Decision tools · Compare
SL3 vs A1
Quick take: The SL3 has the highest resolution at 60MP; the A1 is the most affordable.
16 specs side by side·14 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras
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 2021
Best for Professional sport, wildlife, portrait & hybrid shooting
£4199
new today at Wex Photo Video
Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more
Verdictwhich should you buy?
SL3 — Professional & Luxury Hybrid Shooters: Leica's most capable mirrorless — 60MP, 30fps burst, 8K ProRes, and 7.5-stop IBIS with L-mount's growing lens ecosystem.
A1 — Professional Sport, Wildlife, Portrait & Hybrid Shooting: 50MP, 30fps, 8K — the Sony A1 is the most complete professional camera ever made.
Who should buy what
SL3 (2024)
is the right camera for you if…
- Leica photographers who want autofocus full-frame in the L-mount system
- SL2 owners upgrading to 60MP and improved autofocus performance
- Professionals who want Leica build quality with L-mount lens versatility
- Photographers who want to share lenses across Leica, Sigma, and Lumix bodies
A1 (2021)
is the right camera for you if…
- Professional photographers who need resolution and speed without compromise
- Sports and wildlife photographers demanding the absolute fastest Sony
- Studio and fashion photographers who also shoot sport or events
- A9 III or A7R V owners who want a single body that does everything
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | SL3Leica · 2024 | A1Sony · 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,920 | £4,199Best |
| Sensor | 60MP full-frame BSI CMOS | 50.1MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 60.0MPBest | 50.1MP |
| Video | 8K/30p, 4K/60p, Apple ProRes | 8K/30p, 4K/120p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect AF with subject/face/eye detection | Real-time Tracking, AI subject recognition — 759 phase-detect points |
| Stabilisation | 7.5-stop IBIS | IBIS — up to 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic | 30fps electronic with full AF/AE |
| Battery Life | 410 shots (CIPA) | ~430 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 875g (body only) | 737g (with battery and card)Best |
| Dimensions | 146.0 × 104.0 × 42.0mm | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 0.78" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots | EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification, 240fps |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Leica L-mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.1, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, Ethernet, HDMI |
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
SL3
A1
Portrait
8.2/10
8.2/10
Street
5.9/10
6.1/10
Travel
5.8/10
5.9/10
Wedding & Events
7.8/10
7.9/10
Filmmaking
7.0/10
7.8/10
Documentary
7.4/10
7.6/10
Sports & Action
7.5/10
8.8/10
Landscape
7.8/10
7.6/10
Wildlife
7.5/10
8.7/10
Casual
4.7/10
4.8/10
Food
7.5/10
7.4/10
Macro
6.4/10
7.3/10
Architecture
8.2/10
7.9/10
Astrophotography
6.1/10
6.8/10
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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