M11 Monochromvs Lumix S1
Leica
M11 Monochrom (2023)
Starting from £8300 new
Best for Black & White Photography
View M11 Monochrom
Lumix
Lumix S1 (2019)
Starting from £1499 new
Best for Landscape, studio & professional stills on L-mount
View Lumix S1
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.
Landscape, Studio & Professional Stills On L-Mount — Lumix S1 (2019): Built like a tank with one of the finest viewfinders ever made — the S1 is the choice for photographers who prioritise build quality and IBIS over AF speed.
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
Lumix S1 (2019)
- L-mount system photographers who want a rugged, weather-sealed full-frame body for demanding conditions
- Landscape and studio photographers who value exceptional IBIS and an outstanding EVF
- Video professionals who need V-Log and 4K/60p in a robust, weather-sealed body
- Leica SL users who want a more affordable second body on the same L-mount system
Quick take: The m11 monochrom has the highest resolution at 60mp; the lumix s1 is the most affordable; only the lumix s1 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | M11 Monochrom (2023) | Lumix S1 (2019) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £8,300 | £1,499 |
| Sensor | 60.3MP Full-Frame Monochrome BSI CMOS (no colour filter array) | 24.2MP full-frame CMOS |
| Resolution | 60.3MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | — | 4K/60p (crop), 4K/30p (full-frame), 1080p/180p, V-Log (upgrade) |
| Autofocus | Manual focus rangefinder (no autofocus) | DFD contrast-detect AF — reliable but slower than phase-detect rivals |
| Stabilisation | — | 5-axis IBIS — 6 stops |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 9fps continuous with AF/AE |
| Battery Life | ~700 shots (CIPA) | ~380 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 530g (body only) | 898g body only |
| Dimensions | 138.6 × 80.0 × 38.5mm | 148.9 × 110.0 × 96.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Optical rangefinder, 0.73× magnification | OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.78× — one of the finest EVFs available |
| Screen | 2.3" touchscreen LCD, 2.33M dots | 3.2" touchscreen, tilting |
| Mount | Leica M-mount | L-mount (Leica/Panasonic/Sigma) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot + 64GB internal storage | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic & headphone jacks |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | M11 Monochrom | Lumix S1 |
|---|---|---|
| Street | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Astrophotography | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Casual | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with M11 Monochrom
Camera family history