Leica SL2vs ZV-E1
VS
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.
Video Creators, Vloggers & Filmmakers — ZV-E1 (2023): Full-frame video quality in a vlogging body — exceptional low-light performance and a genuinely compact form factor.
Who should buy what
Leica SL2 (2019)
- Commercial photographers who want Leica quality with modern AF
- Filmmakers who want Leica glass with video capability
ZV-E1 (2023)
- Video creators who want full-frame low-light quality in a compact body
- Vloggers stepping up from APS-C who prioritise image quality over resolution
- Filmmakers who want S-Log3 and cinematic colour in a run-and-gun package
- A7S III users who want the same sensor in a smaller, lighter body
Quick take: The leica sl2 has the highest resolution at 47mp; the zv-e1 is the most affordable; only the leica sl2 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Leica SL2 (2019) | ZV-E1 (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £4,200 | £1,999 |
| Sensor | Full-frame CMOS 35mm | 12.1MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS Exmor R |
| Resolution | 47.3MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 5K 30fps, 4K 60fps, 1080p 180fps | 4K/60p (S-Cinetone, S-Log3), 4K/120p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF, AI-based scene recognition | Real-time Tracking AF with subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops | IBIS — Active Mode for video |
| Burst Rate | 20fps | 10fps |
| Battery Life | 370 shots (CIPA) | ~570 shots (CIPA) / ~105 min video |
| Weight | 835g (body only) | 483g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 146.0 × 107.0 × 80.5mm | 121.4 × 71.6 × 54.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.78× 5.76M-dot | None — screen only |
| Screen | 3.2" fixed touchscreen, 2.10M-dot | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Leica L-Mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | 2× SD UHS-II | Single CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C 3.1, HDMI full-size | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3.5mm mic, Multi-Interface Shoe |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Leica SL2 | ZV-E1 |
|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Travel | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Landscape | — |
More comparisons with Leica SL2
Camera family history