M11 Monochromvs RX100 VI
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.
Travel & Vlogging — RX100 VI (2018): The RX100 VI trades fast apertures for a remarkable 24-200mm zoom range — giving it more versatility than any previous model. 4K/30p, 24fps burst, a pop-up EVF, and an articulating screen round out an exceptional compact package. Variable aperture limits low-light performance at the long end, but for travel and events where reach matters, there is no practical alternative at this size.
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
RX100 VI (2018)
- Travel photographers who need versatile reach in a pocketable body
- Vloggers and content creators who need 4K and an articulating screen
- Event photographers who want discreet, capable wide-to-tele coverage
- Wildlife and sports enthusiasts who want a compact travel option
Quick take: The m11 monochrom has the highest resolution at 60mp; the rx100 vi is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | M11 Monochrom (2023) | RX100 VI (2018) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £8,300 | £700 |
| Sensor | 60.3MP Full-Frame Monochrome BSI CMOS (no colour filter array) | 20.1MP 1-inch BSI Stacked CMOS |
| Resolution | 60.3MP | 20.1MP |
| Video | — | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p, 960fps HFR |
| Autofocus | Manual focus rangefinder (no autofocus) | Fast Hybrid AF, 315 phase-detect points, Eye AF |
| Stabilisation | — | Optical SteadyShot |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 24fps |
| Battery Life | ~700 shots (CIPA) | ~240 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 530g (body only) | 301g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 138.6 × 80.0 × 38.5mm | 101.6 × 58.1 × 42.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | Optical rangefinder, 0.73× magnification | Pop-up EVF, 2.35M dots |
| Screen | 2.3" touchscreen LCD, 2.33M dots | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | Leica M-mount | Fixed Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 24-200mm f/2.8-4.5 |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot + 64GB internal storage | Single SD / Memory Stick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | M11 Monochrom | RX100 VI |
|---|---|---|
| Street | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Astrophotography | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Casual | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Wildlife | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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