Both Leica M10-D and Leica SL have Full frame sized 24.0 MP resolution sensors so sensor size and resolution is not a differentiator between these two cameras.
One other difference between these two cameras that is worth mentioning is that Leica SL's sensor doesn't have an anti-alias (Low-Pass) filter. Removing anti-alias filter increases the sharpness and level of detail but at the same time, it increases the chance of moiré occurring in certain scenes.
Below you can see the M10-D and SL sensor size comparison.
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Leica M10-D and Leica SL Cameras
Leica M10-D and Leica SL have almost the same sensor size, so neither of them has any significant advantage over the other in terms of providing control over depth of field when used with the same focal length and aperture.
DxOMark Sensor Scores
DxOMark is a benchmark that scientifically assesses image quality of camera sensors. It scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Leica M10-D and Leica SL sensors have been tested by DxO and the results show that SL has a better overall score of 88, 2 points higher compared to M10-D's score of 86.
Model
Overall
Color Depth
Dynamic Range
Low-light ISO
Leica M10-D
86
24.4 bits
13.3 Evs
2133 ISO
Leica SL
88
25.0 bits
13.4 Evs
1821 ISO
Sensor size sets the circle of confusion, so it drives how much depth of field each
of these bodies gives you at a given aperture. You can calculate it exactly for the
Leica M10-D
or the
Leica SL ,
including hyperfocal distance.
