Leica SL2vs A7R III
VS
Sony
A7R III (2017)
Starting from £1799 new
Best for Landscape, studio & commercial photography
View A7R III
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.
Landscape, Studio & Commercial Photography — A7R III (2017): The camera that converted professionals to mirrorless — 42MP, IBIS, and 10fps in a body that still competes today.
Who should buy what
Leica SL2 (2019)
- Commercial photographers who want Leica quality with modern AF
- Filmmakers who want Leica glass with video capability
A7R III (2017)
- Landscape and studio photographers who need 42MP resolution at a used-price discount vs A7R IV
- Canon/Nikon DSLR professionals considering a mirrorless switch at a lower investment
- Commercial and product photographers who want full-frame resolution with IBIS for handheld work
- Portrait photographers who want the sharpest possible full-frame files for large print work
Quick take: The leica sl2 has the highest resolution at 47mp; the a7r iii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Leica SL2 (2019) | A7R III (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £4,200 | £1,799 |
| Sensor | Full-frame CMOS 35mm | 42.4MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | 47.3MP | 42.4MP |
| Video | 5K 30fps, 4K 60fps, 1080p 180fps | 4K/30p (full-frame readout), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF, AI-based scene recognition | 399 phase-detect + 425 contrast AF points — real-time Eye AF |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops | 5-axis IBIS — 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 20fps | 10fps with AF/AE tracking |
| Battery Life | 370 shots (CIPA) | ~650 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 835g (body only) | 650g body only |
| Dimensions | 146.0 × 107.0 × 80.5mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.78× 5.76M-dot | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" fixed touchscreen, 2.10M-dot | 3.0" touchscreen, tilting |
| Mount | Leica L-Mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | 2× SD UHS-II | Dual SD slots (one UHS-II) |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C 3.1, HDMI full-size | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Leica SL2 | A7R III |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Wedding | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Sports | — |
More comparisons with Leica SL2
Camera family history