MP 0.72vs A7S
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.
Astrophotography & Low-Light — A7S (2014): The original A7S pioneered the concept of a camera optimised entirely for low light. Its 12.2MP sensor has enormous photosites — extraordinary high-ISO performance that still holds up. Lacking IBIS and limited to 1080p internally (4K requires external recorder), it is a specialist tool. For astrophotography, event videography, or any scenario where light is genuinely scarce, it remains outstanding.
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
A7S (2014)
- Astrophotographers
- Low-light event videographers
- Filmmakers needing clean high-ISO footage
Quick take: The a7s is the most affordable; only the a7s is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | MP 0.72 (2003) | A7S (2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £4,850 | £600 |
| Sensor | 35mm film | 12.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | — | 12.2MP |
| Video | — | 1080p/60p internal, 4K via HDMI (external recorder) |
| Autofocus | Manual focus rangefinder — coupled 0.72× viewfinder | Phase-detect / contrast-detect hybrid AF |
| Stabilisation | — | None |
| Burst Rate | ~1fps (manual film advance) | 5fps |
| Battery Life | Effectively unlimited — battery powers meter only | ~370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 600g (body only) | 474g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 138 × 77 × 38mm | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Optical rangefinder, 0.72× magnification, 28–135mm framelines | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | None | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots |
| Mount | Leica M-mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | 35mm film (ISO 25–3200 recommended) | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | None | Multi/Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | MP 0.72 | A7S |
|---|---|---|
| Street | ||
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Astrophotography | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| 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