Leica SL (Typ 601) vs Nikon D7500

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Leica SL (Typ 601) vs Nikon D7500

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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.

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

Go in depth with our full Nikon D7500 Review.
How does it shoot? Nikon D7500 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the D7500.
Compare Nikon D7500 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Nikon D7500 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Leica SL2
Compare SL (Typ 601) vs SL2
Compare Leica SL2 vs Nikon D7500

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Differences

Leica SL (Typ 601) advantages over Nikon D7500

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.
Bigger pixels
~ 6.00 vs 4.22 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
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.
SL (Typ 601) test data on DxO Mark D7500 test data on DxO Mark

1,821 vs 1,483 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Built-in GPS
GPS vs None
Geotag your photos
Thinner
39 mm vs 72 mm
Thinner
More viewfinder magnification
0.80x vs 0.63x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
24.2 vs 20.9 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster JPEG shooting
10.6 fps vs 8.2 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 100 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
10.5 fps vs 8.2 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/16000 vs 1/8000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Nikon D7500 advantages over Leica SL (Typ 601)

Less expensive
$997 vs $3605*
Save money for lenses or accessories
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Fast startup
~0.20 vs 1.1 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
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 400 shots
Capture more photos
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Bigger RAW buffer
47 vs 33 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
1638400 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
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
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 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
NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D7500 User Reviews

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Buy the Nikon D7500

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 16-80mm lens
Kit with 18-140mm lens
Kit with 18-300mm lens

All D7500 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

New carbon fiber body is light, compact and very comfortable; Same excellent image quality as the flagship D500; Quick 8.2 frames per second burst shooting with generous buffer; Very fast, accurate autofocus; Tilting touch-screen display; Very good battery life; Records ultra high-def 4K and 60fps Full HD too.
Only a single flash card slot; Doesn't support portrait / battery grip accessories; No rear infrared receiver any more; non-CPU AI lenses will be manual only; 4K video comes with a heavy crop; Movie AF is prone to hunting, Extended ISO sensitivities are a gimmick.
Read our Nikon D7500 Review

The Competition

Compared to Nikon D7200

Leica SL (Typ 601)

Nikon D7200

$3802
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$1016
APS-C

Less expensive
Fast startup

Compare Leica SL (Typ 601) vs Nikon D7200

Nikon D7500

Nikon D7200

$864
APS-C

Less expensive
Shoot 4K video

$1016
APS-C

NFC
More telephoto lens reach

Compare Nikon D7500 vs Nikon D7200

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)

Nikon D7500

Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246)

$864
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

$7595
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Nikon D7500 vs Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246)

Compared to Canon 80D

Leica SL (Typ 601)

Canon 80D

$3802
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$935
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Leica SL (Typ 601) vs Canon 80D

Nikon D7500

Canon 80D

$864
APS-C

Shoot 4K video
Fast startup

$935
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
NFC

Compare Nikon D7500 vs Canon 80D

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)

Nikon D7500

Leica M-D (Typ 262)

$864
APS-C

Rear display
Lens selection

$5995
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Nikon D7500 vs Leica M-D (Typ 262)

Compared to Pentax K-70

Leica SL (Typ 601)

Pentax K-70

$3802
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$597
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Leica SL (Typ 601) vs Pentax K-70

Nikon D7500

Pentax K-70

$864
APS-C

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$597
APS-C

Focus peaking
Less expensive

Compare Nikon D7500 vs Pentax K-70

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