Leica SL3vs A7S
Leica
Leica SL3 (2024)
Starting from £6499 new
Best for Professional & luxury hybrid shooters
View Leica SL3
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.
Astrophotography & Low-Light — A7S (2014): The original A7S pioneered the concept of a camera optimised entirely for low light. Its 12.2MP sensor has enormous photosites — extraordinary high-ISO performance that still holds up. Lacking IBIS and limited to 1080p internally (4K requires external recorder), it is a specialist tool. For astrophotography, event videography, or any scenario where light is genuinely scarce, it remains outstanding.
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 (2014)
- Astrophotographers
- Low-light event videographers
- Filmmakers needing clean high-ISO footage
Quick take: The leica sl3 has the highest resolution at 60mp; the a7s is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Leica SL3 (2024) | A7S (2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £6,499 | £600 |
| Sensor | 60MP full-frame BSI CMOS | 12.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 60.0MP | 12.2MP |
| Video | 8K/30p, 4K/60p, Apple ProRes | 1080p/60p internal, 4K via HDMI (external recorder) |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect AF with subject/face/eye detection | Phase-detect / contrast-detect hybrid AF |
| Stabilisation | 7.5-stop IBIS | None |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic | 5fps |
| Battery Life | 410 shots (CIPA) | ~370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 875g body only | 474g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 146.0 × 104.0 × 42.0mm | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 0.78" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" fixed touchscreen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots |
| Mount | Leica L-mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.1, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Multi/Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Leica SL3 | A7S |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Astrophotography | — | |
| Street | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history