.
 
Nikon D3400 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.813.9119286
11.
 
Nikon D3500 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.013.4185183
12.
 
Nikon D5600 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.114.0130684
13.
 
Nikon D7200 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.514.6133387
14.
 
Pentax K-3 APS-C 24.1 6016 40001080/60i23.713.4121680
15.
 
Pentax K-3 III APS-C 25.6 6192 41284K/30p24.213.7208385
16.
 
Pentax K-5 II APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/25p23.814.1123582
17.
 
Pentax K-S2 APS-C 20.0 5472 36481080/30p23.612.9151479
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
  empty Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
  empty Camera
Model

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the CL provides a higher video resolution than the K-3 II. It can shoot video footage at 4K/30p, while the Pentax is limited to 1080/60i.

Feature comparison

Beyond 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 K-3 II 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 viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (100%), but the viewfinder of the K-3 II has a higher magnification than the one of the CL (0.63x vs 0.49x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Leica CL, the Pentax K-3 II, and comparable cameras.

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Core Features
  empty 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 i3.0 / 1040 fixed i 1/8000s 10.0/s i i
2.
 
Pentax K-3 IIoptical i3.2 / 1037 fixed i 1/8000s 8.3/s i i
3.
 
Fujifilm X-A3i i3.0 / 1040 tilting i 1/4000s 6.0/s i i
4.
 
Fujifilm X-T202360 i3.0 / 1040 tilting i 1/4000s 8.0/s i i
5.
 
Fujifilm X-T1002360 i3.0 / 1040 swivel i 1/4000s 6.0/s i i
6.
 
Leica C-LUX2330 i3.0 / 1240 fixed i 1/2000s 10.0/s i i
7.
 
Leica Toptional i3.7 / 1230 fixed i 1/4000s 5.0/s i i
8.
 
Leica TLoptional i3.7 / 1230 fixed i 1/4000s 5.0/s i i
9.
 
Leica TL2optional i3.7 / 1230 fixed i 1/4000s 7.0/s i i
10.
 
Nikon D3400optical i3.0 / 921 fixed i 1/4000s 5.0/s i i
11.
 
Nikon D3500optical i3.0 / 921 fixed i 1/4000s 5.0/s i i
12.
 
Nikon D5600optical i3.2 / 1037 swivel i 1/4000s 5.0/s i i
13.
 
Nikon D7200optical i3.2 / 1229 fixed i 1/8000s 6.0/s i i
14.
 
Pentax K-3optical i3.2 / 1037 fixed i 1/8000s 8.3/s i i
15.
 
Pentax K-3 IIIoptical i3.2 / 1620 fixed i 1/8000s 12.0/s i i
16.
 
Pentax K-5 IIoptical i3.0 / 921 fixed i 1/8000s 7.0/s i i
17.
 
Pentax K-S2optical i3.0 / 921 swivel i 1/6000s 5.4/s i i
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
  empty 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
  empty Camera
Model

One differentiating feature between the two cameras concerns the touch sensitivity of the rear screen. The CL has a touchscreen, while the K-3 II has a conventional panel. Touch control can be particularly helpful, for example, for setting the focus point.

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 and the Pentax K-3 II 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 K-3 II write their files to SDXC cards. The K-3 II features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the CL only has one slot. The CL supports UHS-II cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 312 MB/s), while the K-3 II 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 Pentax K-3 II and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
  empty Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Leica CListereo / monoiiiiiii
2.
 
Pentax K-3 IIimono / monoiimini3.0iii
3.
 
Fujifilm X-A3istereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
4.
 
Fujifilm X-T20istereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
5.
 
Fujifilm X-T100istereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
6.
 
Leica C-LUXistereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
7.
 
Leica Tistereo / monoiii2.0iii
8.
 
Leica TListereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
9.
 
Leica TL2istereo / monoiimicro3.0iii
10.
 
Nikon D3400imono / monoiimini2.0iii
11.
 
Nikon D3500imono / monoiimini2.0iii
12.
 
Nikon D5600istereo / monoiimini2.0iii
13.
 
Nikon D7200istereo / monoiimini2.0iii
14.
 
Pentax K-3imono / monoiimini3.0iii
15.
 
Pentax K-3 IIIistereo / monoiimicro3.2iii
16.
 
Pentax K-5 IIistereo / monoiimini2.0iii
17.
 
Pentax K-S2imono / monoiimicro2.0iii
  empty Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
  empty Camera
Model

It is notable that the CL offers wifi support, while the K-3 II does not. Wifi can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Pentax K-3 II (unlike the CL) 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 K-3 II has an internal geolocalization sensor and can record GPS coordinates in its EXIF data.

Both the CL and the K-3 II have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The K-3 II was replaced by the Pentax K-3 III, while the CL does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the CL and K-3 II can be found, respectively, in the Leica CL Manual (free pdf) or the online Pentax K-3 II Manual.

Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Is the Leica CL better than the Pentax K-3 II or vice versa? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

ilogo

Reasons to prefer the Leica CL (Typ 7323):

  • Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/60i).
  • More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
  • Fewer buttons to press: Is equipped with a touch-sensitive rear screen to facilitate handling.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10 vs 8.3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
  • More compact: Is smaller (131x78mm vs 131x100mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • Less heavy: Is lighter (by 397g or 50 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
  • More legacy lens friendly: Can take a broad range of non-native lenses via adapters.
  • Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
  • 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: Reflects 2 years and 7 months of technical progress since the K-3 II launch.

ilogo

Arguments in favor of the Pentax K-3 II:

  • High quality composites: Can combine several shots after pixel-shifting its sensor.
  • Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
  • Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
  • Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.63x vs 0.49x).
  • Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (720 versus 220) out of a single battery charge.
  • Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
  • Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
  • Easier geotagging: Features an internal GPS sensor to log localization data.
  • 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.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (61 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in April 2015).

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the K-3 II emerges as the winner of the match-up (14 : 12 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 12:14 K-3 II

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Leica CL and the Pentax K-3 II place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera and Best DSLR Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the CL and the K-3 II in practical situations. 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 expert reviews are important. 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
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Leica CL....4.2/5....4/5 Nov 2017 US$ 2 795ebay.com
2.
 
Pentax K-3 II4.5/5......5/55/5 Apr 2015 US$ 1 099ebay.com
3.
 
Fujifilm X-A3......74/1004.5/54/5 Aug 2016 US$ 399ebay.com
4.
 
Fujifilm X-T205/5+ +5/582/1005/54.5/5 Jan 2017 US$ 899ebay.com
5.
 
Fujifilm X-T1004/5+4.5/579/1004/54.5/5 May 2018 US$ 599ebay.com
6.
 
Leica C-LUX....3.5/5..4.5/54/5 Jun 2018 US$ 1 049ebay.com
7.
 
Leica T3/5......4/54/5 Apr 2014 US$ 1 849ebay.com
8.
 
Leica TL..........4/5 Nov 2016 US$ 1 695ebay.com
9.
 
Leica TL23.5/5..3/5..4/54/5 Jul 2017 US$ 1 949ebay.com
10.
 
Nikon D34004/5+4/576/1004/54.5/5 Aug 2016 US$ 499ebay.com
11.
 
Nikon D35004/5..4/575/1004/54.5/5 Aug 2018 US$ 429ebay.com
12.
 
Nikon D56004/5..4/579/1004.5/54/5 Nov 2016 US$ 699ebay.com
13.
 
Nikon D72004/5+ +..84/1004.5/54.5/5 Mar 2015 US$ 1 199ebay.com
14.
 
Pentax K-34/5....83/1005/55/5 Oct 2013 US$ 1 299ebay.com
15.
 
Pentax K-3 III4/5..3/5..4.5/5.. Mar 2021 US$ 1 999 amazon.com
16.
 
Pentax K-5 II5/5....80/1005/54.5/5 Sep 2012 US$ 1 099ebay.com
17.
 
Pentax K-S24.5/5......5/54.5/5 Feb 2015 US$ 749ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
  empty  Camera 
 Model 

The above review scores should be interpreted 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 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.

logo
Check CL offers at
ebay.com
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Check K-3 II offers at
ebay.com

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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  • Canon M10
  • Canon M50
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  • Canon M100
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  • Canon RP
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  • Canon Rebel
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  • Canon V1
  • Canon XC10
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  • Canon XSi
  • Canon XT
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  • Contax N Digital
  • Epson R-D1
  • Fujifilm GFX 50R
  • Fujifilm GFX 50S
  • Fujifilm GFX 50S II
  • Fujifilm GFX 100
  • Fujifilm GFX 100 II
  • Fujifilm GFX 100RF
  • Fujifilm GFX 100S
  • Fujifilm GFX 100S II
  • Fujifilm X-A1
  • Fujifilm X-A2
  • Fujifilm X-A3
  • Fujifilm X-A5
  • Fujifilm X-A7
  • Fujifilm X-A10
  • Fujifilm X-E1
  • Fujifilm X-E2
  • Fujifilm X-E2S
  • Fujifilm X-E3
  • Fujifilm X-E4
  • Fujifilm X-E5
  • Fujifilm X-H1
  • Fujifilm X-H2
  • Fujifilm X-H2S
  • Fujifilm X-M1
  • Fujifilm X-M5
  • Fujifilm X-Pro1
  • Fujifilm X-Pro2
  • Fujifilm X-Pro3
  • Fujifilm X-S10
  • Fujifilm X-S20
  • Fujifilm X-T1
  • Fujifilm X-T2
  • Fujifilm X-T3
  • Fujifilm X-T4
  • Fujifilm X-T5
  • Fujifilm X-T10
  • Fujifilm X-T20
  • Fujifilm X-T30
  • Fujifilm X-T30 II
  • Fujifilm X-T50
  • Fujifilm X-T100
  • Fujifilm X-T200
  • Fujifilm X10
  • Fujifilm X20
  • Fujifilm X30
  • Fujifilm X70
  • Fujifilm X100
  • Fujifilm X100S
  • Fujifilm X100T
  • Fujifilm X100F
  • Fujifilm X100V
  • Fujifilm X100VI
  • Fujifilm XF10
  • Fujifilm XQ1
  • Fujifilm XQ2
  • Fujifilm XP120
  • Fujifilm XP130
  • Fujifilm XP140
  • Hasselblad X1D
  • Hasselblad X1D II
  • Hasselblad X2D 100C
  • Kodak AZ901
  • Kodak S-1
  • Leica C-LUX
  • Leica CL
  • Leica D-LUX Typ 109
  • Leica D-LUX 5
  • Leica D-LUX 6
  • Leica D-LUX 7
  • Leica D-LUX 8
  • Leica Digilux 3
  • Leica M Typ 240
  • Leica M-E Typ 240
  • Leica M Typ 262
  • Leica M8
  • Leica M9
  • Leica M10
  • Leica M10-P
  • Leica M10-R
  • Leica M11
  • Leica Q Typ 116
  • Leica Q2
  • Leica Q3
  • Leica S1
  • Leica S2
  • Leica S3
  • Leica S Typ 006
  • Leica S-E Typ 006
  • Leica S Typ 007
  • Leica SL
  • Leica SL2
  • Leica SL2-S
  • Leica SL3
  • Leica SL3-S
  • Leica T
  • Leica TL
  • Leica TL2
  • Leica V-LUX 1
  • Leica V-LUX 2
  • Leica V-LUX 3
  • Leica V-LUX 4
  • Leica V-LUX Typ 114
  • Leica V-LUX 5
  • Leica X1
  • Leica X2
  • Leica X Vario
  • Leica X Typ 113
  • Leica X-U Typ 113
  • Leitz Ur-Leica
  • Nikon 1 J4
  • Nikon 1 J5
  • Nikon 1 V1
  • Nikon 1 V2
  • Nikon 1 V3
  • Nikon Coolpix A
  • Nikon A1000
  • Nikon B500
  • Nikon B600
  • Nikon B700
  • Nikon D1
  • Nikon D1H
  • Nikon D1X
  • Nikon D2H
  • Nikon D2X
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  • Nikon D3
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  • Nikon D4
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  • Nikon D5
  • Nikon D6
  • Nikon D40
  • Nikon D40X
  • Nikon D50
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  • Nikon D70
  • Nikon D70s
  • Nikon D80
  • Nikon D90
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  • Nikon D300S
  • Nikon D500
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  • Nikon D610
  • Nikon D700
  • Nikon D750
  • Nikon D780
  • Nikon D800
  • Nikon D800E
  • Nikon D810
  • Nikon D850
  • Nikon D3000
  • Nikon D3100
  • Nikon D3200
  • Nikon D3300
  • Nikon D3400
  • Nikon D3500
  • Nikon D5000
  • Nikon D5100
  • Nikon D5200
  • Nikon D5300
  • Nikon D5500
  • Nikon D5600
  • Nikon D7000
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  • Nikon D7200
  • Nikon D7500
  • Nikon Df
  • Nikon L840
  • Nikon P900
  • Nikon P950
  • Nikon P1000
  • Nikon P1100
  • Nikon P7800
  • Nikon W150
  • Nikon W300
  • Nikon Z5
  • Nikon Z5 II
  • Nikon Z6
  • Nikon Z6 II
  • Nikon Z6 III
  • Nikon Z7
  • Nikon Z7 II
  • Nikon Z8
  • Nikon Z9
  • Nikon Z30
  • Nikon Z50
  • Nikon Z50 II
  • Nikon Zf
  • Nikon Z fc
  • Olympus E-1
  • Olympus E-3
  • Olympus E-5
  • Olympus E-30
  • Olympus E-300
  • Olympus E-330
  • Olympus E-400
  • Olympus E-410
  • Olympus E-420
  • Olympus E-450
  • Olympus E-500
  • Olympus E-510
  • Olympus E-520
  • Olympus E-600
  • Olympus E-620
  • Olympus E-M1
  • Olympus E-M1 II
  • Olympus E-M1 III
  • Olympus E-M1X
  • Olympus E-M5
  • Olympus E-M5 II
  • Olympus E-M5 III
  • Olympus E-M10
  • Olympus E-M10 II
  • Olympus E-M10 III
  • Olympus E-M10 IV
  • Olympus E-P1
  • Olympus E-P2
  • Olympus E-P3
  • Olympus E-P5
  • Olympus E-P7
  • Olympus E-PL1
  • Olympus E-PL2
  • Olympus E-PL3
  • Olympus E-PL5
  • Olympus E-PL6
  • Olympus E-PL7
  • Olympus E-PL8
  • Olympus E-PL9
  • Olympus E-PL10
  • Olympus E-PM1
  • Olympus E-PM2
  • Olympus PEN-F
  • Olympus Stylus 1
  • Olympus Stylus 1s
  • Olympus TG-4
  • Olympus TG-5
  • Olympus TG-6
  • Olympus XZ-1
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  • OM System OM-1
  • OM System OM-1 II
  • OM System OM-3
  • OM System OM-5
  • OM System OM-5 II
  • OM System TG-7
  • Panasonic FZ80
  • Panasonic FZ80D
  • Panasonic FZ100
  • Panasonic FZ150
  • Panasonic FZ200
  • Panasonic FZ300
  • Panasonic FZ1000
  • Panasonic FZ1000 II
  • Panasonic FZ2500
  • Panasonic G1
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  • Panasonic G3
  • Panasonic G5
  • Panasonic G6
  • Panasonic G7
  • Panasonic G9
  • Panasonic G9 II
  • Panasonic G10
  • Panasonic G85
  • Panasonic G97
  • Panasonic G95
  • Panasonic G100
  • Panasonic GF1
  • Panasonic GF2
  • Panasonic GF3
  • Panasonic GF5
  • Panasonic GF6
  • Panasonic GF7
  • Panasonic GH1
  • Panasonic GH2
  • Panasonic GH3
  • Panasonic GH4
  • Panasonic GH5
  • Panasonic GH5 II
  • Panasonic GH5s
  • Panasonic GH6
  • Panasonic GH7
  • Panasonic GM1
  • Panasonic GM5
  • Panasonic GX1
  • Panasonic GX7
  • Panasonic GX8
  • Panasonic GX9
  • Panasonic GX85
  • Panasonic GX850
  • Panasonic L1
  • Panasonic L10
  • Panasonic LF1
  • Panasonic LX5
  • Panasonic LX7
  • Panasonic LX10
  • Panasonic LX100
  • Panasonic LX100 II
  • Panasonic S1
  • Panasonic S1 II
  • Panasonic S1H
  • Panasonic S1R
  • Panasonic S1R II
  • Panasonic S5
  • Panasonic S5 II
  • Panasonic S9
  • Panasonic TS7
  • Panasonic ZS70
  • Panasonic ZS80
  • Panasonic ZS100
  • Panasonic ZS200
  • Pentax 645D
  • Pentax 645Z
  • Pentax K-1
  • Pentax K-1 II
  • Pentax K-3
  • Pentax K-3 II
  • Pentax K-3 III
  • Pentax K-5
  • Pentax K-5 II
  • Pentax K-30
  • Pentax K-50
  • Pentax K-70
  • Pentax K-500
  • Pentax KP
  • Pentax K-S1
  • Pentax K-S2
  • Pentax MX-1
  • Pentax Q
  • Pentax WG-8
  • Pentax WG-90
  • Pentax WG-1000
  • Ricoh GR
  • Ricoh GR II
  • Ricoh GR III
  • Ricoh GR IIIx
  • Ricoh WG-6
  • Ricoh WG-60
  • Samsung NX1
  • Samsung NX30
  • Samsung NX500
  • Sigma fp
  • Sigma fp L
  • Sony A1
  • Sony A1 II
  • Sony A7
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  • Sony A7 III
  • Sony A7 IV
  • Sony A7C
  • Sony A7C II
  • Sony A7C R
  • Sony A7R
  • Sony A7R II
  • Sony A7R III
  • Sony A7R IIIA
  • Sony A7R IV
  • Sony A7R IVA
  • Sony A7R V
  • Sony A7S
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  • Sony A9
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  • Sony A58
  • Sony A68
  • Sony A77
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  • Sony A99
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  • Sony A850
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  • Sony A3000
  • Sony A5000
  • Sony A5100
  • Sony A6000
  • Sony A6100
  • Sony A6300
  • Sony A6400
  • Sony A6500
  • Sony A6600
  • Sony A6700
  • Sony H200
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  • Sony H400
  • Sony HX80
  • Sony HX90V
  • Sony HX95
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  • Sony NEX-3
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  • Sony RX0
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  • Sony RX1
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  • Sony RX10 IV
  • Sony RX100
  • Sony RX100 II
  • Sony RX100 III
  • Sony RX100 IV
  • Sony RX100 V
  • Sony RX100 VI
  • Sony RX100 VII
  • Sony WX800
  • Sony ZV-1
  • Sony ZV-1 II
  • Sony ZV-1F
  • Sony ZV-E1
  • Sony ZV-E10
  • Sony ZV-E10 II
  • YI M1
  • Zeiss ZX1
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Specifications: Leica CL vs Pentax K-3 II

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 Pentax K-3 II
Camera Type Mirrorless system camera Digital single lens reflex
Camera Lens Leica T mount lenses Pentax K mount lenses
Launch Date November 2017 April 2015
Launch Price USD 2,795 USD 1,099
Sensor Specs Leica CL Pentax K-3 II
Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
Sensor Format APS-C Sensor APS-C Sensor
Sensor Size 23.6 x 15.7 mm 23.5 x 15.6 mm
Sensor Area 370.52 mm2 366.6 mm2
Sensor Diagonal 28.3 mm 28.2 mm
Crop Factor 1.5x 1.5x
Sensor Resolution 24.1 Megapixels 24.1 Megapixels
Image Resolution 6014 x 4014 pixels 6016 x 4000 pixels
Pixel Pitch 3.92 μm 3.90 μm
Pixel Density 6.52 MP/cm2 6.56 MP/cm2
Moiré control no AA filter no AA filter
Movie Capability 4K/30p Video 1080/60i Video
ISO Setting 100 - 50,000 ISO 100 - 51,200 ISO
Image Processor Maestro II PRIME III
DXO Sensor Quality (score) .. 80
DXO Color Depth (bits) .. 23.6
DXO Dynamic Range (EV) .. 13.6
DXO Low Light (ISO) .. 1106
Screen Specs Leica CL Pentax K-3 II
Viewfinder Type Electronic viewfinder Optical viewfinder
Viewfinder Field of View 100% 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.49x 0.63x
Viewfinder Resolution 2360k dots
Top-Level Screen Control Panel Control Panel
LCD Framing Live View Live View
Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.2inch
LCD Resolution 1040k dots 1037k dots
LCD Attachment Fixed screen Fixed screen
Touch Input Touchscreen no Touchscreen
Shooting Specs Leica CL Pentax K-3 II
Focus System Contrast-detect AF Phase-detect AF
Manual Focusing AidFocus PeakingFocus Peaking
Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/8000s 1/8000s
Continuous Shooting 10 shutter flaps/s 8.3 shutter flaps/s
Electronic Shutterup to 1/25000sno E-Shutter
Time-Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer built-inIntervalometer built-in
Image StabilizationLens stabilization onlyIn-body stabilization
Fill Flash no On-Board Flash no On-Board Flash
Storage Medium SDXC cards SDXC cards
Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Dual card slots
UHS card support UHS-II UHS-I
Connectivity Specs Leica CL Pentax K-3 II
External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
Studio Flash no PC Sync PC Sync socket
USB Connector no USB USB 3.0
HDMI Port no HDMI mini HDMI
Microphone Port no MIC socket External MIC port
Headphone Socket no Headphone port Headphone port
Wifi Support Wifi built-in no Wifi
Geotagging no internal GPS GPS built-in
Body Specs Leica CL Pentax K-3 II
Environmental Sealingnot weather sealedWeathersealed body
Battery Type Leica BP-DC12 Pentax D-LI90
Battery Life (CIPA)220 shots per charge720 shots per charge
Body Dimensions 131 x 78 x 45 mm
(5.2 x 3.1 x 1.8 in)
131 x 100 x 77 mm
(5.2 x 3.9 x 3.0 in)
Camera Weight 403 g (14.2 oz) 800 g (28.2 oz)
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