CameraDecision
  • CAMERAS
  • LENSES
  • TOOLS
    • Smart Find
    • 1-on-1 Comparison
    • Size Comparison
  • BRANDS
    • Sony Cameras
    • Canon Cameras
    • Nikon Cameras
    • Pentax Cameras
    • Fujifilm Cameras
    • Olympus Cameras
    • Panasonic Cameras
    • Leica Cameras
    • Samsung Cameras
  • BODY TYPE
    • Mirrorless Cameras
    • DSLR Cameras
    • Compact Cameras
    • Bridge Cameras
    • Waterproof Cameras

Sony A7S vs Leica M-Monochrom Comparison

x
Camera to replace
Change

Sony A7S

12 MP | Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) CMOS Sensor

Sony A7S
CHECK PRICE
CHECK PRICE
Change

Leica M-Monochrom

18 MP | Full frame (36 x 24 mm) CCD Sensor

Leica M-Monochrom
CHECK PRICE
CHECK PRICE
Sony A7S vs Leica M-Monochrom Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing A7S and M-Monochrom, two Pro Mirrorless cameras from Sony and Leica. Both cameras have Full frame sensors but Sony A7S has a 12.0 MP and Leica M-Monochrom has a 18.0 MP resolution. Sony A7S was introduced to market in April 2014 and Leica M-Monochrom was launched in May 2012. There is 23 months difference between A7S and M-Monochrom so we don't expect to see a huge technology difference between these two cameras but it would still give an advantage to younger A7S, especially in sensor tech.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Sony A7S and Leica M-Monochrom before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Sony A7S Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2014-04-06
  • 12MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 409600
  • Sony E Mount
  • 3 Tilting Screen
  • 2359k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 5 fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • 120 fps High-Speed Video
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 489g. 127 x 94 x 48 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body

Leica M-Monochrom Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2012-05-10
  • 18MP - Full frame CCD Sensor
  • ISO 160 - 10000
  • Leica M Mount
  • 2.5" Fixed Type Screen
  • Optical (rangefinder) viewfinder
  • 2 fps continuous shooting
  • No Video Mode
  • 600g. 139 x 80 x 37 mm

Sony A7S was replaced by Sony Alpha 7S II. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Sony Alpha 7S II vs Sony Alpha A7S
Sony Alpha 7S II vs Leica M-Monochrom

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Sony A7S and Leica M-Monochrom compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Sony Alpha A7S over Leica M-Monochrom
Wireless Connection
Built-In vs None Better connectivity
LCD Screen
Tilting vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
Viewfinder Magnification
0.71x vs 0.68x Larger Viewfinder
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs No very handy for portraits
Max ISO
409.600 vs 10.000 3996% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Size
3 vs 2.5" 0.5 inches larger display
LCD Screen Resolution
1.230k dots vs 230k dots 434% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter
1/8000s vs 1/4000s faster mechanical shutter
Continuous Shooting
5.0fps vs 2.0fps 3 fps faster
Battery Life
360 shots vs 350 shots 10 more frames with a single charge
Weight
489 g vs 600 g 111 g lighter
Microphone Port
Yes vs No High quality audio recording option
Headphone Port
Yes vs No better video control
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs No shoot at tough conditions
Sensor Pixel Area
71.24µm2 vs 47.73µm2 49% larger pixel area
Max Video Resolution
3840 x 2160 vs None Higher Resolution Video
AE Bracketing Range
±5 EV vs ±2 EV Wide Bracketing range is useful for HDR
NFC Connection
Yes vs No Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs No Remote control your camera with a smartphone


Reasons to choose Leica M-Monochrom over Sony Alpha A7S
Max Sensor Resolution
18 MP vs 12 MP 50% more pixels

Common Strengths of Sony Alpha A7S and Leica M-Monochrom
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
Viewfinder
Yes (Electronic) vs Yes (Optical) Better framing and control
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Common Weaknesses of Sony Alpha A7S and Leica M-Monochrom
In-body Image Stabilization
No vs No No Built-in stabilization
Built-in Flash
No vs No Require external flash
LCD Screen Size
3 vs 2.5" Small display
Sony A7S vs Leica M-Monochrom: 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 Sony A7S and Leica M-Monochrom side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Sony A7S has external dimensions of 127 x 94 x 48 mm (5 x 3.7 x 1.89″) and weighs 489 g (1.08 lb / 17.25 oz) (including batteries). Leica M-Monochrom has external dimensions of 139 x 80 x 37 mm (5.47 x 3.15 x 1.46″) and weighs 600 g (1.32 lb / 21.16 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sony A7S and Leica M-Monochrom. Leica M-Monochrom is 14mm shorter and 11mm thinner than Sony A7S but it is also 12mm wider.

Sony A7S vs Leica M-Monochrom Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Sony A7S and Leica M-Monochrom Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Sony A7S and Leica M-Monochrom.

Sony A7S vs Leica M-Monochrom Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Sony A7S and Leica M-Monochrom Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Sony A7S and Leica M-Monochrom.
Sony A7S vs Leica M-Monochrom Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Sony A7S and Leica M-Monochrom Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Sony A7S is significantly lighter (111g ) than the Leica M-Monochrom 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 Sony A7S and Leica M-Monochrom 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

A7S
M-Monochrom
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

A7S
M-Monochrom
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

With its weather sealed body, we believe that A7S has a big advantage over M-Monochrom which doesn't provide any kind of environmental sealing.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Sony A7S's 3 LCD screen is slightly larger than Leica M-Monochrom's 2.5" screen.

In addition to the size advantage, Sony A7S LCD screen also has a Tilting feature where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over the head levels. On the other hand, Leica M-Monochrom has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to A7S.
Sony A7S vs Leica M-Monochrom: Sensor Comparison

Sony A7S has a 12.0MP Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Bionz X processor. On the other hand, Leica M-Monochrom has a 18.0MP Full frame (36 x 24 mm ) sized CCD sensor .

Leica M-Monochrom's sensor provides 6MP more than Sony A7S'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.

Below you can see the A7S and M-Monochrom sensor size comparison.

Sony A7S vs Leica M-Monochrom Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Sony A7S and Leica M-Monochrom Cameras


Sony A7S and Leica M-Monochrom 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.

Sony A7S vs Leica M-Monochrom 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 A7S has an advantage over Leica M-Monochrom. There are 128 lenses for Sony A7S's Sony E mount, on the other hand there are only 59 lenses for Leica M-Monochrom's Leica M lens mount.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. None of these bodies have sensor based image stabilization so you have to buy lenses with Optical stabilization feature. Currently there are 31 lenses for Sony E mount and 0 lenses for Leica M mount with IS.

Lens Type # of Sony A7S Lenses # of Leica M-Monochrom Lenses
Standard Zoom 12 (9 Full Frame) n/a
Standard Prime 18 (9 Full Frame) 15 (15 Full Frame)
Wideangle Zoom 7 (6 Full Frame) 1 (1 Full Frame)
Wideangle Prime 42 (26 Full Frame) 31 (31 Full Frame)
Telephoto Zoom 9 (7 Full Frame) n/a
Telephoto Prime 18 (14 Full Frame) 10 (10 Full Frame)
SuperZoom 8 (1 Full Frame) n/a
Wideangle Fisheye Prime 2 (0 Full Frame) n/a
Macro Prime 8 (7 Full Frame) 1 (1 Full Frame)
Perspective Control Prime 2 (2 Full Frame) 1 (1 Full Frame)
Telephoto Mirror Prime n/a n/a
TOTAL 128 (81 Full Frame) 59 (59 Full Frame)

What types of Photography are Sony A7S and Leica M-Monochrom Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Sony A7S and Leica M-Monochrom 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.

Sony A7S for Portrait Photography

GOOD

Leica M-Monochrom for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 18.0MP
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Sony A7S for Street Photography

GOOD

Leica M-Monochrom for Street Photography

AVERAGE
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Medium sized Body
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Medium sized Body
No Image Stabilization
No Live-view
Read the details

Sony A7S for Sports Photography

GOOD

Leica M-Monochrom for Sports Photography

AVERAGE
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
25 Focus Points
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Slow Continuous Shooting: 2.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Focus Points
Read the details

Sony A7S for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT

Leica M-Monochrom for Daily Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Medium size Body
489g
Body Thickness 48mm
Read the details
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Medium size Body
600g
Read the details

Sony A7S for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Leica M-Monochrom for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Read the details
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 18.0MP
No Environmental Sealings
No Live-view
Read the details

Sony A7S vs Leica M-Monochrom: 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 Sony A7S and Leica M-Monochrom, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 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 Sony A7S and Leica M-Monochrom scores compare:

Sony A7S
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #39 out of 86 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #71 out of 1220 in all Cameras
Leica M-Monochrom
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #121 out of 126 in Rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #606 out of 1220 in all Cameras

Sony A7S is the clear winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Leica M-Monochrom in all criteria. It has better general image quality, more features, more compact body and offers more value for the money

Sony A7S
Sony A7S
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Leica M-Monochrom
Leica M-Monochrom
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony A7S Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Sony Alpha A7S Leica M-Monochrom
Brand Sony Leica
Announced 2014-04-06 2012-05-10
Body Type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor
Type CMOS CCD
Size Full frame Full frame
Dimensions 35.8 x 23.9 mm 36 x 24 mm
Area 855.62mm2 864.00mm2
Megapixels 12 megapixels 18 megapixels
Max Resolution 4240 x 2832 5212 x 3472
Max Native Light sensitivity 409,600 ISO 10,000 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 160 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 25 n/a
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Sony E Leica M
Number of Available Lenses 128 59
Screen
Type Tilting Fixed type
Size 3 2.5"
Resolution 1,230k dots 230k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (rangefinder)
Viewfinder Resolution 2,359k dots no electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage 100% Unknown
Viewfinder Magnification 0.71x 0.68x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/8000s 1/4000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization No No
Built-in Flash
Max Flash Sync n/a 1/180s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 5.0 fps 2.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160 None
Video Formats MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC n/a
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 489g 600g
Dimensions 127 x 94 x 48mm 139 x 80 x 37mm
Battery Life 360 shots 350 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording With Downloadable App
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 87 not tested
DxO Color Depth 23.9 not tested
DxO Dynamic Range 13.2 not tested
DxO Low Light ISO 3702 not tested
Report a correction Report a correction


FOLLOW US


Most Popular Cameras
Nikon Z7
46 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon Z Mount
Sony A6000
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Sony E Mount
Sony A7 III
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Fujifilm X-T3
26 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Canon R
30 MP | Full frame Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Sony A6400
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Sony E Mount
Nikon D5600
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Nikon F Mount
Nikon D850
46 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon F Mount
Top Rated Mirrorless Cameras
Top Mirrorless Cameras Under $500
Top Mirrorless Cameras Under $750
Top Mirrorless Cameras Under $1000
Top Mirrorless Cameras Under $1500
Latest Cameras
Leica SL2-S
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Leica L Mount
Leica Q2 Monochrom
47 MP | Full frame Sensor | 28 mm
Fujifilm X-S10
26 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Nikon Z7 II
46 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon Z Mount
Nikon Z6 II
25 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon Z Mount
Canon M50 II
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Canon EF-M Mount
Sony A7c
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Panasonic S5
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Leica L Mount
Copyright © 2020 by CameraDecision
About Feedback Privacy Cameras

Report a Correction