Decision tools · Compare
SL2 vs A1 II
Quick take: The A1 II has the highest resolution at 50MP; the SL2 is the most affordable.
Where the SL2 wins
- Cheaper new: £1,539 vs £5,699
Where the A1 II wins
- Resolution: 50.1MP
- Burst Rate: 30fps electronic (with full AF/AE), 10fps mechanical
- Battery Life: ~530 shots (CIPA)
- Weight: 743g (body only)
- Portrait: 9.0 vs 6.5
16 specs side by side·15 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video, Clifton Cameras, MPB, eBay and Amazon UK
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 Clifton Cameras
Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more
Size comparedbody only, no lens · drawn to one scale
- SL2 146 × 107 × 80 mm · 920 g
- A1 II 136 × 97 × 83 mm · 743 g
The A1 II is 10 mm narrower, 10 mm shorter, 3 mm deeper and 177 g lighter than the SL2.
Drawn to scale from the makers' dimensions (W × H × D). Front shown, depth on the slanted edge.
Verdictwhich should you buy?
SL2 — Commercial, Landscape, Video: Leica's most capable system camera — excellent for photographers who want L-mount glass access.
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
SL2 (2019)
is the right camera for you if…
- Commercial photographers who want Leica quality with modern AF
- Filmmakers who want Leica glass with video capability
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 | SL2Leica · 2019 | A1 IISony · 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,539 usedBest | £5,699 |
| Sensor | Full-frame CMOS 35mm | 50.1MP full-frame stacked BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 47.3MP | 50.1MPBest |
| Video | 5K 30fps, 4K 60fps, 1080p 180fps | 8K/30p, 4K/120p 10-bit, S-Log3 |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF, AI-based scene recognition | AI subject recognition — human, animal, bird, insect, vehicle, aircraft, train |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops | 8.5-stop IBIS (with in-lens OSS) |
| Burst Rate | 20fps | 30fps electronic (with full AF/AE), 10fps mechanicalBest |
| Battery Life | 370 shots (CIPA) | ~530 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 835g (body only) | 743g (body only)Best |
| Dimensions | 146.0 × 107.0 × 80.5mm | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.78× 5.76M-dot | EVF 0.9× 9.44M-dot — the highest resolution EVF available |
| Screen | 3.2" fixed touchscreen, 2.10M-dot | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 2.1M dots |
| Mount | Leica L-Mount | Sony E-mount (full-frame) |
| Memory Cards | 2× SD UHS-II | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C 3.1, HDMI full-size | 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
SL2
A1 II
Portrait
6.5/10
9.0/10
Street
4.6/10
6.6/10
Travel
4.7/10
6.4/10
Wedding & Events
6.1/10
8.7/10
Filmmaking
6.6/10
8.2/10
Documentary
6.2/10
8.3/10
Sports & Action
5.4/10
9.3/10
Landscape
7.0/10
8.0/10
Wildlife
5.8/10
9.2/10
Casual
3.8/10
5.3/10
Food
5.8/10
8.5/10
Macro
5.3/10
8.1/10
Architecture
7.1/10
8.4/10
Astrophotography
5.6/10
7.2/10
Vlogging & Video
—
6.4/10
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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