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Leica TL vs Ricoh GR II

The Leica TL and the Ricoh GR II are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in November 2016 and June 2015. The TL is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, while the GR II is a fixed lens compact. Both cameras are equipped with an APS-C sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 16.1 megapixels.

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

Headline Specifications
Leica TL
versus
Ricoh GR II
Leica TL   Ricoh GR II
Mirrorless system camera Fixed lens compact camera
Leica T mount lenses 28mm f/2.8
16.1 MP – APS-C sensor 16.1 MP – APS-C sensor
1080/30p Video 1080/30p Video
ISO 100-12,500 ISO 100-25,600
Viewfinder optional Viewfinder optional
3.7" LCD – 1230k dots 3.0" LCD – 1230k dots
Fixed touchscreen Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
5 shutter flaps per second 4 shutter flaps per second
400 shots per battery charge320 shots per battery charge
134 x 69 x 33 mm, 384 g 117 x 63 x 35 mm, 251 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Leica TL and the Ricoh GR 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 TL and the Ricoh GR II 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 width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The TL can be obtained in three different colors (black, silver, titanium), while the GR II is only available in black.

Size Leica TL vs Ricoh GR II
Compare TL versus GR II top
Comparison TL or GR II rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Ricoh GR II is notably smaller (20 percent) than the Leica TL. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the TL nor the GR II are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the GR II has a lens built in, whereas the TL is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup.

Concerning battery life, the TL gets 400 shots out of its Leica BP-DC13 battery, while the GR II can take 320 images on a single charge of its Ricoh DB-65 power pack. 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. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

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Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Leica TL 134 mm 69 mm 33 mm 384 g 400 n Nov 2016 1,695ebay.com
2.
 
Ricoh GR II 117 mm 63 mm 35 mm 251 g 320 n Jun 2015 699ebay.com
3.
 
Canon G7 X 103 mm 60 mm 40 mm 304 g 210 n Sep 2014 699ebay.com
4.
 
Fujifilm X70 113 mm 64 mm 44 mm 340 g 330 n Jan 2016 799ebay.com
5.
 
Fujifilm X-A10 117 mm 67 mm 40 mm 331 g 410 n Dec 2016 399ebay.com
6.
 
Fujifilm X-E2S 129 mm 75 mm 37 mm 350 g 350 n Jan 2016 699ebay.com
7.
 
Fujifilm X-A2 117 mm 67 mm 40 mm 350 g 410 n Jan 2015 399ebay.com
8.
 
Fujifilm X-T10 118 mm 83 mm 41 mm 381 g 350 n May 2015 799ebay.com
9.
 
Fujifilm X-Pro1 140 mm 82 mm 43 mm 450 g 300 n Jan 2012 1,699ebay.com
10.
 
Leica CL 131 mm 78 mm 45 mm 403 g 220 n Nov 2017 2,795ebay.com
11.
 
Leica TL2 134 mm 69 mm 33 mm 399 g 250 n Jul 2017 1,950ebay.com
12.
 
Leica T 134 mm 69 mm 33 mm 384 g 400 n Apr 2014 1,850ebay.com
13.
 
Leica X2 124 mm 69 mm 52 mm 345 g 450 n May 2012 1,995ebay.com
14.
 
Panasonic GM5 99 mm 60 mm 36 mm 211 g 220 n Sep 2014 749ebay.com
15.
 
Ricoh GR 117 mm 61 mm 35 mm 245 g 290 n Apr 2013 799ebay.com
16.
 
Sony RX100 III 102 mm 58 mm 41 mm 290 g 320 n May 2014 799ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. 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 GR II was launched at a lower price than the TL, despite having a lens built in. 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 imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors 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. 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 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. 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 TL and Ricoh GR II sensor measures

Even though the TL has a slightly larger sensor, both cameras offer the same resolution of 16.1 megapixels. This implies that the TL has a lower pixel density and larger individual pixels (with a pixel pitch of 4.80μm versus 4.79μm for the GR II), which gives it a potential advantage in terms of light gathering capacity. In addition, the TL is a somewhat more recent model (by 1 year and 4 months) than the GR II, and its sensor might 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.

The Leica TL has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 12500. The corresponding ISO settings for the Ricoh GR II are ISO 100 to ISO 25600 (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.

TL versus GR II MP

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Leica TL APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/30p23.913.2169081
2.
 
Ricoh GR II APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/30p23.613.7107880
3.
 
Canon G7 X 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p23.012.755671
4.
 
Fujifilm X70 APS-C 16.0 4896 32641080/60p23.713.0160880
5.
 
Fujifilm X-A10 APS-C 16.0 4896 32641080/30p23.913.2169181
6.
 
Fujifilm X-E2S APS-C 16.0 4896 32641080/60p23.713.0160880
7.
 
Fujifilm X-A2 APS-C 16.0 4896 32641080/30p23.612.8151579
8.
 
Fujifilm X-T10 APS-C 16.0 4896 32641080/60p23.712.9154679
9.
 
Fujifilm X-Pro1 APS-C 16.0 4896 32641080/24p23.112.3123874
10.
 
Leica CL APS-C 24.1 6014 40144K/30p24.013.3178882
11.
 
Leica TL2 APS-C 24.1 6014 40144K/30p23.913.3175382
12.
 
Leica T APS-C 16.2 4944 32781080/30p23.012.7108275
13.
 
Leica X2 APS-C 16.1 4928 3264none23.212.4127574
14.
 
Panasonic GM5 Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34481080/60p22.111.772166
15.
 
Ricoh GR APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/30p23.613.597278
16.
 
Sony RX100 III 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p22.412.349567
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. 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 (1080/30p).

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The TL and the GR II are similar in the sense that neither of the two has a viewfinder. The images are, thus, framed using live view on the rear LCD. However, optional viewfinders – the Visoflex (Typ 020) for the TL and the GV-1 for the GR II – are available as accessories. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Leica TL, the Ricoh GR II, and comparable cameras.

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Core Features
# image Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Leica TLoptional n3.7 / 1230 fixed Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
2.
 
Ricoh GR IIoptional n3.0 / 1230 fixed n 1/4000s 4.0/s Y n
3.
 
Canon G7 Xnone n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/2000s 6.5/s Y Y
4.
 
Fujifilm X70optional n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 8.0/s Y n
5.
 
Fujifilm X-A10none n3.0 / 1040 tilting n 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
6.
 
Fujifilm X-E2S2360 n3.0 / 1040 fixed n 1/4000s 7.0/s Y n
7.
 
Fujifilm X-A2none n3.0 / 920 tilting n 1/4000s 5.6/s Y n
8.
 
Fujifilm X-T102360 n3.0 / 920 tilting n 1/4000s 8.0/s Y n
9.
 
Fujifilm X-Pro11440 n3.0 / 1230 fixed n 1/4000s 6.0/s n n
10.
 
Leica CL2360 Y3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n n
11.
 
Leica TL2optional n3.7 / 1230 fixed Y 1/4000s 7.0/s n n
12.
 
Leica Toptional n3.7 / 1230 fixed Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
13.
 
Leica X2optional n2.7 / 230 fixed n 1/2000s 5.0/s Y n
14.
 
Panasonic GM51166 n3.0 / 921 fixed Y 1/500s 5.8/s n n
15.
 
Ricoh GRoptional n3.0 / 1230 fixed n 1/4000s 4.0/s Y n
16.
 
Sony RX100 III1440 n3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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One differentiating feature between the two cameras concerns the touch sensitivity of the rear screen. The TL has a touchscreen, while the GR II has a conventional panel. Touch control can be particularly helpful, for example, for setting the focus point.

The Ricoh GR II 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 TL and the GR II write their files to SDXC cards. The GR II supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the TL cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Leica TL and Ricoh GR 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
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Leica TLYstereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
2.
 
Ricoh GR IIYstereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
3.
 
Canon G7 X-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
4.
 
Fujifilm X70Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0Y--
5.
 
Fujifilm X-A10-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
6.
 
Fujifilm X-E2SYstereo / monoY-micro2.0Y--
7.
 
Fujifilm X-A2Ystereo / mono--mini2.0Y--
8.
 
Fujifilm X-T10Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0Y--
9.
 
Fujifilm X-Pro1Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
10.
 
Leica CLYstereo / mono----Y--
11.
 
Leica TL2Ystereo / mono--micro3.0Y--
12.
 
Leica TYstereo / mono---2.0Y--
13.
 
Leica X2Y- / ---mini2.0---
14.
 
Panasonic GM5Ystereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
15.
 
Ricoh GRYmono / mono--micro2.0---
16.
 
Sony RX100 III-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
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Both the TL and the GR II have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The GR II was replaced by the Ricoh GR III, while the TL was followed by the Leica TL2. Further information on the features and operation of the TL and GR II can be found, respectively, in the Leica TL Manual (free pdf) or the online Ricoh GR II Manual.

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Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Is the Leica TL better than the Ricoh GR II or vice versa? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

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Reasons to prefer the Leica TL:

  • Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.7" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
  • Fewer buttons to press: Is equipped with a touch-sensitive rear screen to facilitate handling.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (5 vs 4 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • More flexible: Accepts interchangeable lenses, so that lens characteristics can be altered.
  • Longer lasting: Can take more shots (400 versus 320) on a single battery charge.
  • More prestigious: Has the Leica luxury appeal, which ensures a high resale price.
  • More modern: Is somewhat more recent (announced 1 year and 4 months after the GR II).

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Arguments in favor of the Ricoh GR II:

  • Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
  • Ready to shoot: Has an integrated lens, whereas the TL necessitates an extra lens.
  • More compact: Is smaller (117x63mm vs 134x69mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
  • Less heavy: Has a lower weight even though it has a lens built in (unlike the TL).
  • 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 at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in June 2015).

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the GR II comes out slightly ahead of the TL (8 : 7 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.

TL 07:08 GR II

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Leica TL and the Ricoh GR II place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera and Best Prime Lens Compact Camera listings 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 partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the TL or the GR II. 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 expert reviews 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.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Leica TL..........4/5 Nov 2016 1,695ebay.com
2.
 
Ricoh GR II........4.5/54.5/5 Jun 2015 699ebay.com
3.
 
Canon G7 X4/5+ +..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2014 699ebay.com
4.
 
Fujifilm X704.5/5....76/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2016 799ebay.com
5.
 
Fujifilm X-A10........4/54/5 Dec 2016 399ebay.com
6.
 
Fujifilm X-E2S4.5/5....77/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2016 699ebay.com
7.
 
Fujifilm X-A24/5......4.5/54.5/5 Jan 2015 399ebay.com
8.
 
Fujifilm X-T104.5/5+ +..80/1005/55/5 May 2015 799ebay.com
9.
 
Fujifilm X-Pro15/5+ +..79/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2012 1,699ebay.com
10.
 
Leica CL....4.2/5....4/5 Nov 2017 2,795ebay.com
11.
 
Leica TL23.5/5..3/5..4/54/5 Jul 2017 1,950ebay.com
12.
 
Leica T3/5......4/54/5 Apr 2014 1,850ebay.com
13.
 
Leica X23/5......3/54/5 May 2012 1,995ebay.com
14.
 
Panasonic GM53.5/5+..77/1005/54.5/5 Sep 2014 749ebay.com
15.
 
Ricoh GR5/5....79/1004.5/54.5/5 Apr 2013 799ebay.com
16.
 
Sony RX100 III5/5+ +..82/1004.5/55/5 May 2014 799ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just use the search menu 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 TL vs Ricoh GR 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 TL Ricoh GR II
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera Fixed lens compact camera
    Camera Lens Leica T mount lenses 28mm f/2.8
    Launch Date November 2016 June 2015
    Launch Price USD 1,695 USD 699
    Sensor Specs Leica TL Ricoh GR II
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor APS-C Sensor
    Sensor Size 23.6 x 15.7 mm 23.7 x 15.6 mm
    Sensor Area 370.52 mm2 369.72 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 28.3 mm 28.4 mm
    Crop Factor 1.5x 1.5x
    Sensor Resolution 16.1 Megapixels 16.1 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 4928 x 3264 pixels 4928 x 3264 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 4.80 μm 4.79 μm
    Pixel Density 4.34 MP/cm2 4.35 MP/cm2
    Moiré control no AA filter no AA filter
    Movie Capability 1080/30p Video 1080/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 12,500 ISO 100 - 25,600 ISO
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) .. 80
    DXO Color Depth (bits) .. 23.6
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) .. 13.7
    DXO Low Light (ISO) .. 1078
    Screen Specs Leica TL Ricoh GR II
    Viewfinder Type Viewfinder optional Viewfinder optional
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.7inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 1230k dots 1230k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen Fixed screen
    Touch Input Touchscreen no Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Leica TL Ricoh GR II
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF Contrast-detect AF
    Continuous Shooting 5 shutter flaps/s 4 shutter flaps/s
    Time-Lapse Photographyno IntervalometerIntervalometer built-in
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    UHS card support no UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs Leica TL Ricoh GR II
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port micro HDMI micro HDMI
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication no NFC NFC built-in
    Body Specs Leica TL Ricoh GR II
    Battery Type Leica BP-DC13 Ricoh DB-65
    Battery Life (CIPA)400 shots per charge320 shots per charge
    In-Camera Charging USB charging USB charging
    Body Dimensions 134 x 69 x 33 mm
    (5.3 x 2.7 x 1.3 in)
    117 x 63 x 35 mm
    (4.6 x 2.5 x 1.4 in)
    Camera Weight 384 g (13.5 oz) 251 g (8.9 oz)
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