Leica SL2vs D5
Nikon
D5 (2016)
Starting from £1800 new
Best for Professional Sports, Photojournalism & Wildlife
View D5
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Commercial, Landscape, Video — Leica SL2 (2019): Leica's most capable system camera — excellent for photographers who want L-mount glass access.
Professional Sports, Photojournalism & Wildlife — D5 (2016): Nikon's ultimate pro DSLR and a certified space traveller — the D5's 153-point AF, 12fps, and ISO 3,280,000 made it the weapon of choice for Olympic and space photography.
Who should buy what
Leica SL2 (2019)
- Commercial photographers who want Leica quality with modern AF
- Filmmakers who want Leica glass with video capability
D5 (2016)
- Sports and wildlife photographers with an F-mount telephoto investment
- Photojournalists who need the fastest, most reliable DSLR AF available
- Nikon system professionals looking for a flagship body at used prices
- Collectors of cameras with a documented space pedigree
Quick take: The leica sl2 has the highest resolution at 47mp; the d5 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Leica SL2 (2019) | D5 (2016) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £4,200 | £1,800 |
| Sensor | Full-frame CMOS 35mm | 20.8MP full-frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 47.3MP | 20.8MP |
| Video | 5K 30fps, 4K 60fps, 1080p 180fps | 4K UHD 30fps (heavy sensor crop) |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF, AI-based scene recognition | Multi-CAM 20K 153-point AF system, 99 cross-type |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops | — |
| Burst Rate | 20fps | 12fps mechanical |
| Battery Life | 370 shots (CIPA) | ~3780 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 835g (body only) | 1405g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 146.0 × 107.0 × 80.5mm | 160 × 158.5 × 92mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.78× 5.76M-dot | OVF 0.72× magnification, 100% coverage |
| Screen | 3.2" fixed touchscreen, 2.10M-dot | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.36M dots |
| Mount | Leica L-Mount | Nikon F mount |
| Memory Cards | 2× SD UHS-II | Dual XQD slots (XQD variant) |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C 3.1, HDMI full-size | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet (RJ-45), USB 3.0 |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Leica SL2 | D5 |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Architecture | — | |
| Street | ||
| Wedding & Events | ||
| Travel | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wildlife | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with Leica SL2
Camera family history