Canon 5D Mark III vs Leica SL (Typ 601)

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Canon 5D Mark III vs Leica SL (Typ 601)

35mm 864.0mm²
22.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Canon 5D Mark III Review.
See real-world photos taken with the 5D Mark III.
Compare Canon 5D Mark III image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon 5D Mark III conclusion.

35mm 864.0mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 50 - 50,000

Go in depth with our full Leica SL (Typ 601) Review.
How does it shoot? Leica SL (Typ 601) in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the SL (Typ 601).
What’s the bottom line? Read our Leica SL (Typ 601) conclusion.

Succeeded by the Canon 5D Mark IV
Compare 5D Mark III vs 5D Mark IV

Succeeded by the Leica SL2
Compare SL (Typ 601) vs SL2

Compare CANON 5D MARK IV vs LEICA SL2

Buy From

Differences

Canon 5D Mark III advantages over Leica SL (Typ 601)

Less expensive
$2299 vs $3605*
Save money for lenses or accessories
Fast startup
~0.50 vs 1.1 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
5D Mark III test data on DxO Mark SL (Typ 601) test data on DxO Mark

2,293 vs 1,821 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

950 vs 400 shots
Capture more photos
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
Higher extended ISO
102400 vs 50000 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Leica SL (Typ 601) advantages over Canon 5D Mark III

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Shoot 4K video
4K (DCI) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
More dynamic range

More dynamic range

Cameras with more dynamic range allow you to take photos with dramatic differences in highlight and shadow areas while retaining detail in both.

Think of a brilliant sunset on a rocky beach: Bright sunset in the background, with dark rocks in the foreground. High dynamic range means more of the extremes will be faithfully reproduced.

Dynamic range test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
SL (Typ 601) test data on DxO Mark 5D Mark III test data on DxO Mark

13.4 vs 11.7 evs
Retain detail in highlight and shadows
Built-in GPS
GPS vs None
Geotag your photos
Thinner
39 mm vs 76 mm
Thinner
Newer
8 years vs 12 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
More viewfinder magnification
0.80x vs 0.71x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster JPEG shooting
10.6 fps vs 6.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 63 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
10.5 fps vs 6.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
33 vs 18 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/16000 vs 1/8000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Top deck display
Both provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Dual card slots
Both provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Both provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Neither provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Neither provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Internal flash
Neither provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash

User reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon 5D Mark III

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 24-105mm f/4 lens
Kit with 24-70mm Lens

All 5D Mark III Deals

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Leica SL (Typ 601)

Body Only

All SL (Typ 601) Deals

Review Excerpt

Superb still and video image quality; Powerful, fast, and accurate AF system with loads of cross-type points, loads of configurability and great frame coverage; Rugged, weather-sealed body with great control layout and user-interface configurability.
Dynamic range is limited by noise in deep shadows; Somewhat heavy-handed noise suppression and sharpening at default settings. (Shooting RAW avoids both.); No AF illuminator.
Read our Canon 5D Mark III Review

Superb build quality; Amazing EVF; Great image quality from RAW files; Good high ISO performance; Very good dynamic range; Very low shutter lag; Fast AF on stationary objects; Class-leading ~11 fps burst mode; 4K DCI and UHD video; Full HD up to 120p. Built-in Wi-Fi and GPS; Dual card slots; Decent battery life for its class.
Big for a full-frame mirrorless camera; Very slow buffer clearing; Contrast-detect AF system struggles with moving subjects; In-camera JPEGs are muted and dull; Very limited native lens selection (but supports many other Leica lenses via adapters); Expensive.
Read our Leica SL (Typ 601) Review

The Competition

Compared to Canon 6D

Canon 5D Mark III

Canon 6D

$2139
35mm

More cross-type AF points
Less shutter lag

$1699
35mm

Less expensive
Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Canon 5D Mark III vs Canon 6D

Leica SL (Typ 601)

Canon 6D

$3802
35mm

Focus peaking
Shoot 4K video

$1699
35mm

Less expensive
Fast startup

Compare Leica SL (Typ 601) vs Canon 6D

Compared to Canon 5D Mark IV

Canon 5D Mark III

Canon 5D Mark IV

$2139
35mm

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

$2499
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

Compare Canon 5D Mark III vs Canon 5D Mark IV

Leica SL (Typ 601)

Canon 5D Mark IV

$3802
35mm

Focus peaking
Thinner

$2499
35mm

Fast startup
NFC

Compare Leica SL (Typ 601) vs Canon 5D Mark IV

Compared to Sony A850

Canon 5D Mark III

Sony A850

$2139
35mm

Lens selection
Higher effective ISO

$2219
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon 5D Mark III vs Sony A850

Leica SL (Typ 601)

Sony A850

$3802
35mm

Focus peaking
Shoot 4K video

$2219
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Fast startup

Compare Leica SL (Typ 601) vs Sony A850

Compared to Nikon D800E

Canon 5D Mark III

Nikon D800E

$2139
35mm

Bigger pixels
More cross-type AF points

$2212
35mm

Fast startup
Higher effective ISO

Compare Canon 5D Mark III vs Nikon D800E

Leica SL (Typ 601)

Nikon D800E

$3802
35mm

Focus peaking
Bigger pixels

$2212
35mm

Fast startup
Higher effective ISO

Compare Leica SL (Typ 601) vs Nikon D800E

Compared to Sony A99

Canon 5D Mark III

Sony A99

$2139
35mm

Lens selection
Fast startup

$1998
35mm

Focus peaking
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Canon 5D Mark III vs Sony A99

Leica SL (Typ 601)

Sony A99

$3802
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$1998
35mm

Tilt-swivel screen
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Leica SL (Typ 601) vs Sony A99

Compare Other Cameras?