Decision tools · Compare
M10 vs A1
Quick take: The A1 has the highest resolution at 50MP; the M10 is the most affordable; only the A1 is weather sealed.
16 specs side by side·14 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras
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 2021
Best for Professional sport, wildlife, portrait & hybrid shooting
£4199
new today at Wex Photo Video
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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 — Professional Sport, Wildlife, Portrait & Hybrid Shooting: 50MP, 30fps, 8K — the Sony A1 is the most complete professional camera ever made.
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 (2021)
is the right camera for you if…
- Professional photographers who need resolution and speed without compromise
- Sports and wildlife photographers demanding the absolute fastest Sony
- Studio and fashion photographers who also shoot sport or events
- A9 III or A7R V owners who want a single body that does everything
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | M10Leica · 2017 | A1Sony · 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £8,516 | £4,199Best |
| Sensor | 24MP Full-Frame CMOS | 50.1MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 24.0MP | 50.1MPBest |
| Video | — | 8K/30p, 4K/120p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Manual focus (rangefinder coupled) | Real-time Tracking, AI subject recognition — 759 phase-detect points |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 30fps electronic with full AF/AEBest |
| Battery Life | ~220 shots (CIPA) | ~430 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 660g (with battery and card)Best | 737g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 139 × 80 × 38.5mm | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | YesBest |
| Viewfinder | Optical rangefinder, 0.73× magnification | EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification, 240fps |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.04M dots | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Leica M-mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0, Wi-Fi | USB-C, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, Ethernet, HDMI |
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
Portrait
4.2/10
8.2/10
Street
5.2/10
6.1/10
Travel
4.3/10
5.9/10
Wedding & Events
2.0/10
7.9/10
Documentary
1.5/10
7.6/10
Sports & Action
1.8/10
8.8/10
Landscape
4.7/10
7.6/10
Wildlife
1.8/10
8.7/10
Casual
1.7/10
4.8/10
Food
3.5/10
7.4/10
Macro
2.8/10
7.3/10
Architecture
4.8/10
7.9/10
Astrophotography
5.4/10
6.8/10
Filmmaking
—
7.8/10
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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