Leica SL2vs A7C
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Commercial, Landscape, Video — Leica SL2 (2019): Leica's most capable system camera — excellent for photographers who want L-mount glass access.
Compact Travel & Content Creation — A7C (2020): The A7C proves full-frame doesn't have to be bulky. Excellent battery life, reliable Eye AF and a vari-angle screen in a pocketable body is a compelling combination for travel and content creators. The A7C II improved on it, but the original remains a strong value buy.
Who should buy what
Leica SL2 (2019)
- Commercial photographers who want Leica quality with modern AF
- Filmmakers who want Leica glass with video capability
A7C (2020)
- Travel photographers who want full-frame in the smallest possible body
- Content creators who need a flip screen and reliable Eye AF
- Photographers upgrading from APS-C who want to keep a compact kit
- Vloggers who need 4K and great battery life on the road
Quick take: The leica sl2 has the highest resolution at 47mp; the a7c is the most affordable; only the leica sl2 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Leica SL2 (2019) | A7C (2020) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £4,200 | £1,299 |
| Sensor | Full-frame CMOS 35mm | 24.2MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 47.3MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 5K 30fps, 4K 60fps, 1080p 180fps | 4K/30p (oversampled), 1080p/120p slow-motion, S-Log2/S-Log3 |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF, AI-based scene recognition | Phase-detect, 693 points, real-time Eye AF & animal AF |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops | 5-axis IBIS, 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 20fps | 10fps with AF/AE tracking |
| Battery Life | 370 shots (CIPA) | ~740 shots (CIPA) — outstanding for a Sony mirrorless |
| Weight | 835g (body only) | 509g (body, battery, card) |
| Dimensions | 146.0 × 107.0 × 80.5mm | 124.0 × 71.1 × 59.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.78× 5.76M-dot | None built-in — use rear screen or accessory EVF |
| Screen | 3.2" fixed touchscreen, 2.10M-dot | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | Leica L-Mount | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | 2× SD UHS-II | Single SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C 3.1, HDMI full-size | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Leica SL2 | A7C |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | — | |
| Video | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Wildlife | — |
More comparisons with Leica SL2
Camera family history