Leica X1 vs Sony A7R IV

Below is a thorough assessment of the Leica X1 versus Sony A7R IV, one being a Large Sensor Compact and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by rivals Leica and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the X1 (12MP) and A7R IV (61MP) and the X1 (APS-C) and A7R IV (Full frame) posses totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The X1 was launched 10 years prior to the A7R IV and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Leica X1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony A7R IV being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief overview of how the X1 scores against the A7R IV when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Leica X1 and Sony Alpha A7R IV. The complete galleries are viewable at Leica X1 Gallery and Sony A7R IV Gallery.

For anybody who is looking to lug around your camera often, you should take into account its weight and proportions. The Leica X1 enjoys external dimensions of 124mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.9" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 306 grams (0.67 lbs) while the Sony A7R IV has measurements of 129mm x 96mm x 78mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.1") along with a weight of 665 grams (1.47 lbs).

Look at the Leica X1 versus Sony A7R IV in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the X1 compared to the A7R IV.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the X1 and A7R IV is 89 and 62 respectively.

Generally, it's hard to visualise the gap in sensor measurements just by researching a spec sheet. The graphic below may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the X1 and A7R IV.

Clearly, both cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The X1 featuring a smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field harder and the Sony A7R IV will result in greater detail utilizing its extra 49MP. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The older X1 will be behind in sensor technology.