M11 Monochromvs S1 II
Leica
M11 Monochrom (2023)
Starting from £8300 new
Best for Black & White Photography
View M11 Monochrom
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Black & White Photography — M11 Monochrom (2023): The M11 Monochrom is the finest black-and-white camera in the world. A 60MP sensor with no colour filter array produces sharpness and tonal depth no colour camera can match — combined with extended high-ISO performance. Manual focus, no video, and an extraordinary price make it a specialist instrument, but for dedicated B&W photographers it is unmatched.
Hybrid & Video — S1 II (2025): The S1 II is the full-frame L-mount hybrid camera Panasonic's system has been waiting for — phase-detect AF, 4K/120p, class-leading IBIS, and a professional build in one complete package. It addresses every weakness of the original S1 and positions Lumix firmly back in the conversation for serious hybrid shooters.
Who should buy what
M11 Monochrom (2023)
- Dedicated black-and-white photographers who demand the finest possible monochrome files
- Fine art and documentary photographers who work exclusively in B&W
- Leica M system users who want maximum monochrome image quality
- Astrophotographers — monochrome sensors excel at capturing fine star detail
S1 II (2025)
- Hybrid photographers who need excellent stills and serious video capability
- Video professionals who want full-frame quality with 4K/120p
- Landscape and portrait photographers who want maximum stabilisation
- L-mount system users upgrading from S1 or S5 II
Quick take: The m11 monochrom has the highest resolution at 60mp; the s1 ii is the most affordable; only the s1 ii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | M11 Monochrom (2023) | S1 II (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £8,300 | £2,200 |
| Sensor | 60.3MP Full-Frame Monochrome BSI CMOS (no colour filter array) | 24.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 60.3MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | — | 6K/30p, 4K/120p, 10-bit 4:2:2 internal |
| Autofocus | Manual focus rangefinder (no autofocus) | Phase-detect AF with subject recognition (human, animal, vehicle) |
| Stabilisation | — | 5-axis IBIS, up to 8 stops |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 30fps (electronic), 9fps (mechanical) |
| Battery Life | ~700 shots (CIPA) | ~400 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 530g (body only) | 680g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 138.6 × 80.0 × 38.5mm | 138.5 × 100.0 × 91.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Optical rangefinder, 0.73× magnification | Electronic, 3.68M dots, 0.78× |
| Screen | 2.3" touchscreen LCD, 2.33M dots | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.84M dots |
| Mount | Leica M-mount | Leica L-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot + 64GB internal storage | Dual slot: CFexpress Type B + SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | M11 Monochrom | S1 II |
|---|---|---|
| Street | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Astrophotography | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Casual | — | |
| Sports & Action | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Wildlife | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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