Leica SL3vs Z5
Leica
Leica SL3 (2024)
Starting from £6499 new
Best for Professional & luxury hybrid shooters
View Leica SL3
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GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Professional & Luxury Hybrid Shooters — Leica SL3 (2024): Leica's most capable mirrorless — 60MP, 30fps burst, 8K ProRes, and 7.5-stop IBIS with L-mount's growing lens ecosystem.
Entry-Level Full-Frame & Dslr Switchers — Z5 (2020): The most affordable route into full-frame Z — dual card slots, IBIS, and a capable sensor at an accessible price.
Who should buy what
Leica SL3 (2024)
- Leica photographers who want autofocus full-frame in the L-mount system
- SL2 owners upgrading to 60MP and improved autofocus performance
- Professionals who want Leica build quality with L-mount lens versatility
- Photographers who want to share lenses across Leica, Sigma, and Lumix bodies
Z5 (2020)
- DSLR photographers switching to full-frame mirrorless for the first time
- Enthusiasts who want full-frame image quality on a tighter budget
- Photographers stepping up from APS-C who don't need fast burst or 4K
- Z5 II shoppers on a budget — the original Z5 is now excellent value used
Quick take: The leica sl3 has the highest resolution at 60mp; the z5 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Leica SL3 (2024) | Z5 (2020) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £6,499 | £999 |
| Sensor | 60MP full-frame BSI CMOS | 24.3MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 60.0MP | 24.3MP |
| Video | 8K/30p, 4K/60p, Apple ProRes | 4K/30p (with crop), 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect AF with subject/face/eye detection | Hybrid AF — 273 phase-detect points, eye/subject detection |
| Stabilisation | 7.5-stop IBIS | IBIS — up to 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic | 4.5fps |
| Battery Life | 410 shots (CIPA) | ~470 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 875g body only | 590g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 146.0 × 104.0 × 42.0mm | 134 × 100.5 × 69.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 0.78" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.8× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" fixed touchscreen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Leica L-mount | Nikon Z mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.1, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Leica SL3 | Z5 |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Everyday | — | |
| Sports | — |
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Camera family history