M10vs A7 III
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Street & Documentary — M10 (2017): 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.
All-Round Photography & Video — A7 III (2018): Still one of the best all-round cameras money can buy — particularly strong used. The A7 III proved that full-frame doesn't have to mean compromises, and nothing at this price point has meaningfully beaten it.
Who should buy what
M10 (2017)
- Serious photographers who want to slow down
- Street and documentary photographers
- Leica M-mount lens owners
A7 III (2018)
- Enthusiast photographers upgrading from APS-C for the first time
- Working photographers who need reliable AF and weather sealing
- Anyone who shoots in low light regularly
- Hybrid shooters needing both stills and video performance
Quick take: The a7 iii has the highest resolution at 24mp; the a7 iii is the most affordable; only the a7 iii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | M10 (2017) | A7 III (2018) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £4,000 | £1,699 |
| Sensor | 24MP Full-Frame CMOS | 24.2MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.0MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | — | 4K/30p (6K oversampled), 1080p/120p slow-motion |
| Autofocus | Manual focus (rangefinder coupled) | Phase-detect, 693 points, real-time Eye AF & animal AF |
| Stabilisation | None | 5-axis IBIS, 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 10fps with AF/AE tracking |
| Battery Life | ~220 shots (CIPA) | ~710 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 660g (with battery) | 565g (body, battery, card) |
| Dimensions | 139 × 80 × 38.5mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Optical rangefinder, 0.73× magnification | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.04M dots | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | Leica M-mount | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual SD (UHS-II slot 1, UHS-I slot 2) |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0, Wi-Fi | USB-C (USB 3.2), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | M10 | A7 III |
|---|---|---|
| Street | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Astrophotography | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wildlife | ||
| Video | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history