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Leica SL2 vs Sony A9 Comparison

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Leica SL2

47 MP | Full frame (36 x 24 mm) CMOS Sensor

Leica SL2
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Sony A9

24 MP | Full frame (35.6 x 23.8 mm) Stacked BSI-CMOS Sensor

Sony A9
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Leica SL2 vs Sony A9 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing SL2 and A9, two Pro Mirrorless cameras from Leica and Sony. Leica SL2 was introduced to market in November 2019 and Sony A9 was launched in April 2017. As you can see, A9 is 2 years older than SL2. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Leica SL2 and Sony A9 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Leica SL2 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2019-11-06
  • 47MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor
  • No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter
  • ISO 100 - 50000 ( expands to 50 - 50000)
  • Leica L Mount
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3.20" Fixed Type Screen
  • 5760k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 20.0fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (DCI) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 835g. 146 x 107 x 42 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Replaced Leica SL Compare

Sony A9 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2017-04-19
  • 24MP - Full frame Stacked BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 51200 ( expands to 50 - 204800)
  • Sony E Mount
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Tilting Screen
  • 3686k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 20.0fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • 120fps High-Speed Video
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 673g. 127 x 96 x 63 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body

Sony A9 was replaced by Sony Alpha A9 II. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Sony Alpha A9 II vs Sony Alpha A9
Sony Alpha A9 II vs Leica SL2

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Leica SL2 and Sony A9 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Leica SL2 over Sony Alpha A9
Sensor Resolution
47 MP vs 24 MP 95% more pixels
LCD Screen Size
3.2 vs 3 0.2 inches larger display
LCD Resolution
2.100k dots vs 1.440k dots 45% higher resolution screen
Max Elect. Shutter
1/40000s vs 1/32000s faster electronic shutter
Viewfinder Resolution
5760k dot vs 3686.4k dot 56% higher resolution
Top LCD
Yes vs No Help viewing and changing settings easily
Full-size HDMI Port
Yes vs No Use standard HDMI cables without adapters
Pixel Shift High-Res Mode
Yes (187) vs No Increased resolution with pixel shift
CHECK SL2 PRICE


Reasons to choose Sony Alpha A9 over Leica SL2
Zero Blackout Viewfinder
Yes vs No No Blackout during continuous shooting
LCD Screen
Tilting vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
Max ISO
51.200 vs 50.000 2% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points
693 vs 225 468 more focus points
Battery Life
650 shots vs 370 shots 280 more frames with a single charge
Weight
673 g vs 835 g 162 g lighter
Sensor Pixel Area
35.30µm2 vs 18.49µm2 90% larger pixel area
AE Bracketing Range
±5 EV vs ±3 EV Wide Bracketing range is useful for HDR
NFC Connection
Yes vs No Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Animal Eye AF Tracking
Yes vs No Easily lock and track focus on animals
Webcam Function
Yes vs No Use your camera as a Webcam
Anti Flicker
Yes vs No Reduced uneven color and exposure under flickering light
Eye Tracking Focus
Yes vs No Autofocus system locks on the eye and tracks the subject
CHECK A9 PRICE

Common Strengths of Leica SL2 and Sony Alpha A9
Wireless Connection
Yes vs Yes Better connectivity
Bluetooth Connection
Yes vs Yes Connect to other devices via Bluetooth
Image Stabilization
Sensor-shift vs Sensor-shift Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
Touch Screen
Yes vs Yes Easy control of camera functions
Viewfinder
Yes (Electronic) vs Yes (Electronic) Better framing and control
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Max Resolution
47 MP vs 24 MP Bigger prints and more details
Continuous Shooting
20.0fps vs 20.0fps Fast shooting speeds
Microphone Port
Yes vs Yes High quality audio recording option
Headphone Port
Yes vs Yes better video control
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs Yes shoot at tough conditions
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs Yes creative shooting
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Flash Sync Port
Yes vs Yes Connect off-camera flash
Storage Slot
2 vs 2 Extra Storage Slot
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs Yes Remote control your camera with a smartphone
UHS Card Support
UHS-II vs UHS-II Read/Write in High Speeds
Common Weaknesses of Leica SL2 and Sony Alpha A9
Built-in Flash
No vs No Require external flash
Leica SL2 vs Sony A9: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Leica SL2 and Sony A9 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Leica SL2 has external dimensions of 146 x 107 x 42 mm (5.75 x 4.21 x 1.65″) and weighs 835 g (1.84 lb / 29.45 oz) (including batteries). Sony A9 has external dimensions of 127 x 96 x 63 mm (5 x 3.78 x 2.48″) and weighs 673 g (1.48 lb / 23.74 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Leica SL2 and Sony A9. Sony A9 is 19mm narrower and 11mm shorter than Leica SL2 but it is also 21mm thicker.

Leica SL2 vs Sony A9 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Leica SL2 and Sony A9 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Leica SL2 and Sony A9.

Leica SL2 vs Sony A9 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Leica SL2 and Sony A9 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Leica SL2 and Sony A9.
Leica SL2 vs Sony A9 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Leica SL2 and Sony A9 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Sony A9 is significantly lighter (162g ) than the Leica SL2 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you have to also take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since both Leica SL2 and Sony A9 have the same Full frame sized sensor, their lenses for a similar focal length and aperture will be similar in size and weight.

Weight Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

SL2
A9
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

SL2
A9
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Both SL2 and A9 have weather sealings in their body, making them resistant to water and dust.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Leica SL2's 3.20" LCD screen is slightly larger than Sony A9's 3 screen.

Leica SL2 vs Sony A9: Sensor Comparison

Leica SL2 has a 47.0MP Full frame (36 x 24 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Maestro III processor. On the other hand, Sony A9 has a 24.0MP Full frame (35.6 x 23.8 mm ) sized Stacked BSI-CMOS sensor and features BIONZ X processor.

Leica SL2's sensor provides 23MP more than Sony A9's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

Another difference between these two cameras is that Leica SL2's sensor lacks 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 moire occurring in certain scenes.

Below you can see the SL2 and A9 sensor size comparison.

Leica SL2 vs Sony A9 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Leica SL2 and Sony A9 Cameras


Leica SL2 and Sony A9 have almost the same sensor size so none of them has any significant advantage over other in providing control over depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

Leica SL2 vs Sony A9 Comparison of Available Lenses
Which camera has more lenses?

Number of available lenses is a big decision factor while choosing your interchangeable lens camera. When we look at the available lenses for these two cameras, we see that Sony A9 has an advantage over Leica SL2 There are 184 lenses for Sony A9's Sony E mount, on the other hand there are only 55 lenses for Leica SL2's Leica L lens mount.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. Both Leica SL2 and Sony A9 has Sensor based Image stabilization which means that all the lenses will be stabilized in these bodies. SL2's built-in Image stabilization system is effective to compensate vibration up to 5.5-stops according to CIPA standards whereas A9's IS system is rated upto 5.0-stops.

Lens Type # of Leica SL2 Lenses # of Sony A9 Lenses
Standard Zoom 8 (7 Full Frame) 18 (13 Full Frame)
Standard Prime 11 (10 Full Frame) 32 (18 Full Frame)
Wideangle Zoom 4 (4 Full Frame) 12 (10 Full Frame)
Wideangle Prime 17 (16 Full Frame) 57 (39 Full Frame)
Telephoto Zoom 6 (6 Full Frame) 15 (13 Full Frame)
Telephoto Prime 7 (7 Full Frame) 26 (20 Full Frame)
SuperZoom n/a 10 (2 Full Frame)
Wideangle Fisheye Prime n/a 2 (0 Full Frame)
Macro Prime 2 (2 Full Frame) 9 (8 Full Frame)
Perspective Control Prime n/a 2 (2 Full Frame)
Telephoto Mirror Prime n/a n/a
TOTAL 55 (52 Full Frame) 184 (125 Full Frame)


Now let's compare some sample lenses from each mount with typical Focal ranges for Leica SL2 and Sony A9 to see how these lenses compares:

Fast Standard Zoom Lenses
Model FF Equiv. Weight Weight w/ Cam Length Street Price
Panasonic S 24-70mm F2.8 Lens Panasonic S 24-70mm F2.8
24 - 70mm 935gr 1770gr 140mm Amazon B&H Photo
Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM Lens Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM
24 - 70mm 886gr 1559gr 136mm Amazon B&H Photo
Fast Tele Zoom Equivalent Lenses
Model FF Equiv. Weight Weight w/ Cam Length Street Price
Panasonic S 70-200 F2.8 Lens Panasonic S 70-200 F2.8
70 - 200mm 1570gr 2405gr 209mm Amazon B&H Photo
Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM Lens Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM
70 - 200mm 1480gr 2153gr 200mm Amazon B&H Photo
Fast Normal Prime Equivalent Lenses
Model FF Equiv. Weight Weight w/ Cam Length Street Price
Panasonic S 50mm F1.4 Lens Panasonic S 50mm F1.4
50mm 955gr 1790gr 130mm Amazon B&H Photo
Sony Zeiss FE 50mm F1.4 ZA Lens Sony Zeiss FE 50mm F1.4 ZA
50mm 778gr 1451gr 108mm Amazon B&H Photo
Fast Wideangle Zoom Equivalent Lenses
Model FF Equiv. Weight Weight w/ Cam Length Street Price
Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG DN Art Lens Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG DN Art
14 - 24mm 795gr 1630gr 131mm Amazon B&H Photo
Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM Lens Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM
16 - 35mm 680gr 1353gr 122mm Amazon B&H Photo
24-105mm f4 Equivalent Lenses
Model FF Equiv. Weight Weight w/ Cam Length Street Price
Panasonic S 24-105mm F4 Lens Panasonic S 24-105mm F4
24 - 105mm 680gr 1515gr 118mm Amazon B&H Photo
Sony FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS Lens Sony FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS
24 - 105mm 663gr 1336gr 113mm Amazon B&H Photo
Super-Tele Zoom Equivalent Lenses
Model FF Equiv. Weight Weight w/ Cam Length Street Price
Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Lens Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS
100 - 400mm 1135gr 1970gr 197mm Amazon B&H Photo
Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS Lens Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
100 - 400mm 1395gr 2068gr 205mm Amazon B&H Photo
What types of Photography are Leica SL2 and Sony A9 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Leica SL2 and Sony A9 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Leica SL2 for Portrait Photography

GOOD

Sony A9 for Portrait Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 47.0MP
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.6 x 23.8 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Leica SL2 for Street Photography

EXCELLENT

Sony A9 for Street Photography

EXCELLENT
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Medium sized Body
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.6 x 23.8 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Medium sized Body
Read the details

Leica SL2 for Sports Photography

GOOD

Sony A9 for Sports Photography

GOOD
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 20.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
225 Focus Points
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 20.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
693 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 650 shots
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Anti Flicker feature
Read the details

Leica SL2 for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT

Sony A9 for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Medium size Body
835g
Body Thickness 42mm
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.6 x 23.8 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Anti Flicker feature
Medium size Body
673g
Body Thickness 63mm
Read the details

Leica SL2 for Landscape Photography

GOOD

Sony A9 for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 47.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.6 x 23.8 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details

Leica SL2 vs Sony A9: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Leica SL2 and Sony A9, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Leica SL2 and Sony A9 scores compare:

Leica SL2
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #9 out of 102 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #9 out of 1244 in all Cameras
Sony A9
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #23 out of 102 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #24 out of 1244 in all Cameras

Leica SL2 has a higher Overall Score thanks to its better image quality and more features compared to Sony A9. On the other hand the Sony A9 beats Leica SL2 in two significant areas: Value for Money and Compactness.

If you are a price conscious buyer and looking for a small and relatively low priced camera where you can take everywhere with you, Sony A9 is the right choice for you.
If you are after the better photographic performance with all the advanced features, definitely get the Leica SL2

Leica SL2
Leica SL2
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Sony A9
Sony A9
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Sony A9 vs Leica SL2 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Leica SL2 Sony Alpha A9
Brand Leica Sony
Announced 2019-11-06 2017-04-19
Body Type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor
Type CMOS Stacked BSI-CMOS
Size Full frame Full frame
Dimensions 36 x 24 mm 35.6 x 23.8 mm
Area 864.00mm2 847.28mm2
Megapixels 47 megapixels 24 megapixels
Max Resolution 8368 x 5584 6000 x 4000
Max Native Light sensitivity 50,000 ISO 51,200 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity - 204800 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 100 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity 50 ISO 50 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 225 693
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Leica L Sony E
Number of Available Lenses 55 184
Screen
Type Fixed type Tilting
Size 3.20" 3.00"
Resolution 2,100k dots 1,440k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution 5,760k dots 3,686k dots
Viewfinder Coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.78x 0.78x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/8000s 1/8000s
Max Electronic Shutter 1/40000s 1/32000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Sensor-shift Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 20.0 fps 20.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160 3840 x 2160
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 835g 673g
Dimensions 146 x 107 x 42mm 127 x 96 x 63mm
Battery Life 370 shots 650 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score not tested 92
DxO Color Depth not tested 24.9
DxO Dynamic Range not tested 13.3
DxO Low Light ISO not tested 3517
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