Fujifilm X-A2 vs Leica T — Which Is Better?

The Fujifilm X-A2 and the Leica T are compact mirrorless cameras, announced in January 2015 and April 2014 respectively. The X-A2 is the smaller and lighter body of the two, measuring 117 x 67 x 40 mm and weighing 350 g. The T measures 134 x 69 x 33 mm and weighs 384 g, so both fit a small camera bag.

The X-A2 is the stronger choice for framing off-centre subjects, offering 49 selectable autofocus points against a single point on the T. It also shoots slightly faster, at 5.6 fps versus 5 fps, which helps when capturing brief expressions or sudden movement. The mounts differ too: Fujifilm X lenses on one body, Leica T lenses on the other, so your native lens options follow the body you buy.

Resolution is a shared strength: both use a 16 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, so neither gives extra room to crop. Neither has a built-in viewfinder or in-body stabilisation, so composition relies on the rear screen and steadiness on your technique. Both share a 1/4000 second maximum shutter. For very dim scenes, the X-A2 reaches 25600 ISO in its expanded range, beyond the T's 12500 ISO ceiling.

The Leica T is the better pick for video, recording Full HD while the X-A2 stops at Standard HD, so its clips hold up better on a large screen. Both cap at 30 frames per second, so neither offers slow-motion capture. The T records MP4 files, while the X-A2 writes MOV. Neither includes a built-in interval timer for timelapse work.

Screen control favours the T: its 3.7-inch touchscreen carries 1.3 million dots and offers live view. The X-A2's screen is smaller at 3 inches with 920000 dots, and it has no touch input or live view, but it flips up, which suits self-portraits and waist-level or overhead shooting.

Elsewhere the useful tools match. Both offer Wi-Fi for sending photos straight to a phone, and both include a built-in flash plus support for an external flash. Neither has GPS for geotagging or weather sealing against dust and moisture, so both are best treated as fair-weather cameras.

Both cameras take SD, SDHC and SDXC cards in a single slot, so storage is simple to source and swap on either body. Their rated battery life is nearly the same, at 410 shots for the X-A2 and 400 for the T. Neither charges over USB, and each uses its own battery, Fujifilm's NP-W126 or Leica's BP-DC13.