Decision tools · Compare
Q vs A1 II
Quick take: The A1 II has the highest resolution at 50MP; the Q is the most affordable; only the A1 II is weather sealed.
16 specs side by side·15 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras
How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.
Sony
A1 II 2024
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & high-resolution studio work
£5699
new today at Wex Photo Video
Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more
Verdictwhich should you buy?
Q — Street, Travel & Fine Art Photography: The camera that redefined luxury compact photography — a full-frame sensor, the finest 28mm compact lens available, and a shooting feel that is uniquely Leica.
A1 II — Professional Sports, Wildlife & High-Resolution Studio Work: The most complete camera ever made — 50MP, 30fps, 8K, and the world's best EVF in a single flagship body.
Who should buy what
Q (2015)
is the right camera for you if…
- Street and documentary photographers who want a full-frame fixed-lens camera with iconic character
- Travel photographers who want the finest compact image quality available
- Leica enthusiasts who want an autofocus alternative to the M system
- Photographers who value build quality and shooting experience as much as spec sheets
A1 II (2024)
is the right camera for you if…
- Professional sports and wildlife photographers who need 30fps, 50MP, and the best AF available
- Commercial and advertising photographers who demand 50MP resolution alongside pro video specs
- Photojournalists who need a single body capable of handling every assignment
- Sony system shooters ready to invest in the absolute best
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | QLeica · 2015 | A1 IISony · 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,266 usedBest | £5,699 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS | 50.1MP full-frame stacked BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 50.1MPBest |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 8K/30p, 4K/120p 10-bit, S-Log3 |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF, 49 AF fields, face detection | AI subject recognition — human, animal, bird, insect, vehicle, aircraft, train |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | 8.5-stop IBIS (with in-lens OSS) |
| Burst Rate | 10fps | 30fps electronic (with full AF/AE), 10fps mechanicalBest |
| Battery Life | ~270 shots (CIPA) | ~530 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 640g (with battery and card)Best | 743g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 130.0 × 80.0 × 93.5mm | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | YesBest |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.68M dots, 0.68× magnification | EVF 0.9× 9.44M-dot — the highest resolution EVF available |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 2.1M dots |
| Mount | Fixed Leica Summilux 28mm f/1.7 ASPH | Sony E-mount (full-frame) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, Wi-Fi 6GHz, Bluetooth 5.3, HDMI full-size |
Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.
How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
Q
A1 II
Portrait
3.2/10
9.0/10
Street
6.2/10
6.6/10
Travel
4.5/10
6.4/10
Wedding & Events
3.7/10
8.7/10
Documentary
2.9/10
8.3/10
Landscape
4.7/10
8.0/10
Casual
3.2/10
5.3/10
Food
3.8/10
8.5/10
Macro
2.3/10
8.1/10
Architecture
4.7/10
8.4/10
Astrophotography
5.5/10
7.2/10
Vlogging & Video
—
6.4/10
Filmmaking
—
8.2/10
Sports & Action
—
9.3/10
Wildlife
—
9.2/10
Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →
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