The Leica CL is a brand-new small system camera that was unveiled by the company in the same time frame as the Leica TL2 in the summer of 2017. It is compatible with lenses from the SL line and utilizes the same lens mount as the TL2, which is also compatible with those lenses.
The components that make up the CL are pretty similar to those located in the TL2. For instance, it utilizes the same Maestro II image processor and a sensor with a resolution of 24 megapixels and an APS-C format.
The design of the CL’s body is the primary area in which it diverges most significantly from that of the TL2. The older camera has an interface composed entirely of touchscreens, so image composition takes place on the screen. In contrast, the CL has a significantly smaller screen, but it also has an integrated viewfinder and additional buttons that can be used to adjust various essential camera settings.
With the release of the brand new 18mm f/2.8 pancake lens, there are now seven TL lenses and seven SL lenses that are compatible with the CL. Additionally, there are fifty-nine M lenses and sixty-four 4 lenses that can be used with the CL utilizing an adapter.
When this article was written, the pricing of the Leica CL was set at £2250 for the body only, £3150 for a “prime kit” consisting of an 18mm lens, and £3275 for a “Vario kit” consisting of an 18-55mm lens.
Leica CL Build Quality
The Leica CL is designed in the traditional form of a rangefinder camera. In addition, it has the advantage of being easier to operate than other Leica models, such as the Leica M10. The fact that it includes autofocus in addition to a viewfinder that is simple to use is the primary reason for this.
The fact that the viewfinder is on the left, in the same fashion as a rangefinder, means that you can keep your other eye on the scene unfolding in front of you. Because of this, it is ideal for street photography or anything else where the location may change while you take the photo (however, this only applies if you shoot with your right eye).
When used with the 18mm pancake lens, the Leica CL is about the same size as the Leica X2 compact. Because of its lightweight and small size, the Leica CL is an excellent camera for walking around. Despite this, it has a solid feel to it and the high-quality build that you come to expect from Leica-branded cameras; the CL is manufactured at a plant in Germany.
Leica CL Image Quality
The Superfine JPEG option at 24 megapixels was used to capture each sample photograph included in this study. This setting results in an image that is around 12 megabytes in size on average.
The image quality of the Leica CL is outstanding, which is something that is very much to be expected from any product that bears the iconic Leica brand.
The colors captured by the Leica CL camera have a pleasingly saturated quality, without seeming too artificial. The “Film Type” setting that is labeled “Standard” is a suitable option to keep the CL shooting in for the majority of scenarios. However, the “Vivid” setting is useful when subjects may benefit from increased saturation.
Under artificial lighting, the automatic white balance performs a respectable job of producing correct colors, with only a slight tendency toward yellow or warmer tones. This feature is helpful in the majority of cases.
Switching to a different white balance option is advised if you want your photos to have the utmost accuracy, mainly while shooting under gloomy skies, when colors may appear somewhat warmer than they are.
When viewing photographs at A4 or smaller, the overall sense of detail is excellent, and when you zoom in at 100%, you can see that the CL can resolve excellent information.
When taking pictures in low light, the CL performs admirably up to an ISO setting of 6400. Images captured at an ISO of 12800 can be used if you only want to display them on a modest scale, however, images captured at an ISO of 25000 or above should be avoided if possible.
The all-purpose metering mode is a suitable choice for most everyday situations since it produces exposures that are balanced correctly in the vast majority of scenarios. In high-contrast circumstances, switching to spot metering can be helpful, as might dialing in some exposure correction; nevertheless, this does not appear to be a particularly prevalent issue.
Leica CL Specs
| Brand | Leica |
| Model | Leica CL |
| Announced | 2017-11-21 |
| Body Type | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
| Manual Focus | |
| Lens Mount | Leica TL |
| Number of Lenses | 56 |
| Focal Length Multiplier | 1.5x |
| Macro Focus Range | n/a |
| Screen Type | Fixed Type |
| Screen Size | 3.00″ |
| Screen Resolution | 1,040k dots |
| Live View | |
| Touch Screen | |
| Viewfinder | Electronic |
| Viewfinder Resolution | 2,360k dots |
| Viewfinder Coverage | 100% |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.74x |
| Min Shutter Speed | 30s |
| Max Mechanical Shutter Speed | 1/8000s |
| Max Electronic Shutter Speed | 1/25000s |
| Max Continuous Shooting | 10.0 fps |
| Shutter Priority | |
| Aperture Priority | |
| Manual Exposure Mode | |
| Exposure Compensation | Yes |
| Custom White Balance | |
| Image Stabilization | |
| Built-in Flash | |
| Flash Range | no built-in flash |
| Flash Modes | no built-in flash |
| External Flash | |
| AE Bracketing | |
| WB Bracketing | |
| Multi-Segment | |
| Average | |
| Spot | |
| Partial | |
| AF-Area | |
| Center Weighted | |
| DxO Overall Score | not tested |
| DxO Color Depth | not tested |
| DxO Dynamic Range | not tested |
| DxO Low Light ISO | not tested |
| Report a correction |
| Sensor Type | CMOS |
| Sensor Size | APS-C |
| Sensor Dimensions | 23.6 x 15.7 mm |
| Sensor Area | 370.52mm2 |
| Sensor Resolution | 24 megapixels |
| Max Image Resolution | 6014 x 4014 |
| Max Native ISO | 50,000 |
| Min Native ISO | 100 |
| RAW Support | |
| AF Touch | |
| AF Continuous | |
| AF Single | |
| AF Tracking | |
| AF Selective | |
| AF Center | |
| AF Multi Area | |
| AF Live View | |
| AF Face Detection | |
| AF Contrast Detection | |
| AF Phase Detection | |
| Number of Focus Points | 49 |
| Video Resolutions | 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM |
| Max Video Resolution | 3840 x 2160 |
| Video Formats | MPEG-4, H.264 |
| Microphone Port | |
| Headphone Port | |
| Wireless Connectivity | Built-In |
| HDMI | |
| USB | USB |
| Environmental Sealing | |
| Water Proof | |
| Dust Proof | |
| Shock Proof | |
| Crush Proof | |
| Freeze Proof | |
| Weight | 403g |
| Physical Dimensions | 131 x 78 x 45mm |
| Battery Life | 220 shots |
| Battery Type | Battery Pack |
| Battery Model | BP-DC12 |
| Self Timer | Yes (2 or 12 secs) |
| Timelapse Recording | |
| GPS | None |
| Storage Type | SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported) |
| Storage Slots | 1 |
Leica CL Conclusion
The market for tiny system cameras is incredibly robust, and there is something available to cater to every consumer.
Users of Leica cameras have always been individuals who desire exceptional image quality in a body that is both well-built and has a conventional appearance. The TL2 was a successful model, and the CL builds upon that success to deliver something that is, in some ways, even better, particularly for those who enjoy using a viewfinder.
The camera has excellent handling, and use, with a user-friendly interface that consists of a straightforward mix of dial turns and button pushes for the most significant camera settings. You will become accustomed to this system very quickly.
Street photographers will adore the Leica CL because of its traditional rangefinder design, which makes the camera a discreet option for capturing candid moments on the street.
We’ve only had the chance to test it with the 18mm lens, which makes for an excellent walkabout combination; however, the fact that there are now many other lenses to pick from inside the system suggests that it will stick around for a while.
The Leica CL appeals to those who want an entry into Leica products without the faff of a manual focus rangefinder – and though the CL is not cheap, it is still much more affordable than its full-frame brother. In essence, the Leica CL is the same as the much more expensive and much more complicated to use Leica M series.