Leica SL2vs Sony A9 III
VS
Sony
Sony A9 III (2023)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Sports & action professionals
View Sony A9 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.
Sports & Action Professionals — Sony A9 III (2023): A paradigm-shifting camera — the global shutter eliminates every rolling shutter limitation that has constrained action photography for years.
Who should buy what
Leica SL2 (2019)
- Commercial photographers who want Leica quality with modern AF
- Filmmakers who want Leica glass with video capability
Sony A9 III (2023)
- Professional sports photographers who need zero blackout and 120fps burst
- Wildlife photographers who demand the most advanced Sony AF available
- Photojournalists who need flash sync at any shutter speed
- A9 II owners upgrading to the world's first full-frame global shutter
Quick take: The leica sl2 has the highest resolution at 47mp; the leica sl2 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Leica SL2 (2019) | Sony A9 III (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £4,200 | £5,999 |
| Sensor | Full-frame CMOS 35mm | 24.6MP full-frame Exmor RS CMOS (global shutter) |
| Resolution | 47.3MP | 24.6MP |
| Video | 5K 30fps, 4K 60fps, 1080p 180fps | 4K/120p, 4K/60p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF, AI-based scene recognition | AI subject recognition AF, 759-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops | 8-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 20fps | 120fps blackout-free electronic |
| Battery Life | 370 shots (CIPA) | 530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 835g (body only) | 703g body only |
| Dimensions | 146.0 × 107.0 × 80.5mm | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.78× 5.76M-dot | 0.64" Quad-XGA OLED EVF, 9.44M dots |
| Screen | 3.2" fixed touchscreen, 2.10M-dot | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Leica L-Mount | Sony FE (E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | 2× SD UHS-II | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C 3.1, HDMI full-size | USB-C 3.2, HDMI A, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Leica SL2 | Sony A9 III |
|---|---|---|
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Travel | — |
More comparisons with Leica SL2
Camera family history