Leica Q3vs A7S
Leica
Leica Q3 (2023)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Travel, street & premium compact shooters
View Leica Q3
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.
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
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 (2014)
- Astrophotographers
- Low-light event videographers
- Filmmakers needing clean high-ISO footage
Quick take: The leica q3 has the highest resolution at 60mp; the a7s is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Leica Q3 (2023) | A7S (2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,999 | £600 |
| Sensor | 60MP full-frame BSI CMOS | 12.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 60.0MP | 12.2MP |
| Video | 8K/30p, 4K/60p, C4K/60p | 1080p/60p internal, 4K via HDMI (external recorder) |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect AF with subject/face/eye detection | Phase-detect / contrast-detect hybrid AF |
| Stabilisation | 5.5-stop IBIS | None |
| Burst Rate | 15fps | 5fps |
| Battery Life | 380 shots (CIPA) | ~370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 743g | 474g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 130.0 × 80.3 × 91.0mm | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 0.787" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots | Electronic, 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 (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.1, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Multi/Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Leica Q3 | A7S |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | ||
| Street | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Astrophotography | — |
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