A versatile pairing offered here in silver, this Leica TL2 Mirrorless Camera with 18-56mm Lens Kit bundles the sleek mirrorless body with the Vario-Elmar-T 18-56mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH lens.
- 24.2MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
- Leica Maestro II Image Processor
- UHD 4K30 and Full HD 1080p60 Video
- Up to 20 fps Shooting and ISO 50000
Leica TL2 Overview
Leica TL2 Specs
Leica TL2 Reviews
There is a reason why it is half price
I have never owned a Leica before this, and just because of this camera I will never have one. I also bought a EV for this camera , it was very unresponsive. I used it with 18-56mm lens. I have nothing good to say about this, returned it after only one day of using it.
What a good deal and what a great camera/lens
I was looking for an upscale point and shoot camera to supplement my Nikon Z7ii gear. On a recent trip, one member had a Leica CL as a backup camera and was pleased with it. The TL2 with the capability of interchangeable lenses piqued my interest and the B&H price made it a done deal. I hate learning new operating systems, but this Leica is quick to understand and the images are better than my trilogy 2.8 Nikon glass in many cases. A win-win deal om a Leica. I am sold!
Great clearance price for a Leica TL2!
I have a Nikon DF, Olympus Pen F, and a Ricoh GRII. While all three cameras are a joy to use, I've found that most often I'm grabbing the Ricoh GRII. Why? Because it has a large APS-C sensor that takes wonderful pictures, and it fits in my pocket. It's also mistaken for a cell phone, so most of the time I'm able to take pictures without much notice. So, when I decided to get a new camera, the TL2 was one of the top contenders for this reason. I was surprised (and disappointed) to learn that Leica was dropping their APS-C cameras, but happy to see BH Photo still had the TL2 w/18-56mm lens at a great price. Like others have said, the image quality of this camera is superb in daylight, but it's a struggle getting good pictures in low light. I also wish that I had pulled the trigger when BH Photo had this camera paired with the 18mm lens as a kit. The 18-56mm lens is nice but doesn't allow the TL2 to be carried in my pocket. I have the 18mm lens on order, but of course, this is driving up my investment in a camera system that will have no support from Leica after 6 years. I also purchased the Visoflex as it was too difficult using the camera in daylight with a zoom lens and no viewfinder. I do plan to use my TL2 without the Visoflex when the 18mm is attached because my ultimate goal is to have a pocket camera with excellent IQ. The cons for this camera & lens combo (at least for me, anyway) is the lack of OIS and slow shutter speed. I'm used to not having OIS with my Ricoh, so I know how to work with it, but it would have been nice to have this feature. Taking pictures of stationary objects is not a problem with the 18-56mm lens (I think that's where it shines) but moving objects can be more of a challenge. I've included a picture of a Thresher Shark being caught off the pier in San Clemente to illustrate how the TL2 w/18-56mm lens performs with an action shot. I set it to aperture priority using the largest setting based the zoom selected, along with ISO set to auto. The picture is not great in terms of sharpness, but it's not too bad either. I don't think action photos are what this camera is all about, so it doesn't bother me. I bought this camera to perform like a cell phone camera on steroids. To this end, it excels with the added benefit of the "Leica look". Finally, about my review: I have a friend who always tells me how a car performs is primarily based on the "nut behind the wheel". So, with that in mind, take this review with a grain of salt. I'm an amateur at best, so I'm sure a seasoned photographer can get better results from this camera. With that said, I love the TL2 and plan to use it often!
Strong image capture
I got this as my travel camera. I am really happy with the image quality. Lowlight performance, not so much. But generally really good. The Eyepiece makes it an overall better experience as the screen, whilst big had some reflections making sun use difficult. Thats the star.
Leica TL2 Underrated!
This has to be one of the most underrated mirrorless cameras in the market. The build, and more importantly, image quality are both outstanding! The small size and incredibly fast operating system make this an absolute joy to carry around and use on a day to day basis. The Tl lenses offer an incredible range of uses and provide outstanding color reproduction and image quality. The only negative I have for this camera is it makes me wonder how much better a M or SL2 might be...
Old tech in a great body
Always wanted a Leica and the TL2 was on sale (for an obvious reason) Did a lot of reviews and was hoping that the review were just over picky about certain functions of the camera. Well, they were all correct. With good light, the camera does really well and it's very easy to use. I drove home from work yesterday and was taking photos as I drove. I checked the images on the mac and they were actually very sharp. Then I played with it at after dark and indoors. The images were worse then my old Nikon D80 10MP camera. Quite disappointed. If you can afford a $2.5K novelty in your collection (to claim you have a Leica)... then I would say go for it. Otherwise, the Sony A7c would be your better choice for about the same size camera with newer technology and it's a full-frame.
Still relevant in 2023
Needing a packable backup for my SL2, I ran across B&H's great price on the TL2. In spite of its age, image quality is still top-tier for APS-C. The touch screen makes it fairly nimble in the field once one gets used to it. With a Visoflex 020 added to it, which also adds GPS, it's a lightweight highly capable option on which I can use my L-mount lenses.
Great APS-C camera at a "discounted" price
So... yeah this camera is really expensive for what it offers. Additionally, Leica has discontinued their APS-C cameras. Having said that, this camera is incredibly fun to shoot with for daily personal use. I carry it with me almost everywhere. I also picked up the 18mm F2.8 TL lens which give a 28mm equivalent when attached to the TL2. I'm not a huge fan of the 18-56mm zoom lens, but the bundled price for the kit lens happened to be the same price as the body only option. Overall, I really surprised with how much I enjoy using this camera. If I were to describe it, it's like shooting with a smartphone that has a significantly larger sensor and better lens.