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

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

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.

35mm 864.0mm²
30.4 megapixels
ISO 100 - 32,000

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

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Differences

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

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Thinner
39 mm vs 75 mm
Thinner
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 7.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
10.5 fps vs 7.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
33 vs 19 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/16000 vs 1/8000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

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

Fast startup
~0.50 vs 1.1 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
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 IV test data on DxO Mark SL (Typ 601) test data on DxO Mark

2,995 vs 1,821 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
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

900 vs 400 shots
Capture more photos
More dots on screen
1620k vs 1040k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
More pixels
30.4 vs 24.2 megapixels
Higher resolution 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

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Shoot 4K video
Both provide
Make sure you have a fast computer
Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
Built-in GPS
Both provide
Geotag your photos
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
Slow-motion videos
Both provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

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
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Internal flash
Neither provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash

User reviews

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Buy the Leica SL (Typ 601)

Body Only

All SL (Typ 601) Deals

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Buy the Canon 5D Mark IV

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 24-105mm Lens
Kit with 24-70mm Lens

All 5D Mark IV Deals

Review Excerpt

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

Superb image quality from RAW files; Improved dynamic range; Excellent high ISO performance; Fast 7fps burst rate with unlimited JPEG buffer; High-quality cinema 4K video; Built-in Wi-Fi; Dual Pixel CMOS AF is very good.
JPEG files look soft at default settings; 1/200s flash sync; 4K video codec is cumbersome; 29:59 continuous video recording limit.
Read our Canon 5D Mark IV Review

The Competition

Compared to Canon 5D Mark III

Leica SL (Typ 601)

Canon 5D Mark III

$3802
35mm

Focus peaking
Shoot 4K video

$2149
35mm

Less expensive
Fast startup

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

Canon 5D Mark IV

Canon 5D Mark III

$2499
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$2149
35mm

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

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

Compared to Nikon D810

Leica SL (Typ 601)

Nikon D810

$3802
35mm

Focus peaking
Bigger pixels

$2997
35mm

Fast startup
Higher effective ISO

Compare Leica SL (Typ 601) vs Nikon D810

Canon 5D Mark IV

Nikon D810

$2499
35mm

Less expensive
Shoot 4K video

$2997
35mm

Longer stills battery life
Internal flash

Compare Canon 5D Mark IV vs Nikon D810

Compared to Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246)

Leica SL (Typ 601)

Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246)

$3802
35mm

Less expensive
Shoot 4K video

$7595
35mm

Compare Leica SL (Typ 601) vs Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246)

Canon 5D Mark IV

Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246)

$2499
35mm

Lens selection
Less expensive

$7595
35mm

Focus peaking
Thinner

Compare Canon 5D Mark IV vs Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246)

Compared to Leica M-D (Typ 262)

Leica SL (Typ 601)

Leica M-D (Typ 262)

$3802
35mm

Rear display
Focus peaking

$5995
35mm

Compare Leica SL (Typ 601) vs Leica M-D (Typ 262)

Canon 5D Mark IV

Leica M-D (Typ 262)

$2499
35mm

Rear display
Lens selection

$5995
35mm

Thinner
Lacks anti-aliasing filter

Compare Canon 5D Mark IV vs Leica M-D (Typ 262)

Compared to Sony A99 II

Leica SL (Typ 601)

Sony A99 II

$3802
35mm

Bigger pixels
Touchscreen

$3198
35mm

Tilt-swivel screen
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Leica SL (Typ 601) vs Sony A99 II

Canon 5D Mark IV

Sony A99 II

$2499
35mm

Lens selection
Bigger pixels

$3198
35mm

Focus peaking
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Canon 5D Mark IV vs Sony A99 II

Compare Other Cameras?