Leica SL2vs OM-D E-M5 Mark II
Olympus
OM-D E-M5 Mark II (2015)
Starting from £350 new
Best for Travel & Landscape
View OM-D E-M5 Mark II
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.
Travel & Landscape — OM-D E-M5 Mark II (2015): The E-M5 II was the benchmark weather-sealed travel camera of its generation. The 16MP sensor is modest by today's standards but excellent in practice, and the 5-axis IBIS is genuinely useful. Weather sealing, a flip screen, and a high-res composite mode make it a practical companion. A highly capable used-market buy for travel and outdoor photographers who don't need the latest resolution numbers.
Who should buy what
Leica SL2 (2019)
- Commercial photographers who want Leica quality with modern AF
- Filmmakers who want Leica glass with video capability
OM-D E-M5 Mark II (2015)
- Travel photographers wanting compact + weather sealing
- Outdoor and landscape shooters
- Micro Four Thirds system users
Quick take: The leica sl2 has the highest resolution at 47mp; the om-d e-m5 mark ii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Leica SL2 (2019) | OM-D E-M5 Mark II (2015) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £4,200 | £350 |
| Sensor | Full-frame CMOS 35mm | 16MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS |
| Resolution | 47.3MP | 16.0MP |
| Video | 5K 30fps, 4K 60fps, 1080p 180fps | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF, AI-based scene recognition | Contrast-detect AF, face detection |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops | 5-axis IBIS, 5.0 stops |
| Burst Rate | 20fps | 10fps |
| Battery Life | 370 shots (CIPA) | ~310 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 835g (body only) | 417g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 146.0 × 107.0 × 80.5mm | 123.7 × 85.0 × 44.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.78× 5.76M-dot | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.74× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" fixed touchscreen, 2.10M-dot | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04M dots |
| Mount | Leica L-Mount | Micro Four Thirds |
| Memory Cards | 2× SD UHS-II | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C 3.1, HDMI full-size | USB 2.0, Wi-Fi |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Leica SL2 | OM-D E-M5 Mark II |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Architecture | — | |
| Street | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Macro | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Astrophotography | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history