Leica
M EV1
Digital Leica M with integrated 5.76M-dot EVF, 60MP full-frame sensor, and manual M-mount focusing.
$8,995
Launch priceReleased Oct 2025
Leica
SL2
47MP L-mount body before the SL3 generation.
$5,895
Launch priceReleased Nov 2019
M EV1 is 6 years newer.
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Wins
M EV1
Wins
SL2
2 categories tied
Which would you choose?
TL;DR — Key differences
- BSL2 has higher AF points / zones (49 vs 0)
- BSL2 has higher IBIS effectiveness (7 stops vs 0 stops)
- BSL2 has higher RAW buffer depth (120 frames vs 15 frames)
- BSL2 has higher Burst (electronic) (20 fps vs 4.5 fps)
- BSL2 has higher Card slots (2 vs 1)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
📸 Snap this size diff to share
M EV1
139 × 80 × 39 mm
495 g (1.09 lb / 17.46 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
SL2
138 × 98 × 88 mm
720 g (1.59 lb / 25.40 oz)
M EV1 is 18mm shorter and 50mm thinner than SL2 but it is also 1mm wider.
M EV1 is 225 g lighter than SL2.
Depth (front-to-back): 39mm M EV1 · 88mm SL2
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
M EV1
139 × 80 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
SL2
138 × 98 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
M EV1
139 × 39 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
SL2
138 × 88 mm
Sensor size, to scale
M EV1
36 × 24 mm · Full Frame
864 mm² area
SL2
36 × 24 mm · Full Frame
864 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
M EV1: mount data unavailable
SL2
✓ more lensesLeica L
80+
native lenses available
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
M EV1
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 139, 80, 38.5
ISO max (native)
50,000 vs 25,600 — higher is better
ISO min (native)
64 vs 100 — lower is better
EVF resolution
5,760,000 vs 3,690,000 — higher is better
Weight
495 g vs 720 g — lower is better
Resolution
60.3 MP vs 47.3 MP — higher is better
Battery life (CIPA)
700 shots vs 640 shots — higher is better
Reasons to choose
SL2
AF points / zones
49 vs 0 — higher is better
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird…
Codecs
Adds H.265, H.264
IBIS effectiveness
7 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 138, 98, 88
RAW buffer depth
120 frames vs 15 frames — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
20 fps vs 4.5 fps — higher is better
AA filter
Only SL2 supports it
Both cameras share
- ✓4K max frame rate — Both 60 fps
- ✓Max video bit rate — Both 150 Mbps
- ✓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.
M EV1
Pros
- ✓Integrated EVF
- ✓60MP full-frame sensor
- ✓Leica M mount
- ✓64GB internal memory
Cons
- –Manual focus only
- –No video
- –Very expensive
SL2
Pros
- ✓47MP
- ✓L-mount
- ✓Leica quality
Cons
- –Superseded
- –Heavy
- –Expensive
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the M EV1 and SL2 at major authorized retailers.
Leica M EV1
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Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for wildlife, M EV1 or SL2?
SL2 scores 9.0/10 versus 0.0/10 for M EV1 — 20fps burst captures fleeting moments.
What's the resolution difference between the M EV1 and SL2?
M EV1 is 60.3 MP and SL2 is 47.3 MP, so the M EV1 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the M EV1 and SL2 have in-body image stabilization?
M EV1 does not have IBIS, while SL2 has 7-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the M EV1 or the SL2?
M EV1 reaches 4.5 fps electronic. SL2 reaches 20 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the M EV1 and SL2?
M EV1 weighs 495 g and SL2 weighs 720 g, so the M EV1 is 225 g lighter.
Do the M EV1 and SL2 record 4K video?
M EV1: 4K up to 60p. SL2: 4K up to 60p.
Are the M EV1 and SL2 weather sealed?
M EV1: No. SL2: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 700 shots (CIPA) for the M EV1 and 640 shots for the SL2, giving the M EV1 the edge.
How much does each cost?
M EV1 launched at $8,995 and SL2 at $5,895. The SL2 is $3,100 less.
Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.
Add any camera to get a three-way M EV1 vs SL2 vs X comparison.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed July 2026.
Product images courtesy of Leica press materials.