MP 0.72vs Z50 II
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.
All-Round Photography — Z50 II (2024): Nikon's updated APS-C body with 4K/60p, improved subject tracking, and a vari-angle screen — a solid all-rounder.
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
Z50 II (2024)
- Beginners stepping into the Nikon Z system wanting improved autofocus
- Content creators who want APS-C Z quality with subject detection AF
- Z50 owners who want meaningfully better AF performance for people and pets
- Travel photographers wanting a compact, capable Z body at an accessible price
Quick take: The z50 ii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | MP 0.72 (2003) | Z50 II (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £4,850 | £899 |
| Sensor | 35mm film | 20.9MP APS-C CMOS |
| Resolution | — | 20.9MP |
| Video | — | 4K/60p uncropped, 1080p/120p, N-Log |
| Autofocus | Manual focus rangefinder — coupled 0.72× viewfinder | Phase-detect, 249 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle) |
| Stabilisation | — | None (no IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | ~1fps (manual film advance) | 11fps mechanical, 30fps electronic |
| Battery Life | Effectively unlimited — battery powers meter only | ~330 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 600g (body only) | 385g body only |
| Dimensions | 138 × 77 × 38mm | 127.0 × 96.8 × 66.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | Optical rangefinder, 0.72× magnification, 28–135mm framelines | EVF, 2.36M dots |
| Screen | None | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Leica M-mount | Nikon Z-mount |
| Memory Cards | 35mm film (ISO 25–3200 recommended) | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | None | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | MP 0.72 | Z50 II |
|---|---|---|
| Street | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Family & Everyday | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
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