MP 0.72vs Z5
Leica
MP 0.72 (2003)
Starting from £4850 new
Best for Street, Documentary & Reportage Film Photography
View MP 0.72
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Street, Documentary & Reportage Film Photography — MP 0.72 (2003): The purist's Leica — a fully mechanical 35mm rangefinder with no electronics bar the meter. Still built by hand in Wetzlar. The most honest camera ever made.
Entry-Level Full-Frame & Dslr Switchers — Z5 (2020): The most affordable route into full-frame Z — dual card slots, IBIS, and a capable sensor at an accessible price.
Who should buy what
MP 0.72 (2003)
- Serious film photographers who want the finest rangefinder ever made
- Street and documentary photographers who shoot Kodak Tri-X or HP5
- Leica M-mount collectors and long-term lens owners
- Photographers who value mechanical precision over electronic convenience
Z5 (2020)
- DSLR photographers switching to full-frame mirrorless for the first time
- Enthusiasts who want full-frame image quality on a tighter budget
- Photographers stepping up from APS-C who don't need fast burst or 4K
- Z5 II shoppers on a budget — the original Z5 is now excellent value used
Quick take: The z5 is the most affordable; only the z5 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | MP 0.72 (2003) | Z5 (2020) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £4,850 | £999 |
| Sensor | 35mm film | 24.3MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | — | 24.3MP |
| Video | — | 4K/30p (with crop), 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Manual focus rangefinder — coupled 0.72× viewfinder | Hybrid AF — 273 phase-detect points, eye/subject detection |
| Stabilisation | — | IBIS — up to 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | ~1fps (manual film advance) | 4.5fps |
| Battery Life | Effectively unlimited — battery powers meter only | ~470 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 600g (body only) | 590g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 138 × 77 × 38mm | 134 × 100.5 × 69.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Optical rangefinder, 0.72× magnification, 28–135mm framelines | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.8× magnification |
| Screen | None | 3.2" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Leica M-mount | Nikon Z mount |
| Memory Cards | 35mm film (ISO 25–3200 recommended) | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | None | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | MP 0.72 | Z5 |
|---|---|---|
| Street | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Everyday | — | |
| Sports | — | |
| Vlogging & 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