Leica M11 vs Sony a1

Lets look a little more in depth at the Leica M11 and Sony a1, both Pro Mirrorless cameras by companies Leica and Sony. The sensor resolution of the M11 (60MP) and the a1 (50MP) is very comparable and both cameras boast the same sensor sizing (Full frame).

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The M11 was manufactured 12 months later than the a1 and they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Leica M11 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony a1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a detailed comparison, here is a short summary of how the M11 grades vs the a1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Leica M11 and Sony Alpha a1. The entire galleries are available at Leica M11 Gallery and Sony a1 Gallery.

When you are going to lug around your camera, you have to think about its weight and size. The Leica M11 has exterior dimensions of 139mm x 80mm x 39mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") having a weight of 640 grams (1.41 lbs) whilst the Sony a1 has specifications of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs).

See the Leica M11 and Sony a1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you use during that time. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the M11 compared to the a1.

Using size and weight, the portability score of the M11 and a1 is 76 and 61 respectively.

Oftentimes, its difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements just by going through a spec sheet. The graphic below should provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the M11 and a1.

Clearly, each of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different megapixels. You should expect to see the Leica M11 to provide extra detail due to its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics more aggressively. The younger M11 should have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.