Leica SL2vs D850
VS
Nikon
D850 (2017)
Starting from £2199 new
Best for Landscape, wildlife & professional studio photography
View D850
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.
Landscape, Wildlife & Professional Studio Photography — D850 (2017): The finest DSLR ever made — 45MP, 9fps, and nearly 2000 shots per charge in a body that still outperforms most mirrorless cameras for battery life.
Who should buy what
Leica SL2 (2019)
- Commercial photographers who want Leica quality with modern AF
- Filmmakers who want Leica glass with video capability
D850 (2017)
- Nikon F-mount lens owners who want the highest resolution DSLR before switching to mirrorless
- Landscape and wildlife photographers who value the optical viewfinder and outstanding battery life
- Professional photographers who need 45MP resolution without the price of a medium format system
- Photojournalists and event photographers with a large F-mount lens investment
Quick take: The leica sl2 has the highest resolution at 47mp; the d850 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Leica SL2 (2019) | D850 (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £4,200 | £2,199 |
| Sensor | Full-frame CMOS 35mm | 45.7MP full-frame BSI-CMOS |
| Resolution | 47.3MP | 45.7MP |
| Video | 5K 30fps, 4K 60fps, 1080p 180fps | 4K UHD/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF, AI-based scene recognition | 153-point AF system (99 cross-type) — Multi-CAM 20K |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops | None (relies on VR lenses) |
| Burst Rate | 20fps | 9fps (7fps with tilt screen AF) |
| Battery Life | 370 shots (CIPA) | ~1840 shots (CIPA) — outstanding |
| Weight | 835g (body only) | 915g body only |
| Dimensions | 146.0 × 107.0 × 80.5mm | 146 × 124 × 78.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.78× 5.76M-dot | Optical pentaprism — 0.75× 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 slots — XQD and SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C 3.1, HDMI full-size | USB 3.0, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic & headphone jacks |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Leica SL2 | D850 |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Sports | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Travel | — |
More comparisons with Leica SL2
Camera family history