Decision tools · Compare
M10 vs A1 II
Quick take: The A1 II has the highest resolution at 50MP; the M10 is the most affordable; only the A1 II is weather sealed.
Where the M10 wins
- Weight: 660g (with battery and card)
Where the A1 II wins
- Cheaper new: £5,699 vs £8,516
- Resolution: 50.1MP
- Burst Rate: 30fps electronic (with full AF/AE), 10fps mechanical
- Battery Life: ~530 shots (CIPA)
- Weather Sealed: Yes
16 specs side by side·15 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video, Clifton Cameras, MPB, eBay and Amazon UK
How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.
Sony
A1 II 2024
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & high-resolution studio work
£5699
new today at Clifton Cameras
Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more
Size comparedbody only, no lens · drawn to one scale
- M10 139 × 80 × 38 mm · 660 g
- A1 II 136 × 97 × 83 mm · 743 g
The M10 is 3 mm wider, 17 mm shorter, 45 mm slimmer and 83 g lighter than the A1 II.
Drawn to scale from the makers' dimensions (W × H × D). Front shown, depth on the slanted edge.
Verdictwhich should you buy?
M10 — Street & Documentary: The M10 returned Leica to its roots — thinner, cleaner, and video-free by design. The 24MP sensor is the perfect resolution for a manual-focus rangefinder. The simplified control layout respects the M tradition without digital clutter. A camera for photographers who want to slow down and engage with every frame. One of the most satisfying cameras to use — assuming you have M-mount glass to pair with it.
A1 II — Professional Sports, Wildlife & High-Resolution Studio Work: The most complete camera ever made — 50MP, 30fps, 8K, and the world's best EVF in a single flagship body.
Who should buy what
M10 (2017)
is the right camera for you if…
- Serious photographers who want to slow down
- Street and documentary photographers
- Leica M-mount lens owners
A1 II (2024)
is the right camera for you if…
- Professional sports and wildlife photographers who need 30fps, 50MP, and the best AF available
- Commercial and advertising photographers who demand 50MP resolution alongside pro video specs
- Photojournalists who need a single body capable of handling every assignment
- Sony system shooters ready to invest in the absolute best
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | M10Leica · 2017 | A1 IISony · 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £8,516 | £5,699Best |
| Sensor | 24MP Full-Frame CMOS | 50.1MP full-frame stacked BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.0MP | 50.1MPBest |
| Video | No video | 8K/30p, 4K/120p 10-bit, S-Log3 |
| Autofocus | Manual focus (rangefinder coupled) | AI subject recognition — human, animal, bird, insect, vehicle, aircraft, train |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | 8.5-stop IBIS (with in-lens OSS) |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 30fps electronic (with full AF/AE), 10fps mechanicalBest |
| Battery Life | ~220 shots (CIPA) | ~530 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 660g (with battery and card)Best | 743g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 139 × 80 × 38.5mm | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | YesBest |
| Viewfinder | Optical rangefinder, 0.73× magnification | EVF 0.9× 9.44M-dot — the highest resolution EVF available |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.04M dots | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 2.1M dots |
| Mount | Leica M-mount | Sony E-mount (full-frame) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0, Wi-Fi | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, Wi-Fi 6GHz, Bluetooth 5.3, HDMI full-size |
Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.
How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
M10
A1 II
Portrait
4.2/10
9.0/10
Street
5.2/10
6.6/10
Travel
4.3/10
6.4/10
Wedding & Events
2.0/10
8.7/10
Documentary
1.5/10
8.3/10
Sports & Action
1.8/10
9.3/10
Landscape
4.7/10
8.0/10
Wildlife
1.8/10
9.2/10
Casual
1.7/10
5.3/10
Food
3.5/10
8.5/10
Macro
2.8/10
8.1/10
Architecture
4.8/10
8.4/10
Astrophotography
5.4/10
7.2/10
Vlogging & Video
—
6.4/10
Filmmaking
—
8.2/10
Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →
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