Leica SL vs Sony A7R III

Lets take a deeper look at the Leica SL and Sony A7R III, both Pro Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Leica and Sony. There exists a big gap between the sensor resolutions of the SL (24MP) and A7R III (42MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor size (Full frame).

Photography Glossary

The SL was manufactured 24 months prior to the A7R III making them a generation apart from one another. The two cameras have the same body design (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before getting straight to a thorough comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the SL matches up against the A7R III when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Leica SL and Sony Alpha A7R III. The entire galleries are available at Leica SL Gallery and Sony A7R III Gallery.

When you are aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to consider its weight and volume. The Leica SL has physical measurements of 147mm x 104mm x 39mm (5.8" x 4.1" x 1.5") with a weight of 847 grams (1.87 lbs) and the Sony A7R III has sizing of 127mm x 96mm x 74mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.9") along with a weight of 657 grams (1.45 lbs).

Compare the Leica SL and Sony A7R III in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are working with at the time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the SL compared to the A7R III.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SL and A7R III is 67 and 63 respectively.

Typically, its tough to see the contrast between sensor measurements merely by reading specifications. The graphic below might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the SL and A7R III.

To sum up, each of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same resolution. You should expect to see the Sony A7R III to deliver extra detail due to its extra 18MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics more aggressively. The older SL is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.