Leica SL3vs A7S II
Leica
Leica SL3 (2024)
Starting from £6499 new
Best for Professional & luxury hybrid shooters
View Leica SL3
Sony
A7S II (2015)
Starting from £799 new
Best for Low-light video, documentary & available-light filmmaking
View A7S II
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Professional & Luxury Hybrid Shooters — Leica SL3 (2024): Leica's most capable mirrorless — 60MP, 30fps burst, 8K ProRes, and 7.5-stop IBIS with L-mount's growing lens ecosystem.
Low-Light Video, Documentary & Available-Light Filmmaking — A7S II (2015): A landmark in mirrorless history — the first Sony with IBIS and internal 4K, its low-light video capability still impresses today at a used-market price.
Who should buy what
Leica SL3 (2024)
- 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
A7S II (2015)
- Filmmakers and videographers who want legendary low-light performance at a used-price discount
- Documentary shooters working in unpredictable available light conditions
- A7S III shooters who want a second Sony FE body for backup or B-camera use
- Budget-conscious video producers who want full-frame 4K with S-Log at an accessible price
Quick take: The leica sl3 has the highest resolution at 60mp; the a7s ii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Leica SL3 (2024) | A7S II (2015) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £6,499 | £799 |
| Sensor | 60MP full-frame BSI CMOS | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 60.0MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 8K/30p, 4K/60p, Apple ProRes | 4K/30p internal (full sensor readout), 1080p/120p, S-Log2/S-Log3 |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect AF with subject/face/eye detection | 169 phase-detect + 25 contrast AF — limited by modern standards |
| Stabilisation | 7.5-stop IBIS | 5-axis IBIS — 4.5 stops (first Sony mirrorless with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic | 5fps continuous |
| Battery Life | 410 shots (CIPA) | ~370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 875g body only | 584g body only |
| Dimensions | 146.0 × 104.0 × 42.0mm | 126.9 × 95.7 × 60.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 0.78" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" fixed touchscreen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots |
| Mount | Leica L-mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II | Dual SD UHS-I slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.1, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB Micro-B, Bluetooth (via app), Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Leica SL3 | A7S II |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Travel | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Wedding | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Sports | — |
More comparisons with Leica SL3
Camera family history