Are you looking for the smallest Leica cameras? Here’s some of the most diminutive cameras you can get that will make people go “Is that a Leica in your pocket”?
Hi, I’m Sven the Leicaphile and let’s talk about what small really means. Leica cameras are already some of the smallest cameras in the world, if you compare an M camera to a full frame DSLR the Leica is much smaller. So for this list of smallest Leica cameras I will focus on the M camera as being the baseline as it is one of the biggest Leica cameras (The S series notwithstanding).
Not all of the cameras will be pocketable but they are small enough for a jacket pocket, also some of the smallest Leica cameras are made by Panasonic/Leica so I will put them there and order them by size.
Smallest Leica cameras list
| Name | Sensor Size | Lens Info (35mm eq) | Size (inches) | Get it here: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Leica C Typ 112 | 1/1.7 | 28-200mm f1.7-5.9 | 4.1 x 2.5 x 1.1 | Check on ebay |
| 2. Leica D-Lux 6 | 1/1.7 | 24-90mm f1.4-2.3 | 4.4 x 2.6 x 1.8 | Check on ebay |
| 3. Leica TL2 | APSC | 28mm f/2.8 | 5.3 x 2.7 x 2.13 | Check Price |
| 4. Leica C-Lux | 1 inch | 24-3600 f3.3-6.4 | 4.4 x 2.6 x 1.8 | Check Price |
| 5. Leica D-Lux 7 | 4/3 | 24-75mm f1.7-2.8 | 4.6 x 2.6 x 2.5 | Check Price |
| 6. Leica CL | APSC | 28mm f/2.8 | 5.2 x 3.1 x 2.63 | Check Price |
It is a bit hard to get the size when it comes to numbers so in order to visualize the smallest Leica camera here they are in order with approximative size:
Let’s get into the list of smallest Leica cameras and see what makes each great.
| Reasons to buy | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Smallest one + Built in viewfinder + Front ring works + Like a micro rangefinder + Wifi + Great macro | – Can only be found used – No black |
This is the smallest Leica camera ever made. It is one of those partnership cameras with Panasonic but it goes beyond that. While other cameras are simply rebrands, this little camera has the same Leica M design with distinctive rounded corners that makes it look like a tiny rangefinder.
For some reason it doesn’t come in pure black but it is still sleek. Just like a rangefinder it has a viewfinder and the front ring even works to change a few settings. The mode change dial even looks like a shutter speed dial completing the look completely.
It is a small camera, can fit in your pocket but it is also an older camera so you can only find it used. But because of it’s size it is impossible not to mention it. You not only get an amazing zoom that goes from 28 to 200mm, but also great IQ throughout the zoom range.
One reason to pick this up is the integrated viewfinder. A lot of the cameras on this list don’t come with one integrated and this adds a degree of bulkiness.
The follow up to this camera, the C-lux is much bigger. If all you care about is to get THE smallest Leica camera, this is it. The fact that is looks and acts like a mini rangefinder is just icing on the cake. Image samples:
Image samples:
| Reasons to buy | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Controls and dials + Small and compact + Great IQ + Closest macro in all Leicas | – Older model – No wifi – Optional viewfinder |
Before the little marvel that is the Leica C Typ 112 took its place this was the smallest Leica camera you could get your hands on. While there are perks to having larger sensors, one thing you lose is the size.
Both the Leica C Typ 112 and this one are 1/1.7 sensors, smaller then the 1 inch sensors that most small cameras have now, but like I said, these are bigger. The C Typ 112 has a much further zoom (200mm vs 90mm) but the telephoto end of the C is SLOW at f5.9 while this has a still fast 90mm f2.3.
Unfortunately because this is an older model this lacks any type of “expected” things like wifi. While it is bigger then the first choice, it also lacks a viewfinder, you can add an EVF but it makes things bigger, but on the flip side, it can flip 90 degrees in order to shoot like a twin lens reflex camera.
The lens and zoom range are excellent and the image quality truly defy the age. Image samples:
| Reasons to buy | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Large sensor + Smallest Leica + Comes with Lens + Great IQ + Dials | – Optional viewfinder |
If you want the Smallest Leica from Leica themselves, this is it. It is made in Germany by hand from a single block of aluminium. Quite impressive. This is the brother to the Leica CL That is also on this list but much bigger.
The advantage of this camera is the thing body. It comes with a pancake 23mm that is equivalent to a 28mm f2.8. So the overall profile is pretty slim. What’s really impressive with this is the fact that it is an APSC sensor camera, so large sensor capable of some really nice Bokeh.
Besides the great IQ, the back is simply a touchscreen with two dials for controls, the hyper minimalism here is what allows this camera to be so thin. Hence the potential issue, if you like your viewfinders this one is optional and adds bulk if all you want is something that is small.
| Reasons to buy | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Great zoom range + Nice IQ + Integrated viewfinder | – Large for 1 inch sensor – Inconsistent IQ – Very slow lens |
This is the follow up to the first choice, the Leica C Typ 112. It follows the philosophy a bit with a zoom that goes all the way to 360mm. But the lens is slow, it STARTS at a slow f3.3 and ends at an even slower f6/3.
The image quality gets a boost because of the 1 inch sensor but it also makes it a much bulkier camera vs the C Typ 112. Moreover the image quality while great is inconsistent. Once you hit above 200mm the images go from sharp and defined to fuzzy and prone to blown highlights.
On the plus side, it has a viewfinder making everything compact and small. Image samples:
| Reasons to buy | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Large sensor + Fast zoom + Excellent IQ + Viewfinder | – None |
When it comes to the smallest Leica cameras there’s always a tradeoff. If you want truly small, you have to go small sensor. If you want large sensor, you not only have to go bigger but the lenses add bulk. This is the smallest Leica camera you can get that has everything squeezed into one.
It’s larger then the Leica TL2 with 28mm lens for example, but consider that the zoom can go from 24-75mm f1.7-f2.8 AND it has an integrated viewfinder, you can see that not everything is about the size.
So if you are willing to go a bit bigger, this is probably the only camera you’ll ever need. The zoom range covers everything and the large 4/3 sensor ensures great image quality and Bokeh. There’s simply little that this camera can’t do.
Night? You have a fast lens and top of the line stabilization. Portrait? Shoot the telephoto end wide open. The bulk this kind of lens normally brings makes this a very impressive camera because it is still very small and compact. Image samples:
| Reasons to buy | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Leica M look and feel + Large sensor + Top LCD + Viewfinder + Shutter speed dial + IQ and lens + Comes with lens | – Still a bit big |
This is the brother to the Leica TL2 as stated above. It shares the same large sensor and comes with the same 28mm f2.8 lens that is pancake size.
The TL2 is sleek and modern but if instead if you want a Leica M camera but don’t want the bulk this is the camera for you. It has the an integrated viewfinder so the experience of shooting is definitely rangefinder like.
But because of the dials, controls and viewfinder it is not as slim as the TL2 but still much smaller then a Leica M. This is the one camera that many Leica M shooters end up liking even more. The small build and excellent IQ are a lot to love.
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed this article about the smallest Leica cameras. If you only care about size the Leica C Typ 112 is the smallest Leica camera ever but you can only find it used. A step bigger with a shorter but faster zoom is the D-Lux 6.
If you want a made-in-Germany (read 100% Leica), then the smallest one is the Leica TL2 with the pancake 28mm f2.8. But if you don’t want to be limited with one focal length, the smallest Leica camera you can get is the Leica D-Lux 7: It has a nice and fast zoom, integrated viewfinder and large sensor all in a small package. Happy shooting!