• 35mm 861.6mm2
  • 36.4 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600
  • Medium format 1,350.0mm2
  • 64.0 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 50,000

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Differences

Sony A7R advantages over Leica S3

  • Lens selection
    Good vs Limited
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Thinner
    48 mm vs 80 mm
    Thinner
  • Lighter weight
    465g vs 1260g
    Lighter weight
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    4.0 fps vs 3.0 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    4.0 fps vs 3.0 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    15 vs 6 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light

Leica S3 advantages over Sony A7R

  • Larger sensor
    Medium format vs 35mm
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (DCI) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Built-in GPS
    GPS vs None
    Geotag your photos
  • Top deck display
    Yes vs No
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • Newer
    5 years vs 11 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • More viewfinder magnification
    1.09x vs 0.71x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More pixels
    64.0 vs 36.4 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Dual card slots
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Longer exposure
    125 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    Unlimited vs 15 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Focus peaking
    Both provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Both provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • External Mic Jack
    Both provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Headphone jack
    Both provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Neither provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Touchscreen
    Neither provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Internal flash
    Neither provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

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Your purchases support this site

Buy the Leica S3

Review Excerpt

  • Incredibly small body for a fully-featured, full-frame camera; Resolution that rivals a medium-format camera; Excellent image quality even at very high sensitivities; Decent performance bearing in mind its extremely high resolution; Accepts existing Alpha-mount and E-mount lenses, and can optionally crop to APS-C image circle.

  • Extreme resolution makes focus and lens quality critical; Modest performance; Loud shutter; Lacks hybrid autofocus of the A7; Mediocre battery life when using electronic viewfinder; Slow X-sync; Limited selection of native Sony FE lenses.

  • Read our Sony A7R Review

The Competition

Compared to Sony A7

Sony A7R
Sony A7
  • $1399
  • 35mm
  • Higher effective ISO
  • More pixels
  • $748
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger pixels

Compare Sony A7R vs Sony A7

Leica S3
Sony A7
  • $19
  • Medium format
  • Larger sensor
  • Shoot 4K video
  • $748
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Bigger pixels

Compare Leica S3 vs Sony A7

Compared to Sony A7R II

Sony A7R
Sony A7R II
  • $1399
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Lighter weight
  • $2348
  • 35mm
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Shoot 4K video

Compare Sony A7R vs Sony A7R II

Leica S3
Sony A7R II
  • $19
  • Medium format
  • Larger sensor
  • Built-in GPS
  • $2348
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Leica S3 vs Sony A7R II

Compared to Pentax K-1

Sony A7R
Pentax K-1
  • $1399
  • 35mm
  • In-camera panoramas
  • NFC
  • $1800
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Sony A7R vs Pentax K-1

Leica S3
Pentax K-1
  • $19
  • Medium format
  • Less expensive
  • Larger sensor
  • $1800
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Leica S3 vs Pentax K-1

Compared to Canon 6D Mark II

Sony A7R
Canon 6D Mark II
  • $1399
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Focus peaking
  • $1299
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony A7R vs Canon 6D Mark II

Leica S3
Canon 6D Mark II
  • $19
  • Medium format
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $1299
  • 35mm
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Lens selection

Compare Leica S3 vs Canon 6D Mark II

Compared to Canon EOS RP

Sony A7R
Canon EOS RP
  • $1399
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Focus peaking
  • $949
  • 35mm
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Bigger pixels

Compare Sony A7R vs Canon EOS RP

Leica S3
Canon EOS RP
  • $19
  • Medium format
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $949
  • 35mm
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Bigger pixels

Compare Leica S3 vs Canon EOS RP

Compare Other Cameras?