Nikon D300S vs Leica CL

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Nikon D300S vs Leica CL

APS-C 372.9mm²
12.3 megapixels
ISO 200 - 3200

Go in depth with our full Nikon D300S Review.
See real-world photos taken with the D300S.

APS-C 370.5mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 50,000

Go in depth with our full Leica CL Review.

Succeeded by the Nikon D500
Compare D300S vs D500
Compare Nikon D500 vs Leica CL

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Differences

Nikon D300S advantages over Leica CL

Less expensive
$1697* vs $6995
Save money for lenses or accessories
Bigger pixels
~ 5.50 vs 3.92 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
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 220 shots
Capture more photos
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
HDMI out
HDMI out vs None
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
Bulb shutter
Bulb vs No bulb
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Leica CL advantages over Nikon D300S

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 720p
Make sure you have a fast computer
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
Thinner
45 mm vs 74 mm
Thinner
Newer
6 years vs 15 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
Shoots 1080p video
Yes vs No
You'll want this if you shoot video
More viewfinder magnification
0.74x vs 0.63x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
24.2 vs 12.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos
Faster JPEG shooting
10.0 fps vs 7.1 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
140 vs 26 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
10.0 fps vs 7.1 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Faster shutter
1/25000 vs 1/8000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
50000 vs 6400 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
Top deck display
Both provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities

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
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
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D300S User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read CL User Reviews

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Buy the Nikon D300S

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 18-200mm Lens

All D300S Deals

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Buy the Leica CL

Body Only (Black)

Body Only (Black)
Kit with 18-56mm lens (Black)
Kit with 18mm lens (Black)

Review Excerpt

Rugged construction; 51-point AF system capable of sophisticated AF tracking; Large, bright optical viewfinder; 7 fps JPEG or 12-bit RAW burst mode; HD Video capture.
14-bit RAW mode slows continuous shooting from 7 fps to 2.7 fps; Somewhat slow AF for a camera at this level, especially in 51-point auto-area mode; Video capture tops out at 720p24.
Read our Nikon D300S Full Review

We haven’t reviewed the Leica CL.
Read our Leica CL Preview

The Competition

Compared to Nikon D90

Nikon D300S

Nikon D90

$1697
APS-C

External Mic Jack
More cross-type AF points

$1300
APS-C

Higher effective ISO
Bigger JPEG buffer

Compare Nikon D300S vs Nikon D90

Leica CL

Nikon D90

$3195
APS-C

Focus peaking
Shoot 4K video

$1300
APS-C

Bigger pixels
Longer stills battery life

Compare Leica CL vs Nikon D90

Compared to Canon 50D

Nikon D300S

Canon 50D

$1697
APS-C

Higher effective ISO
Longer stills battery life

$1000
APS-C

Less shutter lag
More pixels

Compare Nikon D300S vs Canon 50D

Leica CL

Canon 50D

$3195
APS-C

Focus peaking
Shoot 4K video

$1000
APS-C

Bigger pixels
Longer stills battery life

Compare Leica CL vs Canon 50D

Compared to Sony DSLR-A550

Nikon D300S

Sony DSLR-A550

$1697
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

$859
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Tiltable Screen

Compare Nikon D300S vs Sony DSLR-A550

Leica CL

Sony DSLR-A550

$3195
APS-C

Focus peaking
Shoot 4K video

$859
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Bigger pixels

Compare Leica CL vs Sony DSLR-A550

Compared to Sony A6500

Nikon D300S

Sony A6500

$1697
APS-C

Lens selection
Bigger pixels

$1198
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D300S vs Sony A6500

Leica CL

Sony A6500

$3195
APS-C

Top deck display
Lacks anti-aliasing filter

$1198
APS-C

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Leica CL vs Sony A6500

Compared to Fujifilm X-Pro3

Nikon D300S

Fujifilm X-Pro3

$1697
APS-C

Lens selection
Bigger pixels

$1799
APS-C

Focus peaking
Shoot 4K video

Compare Nikon D300S vs Fujifilm X-Pro3

Leica CL

Fujifilm X-Pro3

$3195
APS-C

In-camera panoramas
More viewfinder magnification

$1799
APS-C

Less expensive
Tiltable Screen

Compare Leica CL vs Fujifilm X-Pro3

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