If you have been looking at buying one of the best Leica cameras, you will know that the name 'Leica' comes with a very heavy price tag, especially for a new camera.
Thankfully, there are great Leica alternatives on the market that give you the same feel and usage of owning a Leica M11, or Leica M11 Monochrom but at a much lower price.
I've picked five cameras that are similar to using rangefinder cameras in looks but offer better or more advanced features than some Leica cameras, which you might find very beneficial while roaming the streets or documenting your latest reportage brief.
We've tested every camera on this list, and chosen a range of options to cover your different budgets and needs. The best Leica alternatives on this list still aren't cheap cameras, and some have seen a price increase due to popularity, but they are all still more affordably priced than their Leica equivalents.
The Fujifilm X100V has bags of style, but it's backed up by serious tech. Fifth in a line of prime-lens compact cameras, the X100V omits zoom range in favor of a catch-it-all focal length and supreme image quality. Read more below
The Nikon Z fc takes the look of a traditional SLR film camera to a whole new level of retro design, and although it's not a rangefinder-style camera, neither was the original Leica M1 camera. Read more below
If you want something like the Leica SL, but don't want to pay the hefty price tag, the Lumix S5 is the perfect full frame hybrid that can take 24MP stills and 4K video. Read more below
The best Leica alternatives in 2024
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The Fujifilm X100V has bags of style, but it's backed up by serious tech. Fifth in a line of prime-lens compact cameras, the X100V omits zoom range in favor of a catch-it-all focal length and supreme image quality. In our review, we found it to be a very enjoyable camera to use.
The X100V has been put together with street photographers in mind; it has dial-based controls, and the hybrid optical/electronic viewfinder is one of the best examples of its type on any mirrorless camera. All of this does come at a price, but if you can justify the expense, it’s worth it.
The Nikon Z fc takes the look of a traditional SLR film camera to a whole new level of retro design, and although it's not a rangefinder-style camera, neither was the original Leica M1 camera.
If you're tempted by Nikon’s full-frame Z system, but want something that's cheaper and more retro-looking, this camera is a perfect choice. The Nikon Z fc is a similar prospect to the Nikon Z50; it's an APS-C camera that's also stuffed with features. So, while you don’t get full-frame, you do get a whole lot else, inducing a generous AF system, wide dynamic range, solid high-ISO performance, and more.
Nikon tried a retro throwback a few years ago with the Df DSLR and missed the mark, but we were pleased to discover that the firm knocked it out of the park with the Z fc. The best Nikon Z lenses is still relatively new, but there are a lot out there already. This makes the Nikon Z fc a smart investment with an eye on the future.
The Fujifilm X-Pro 3 handles like a very traditional camera, and it's designed to be used like a classic rangefinder camera. With a “hidden” fold-down LCD to discourage you from checking your photos and to keep you in the moment, it gives you a choice between a modern EVF and an optical-style rangefinder.
Although it can be a steep learning curve learning to use and shoot on the X-Pro3, if you're looking for a Leica alternative this comes very close.
Burst rate: 14fps continuous, 30fps RAW burst mode
AF points: Dual Pixel CMOS phase detect, 143 / 99 points (depending on lens)
LCD: 3-inch tilting touchscreen, 1.04m dots
Viewfinder: No
Dimensions: 119.6 x 70.0 x 49.2 mm
Weight: 398g (body only, with battery and SD card)
Reasons to buy
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Impressive 32.5MP APS-C sensor
+
Formidable burst shooting
Reasons to avoid
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No in-body stabilization
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Limited native lenses
While this might seem an odd choice to some, the Canon EOS M6 II does offer a compact size with the addition of a Hotshoe EVF in the old style of a Leica viewfinder giving you that compact 'go-anywere' feel.
Pairing a seriously impressive APS-C sensor with super-fast burst shooting and a beast of an autofocus system, this pocketable camera is more than just suited for street or reportage shooting. It excels at it, given that it’s packing more megapixels than the majority of cameras on this list, it’s also a great choice if you’ve one eye on printing your images in a large format.
Despite its compact size, the Panasonic S5 shares the impressive 24MP CMOS sensor housed in the Lumix S1, but with improved AF. It also has a tough weather-resistant body and delivers up to 6.5 stops of image stabilization with compatible lenses. Its standout features include class-leading dynamic range and 4K video recording, as well as 96MP high-resolution RAW+JPEG capture. We couldn't say enough good things about it in our review.
The Lumix S5 is smaller than the Lumix S1 and S1R before, and cheaper. It matches the Lumix S1 for stills and beats it for video, coming close to the capabilities of the far more expensive Lumix S1H. What a camera!
For nearly two decades Sebastian's work has been published internationally. Originally specializing in Equestrianism, his visuals have been used by the leading names in the equestrian industry such as The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), The Jockey Club, Horse & Hound, and many more for various advertising campaigns, books, and pre/post-event highlights.
He is a Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts, holds a Foundation Degree in Equitation Science, and is a Master of Arts in Publishing. He is a member of Nikon NPS and has been a Nikon user since the film days using a Nikon F5 and saw the digital transition with Nikon's D series cameras and is still to this day the youngest member to be elected into BEWA, The British Equestrian Writers' Association.
He is familiar with and shows great interest in street, medium, and large format photography with products by Leica, Phase One, Hasselblad, Alpa, and Sinar. Sebastian has also used many cinema cameras from the likes of Sony, RED, ARRI, and everything in between. He now spends his spare time using his trusted Leica M-E or Leica M2 shooting Street photography or general life as he sees it, usually in Black and White.
