Leica M-E Typ 220 vs Sony a1
79 Imaging
64 Features
28 Overall
49


61 Imaging
81 Features
93 Overall
85
Leica M-E Typ 220 vs Sony a1 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 18MP - Full frame Sensor
- 2.5" Fixed Screen
- ISO 80 - 2500
- No Video
- Leica M Mount
- 585g - 139 x 80 x 37mm
- Released September 2012
(Full Review)
- 50MP - Full frame Sensor
- 3" Tilting Screen
- ISO 100 - 32000 (Increase to 102400)
- Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
- 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
- 7680 x 4320 video
- Sony E Mount
- 737g - 129 x 97 x 70mm
- Released January 2021

Leica M-E Typ 220 vs Sony a1 Overview
Let's take a more detailed look at the Leica M-E Typ 220 and Sony a1, both Pro Mirrorless digital cameras by competitors Leica and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the M-E Typ 220 (18MP) and a1 (50MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor sizes (Full frame).

The M-E Typ 220 was manufactured 9 years before the a1 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Leica M-E Typ 220 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony a1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.
Before we go straight to a thorough comparison, here is a short summation of how the M-E Typ 220 grades against the a1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Leica M-E Typ 220 vs Sony a1 Gallery
Here is a preview of the gallery images for Leica M-E Typ 220 & Sony Alpha a1. The entire galleries are viewable at Leica M-E Typ 220 Gallery & Sony a1 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Leica M-E Typ 220 over the Sony a1
M-E Typ 220 | a1 |
---|
Reasons to pick Sony a1 over the Leica M-E Typ 220
a1 | M-E Typ 220 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Released | January 2021 | ![]() | September 2012 | Fresher by 101 months |
Screen type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting screen |
Screen dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 2.5" | Bigger screen (+0.5") |
Screen resolution | 1440k | ![]() | 230k | Sharper screen (+1210k dot) |
Touch friendly screen | ![]() | Quickly navigate |
Common features in the Leica M-E Typ 220 and Sony a1
M-E Typ 220 | a1 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | More exact focusing | ||
Selfie screen | ![]() | No selfie screen |
Leica M-E Typ 220 vs Sony a1 Physical Comparison
For anyone who is planning to carry your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and volume. The Leica M-E Typ 220 has got outer measurements of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") and a weight of 585 grams (1.29 lbs) and the Sony a1 has sizing of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs).
Check the Leica M-E Typ 220 and Sony a1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have attached during that time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the M-E Typ 220 against the a1.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the M-E Typ 220 and a1 is 79 and 61 respectively.

Leica M-E Typ 220 vs Sony a1 Sensor Comparison
Typically, it's difficult to envision the difference between sensor sizing just by going over specs. The visual underneath might give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the M-E Typ 220 and a1.
All in all, both of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same MP. You can expect the Sony a1 to offer more detail due to its extra 32 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The older M-E Typ 220 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Leica M-E Typ 220 vs Sony a1 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Leica M-E Typ 220 vs Sony a1 Specifications
Leica M-E Typ 220 | Sony Alpha a1 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Manufacturer | Leica | Sony |
Model type | Leica M-E Typ 220 | Sony Alpha a1 |
Class | Pro Mirrorless | Pro Mirrorless |
Released | 2012-09-17 | 2021-01-26 |
Body design | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | SLR-style mirrorless |
Sensor Information | ||
Sensor type | CCD | BSI-CMOS |
Sensor size | Full frame | Full frame |
Sensor measurements | 36 x 24mm | 35.9 x 24mm |
Sensor area | 864.0mm² | 861.6mm² |
Sensor resolution | 18MP | 50MP |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 3:2 | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
Maximum resolution | 5212 x 3472 | 8640 x 5760 |
Maximum native ISO | 2500 | 32000 |
Maximum boosted ISO | - | 102400 |
Lowest native ISO | 80 | 100 |
RAW data | ||
Lowest boosted ISO | - | 50 |
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
AF touch | ||
Continuous AF | ||
Single AF | ||
AF tracking | ||
Selective AF | ||
AF center weighted | ||
AF multi area | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detection AF | ||
Contract detection AF | ||
Phase detection AF | ||
Total focus points | - | 759 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount type | Leica M | Sony E |
Available lenses | 59 | 133 |
Focal length multiplier | 1 | 1 |
Screen | ||
Screen type | Fixed Type | Tilting |
Screen sizing | 2.5" | 3" |
Resolution of screen | 230k dot | 1,440k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch operation | ||
Screen tech | TFT color LCD | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Optical (rangefinder) | Electronic |
Viewfinder resolution | - | 9,437k dot |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 100 percent |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.68x | 0.9x |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 4s | 30s |
Highest shutter speed | 1/4000s | 1/8000s |
Highest silent shutter speed | - | 1/32000s |
Continuous shooting speed | 2.0fps | 30.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Change WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | no built-in flash | no built-in flash |
Flash options | Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync | Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync |
Hot shoe | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Highest flash sync | 1/180s | 1/400s |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | - | 7680x4320 (30p, 25p, 23.98) |
Maximum video resolution | None | 7680x4320 |
Video format | - | XAVC S, XAVC HS, H.264, H.265 |
Microphone input | ||
Headphone input | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | Built-In |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | none | Yes |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environmental seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 585g (1.29 pounds) | 737g (1.62 pounds) |
Physical dimensions | 139 x 80 x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") | 129 x 97 x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around rating | 69 | not tested |
DXO Color Depth rating | 22.7 | not tested |
DXO Dynamic range rating | 11.7 | not tested |
DXO Low light rating | 787 | not tested |
Other | ||
Battery life | - | 530 pictures |
Type of battery | - | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | - | NP-FZ100 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes |
Time lapse feature | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC card | Dual SD/CFexpress Type A slots (UHS-II supported) |
Storage slots | 1 | Two |
Cost at launch | $0 | $6,498 |