Leica SL2 vs Nikon Z7 — Which Is Better?

The Leica SL2 and the Nikon Z7 are both full-frame mirrorless cameras, released in 2019 and 2018 respectively. The Z7 is the lighter and more compact body for travel and all-day carrying, at 675 g and 134 x 101 x 68 mm. The SL2 measures 146 x 107 x 83 mm and weighs 916 g, a 241 g difference.

The SL2 is the stronger choice for fast action, shooting at up to 20 fps against 9 fps on the Z7. For static subjects such as landscape work, resolution is effectively a shared strength: 47 MP versus 45.7 MP gives both cameras generous room to crop a distant animal or print large.

The Z7 offers 493 autofocus points against 225 on the SL2, while the SL2 answers with a higher-resolution electronic viewfinder, 5.76 million dots versus 3.69 million. Both have in-body stabilisation and a 1/8000 second maximum shutter, but their lens mounts differ, Leica L versus Nikon Z, so each body draws on its own native lens range.

The SL2 is the better pick for slow-motion editing, supporting frame rates up to 120 fps against 60 fps on the Z7. Both cameras record 4K video, so ordinary 4K projects are equally covered, and both have built-in timelapse for condensing a sunset or passing clouds into a short clip.

The Z7 is the more flexible camera for awkward angles, with a flip screen that helps frame shots overhead in a crowd or low to the ground. The SL2's screen is fixed, so those compositions rely on the live view display held at arm's length or guesswork.

The rear displays match on the supplied specifications, both 3.2-inch TFT LCDs with 2.1 million dots and touch control, so playback detail is the same on either body. Both are weather sealed and offer Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for wireless transfer, and neither has GPS, so location tagging needs an external recorder on either body.

The SL2 is the safer body for a paid shoot, with dual UHS-II SD card slots for overflow or separation of stills and video. The Z7 has a single XQD slot, so there is no second card during a wedding or event assignment.

Battery ratings favour the SL2 modestly, at 370 shots versus 330 shots on the Z7 under their respective test conditions. The Z7 supports USB charging, so it can top up from a power bank between locations, while the SL2 relies on its BP-SCL4 charger.