Leica
CL
Compact APS-C L-mount rangefinder-style body.
$2,795
Launch priceReleased Nov 2017
Leica
M11
Rangefinder icon with 60MP and classic M-mount heritage.
$8,995
Launch priceReleased Jan 2022
M11 is 4.2 years newer.
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Wins
CL
Wins
M11
3 categories tied
Which would you choose?
TL;DR — Key differences
- ACL has higher AF points / zones (49 vs 0)
- ACL has higher IBIS effectiveness (6 stops vs 0 stops)
- ACL has higher RAW buffer depth (60 frames vs 15 frames)
- ACL has higher Burst (electronic) (15 fps vs 4.5 fps)
- BM11 has higher Resolution (60.3 MP vs 24.2 MP)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
📸 Snap this size diff to shareCL
138 × 98 × 88 mm
520 g (1.15 lb / 18.34 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
M11
139 × 80 × 39 mm
530 g (1.17 lb / 18.70 oz)
CL is 1mm narrower than M11 but it is also 18mm taller and 50mm thicker.
CL is 10 g lighter than M11.
Depth (front-to-back): 88mm CL · 39mm M11
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
CL
138 × 98 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
M11
139 × 80 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
CL
138 × 88 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
M11
139 × 39 mm
Sensor size, to scale
CL
23.5 × 15.6 mm · APS-C
367 mm² area
M11
36 × 24 mm · Full Frame
864 mm² area
2.4× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
CL
✓ more lensesLeica L
80+
native lenses available
M11: mount data unavailable
Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
CL
AF points / zones
49 vs 0 — higher is better
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird…
Codecs
Adds H.265, H.264
IBIS effectiveness
6 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 138, 98, 88
RAW buffer depth
60 frames vs 15 frames — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
15 fps vs 4.5 fps — higher is better
Eye AF
Only CL supports it
Reasons to choose
M11
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 139, 80, 38.5
Resolution
60.3 MP vs 24.2 MP — higher is better
EVF resolution
5,760,000 vs 2,360,000 — higher is better
ISO max (native)
50,000 vs 25,600 — higher is better
ISO min (native)
64 vs 100 — lower is better
Battery life (CIPA)
700 shots vs 640 shots — higher is better
Both cameras share
- ✓4K max frame rate — Both 60 fps
- ✓Max video bit rate — Both 150 Mbps
- ✓EVF refresh rate — Both 120 Hz
- ✓Touchscreen — Both support touchscreen
- ✓Wi-Fi — Both support wi-fi
- ✓Bluetooth — Both support bluetooth
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
CL
Pros
- ✓Beautiful design
- ✓Compact
- ✓L-mount
Cons
- –Older
- –24MP APS-C
- –Limited lens selection
M11
Pros
- ✓Rangefinder experience
- ✓60MP
- ✓Legendary brand
Cons
- –Manual focus only
- –Extremely expensive
- –No video focus
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the CL and M11 at major authorized retailers.
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Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for wildlife, CL or M11?
CL scores 9.0/10 versus 0.0/10 for M11 — Bird AF subject recognition.
What's the resolution difference between the CL and M11?
CL is 24.2 MP and M11 is 60.3 MP, so the M11 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the CL and M11 have in-body image stabilization?
CL has 6-stop in-body image stabilization, while M11 does not have IBIS.
Which shoots faster bursts — the CL or the M11?
CL reaches 15 fps electronic. M11 reaches 4.5 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the CL and M11?
CL weighs 520 g and M11 weighs 530 g, so the CL is 10 g lighter.
Do the CL and M11 record 4K video?
CL: 4K up to 60p. M11: 4K up to 60p.
Are the CL and M11 weather sealed?
CL: Yes. M11: No.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the CL and 700 shots for the M11, giving the M11 the edge.
How much does each cost?
CL launched at $2,795 and M11 at $8,995. The CL is $6,200 less.
Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.
Add any camera to get a three-way CL vs M11 vs X comparison.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed July 2026.
Product images courtesy of Leica press materials.