Nikon D500 vs Leica SL2

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Nikon D500 vs Leica SL2

APS-C 369.0mm²
20.9 megapixels
ISO 100 - 51,200

Go in depth with our full Nikon D500 Review.
How does it shoot? Nikon D500 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the D500.
Compare Nikon D500 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Nikon D500 conclusion.

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

Go in depth with our full Leica SL2 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the SL2.

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Differences

Nikon D500 advantages over Leica SL2

Less expensive
$1597 vs $4085*
Save money for lenses or accessories
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
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

1240 vs 370 shots
Capture more photos
Bigger JPEG buffer
200 vs 100 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Bigger RAW buffer
200 vs 78 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
1638400 vs 50000 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Leica SL2 advantages over Nikon D500

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Larger sensor
35mm vs APS-C
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
High resolution composite
Yes vs No
Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
Thinner
42 mm vs 81 mm
Thinner
Newer
4 years vs 8 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
More viewfinder magnification
0.78x vs 0.67x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
47.3 vs 20.9 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster JPEG shooting
20.0 fps vs 10.2 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
20.0 fps vs 10.2 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/40000 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
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 Bluetooth
Both provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
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 panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
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

Amazon
Adorama
Read D500 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read SL2 User Reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Nikon D500

Body Only

Body Only
Body Only 100th Anniversary Edition
Kit with 16-80mm f/2.8-4 Lens

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Leica SL2

Body Only

Review Excerpt

Superb image quality; Great high ISO performance; Rugged, comfortable camera body; Sharp articulating touchscreen display; Excellent AF point frame coverage; Fast continuous shooting speeds; 4K UHD video; Built-in Wi-Fi, NFC and Bluetooth.
Somewhat large for an APS-C camera; Expensive for a DX camera; 4K UHD video doesn't offer full DX field-of-view; No built-in flash; Still uses contrast-detect for Live View AF; Dual slots use two different card types (XQD and SD).
Read our Nikon D500 Review

We haven’t finished our review of the Leica SL2, but we have extensive sample photos and a hands-on report.
Read our Leica SL2 Shooter's Report

The Competition

Compared to Pentax K-3 II

Nikon D500

Pentax K-3 II

$1598
APS-C

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$830
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

Compare Nikon D500 vs Pentax K-3 II

Leica SL2

Pentax K-3 II

$5992
35mm

Larger sensor
Shoot 4K video

$830
APS-C

Less expensive
Built-in GPS

Compare Leica SL2 vs Pentax K-3 II

Compared to Sony A68

Nikon D500

Sony A68

$1598
APS-C

Lens selection
Shoot 4K video

$598
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

Compare Nikon D500 vs Sony A68

Leica SL2

Sony A68

$5992
35mm

Larger sensor
Shoot 4K video

$598
APS-C

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

Compare Leica SL2 vs Sony A68

Compared to Pentax KP

Nikon D500

Pentax KP

$1598
APS-C

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$999
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

Compare Nikon D500 vs Pentax KP

Leica SL2

Pentax KP

$5992
35mm

Larger sensor
Shoot 4K video

$999
APS-C

Less expensive
Tiltable Screen

Compare Leica SL2 vs Pentax KP

Compared to Leica M10-R

Nikon D500

Leica M10-R

$1598
APS-C

Lens selection
Shoot 4K video

$8295
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Nikon D500 vs Leica M10-R

Leica SL2

Leica M10-R

$5992
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Shoot 4K video

$8295
35mm

Bigger pixels
Lighter weight

Compare Leica SL2 vs Leica M10-R

Compared to Sony A1

Nikon D500

Sony A1

$1598
APS-C

Less expensive
Lens selection

$6498
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Nikon D500 vs Sony A1

Leica SL2

Sony A1

$5992
35mm

Less expensive
High resolution composite

$6498
35mm

Slower slow-motion
Tiltable Screen

Compare Leica SL2 vs Sony A1

Compare Other Cameras?