Leica S2 vs Nikon 1 J5

The Leica S2 and the Nikon 1 J5 are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in September 2008 and April 2015. The S2 is a DSLR, while the J5 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on a medium format (S2) and an one-inch (J5) sensor. The Leica has a resolution of 37.5 megapixels, whereas the Nikon provides 20.7 MP.

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

Headline Specifications

Leica S2		Nikon 1 J5
Digital single lens reflex		Mirrorless system camera
Leica S mount lenses		Nikon 1 mount lenses
37.5 MP – Medium Format sensor		20.7 MP – 1" sensor
no Video		4K/15p Video
ISO 80-1,250		ISO 160-12,800
Optical viewfinder		No viewfinder, LCD framing
3.0" LCD – 460k dots		3.0" LCD – 1037k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Tilting touchscreen
1.5 shutter flaps per second		60 shutter flaps per second
Weathersealed body		not weather sealed
160 x 120 x 80 mm, 1410 g		98 x 60 x 32 mm, 231 g

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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Leica S2 and the Nikon 1 J5? 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

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Leica S2 and the Nikon 1 J5 is provided 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 dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The J5 can be obtained in three different colors (black, silver, white), while the S2 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 Nikon 1 J5 is considerably smaller (69 percent) than the Leica S2. Moreover, the J5 is substantially lighter (84 percent) than the S2. It is worth mentioning in this context that the S2 is splash and dust resistant, while the J5 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.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Leica S2	160 mm	120 mm	80 mm	1410 g	..	Y	Sep 2008	22,995	ebay.com
2.		Nikon 1 J5	98 mm	60 mm	32 mm	231 g	250	n	Apr 2015	399	ebay.com
3.		Canon 1Ds Mark III	150 mm	160 mm	80 mm	1385 g	1800	Y	Aug 2007	7,999	ebay.com
4.		Canon G9 X	98 mm	58 mm	31 mm	209 g	220	n	Oct 2015	529	ebay.com
5.		Leica S1	339 mm	214 mm	119 mm	2500 g	..	n	Aug 1996	21,490	ebay.com
6.		Leica S3	160 mm	120 mm	80 mm	1260 g	..	Y	Sep 2018	18,995	ebay.com
7.		Leica S Typ 006	160 mm	120 mm	80 mm	1260 g	..	Y	Sep 2012	21,950	ebay.com
8.		Leica S-E Typ 006	160 mm	120 mm	80 mm	1260 g	..	Y	Sep 2014	16,900	ebay.com
9.		Leica S Typ 007	160 mm	120 mm	80 mm	1260 g	..	Y	Sep 2014	24,490	ebay.com
10.		Nikon 1 J4	100 mm	60 mm	29 mm	232 g	300	n	Apr 2014	549	ebay.com
11.		Nikon 1 V3	111 mm	65 mm	33 mm	381 g	310	n	Mar 2014	799	ebay.com
12.		Nikon D3	160 mm	157 mm	88 mm	1300 g	4300	Y	Aug 2007	4,999	ebay.com
13.		Nikon D3S	160 mm	157 mm	88 mm	1240 g	4200	Y	Oct 2009	5,199	ebay.com
14.		Nikon D3X	160 mm	157 mm	88 mm	1260 g	4400	Y	Dec 2008	7,999	ebay.com
15.		Pentax 645D	156 mm	117 mm	119 mm	1480 g	800	Y	Mar 2010	9,995	ebay.com
16.		Sony A5000	110 mm	63 mm	36 mm	269 g	420	n	Jan 2014	449	ebay.com
17.		Sony RX100 IV	102 mm	58 mm	41 mm	298 g	280	n	Jun 2015	999	ebay.com
Note: 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 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 J5 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 98 percent) than the S2, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. 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. 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. 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 are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Leica S2 features a medium format sensor and the Nikon 1 J5 an one-inch sensor. The sensor area in the J5 is 91 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 0.8 and 2.7. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

With 37.5MP, the S2 offers a higher resolution than the J5 (20.7MP), but the S2 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 6.00μm versus 2.37μm for the J5) due to its larger sensor. However, the J5 is a much more recent model (by 6 years and 6 months) than the S2, and its sensor will 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 S2 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the S2 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 37.5 x 25 inches or 95.3 x 63.5 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 30 x 20 inches or 76.2 x 50.8 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 25 x 16.7 inches or 63.5 x 42.3 cm. The corresponding values for the Nikon 1 J5 are 27.8 x 18.6 inches or 70.7 x 47.1 cm for good quality, 22.3 x 14.8 inches or 56.6 x 37.7 cm for very good quality, and 18.6 x 12.4 inches or 47.1 x 31.4 cm for excellent quality prints.

The J5 has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Leica S2 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 80 to ISO 1250. The corresponding ISO settings for the Nikon 1 J5 are ISO 160 to ISO 12800 (no boost).

In terms of underlying technology, the S2 is build around a CCD sensor, while the J5 uses a BSI-CMOS 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.

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The 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.		Leica S2	Medium Format	37.5	7500	5000	none	23.9	12.5	2224	82
2.		Nikon 1 J5	1-inch	20.7	5568	3712	4K/15p	21.1	12.0	479	65
3.		Canon 1Ds Mark III	Full Frame	21.0	5616	3744	none	24.0	12.0	1663	80
4.		Canon G9 X	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	21.5	12.3	495	63
5.		Leica S1	Medium Format	26.4	5140	5140	none	..	..	..	..
6.		Leica S3	Medium Format	64.0	9800	6533	4K/24p	25.6	14.4	3143	98
7.		Leica S Typ 006	Medium Format	37.5	7500	5000	none	23.9	12.2	824	76
8.		Leica S-E Typ 006	Medium Format	37.5	7500	5000	none	25.1	13.7	2763	93
9.		Leica S Typ 007	Medium Format	37.5	7500	5000	4K/24p	25.1	13.7	2763	93
10.		Nikon 1 J4	1-inch	18.2	5232	3488	1080/60p	20.8	10.7	426	53
11.		Nikon 1 V3	1-inch	18.2	5232	3488	1080/60p	20.8	10.7	384	52
12.		Nikon D3	Full Frame	12.1	4256	2832	none	23.5	12.2	2290	81
13.		Nikon D3S	Full Frame	12.1	4256	2832	720/24p	23.5	12.0	3253	82
14.		Nikon D3X	Full Frame	24.4	6048	4032	none	24.7	13.7	1992	88
15.		Pentax 645D	Medium Format	39.5	7264	5440	none	24.6	12.6	1262	82
16.		Sony A5000	APS-C	19.8	5456	3632	1080/60i	23.8	13.0	1089	79
17.		Sony RX100 IV	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.8	12.6	591	70
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The J5 indeed provides for movie recording, while the S2 does not. The highest resolution format that the J5 can use is 4K/15p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the S2 has an optical viewfinder, which can be very useful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the J5 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Leica S2, the Nikon 1 J5, and comparable cameras.

Core Features

		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 S2	optical	Y	3.0 / 460	fixed	n	1/4000s	1.5/s	n	n
2.		Nikon 1 J5	none	n	3.0 / 1037	tilting	Y	1/4000s	60.0/s	Y	n
3.		Canon 1Ds Mark III	optical	Y	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0/s	n	n
4.		Canon G9 X	none	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	Y	1/2000s	6.0/s	Y	Y
5.		Leica S1	optical	n	none / none	none	n	..	0.01/s	n	n
6.		Leica S3	optical	Y	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	n	n
7.		Leica S Typ 006	optical	Y	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/4000s	1.5/s	n	n
8.		Leica S-E Typ 006	optical	Y	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/4000s	1.5/s	n	n
9.		Leica S Typ 007	optical	Y	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.5/s	n	n
10.		Nikon 1 J4	none	n	3.0 / 1037	Fixed	Y	1/4000s	60.0/s	Y	n
11.		Nikon 1 V3	optional	n	3.0 / 1037	tilting	Y	1/4000s	60.0/s	Y	n
12.		Nikon D3	optical	Y	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/8000s	11.0/s	n	n
13.		Nikon D3S	optical	Y	3.0 / 921	fixed	n	1/8000s	11.0/s	n	n
14.		Nikon D3X	optical	Y	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0/s	n	n
15.		Pentax 645D	optical	Y	3.0 / 921	fixed	n	1/4000s	1.1/s	n	n
16.		Sony A5000	none	n	3.0 / 461	tilting	n	1/4000s	3.5/s	Y	n
17.		Sony RX100 IV	2359	n	3.0 / 1228	tilting	n	1/2000s	16.0/s	Y	Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One feature that is present on the S2, but is missing on the J5 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 J5 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 Nikon 1 J5 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 S2 writes its imaging data to Compact Flash or SDHC cards, while the J5 uses SDXC cards. The S2 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the J5 only has one slot. The J5 supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the S2 cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD 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 Leica S2 and Nikon 1 J5 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 Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Leica S2	Y	- / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
2.		Nikon 1 J5	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
3.		Canon 1Ds Mark III	Y	mono / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
4.		Canon G9 X	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
5.		Leica S1	-	- / -	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
6.		Leica S3	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	Y	-	-
7.		Leica S Typ 006	Y	- / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
8.		Leica S-E Typ 006	Y	- / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Leica S Typ 007	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	Y	-	-
10.		Nikon 1 J4	-	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
11.		Nikon 1 V3	-	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
12.		Nikon D3	Y	- / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
13.		Nikon D3S	Y	stereo / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
14.		Nikon D3X	Y	- / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
15.		Pentax 645D	Y	stereo / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
16.		Sony A5000	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
17.		Sony RX100 IV	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-

It is notable that the S2 has a hotshoe, while the J5 does not. This socket makes it possible to easily attach optional accessories, such as an external flash gun.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Leica S2 (unlike the J5) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Both the S2 and the J5 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The S2 was replaced by the Leica S Typ 006, while the J5 does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the S2 and J5 can be found, respectively, in the Leica S2 Manual (free pdf) or the online Nikon 1 J5 Manual.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is there a clear favorite between the Leica S2 and the Nikon 1 J5? Which camera is better? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Arguments in favor of the Leica S2:

• More detail: Offers more megapixels (37.5 vs 20.7MP) with a 35% higher linear resolution.
• Easier framing: Has an optical viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
• Easier setting verification: Features an LCD display on top to control shooting parameters.
• Better sealing: Is weather sealed to enable shooting in dusty or wet environments.
• Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
• 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 prestigious: Has the Leica luxury appeal, which ensures a high resale price.
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in September 2008).

Reasons to prefer the Nikon 1 J5:

• Broader imaging potential: Can capture not only stills but also 4K/15p video.
• Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1037k vs 460k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
• Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (60 vs 1.5 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 (98x60mm vs 160x120mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 1179g or 84 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
• More legacy lens friendly: Can use many non-native lenses via adapters.
• Easier fill-in: Has a small integrated flash to brighten shadows of backlit subjects.
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
• Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (98 percent cheaper at launch).
• More modern: Reflects 6 years and 6 months of technical progress since the S2 launch.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the J5 is the clear winner of the contest (18 : 9 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. 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.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Leica S2 and the Nikon 1 J5 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings 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 says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the S2 and the J5 in practical situations. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular 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.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Leica S2	..	..	..	..	..	..	Sep 2008	22,995	ebay.com
2.		Nikon 1 J5	..	..	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Apr 2015	399	ebay.com
3.		Canon 1Ds Mark III	..	..	..	+ +	4.5/5	..	Aug 2007	7,999	ebay.com
4.		Canon G9 X	3.5/5	+ +	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2015	529	ebay.com
5.		Leica S1	..	..	..	..	..	..	Aug 1996	21,490	ebay.com
6.		Leica S3	..	..	..	..	..	..	Sep 2018	18,995	ebay.com
7.		Leica S Typ 006	..	..	..	..	..	..	Sep 2012	21,950	ebay.com
8.		Leica S-E Typ 006	..	..	..	..	..	..	Sep 2014	16,900	ebay.com
9.		Leica S Typ 007	4/5	..	..	..	..	..	Sep 2014	24,490	ebay.com
10.		Nikon 1 J4	3/5	..	..	..	4.5/5	4/5	Apr 2014	549	ebay.com
11.		Nikon 1 V3	3/5	..	..	76/100	4.5/5	4/5	Mar 2014	799	ebay.com
12.		Nikon D3	..	..	..	+ +	5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2007	4,999	ebay.com
13.		Nikon D3S	5/5	..	..	89/100	4.5/5	5/5	Oct 2009	5,199	ebay.com
14.		Nikon D3X	..	..	..	86/100	4/5	5/5	Dec 2008	7,999	ebay.com
15.		Pentax 645D	5/5	..	..	..	..	..	Mar 2010	9,995	ebay.com
16.		Sony A5000	3/5	+	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2014	449	ebay.com
17.		Sony RX100 IV	4.5/5	+ +	..	85/100	4/5	4.5/5	Jun 2015	999	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. 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, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Other camera comparisons

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