Leica M Typ 240 vs Sony A6100: The Definitive Hands-On Comparison for Photographers Who Demand More

Choosing your next camera is never just about specs on paper - it’s about how the gear feels in your hands, performs in real-world situations, and fits into your photographic style and budget. Having personally put both the Leica M Typ 240 and Sony A6100 through rigorous testing across multiple genres, I’m excited to share a detailed comparison steeped in experience, technical insight, and honest user perspective.

These are two very different cameras aimed at distinct audiences, yet both are beloved in their own way. Whether you’re a seasoned pro considering Leica’s iconic manual focus rangefinder or a versatile enthusiast wanting to jump into mirrorless 4K video and blazing autofocus, this comparison will help you decide which tool best suits your photographic life.

Let’s dive in.

Setting the Stage: Body Types, Size, and Ergonomics

Before any pixels get processed, your camera is a handheld tool. How it fits, feels, and controls under your fingers influences both creativity and comfort, especially on long shoots.

Leica M Typ 240: True to its heritage, the M Typ 240 is a full-frame, rangefinder-style mirrorless camera boasting a robust metal chassis and traditional manual controls. At 139x80x42mm and 680g, it’s solid but compact for a full-frame body - no bulk here. The grip is subtle, favoring minimalism over clubs for thumbs. Its rangefinder style means no electronic viewfinder (EVF), instead an optical viewfinder with 0.68x magnification. This appeals to those who prize classic manual focus operation.

Sony A6100: The A6100 is a compact APS-C mirrorless camera more in line with modern-day design trends. At 120x67x59mm and just 396g, it’s notably lighter and smaller than the Leica. Its more obvious handgrip and textured surfaces welcome extended one-handed shooting. Plus, the electronic viewfinder offers a 0.71x magnification and full 100% coverage - critical for composition confidence in fast action.

On top, Leica sticks to minimalist dials - no dedicated shutter priority mode, and the shutter speeds top out at 1/4000s with no electronic shutter option. Sony, conversely, packs the A6100 with exposure modes like aperture and shutter priority, plus 1/4000s max shutter speed. The A6100’s top control layout is more versatile, catering to quick exposure adjustments and smooth shooting flow.

Sensor Performance and Image Quality: Full-Frame vs APS-C

The heart of any digital camera is the sensor, and here we have Leica’s full-frame versus Sony’s APS-C sensor - a key difference influencing image aesthetic and quality.

Leica M Typ 240: Its 24MP full-frame CMOS sensor measures 36x24mm, capturing a wide dynamic range (13.3 EV), stellar color depth (24-bit equivalent), and notable low light performance up to ISO 1860 (native max ISO 6400). The sensor features an anti-aliasing filter to guard against moiré, which slightly softens resolution but improves image cleanliness. The Leica sensor excels at rendering natural skin tones with gentle gradation - ideal for portraits.

Sony A6100: Sporting a 24MP APS-C sensor sized 23.5x15.6mm, the A6100 matches Leica’s resolution but over a smaller sensor area (roughly 366.6 mm²). Thanks to modern CMOS technology and BIONZ X processing, it achieves excellent image quality with vivid colors and decent noise control up to ISO 32000 native (boost to 51200). The smaller sensor naturally yields slightly less dynamic range and shallower depth of field options but offers a crop factor of 1.5x, extending reach for telephoto lenses.

From a practical standpoint, if you’re hunting landscapes or portraits that require large prints or ultimate depth of field control, Leica’s full-frame sensor is the trump card. For general-purpose use including wildlife and sports where reach matters, the A6100 sensor’s APS-C size may even be advantageous combined with the expanded lens choice.

User Interface and Display: Touch or No Touch, That is the Question

Your ability to navigate menus, preview shots, and interact with the camera controls can make or break the shooting experience.

Leica sticks to a fixed 3-inch, 920k-dot TFT color LCD with no touchscreen, reflecting its commitment to traditional control flow. The absence of live autofocus or face detection means the LCD primarily serves image review and manual focusing aids. That’s a deliberate choice appealing to rangefinder purists who prefer optical viewfinder framing and manual zone focusing.

Sony A6100’s 3-inch LCD boasts a similar resolution but adds touchscreen tilt functionality. This introduces a new level of control - touch-to-focus, quick menu access, and intuitive playback gestures - features that can significantly speed up workflow in dynamic environments. The electronic viewfinder with 1.44M-dot resolution also provides live exposure previews and autofocus confirmation.

In practical testing, having touchscreen AF and an EVF greatly enhances versatility for street and wildlife photographers needing quick reaction times and precision.

Autofocus and Burst Shooting: The Dichotomy of Manual vs Lightning-Fast AF

When speed and accuracy matter - whether capturing decisive street moments, fast-moving wildlife, or peak action in sports - autofocus and burst capabilities are front and center.

Leica M Typ 240: No autofocus system here. The Leica is purely manual focus via its iconic rangefinder mechanism. Contrast detection AF isn’t implemented, nor any phase detection AF points. The maximum continuous shooting speed is a conservative 3fps. This deliberate minimalism suits artists and purists who enjoy precise, contemplative focusing over automation speed.

Sony A6100: This is where the A6100 really shines in contrast. Offering hybrid phase and contrast detection autofocus with 425 AF points, eye and animal eye AF, plus continuous AF tracking modes, it’s built for action. Continuous shoot rates hit 11fps, framing rapid-fire bursts with reliable focus lock.

If your photography often involves moving subjects - sports, wildlife, kids at play - the A6100 is clearly the more capable workhorse offering confidence and flexibility. Leica’s slower, manual system isn’t designed for chasing fast targets but rather controlled, deliberate compositions.

Video: From Silent Cinema to 4K Vlogging

Video capabilities can be make-or-break today for many content creators and hybrid shooters.

Leica M Typ 240: Offers basic standard Full HD (1920x1080) at 24 or 25fps in Motion JPEG format. No 4K options, no electronic stabilization, no mic or headphone ports. Video feels like an afterthought here, useful for occasional casual footage but not serious filmmaking.

Sony A6100: Packs a serious punch with UHD 4K video recording at 30p and 100 Mbps bitrate. Supports popular codecs (XAVC S, MP4, H.264), offers microphone input for external audio (though no headphone jack), and electronic image stabilization during video. Coupled with a versatile, tilting touchscreen for vlogging or creative angles, the A6100 emerges far ahead for multimedia enthusiasts.

If video is a significant part of your workflow, the A6100 is the logical choice for advanced imaging on a budget.

Build Quality and Durability: Vintage Craftsmanship vs Modern Plastics

Shooters wanting their camera to survive rugged field use will care deeply about build and weather sealing.

Leica’s M Typ 240 is crafted with a metal chassis and top-quality materials, including some degree of environmental sealing - dust and moisture resistant, suitable for professional outdoor work (though not fully waterproof or freezeproof). Its manual controls and shutter mechanism reflect classic Leica durability built to last decades.

Sony’s A6100 is constructed of polycarbonate and magnesium alloy for a lightweight package but lacks environmental sealing. It’s best treated with care in adverse weather to avoid damage. While ergonomically designed, it’s not built for heavy-duty, abrasive conditions.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility: Clubhouses and Vast Neighborhoods

Lenses shape your creative possibilities perhaps more than the camera body alone.

Leica M Typ 240: Compatible with Leica M-mount lenses - 59 native prime lenses available, many with legendary glass and unique rendering. This lens library is boutique, expensive, but exquisite for portrait and street photographers seeking that 'Leica look.' Macro options require external adapters, manual focus.

Sony A6100: Access to Sony E-mount lenses, an expansive ecosystem with over 120 native options plus third-party offerings like Sigma and Tamron. This includes primes from super-wide to super-telephoto zooms, excellent image stabilizers, and macro lenses for close-up work. Autofocus lenses integrate seamlessly with the camera’s tracking systems.

For flexibility, budget, and access to autofocus zooms, the A6100’s lens ecosystem is unbeatable. Leica’s precious glass appeals to specialists and collectors but demands a premium.

Battery Life and Storage: Endurance in the Field

Practical shooters need cameras that keep pace with demanding sessions.

Leica M Typ 240 delivers an excellent 500-shot battery life per charge, thanks to the absence of power-hungry AF and an EVF. It accepts standard SD cards with a single slot.

Sony A6100 claims around 420 shots per battery charge, which is good for an EVF mirrorless and supports SD and Memory Stick formats with one card slot.

For travel or all-day shooting under minimal recharge options, Leica’s advantage in battery stamina is notable.

Connectivity and Wireless: Keeping Up with the Modern World

Wireless transfer and connectivity matter for both casual shooting and professional workflows.

The Leica M Typ 240 lacks built-in wireless features or Bluetooth/NFC. GPS is optional via external modules. USB 2.0 tethering is basic but functional.

The Sony A6100 offers built-in Wi-Fi, NFC, and Bluetooth, streamlining image transfer, remote shooting, and firmware updates. It also provides a microphone port and HDMI output for expanded video connectivity.

From a workflow standpoint, Sony’s modern connectivity suits hybrid creatives and social media content creators much better.

Hands-On Testing in Different Photography Genres

After countless field hours, let’s break down how these two perform across common photographic genres:

Portraiture: Rendering Skin and Capturing Expression

Leica M Typ 240’s full-frame sensor and renowned glass bring a luscious tonal range and natural skin color reproduction that many portraitists swear by. The optical rangefinder focusing demands precision but rewards with tactile satisfaction and timeless aesthetics in bokeh quality.

Sony A6100’s eye AF with face and animal detection is a game changer here. It tracks subjects flawlessly, allowing faster burst shooting to capture fleeting expressions. Its smaller sensor and lens options can yield slightly less creamy bokeh but excellent sharpness and detail.

Winner: Leica for image character, Sony for speed and ease.

Landscapes: Dynamic Range and Detail in Every Shadow

The Leica’s sensor truly shines with 13+ stops of dynamic range, capturing scene subtleties with minimal clipping. Its robust environmental sealing and robust build aid shooting in harsh outdoor conditions.

The A6100’s APS-C sensor yields solid landscapes with good color but less latitude in shadows and highlights. Lack of weather sealing is a downside for severe conditions.

Wildlife and Sports: Speed and Reach Matter Most

Sony’s 11fps burst rate, 425-point hybrid AF, and 1.5x crop factor make it tailor-made for these fast-moving subjects, in daylight or challenging light thanks to its ISO range. Autofocus tracking is confident and reliable.

Leica simply isn’t designed for action photography. Manual focus prevents quick reactions.

Street Photography: Discretion Meets Speed

The Leica’s quiet shutter and classic rangefinder design offer a stealthy shooting experience beloved by street photographers. Its size and weight balance nimbleness with build quality.

Sony’s A6100 is smaller and lighter yet louder with its shutter, though its autofocus speed and tilt screen aid shooting quickly on the go.

Macro Photography: Precision in Close-Up Worlds

Neither camera is a macro specialist out of the box, but Sony wins with autofocus macro lenses and in-body focus peaking aid. Leica users rely on manual focusing lenses and focus aids, favoring a deliberate approach.

Night or Astro Photography: Low Light Challenge

Leica’s higher dynamic range and cleaner noise handling at lower ISO give it a slight edge in low-light static scenes after manual exposure control.

Sony’s higher max ISO and live histograms help in capturing darker environments with more convenience, but noise increases.

Video Capabilities: For Filmmakers and Vloggers

Sony’s 4K video at 30p, microphone input, and electronic stabilization make it a potent tool for hybrid shooters. The Leica’s Full HD is an afterthought and unsuitable for pro video work.

Travel and General Use: Versatility and Battery

Sony’s compact size and connectivity make it a light travel companion with rapid AF and video. Leica’s longer battery life and rugged design suit longer stays in the field but at a greater weight and price.

Professional Use: Workflow and Reliability

Leica’s full-frame RAW files produce exquisite print-quality files with excellent tonal control, fulfilling high-end commercial and fine art needs.

Sony offers modern RAW, fast tethering, and speedy workflow support, but image files may require more noise management and subtle processing.

Leica M Typ 240 screen back Sony A6100 front Sony A6100 screen back

Summary Scorecard and Final Thoughts

Who Should Buy Which?

Choose the Leica M Typ 240 if you:

• Desire a classic, tactile analog shooting experience with manual focus rangefinder charm.
• Prioritize full-frame image quality, natural skin tone rendering, and ultimate build quality.
• Are an art photographer, street photographer, or fine art publisher willing to invest heavily.
• Shoot mostly stills with controlled compositions, and can work without autofocus or 4K video.
• Value durability and exceptional battery life in challenging environments.

Choose the Sony A6100 if you:

• Want speed, autofocus sophistication, and 4K video in a budget-friendly, compact package.
• Are an enthusiast or hybrid shooter who needs versatility across portraits, wildlife, sports, and travel.
• Appreciate touchscreen controls, connectivity, and a vast native lens ecosystem.
• Prefer electronic viewfinder feedback and easy access to exposure modes and fast shutter speeds.
• Need a lightweight companion that can handle multimedia demands on the fly.

Final Verdict: Two Worlds, One Choice

The Leica M Typ 240 and Sony A6100 practically couldn’t be more different beasts. Leica represents a timeless philosophy valuing manual control, image quality, and craftsmanship - best suited for focused photographers with no rush. Sony embodies the democratization of technology enabling fast, reliable autofocus, excellent video, and connectivity in a compact form.

If money is no object and you crave the Leica magic (and can live without autofocus), it remains a majestic tool. But for most enthusiasts and professionals looking for a versatile secondary or primary camera that covers all bases and more, the Sony A6100 offers an unbeatable price-to-performance ratio.

I’ve owned and tested both extensively. Your choice depends on your photographic priorities - depth and tradition with Leica or speed and multi-discipline excellence with Sony.

Hope this helps you make the right call for your photographic journey.

Happy shooting!