Leica T vs Panasonic S5

The Leica T (Typ 701) and the Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in April 2014 and September 2020. Both the T Typ 701 and the S5 are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are based on an APS-C (T Typ 701) and a full frame (S5) sensor. The Leica has a resolution of 16.2 megapixels, whereas the Panasonic provides 24 MP.

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

Headline Specifications

Leica T		Panasonic S5
Mirrorless system camera		Mirrorless system camera
Leica T mount lenses		Leica L mount lenses
16.2 MP, APS-C Sensor		24 MP, Full Frame Sensor
1080/30p Video		4K/60p Video
ISO 100-12,500		ISO 100-51,200 (50 - 204,800)
Viewfinder optional		Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots)
3.7 LCD, 1300k dots		3.0 LCD, 1840k dots
Fixed touchscreen		Fully flexible touchscreen
5 shutter flaps per second		7 shutter flaps per second
Lens stabilization only		In-body stabilization
not weather sealed		Weathersealed body
400 shots per battery charge		440 shots per battery charge
134 x 69 x 33 mm, 384 g		133 x 98 x 82 mm, 714 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Leica T (Typ 701) and the Panasonic Lumix DC-S5? 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 T and the Panasonic S5 is provided 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 size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The T Typ 701 can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the S5 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 S5 is notably larger (41 percent) than the Leica T. Moreover, the S5 is substantially heavier (86 percent) than the T Typ 701. It is noteworthy in this context that the S5 is splash and dust-proof, while the T Typ 701 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 battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. 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 T	134 mm	69 mm	33 mm	384 g	400	n	Apr 2014	1,850
2.		Panasonic S5	133 mm	98 mm	82 mm	714 g	440	Y	Sep 2020	1,999
3.		Canon SL1	117 mm	91 mm	69 mm	407 g	380	n	Mar 2013	549
4.		Fujifilm X-A2	117 mm	67 mm	40 mm	350 g	410	n	Jan 2015	399
5.		Fujifilm X-T10	118 mm	83 mm	41 mm	381 g	350	n	May 2015	799
6.		Leica CL	131 mm	78 mm	45 mm	403 g	220	n	Nov 2017	2,795
7.		Leica TL2	134 mm	69 mm	33 mm	399 g	250	n	Jul 2017	1,950
8.		Leica TL	134 mm	69 mm	33 mm	384 g	400	n	Nov 2016	1,695
9.		Leica X Vario	133 mm	73 mm	95 mm	680 g	450	n	Jun 2013	2,850
10.		Leica X2	124 mm	69 mm	52 mm	345 g	450	n	May 2012	1,995
11.		Nikon Z6 II	134 mm	101 mm	70 mm	705 g	410	Y	Oct 2020	1,999
12.		Panasonic S1	149 mm	110 mm	97 mm	1017 g	400	Y	Feb 2019	2,499
13.		Panasonic S1R	149 mm	110 mm	97 mm	1016 g	380	Y	Feb 2019	3,699
14.		Panasonic S1H	151 mm	114 mm	110 mm	1052 g	400	Y	May 2019	3,999
15.		Ricoh GR II	117 mm	63 mm	35 mm	251 g	320	n	Jun 2015	699
16.		Sony A7 III	127 mm	96 mm	74 mm	650 g	610	Y	Feb 2018	1,999
17.		Sony A6000	120 mm	67 mm	45 mm	344 g	360	n	Feb 2014	599
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. 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 T Typ 701 was somewhat cheaper (by 7 percent) than the S5 at launch, but both cameras fall into the same price category. 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. 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 more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Leica T features an APS-C sensor and the Panasonic S5 a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the S5 is 128 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.5 and 1.0. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

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

With 24MP, the S5 offers a higher resolution than the T Typ 701 (16.2MP), but the S5 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 5.94μm versus 4.79μm for the T Typ 701) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the S5 is a much more recent model (by 6 years and 4 months) than the T Typ 701, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further 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 resolution advantage of the Panasonic S5 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the S5 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 30 x 20 inches or 76.2 x 50.8 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24 x 16 inches or 61 x 40.6 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20 x 13.3 inches or 50.8 x 33.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Leica T are 24.7 x 16.4 inches or 62.8 x 41.6 cm for good quality, 19.8 x 13.1 inches or 50.2 x 33.3 cm for very good quality, and 16.5 x 10.9 inches or 41.9 x 27.8 cm for excellent quality prints.

Unlike the T Typ 701, the S5 has the capacity to capture high quality composite images (96MP) 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 T (Typ 701) has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 12500. The corresponding ISO settings for the Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 are ISO 100 to ISO 51200, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-204800.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. 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.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Leica T	APS-C	16.2	4944	3278	1080/30p	23.0	12.7	1082	75
2.		Panasonic S5	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	4K/60p	..	..	..	..
3.		Canon SL1	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.8	11.3	843	63
4.		Fujifilm X-A2	APS-C	16.0	4896	3264	1080/30p	..	..	..	..
5.		Fujifilm X-T10	APS-C	16.0	4896	3264	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
6.		Leica CL	APS-C	24.1	6014	4014	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
7.		Leica TL2	APS-C	24.1	6014	4014	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
8.		Leica TL	APS-C	16.1	4928	3264	1080/30p	..	..	..	..
9.		Leica X Vario	APS-C	16.1	4928	3272	1080/30p	23.4	12.7	1320	78
10.		Leica X2	APS-C	16.1	4928	3264	none	..	..	..	..
11.		Nikon Z6 II	Full Frame	24.3	6048	4024	4K/60p	..	..	..	..
12.		Panasonic S1	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	4K/60p	25.2	14.5	3333	95
13.		Panasonic S1R	Full Frame	46.7	8368	5584	4K/60p	26.4	14.1	3525	100
14.		Panasonic S1H	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	6K/30p	..	..	..	..
15.		Ricoh GR II	APS-C	16.1	4928	3264	1080/30p	23.6	13.7	1078	80
16.		Sony A7 III	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	25.0	14.7	3730	96
17.		Sony A6000	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.1	13.1	1347	82

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the S5 provides a better video resolution than the T Typ 701. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/60p, while the Leica is limited to 1080/30p.

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the S5 has an electronic viewfinder (2360k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the T Typ 701 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. That said, the T Typ 701 can be equipped with an optional viewfinder – the Visoflex (Typ 020). The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Leica T and Panasonic S5 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Size (inch)	LCD Resolution (000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Leica T	optional	n	3.7	1300	fixed	Y	1/4000s	5.0	Y	n
2.		Panasonic S5	2360	n	3.0	1840	full-flex	Y	1/8000s	7.0	n	Y
3.		Canon SL1	optical	n	3.0	1040	fixed	Y	1/4000s	4.9	Y	n
4.		Fujifilm X-A2	none	n	3.0	920	tilting	n	1/4000s	5.6	Y	n
5.		Fujifilm X-T10	2360	n	3.0	920	tilting	n	1/4000s	8.0	Y	n
6.		Leica CL	2360	Y	3.0	1040	fixed	Y	1/8000s	10.0	n	n
7.		Leica TL2	optional	n	3.7	1230	fixed	Y	1/4000s	7.0	n	n
8.		Leica TL	optional	n	3.7	1230	fixed	Y	1/4000s	5.0	Y	n
9.		Leica X Vario	optional	n	3.0	920	fixed	n	1/2000s	5.0	Y	n
10.		Leica X2	optional	n	2.7	230	fixed	n	1/2000s	5.0	Y	n
11.		Nikon Z6 II	3690	Y	3.2	2100	tilting	Y	1/8000s	14.0	n	Y
12.		Panasonic S1	5760	Y	3.2	2100	full-flex	Y	1/8000s	9.0	n	Y
13.		Panasonic S1R	5760	Y	3.2	2100	full-flex	Y	1/8000s	9.0	n	Y
14.		Panasonic S1H	5760	Y	3.2	2330	swivel	Y	1/8000s	9.0	n	Y
15.		Ricoh GR II	optional	n	3.0	1230	fixed	n	1/4000s	4.0	Y	n
16.		Sony A7 III	2359	n	3.0	922	tilting	Y	1/8000s	10.0	n	Y
17.		Sony A6000	1440	n	3.0	922	tilting	n	1/4000s	11.0	Y	n

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The T Typ 701 has one, while the S5 does not. While the built-in flash of the T Typ 701 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the S5 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 Panasonic S5 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.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the T Typ 701 and the S5 write their files to SDXC cards. The S5 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the T Typ 701 only has one slot. The S5 supports UHS-II cards on its first slot and UHS-I on its second one, while the T Typ 701 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 T (Typ 701) and Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Microphone	Internal Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Leica T	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	-	2.0	Y	-	-
2.		Panasonic S5	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
3.		Canon SL1	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
4.		Fujifilm X-A2	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
5.		Fujifilm X-T10	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
6.		Leica CL	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-
7.		Leica TL2	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	3.0	Y	-	-
8.		Leica TL	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
9.		Leica X Vario	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
10.		Leica X2	Y	-	-	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
11.		Nikon Z6 II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
12.		Panasonic S1	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	full	3.1	Y	-	Y
13.		Panasonic S1R	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	full	3.1	Y	-	Y
14.		Panasonic S1H	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	full	3.1	Y	-	Y
15.		Ricoh GR II	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
16.		Sony A7 III	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.1	Y	Y	Y
17.		Sony A6000	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-

It is notable that the S5 has a headphone jack, which makes it possible to attach external headphones and monitor the quality of sound during the recording process. The T Typ 701 lacks such a headphone port.

The S5 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Panasonic. In contrast, the T Typ 701 has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the T Typ 701 was succeeded by the Leica TL. 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? Is there a clear favorite between the Leica T and the Panasonic S5? Which camera is better? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Advantages of the Leica T (Typ 701):

• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.7" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
• More compact: Is smaller (134x69mm vs 133x98mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
• Less heavy: Is lighter (by 330g or 46 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
• Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
• More prestigious: Has the Leica luxury appeal, which ensures a high resale price.
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in April 2014).

Reasons to prefer the Panasonic Lumix DC-S5:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (24 vs 16.2MP), which boosts linear resolution by 22%.
• High quality composites: Can combine several shots after pixel-shifting its sensor.
• Better image quality: Is equipped with a larger and more technologically advanced 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.
• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/60p vs 1080/30p).
• 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.
• Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1840k vs 1300k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a full-flex screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (7 vs 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.
• 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.
• Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.2 vs 2.0).
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
• Faster buffer clearing: Supports Ultra High Speed (UHS-II and UHS-I) SDXC cards.
• More modern: Reflects 6 years and 4 months of technical progress since the T Typ 701 launch.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the S5 is the clear winner of the contest (24 : 6 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 sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape 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 T and the Panasonic S5 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 T Typ 701 or the S5. 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 table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Leica T	3/5	..	..	4/5	4/5	Apr 2014	1,850
2.		Panasonic S5	4.5/5	+ +	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2020	1,999
3.		Canon SL1	4/5	+	78/100	4/5	4/5	Mar 2013	549
4.		Fujifilm X-A2	4/5	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2015	399
5.		Fujifilm X-T10	4.5/5	+ +	80/100	5/5	5/5	May 2015	799
6.		Leica CL	..	..	..	..	4/5	Nov 2017	2,795
7.		Leica TL2	3.5/5	..	..	4/5	4/5	Jul 2017	1,950
8.		Leica TL	..	..	..	..	4/5	Nov 2016	1,695
9.		Leica X Vario	3/5	..	..	4/5	4/5	Jun 2013	2,850
10.		Leica X2	3/5	..	..	3/5	4/5	May 2012	1,995
11.		Nikon Z6 II	4.5/5	..	89/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2020	1,999
12.		Panasonic S1	4.5/5	+ +	88/100	4.5/5	4/5	Feb 2019	2,499
13.		Panasonic S1R	4.5/5	..	89/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2019	3,699
14.		Panasonic S1H	..	..	90/100	..	..	May 2019	3,999
15.		Ricoh GR II	..	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2015	699
16.		Sony A7 III	..	+ +	89/100	5/5	5/5	Feb 2018	1,999
17.		Sony A6000	5/5	+	80/100	4.5/5	5/5	Feb 2014	599
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price 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.

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 make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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Specifications: Leica T vs Panasonic S5

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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