Pretty much the same thing. In the scorers judgement, if the play should have been made "with ordinary effort" and the play is not made, it is an error. If the play would have taken "extra-ordinary effort" and was not made, it should be a hit. Whether or not "leather" is involved has nothing to do with it.
If a ball goes right between an infielders legs that he never touches, it is an error even though he didn't touch it. I have seen many cases in the Major Leagues where a third baseman has a rocket hit at him on a short hop. The fielder attempts to make the play, but it hits off the heel of his glove and bounces up in the air or into left field. Scoring - base hit. It really is a total judgement call on the part of the score keeper as to whether a play should have been made with "ordinary effort".