Leica Q3vs A7S II
Leica
Leica Q3 (2023)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Travel, street & premium compact shooters
View Leica Q3
Sony
A7S II (2015)
Starting from £799 new
Best for Low-light video, documentary & available-light filmmaking
View A7S II
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Travel, Street & Premium Compact Shooters — Leica Q3 (2023): 60MP, Summilux 28mm, IBIS, and weather sealing — the Q3 is the ultimate fixed-lens camera for those who can justify the cost.
Low-Light Video, Documentary & Available-Light Filmmaking — A7S II (2015): A landmark in mirrorless history — the first Sony with IBIS and internal 4K, its low-light video capability still impresses today at a used-market price.
Who should buy what
Leica Q3 (2023)
- Photographers who want a fixed-lens full-frame camera with no compromises
- Q2 owners upgrading to articulating screen and improved autofocus
- Travel photographers who want one premium compact that does everything
- Street and documentary photographers who want Leica quality without changing lenses
A7S II (2015)
- Filmmakers and videographers who want legendary low-light performance at a used-price discount
- Documentary shooters working in unpredictable available light conditions
- A7S III shooters who want a second Sony FE body for backup or B-camera use
- Budget-conscious video producers who want full-frame 4K with S-Log at an accessible price
Quick take: The leica q3 has the highest resolution at 60mp; the a7s ii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Leica Q3 (2023) | A7S II (2015) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,999 | £799 |
| Sensor | 60MP full-frame BSI CMOS | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 60.0MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 8K/30p, 4K/60p, C4K/60p | 4K/30p internal (full sensor readout), 1080p/120p, S-Log2/S-Log3 |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect AF with subject/face/eye detection | 169 phase-detect + 25 contrast AF — limited by modern standards |
| Stabilisation | 5.5-stop IBIS | 5-axis IBIS — 4.5 stops (first Sony mirrorless with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 15fps | 5fps continuous |
| Battery Life | 380 shots (CIPA) | ~370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 743g | 584g body only |
| Dimensions | 130.0 × 80.3 × 91.0mm | 126.9 × 95.7 × 60.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 0.787" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed touchscreen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots |
| Mount | Fixed Summilux 28mm f/1.7 ASPH | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II | Dual SD UHS-I slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.1, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB Micro-B, Bluetooth (via app), Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Leica Q3 | A7S II |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | — | |
| Street | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Wedding | — | |
| Sports | — |
More comparisons with Leica Q3
Camera family history