Leica SL2vs A7S III
Sony
A7S III (2020)
Starting from £2999 new
Best for Professional video & low-light filmmaking
View A7S 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.
Professional Video & Low-Light Filmmaking — A7S III (2020): If video is your primary discipline, the A7S III is the camera. 4K/120p at 10-bit in a weather-sealed body with a 9.44M dot EVF is an extraordinary package. The 12MP sensor isn't limiting for video — and it's usable at ISO 409,600 in a pinch.
Who should buy what
Leica SL2 (2019)
- Commercial photographers who want Leica quality with modern AF
- Filmmakers who want Leica glass with video capability
A7S III (2020)
- Filmmakers and videographers who need 4K/120p at 10-bit
- Event videographers who shoot in dark venues regularly
- Documentary filmmakers who need reliable AF and weather sealing
- Hybrid shooters where video is primary and stills are secondary
Quick take: The leica sl2 has the highest resolution at 47mp; the a7s iii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Leica SL2 (2019) | A7S III (2020) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £4,200 | £2,999 |
| Sensor | Full-frame CMOS 35mm | 12.1MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS (12-bit, back-illuminated) |
| Resolution | 47.3MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 5K 30fps, 4K 60fps, 1080p 180fps | 4K/120p 10-bit, 4K/60p 10-bit S-Cinetone/S-Log3, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF, AI-based scene recognition | Phase-detect, 759 points, real-time Eye AF (human & animal), subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops | 5.5-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 20fps | 10fps mechanical |
| Battery Life | 370 shots (CIPA) | ~600 shots (CIPA) / ~70min continuous 4K recording |
| Weight | 835g (body only) | 699g (body, battery, card) |
| Dimensions | 146.0 × 107.0 × 80.5mm | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.78× 5.76M-dot | OLED EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification — best EVF Sony has made |
| Screen | 3.2" fixed touchscreen, 2.10M-dot | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.44M dots |
| Mount | Leica L-Mount | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | 2× SD UHS-II | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II (both slots) |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C 3.1, HDMI full-size | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), full-size HDMI, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Leica SL2 | A7S III |
|---|---|---|
| Video | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Travel | — |
More comparisons with Leica SL2
Camera family history