Blog Leica TL Camera Review: Top Features, Pros, and Cons

If you're a photography enthusiast looking for a high-quality camera, you must have heard about Leica. The Leica TL is a premium mirrorless camera that has been a favorite of many photographers for its sleek design and advanced features. This blog post will give you a comprehensive review of the Leica TL camera, including its top features, advantages, and limitations. Moreover, you'll learn why this camera is worth the investment, and whether it is the right choice for your photography needs.

Written by Victor Chan | Updated: Mon May 01 2023

Leica TL article cover photo

Key Features

Nov 08 2016

Announced

16 megapixels

Resolution

BrandLeica
Sensor TypeAPS-C
SensorCMOS
Weight384g
MSRP$1695USD

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Overview of the TL

Photography is an art that requires a combination of skills, creativity, and the right equipment. A high-functioning camera can make all the difference in capturing and preserving moments. With its advanced technology and premium design, the Leica TL is one of the top-notch cameras that photography enthusiasts swear by. In this blog post, we'll dive deep into the Leica TL camera and analyze its features, pros, and cons. Whether you're a professional photographer or an amateur, this review will help you determine if the Leica TL is the right choice for your photography needs.

Leica TL Pros and Cons

Now, we will look more closely at our review of the Leica TL camera. We will see what it can do and compare it to other cameras like it. We will tell you what's good about it and what's not so good. This way, you'll know if it's the camera for you!

Pros

Excellent image quality
Sleek and modern design
Easy to use touchscreen interface
Light and compact body
Fast autofocus system
Great low light performance
High-end build quality
Wide range of compatible lenses
WiFi connectivity
Ability to shoot RAW images

Cons

Expensive compared to other mirrorless cameras
Limited physical controls
No viewfinder included
Short battery life
No image stabilization
No built-in flash
Limited video recording capabilities
Lack of dust and weather sealing on camera body
Limited autofocus points
Not as widely available as other camera brands

Build and Construction

Body and dimensions

Leica TL

Weather sealed
Dimensions134 x 69 x 33mm
Weight384g
Thickness33mm
Weight
Min
Avg
This
Max
Thickness
Min
Avg
This
Max

Weather Sealing

The Leica TL is not sealed against water and dust, so it's important to be careful when using it in such conditions. If you often shoot in environments with water or dust, it's recommended to check out another camera with weather sealing.

Design and Handling

Main design features

View FinderElectronic (optional)
Screen TypeFixed Type
Screen Resolution1,230k dots
Body typeRangefinder-style mirrorless

Suitable for:

PhotographyAbove Avg.
VideographyAbove Avg.
TravelAbove Avg.

LCD Screen

This camera has a fixed type 3.70" screen, with a display resolution of 1,230k dots. This makes the Leica TL not as suitable for those looking for a vlogging camera as you cannot view yourself while shooting selfies easily. The camera also features a touch screen, which adds to its ease of use.

Viewfinder

TL includes a electronic (optional) viewfinder with no electronic viewfinder of resolution with a coverage of n/a and a magnification of n/a. This feature enhances the camera's suitability for outdoor photography in bright conditions.

Image Quality

Leica TL has a 16MP sized CMOS sensor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 16 pixels. Leica TL has a native ISO range of 100 - 12500 which can be boosted to null - null. It can also save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post processing.

Key Features

Nov 08 2016

Announced

100 - 12500

ISO Range

SensorAPS-C
Extended ISOnull - null
Max resolution4928 x 3264 pixels

DXO Sensor Scores

Overall

not tested

Color Depth

not tested

Dynamic Range

not tested

Low Light ISO

not tested

DXO mark sensor scores

The DXOmark rankings indicate that the Leica TL camera has excellent color depth performance, which refers to the number of colors the sensor can distinguish. Additionally, its dynamic range is also excellent, allowing it to retain high amounts of details in both bright and dark areas of a scene. The camera's low light ISO performance is excellent, which is an important factor to consider if you plan to use it in dimly lit indoor environments or at night. Overall the image quality of the TL is excellent

Crop Factor

Camera crop factor (or focal length multiplier) refers to how a camera's sensor size affects the apparent field of view of a lens. Crop factor is determined by comparing the size of a camera's sensor to that of a full-frame sensor, which is a standard reference size for camera sensors.

Size comparison

Medium FormatFull FrameAPS-C (Sony, Nikon)

Crop factor calculator

Crop factor

1.5x

Full frame equivalent

36mm

This camera: APS-C

24mm

850100150200

Connectivity, storage, battery

StorageInternal + SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Battery Life400 shots
Battery ModelBP-DC13
HDMI
USD
Wireless Connectivity

Storage

The Leica TL supports Internal + SD/SDHC/SDXC card with 1 slots for storage. This may suffice for everyday use. However, for professional applications such as wedding photography, it is not recommended as a memory card malfunction could lead to the loss of all footage.

Battery

The Leica TL uses the BP-DC13 model of battery pack. This is rated for 400 shots shots which is high. If you intend to take photos or record videos for an extended period, it might be a good idea to bring along additional batteries.

Photography Features

Flash

The Leica TL has built in flash which is great for event photography and in low light situations. It also offers a flash shoe that allows you to attach external flashes. This provides more versatility in your lighting choices.

Shutter

The Leica TL boasts a maximum mechanical shutter speed of 1/4000s, which is ideal for shooting fast-moving subjects in bright environments, such as in sports photography. Faster shutter speeds enable you to freeze the action and capture every detail, making it easier to get the perfect shot.

With a continuous mechanical shutter speed of n/a or an electronic shutter speed of n/a, this camera is not capable of capturing the perfect moment more easily, making it not as suited for wedding, sports, and wildlife photography. Higher shutter speeds make it easier to capture fast-paced action, ensuring that you never miss the perfect shot.

Autofocus

The Leica TL includes contrast detection autofocus (AF), with null number of focus points.

While contrast detection is generally more accurate and precise, phase detection autofocus is faster and more effective in most situations, particularly when photographing moving subjects.

Phase detection autofocus works by dividing the incoming light into pairs and then analyzing how they intersect on the camera's sensor. This method allows the camera to determine not only if a subject is in focus but also the direction and distance needed to adjust the focus to achieve perfect sharpness.

On the other hand, contrast detection autofocus works by analyzing the contrast of an image and adjusting the focus until the highest contrast is detected. While this method is very accurate, it can be slow, especially in low light conditions or when photographing moving subjects.

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FAQ

What is the sensor size of the Leica TL?

The Leica TL features a CMOS sensor

Is the Leica TL weather sealed?

No the TL does not have weather sealing.

When was the Leica TL announced?

The Leica TL was announced on Nov 08 2016

Does the Leica TL have in-body image stabilization?

No the TL does not have in-body image stabilization that can compensate for camera shake, making it easier to shoot handheld in low light conditions.

What is the ISO range of the Leica TL?

The TL has a native ISO range of 100-12500, which can be expanded to ISO null-null for even greater sensitivity in low light conditions.

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