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Leica Digilux 3 vs Sony A7 II

The Leica Digilux 3 and the Sony Alpha A7 II are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in September 2006 and November 2014. The Digilux 3 is a DSLR, while the A7 II is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on a Four Thirds (Digilux 3) and a full frame (A7 II) sensor. The Leica has a resolution of 7.4 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 24 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Leica Digilux 3
versus
Sony A7 II
Leica Digilux 3   Sony A7 II
Digital single lens reflex Mirrorless system camera
Four Thirds lenses Sony E mount lenses
7.4 MP – Four Thirds sensor 24 MP – Full Frame sensor
no Video 1080/60p Video
ISO 100-1,600 ISO 100-25,600 (50 - 51,200)
Optical viewfinder Electronic viewfinder (2400k dots)
2.5" LCD – 207k dots 3.0" LCD – 1230k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Tilting screen (no touchscreen)
3 shutter flaps per second 5 shutter flaps per second
Lens stabilization onlyIn-body stabilization
not weather sealedWeathersealed body
750 shots per battery charge350 shots per battery charge
146 x 87 x 77 mm, 606 g 127 x 96 x 60 mm, 599 g
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Check Digilux 3 offers at
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Check A7 II offers at
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Leica Digilux 3 and the Sony Alpha A7 II? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Leica Digilux 3 and the Sony A7 II is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Leica Digilux 3 vs Sony A7 II
Compare Digilux 3 versus A7 II top
Comparison Digilux 3 or A7 II rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony A7 II is somewhat smaller (4 percent) than the Leica Digilux 3. Moreover, the A7 II is slightly lighter (1 percent) than the Digilux 3. It is noteworthy in this context that the A7 II is splash and dust-proof, while the Digilux 3 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. A larger imaging sensor will tend to go along with bigger and heavier lenses, although exceptions exist. You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Four Thirds Lens Catalog (Digilux 3) and the Sony FE Lens Catalog (A7 II). Mirrorless cameras, such as the A7 II, have moreover the advantage that they can use many lenses from other systems via adapters, as they have a relatively short flange to focal plane distance.

The power pack in the A7 II can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

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Body Specifications
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Leica Digilux 3 146 mm 87 mm 77 mm 606 g 750 i Sep 2006 US$ 1 499ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A7 II 127 mm 96 mm 60 mm 599 g 350 i Nov 2014 US$ 1 999ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 30D 144 mm 106 mm 74 mm 785 g 750 i Feb 2006 US$ 1 399ebay.com
4.
 
Canon XT 127 mm 94 mm 64 mm 540 g 400 i Feb 2005 US$ 899ebay.com
5.
 
Leica M8 139 mm 80 mm 37 mm 591 g 550 i Sep 2006 US$ 5 499ebay.com
6.
 
Leica V-LUX 1 141 mm 86 mm 142 mm 734 g 360 i Sep 2006 US$ 849ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus E-30 142 mm 108 mm 75 mm 701 g 750 i Nov 2008 US$ 1 299ebay.com
8.
 
Olympus E-300 147 mm 85 mm 64 mm 624 g 750 i Sep 2004 US$ 799ebay.com
9.
 
Olympus E-330 140 mm 87 mm 72 mm 637 g 750 i Jan 2006 US$ 999ebay.com
10.
 
Olympus E-500 130 mm 95 mm 66 mm 479 g 750 i Sep 2005 US$ 599ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic L1 146 mm 87 mm 64 mm 606 g 750 i Feb 2006 US$ 999ebay.com
12.
 
Panasonic L10 135 mm 96 mm 78 mm 556 g 450 i Aug 2007 US$ 599ebay.com
13.
 
Sony A7 127 mm 94 mm 48 mm 474 g 340 i Oct 2013 US$ 1 699ebay.com
14.
 
Sony A7 III 127 mm 96 mm 74 mm 650 g 610 i Feb 2018 US$ 1 999 amazon.com
15.
 
Sony A7C 124 mm 71 mm 60 mm 509 g 740 i Sep 2020 US$ 1 799 amazon.com
16.
 
Sony A7R 127 mm 94 mm 48 mm 465 g 340 i Oct 2013 US$ 2 299ebay.com
17.
 
Sony A9 II 129 mm 96 mm 76 mm 678 g 690 i Oct 2019 US$ 4 499 amazon.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
  empty Camera
Model

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The Digilux 3 was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 25 percent) than the A7 II, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Leica Digilux 3 features a Four Thirds sensor and the Sony A7 II a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the A7 II is 280 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 2.0 and 1.0. The sensor in the Digilux 3 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the A7 II offers a 3:2 aspect.

Leica Digilux 3 and Sony A7 II sensor measures

With 24MP, the A7 II offers a higher resolution than the Digilux 3 (7.4MP), but the A7 II nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 5.97μm versus 5.51μm for the Digilux 3) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the A7 II is a much more recent model (by 8 years and 2 months) than the Digilux 3, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units.

The resolution advantage of the Sony A7 II implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the A7 II for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 30 x 20 inches or 76.2 x 50.8 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24 x 16 inches or 61 x 40.6 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20 x 13.3 inches or 50.8 x 33.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Leica Digilux 3 are 15.7 x 11.8 inches or 39.8 x 29.9 cm for good quality, 12.5 x 9.4 inches or 31.9 x 23.9 cm for very good quality, and 10.5 x 7.8 inches or 26.6 x 19.9 cm for excellent quality prints.

The A7 II has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Leica Digilux 3 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 1600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Alpha A7 II are ISO 100 to ISO 25600, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-51200.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

Digilux 3 versus A7 II MP

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
  empty Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Leica Digilux 3 Four Thirds 7.4 3136 2352i21.010.612753
2.
 
Sony A7 II Full Frame 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.913.6244990
3.
 
Canon 30D APS-C 8.2 3504 2336i21.510.873659
4.
 
Canon XT APS-C 8.0 3456 2304i21.810.863760
5.
 
Leica M8 APS-H 10.4 3936 2630i21.111.366359
6.
 
Leica V-LUX 1 1/1.8 10.0 3648 2736480/30p18.49.5-72729
7.
 
Olympus E-30 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024i21.310.453055
8.
 
Olympus E-300 Four Thirds 8.0 3264 2448i20.410.1-4048
9.
 
Olympus E-330 Four Thirds 7.4 3136 2352i20.810.47352
10.
 
Olympus E-500 Four Thirds 8.0 3264 2448i20.710.34551
11.
 
Panasonic L1 Four Thirds 7.4 3136 2352i20.810.48052
12.
 
Panasonic L10 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736i21.310.842955
13.
 
Sony A7 Full Frame 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.814.2224890
14.
 
Sony A7 III Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/30p25.014.7373096
15.
 
Sony A7C Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/30p25.014.7340795
16.
 
Sony A7R Full Frame 36.2 7360 49121080/60p25.614.1274695
17.
 
Sony A9 II Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/30p25.014.0343493
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
  empty Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
  empty Camera
Model

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The A7 II indeed provides for movie recording, while the Digilux 3 does not. The highest resolution format that the A7 II can use is 1080/60p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the A7 II has an electronic viewfinder (2400k dots), while the Digilux 3 has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The viewfinder in the A7 II offers a wider field of view (100%) than the one in the Digilux 3 (95%), so that a larger proportion of the captured image is visible in the finder. In addition, the viewfinder of the A7 II has a higher magnification (0.71x vs 0.47x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Leica Digilux 3 and Sony A7 II in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

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Core Features
  empty Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Leica Digilux 3optical i2.5 / 207 fixed i 1/4000s 3.0/s i i
2.
 
Sony A7 II2400 i3.0 / 1230 tilting i 1/8000s 5.0/s i i
3.
 
Canon 30Doptical i2.5 / 230 fixed i 1/8000s 5.0/s i i
4.
 
Canon XToptical i1.8 / 115 fixed i 1/4000s 3.0/s i i
5.
 
Leica M8optical i2.5 / 230 fixed i 1/8000s 2.0/s i i
6.
 
Leica V-LUX 1235 i2.0 / 207 tilting i 1/2000s 2.0/s i i
7.
 
Olympus E-30optical i2.7 / 230 swivel i 1/8000s 5.0/s i i
8.
 
Olympus E-300optical i1.8 / 134 fixed i 1/4000s 2.5/s i i
9.
 
Olympus E-330optical i2.5 / 215 tilting i 1/4000s 3.0/s i i
10.
 
Olympus E-500optical i2.5 / 215 fixed i 1/4000s 2.5/s i i
11.
 
Panasonic L1optical i2.5 / 207 fixed i 1/4000s 3.0/s i i
12.
 
Panasonic L10optical i2.5 / 207 swivel i 1/4000s 3.0/s i i
13.
 
Sony A72400 i3.0 / 1230 tilting i 1/8000s 5.0/s i i
14.
 
Sony A7 III2359 i3.0 / 922 tilting i 1/8000s 10.0/s i i
15.
 
Sony A7C2360 i3.0 / 922 swivel i 1/4000s 10.0/s i i
16.
 
Sony A7R2400 i3.0 / 1230 tilting i 1/8000s 4.0/s i i
17.
 
Sony A9 II3686 i3.0 / 1440 tilting i 1/8000s 20.0/s i i
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
  empty Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
  empty Camera
Model

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The Digilux 3 has one, while the A7 II does not. While the built-in flash of the Digilux 3 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The Digilux 3 writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the A7 II uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. The A7 II supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the Digilux 3 cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Leica Digilux 3 and Sony Alpha A7 II and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
  empty Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Leica Digilux 3istereo / monoiii2.0iii
2.
 
Sony A7 IIistereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
3.
 
Canon 30Dii / iiii2.0iii
4.
 
Canon XTii / iiii2.0iii
5.
 
Leica M8ii / iiii2.0iii
6.
 
Leica V-LUX 1imono / monoiii2.0iii
7.
 
Olympus E-30ii / iiii2.0iii
8.
 
Olympus E-300ii / iiii2.0iii
9.
 
Olympus E-330ii / iiii2.0iii
10.
 
Olympus E-500ii / iiii2.0iii
11.
 
Panasonic L1ii / iiii2.0iii
12.
 
Panasonic L10ii / iiii2.0iii
13.
 
Sony A7istereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
14.
 
Sony A7 IIIistereo / monoiimicro3.1iii
15.
 
Sony A7Cistereo / monoiimicro3.2iii
16.
 
Sony A7Ristereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
17.
 
Sony A9 IIistereo / monoiimicro3.1iii
  empty Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
  empty Camera
Model

It is notable that the A7 II offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the Digilux 3 does not provide wifi capability.

Both the Digilux 3 and the A7 II have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The A7 II was replaced by the Sony A7 III, while the Digilux 3 does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the Digilux 3 and A7 II can be found, respectively, in the Leica Digilux 3 Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony A7 II Manual.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Is the Leica Digilux 3 better than the Sony A7 II or vice versa? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

ilogo

Reasons to prefer the Leica Digilux 3:

  • Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
  • Longer lasting: Can take more shots (750 versus 350) on a single battery charge.
  • Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
  • More prestigious: Has the Leica luxury appeal, which ensures a high resale price.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced segment (25 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in September 2006).

ilogo

Advantages of the Sony Alpha A7 II:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (24 vs 7.4MP), which boosts linear resolution by 84%.
  • Better image quality: Is equipped with a larger and more technologically advanced sensor.
  • Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
  • More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
  • Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
  • Broader imaging potential: Can capture not only stills but also 1080/60p video.
  • Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
  • More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
  • More complete view: Has a viewfinder with a larger field of view (100% vs 95%).
  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.71x vs 0.47x).
  • Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.0" vs 2.5") for image review and settings control.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1230k vs 207k dots).
  • More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
  • Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (5 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
  • Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
  • Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
  • More legacy lens friendly: Can use many non-native lenses via adapters.
  • Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
  • Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
  • Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.
  • More modern: Reflects 8 years and 2 months of technical progress since the Digilux 3 launch.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the A7 II is the clear winner of the contest (23 : 6 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

Digilux 3 06:23 A7 II

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Leica Digilux 3 and the Sony A7 II place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the Digilux 3 and the A7 II in practical situations. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Leica Digilux 3............ Sep 2006 US$ 1 499ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A7 II5/5+4/582/1004.5/55/5 Nov 2014 US$ 1 999ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 30D..+ +..+ +o.. Feb 2006 US$ 1 399ebay.com
4.
 
Canon XT..80/100..+ +o.. Feb 2005 US$ 899ebay.com
5.
 
Leica M8......+ +.... Sep 2006 US$ 5 499ebay.com
6.
 
Leica V-LUX 1............ Sep 2006 US$ 849ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus E-30......71/1004.5/54/5 Nov 2008 US$ 1 299ebay.com
8.
 
Olympus E-300......+o4.5/5 Sep 2004 US$ 799ebay.com
9.
 
Olympus E-330......+o.. Jan 2006 US$ 999ebay.com
10.
 
Olympus E-500..76/100..+ +.... Sep 2005 US$ 599ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic L1..85/100..+..3.5/5 Feb 2006 US$ 999ebay.com
12.
 
Panasonic L10..85/100..+3.5/54/5 Aug 2007 US$ 599ebay.com
13.
 
Sony A75/5+ +..80/1005/55/5 Oct 2013 US$ 1 699ebay.com
14.
 
Sony A7 III..+ +4.5/589/1005/55/5 Feb 2018 US$ 1 999 amazon.com
15.
 
Sony A7C3.5/5..3.5/586/1004/54/5 Sep 2020 US$ 1 799 amazon.com
16.
 
Sony A7R5/5+ +..82/1004.5/55/5 Oct 2013 US$ 2 299ebay.com
17.
 
Sony A9 II....5/590/1005/55/5 Oct 2019 US$ 4 499 amazon.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
  empty  Camera 
 Model 

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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Specifications: Leica Digilux 3 vs Sony A7 II

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

Camera Specifications
Camera Model Leica Digilux 3 Sony A7 II
Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Mirrorless system camera
Camera Lens Four Thirds lenses Sony E mount lenses
Launch Date September 2006 November 2014
Launch Price USD 1,499 USD 1,999
Sensor Specs Leica Digilux 3 Sony A7 II
Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
Sensor Format Four Thirds Sensor Full Frame Sensor
Sensor Size 17.3 x 13.0 mm 35.8 x 23.9 mm
Sensor Area 224.9 mm2 855.62 mm2
Sensor Diagonal 21.6 mm 43 mm
Crop Factor 2.0x 1.0x
Sensor Resolution 7.4 Megapixels 24 Megapixels
Image Resolution 3136 x 2352 pixels 6000 x 4000 pixels
Pixel Pitch 5.51 μm 5.97 μm
Pixel Density 3.28 MP/cm2 2.80 MP/cm2
Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
Movie Capability no Video 1080/60p Video
ISO Setting 100 - 1,600 ISO 100 - 25,600 ISO
ISO Boost no Enhancement 50 - 51,200 ISO
DXO Sensor Quality (score) .. 90
DXO Color Depth (bits) .. 24.9
DXO Dynamic Range (EV) .. 13.6
DXO Low Light (ISO) .. 2449
Screen Specs Leica Digilux 3 Sony A7 II
Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Field of View 95% 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.47x 0.71x
Viewfinder Resolution 2400k dots
LCD Framing Live View Live View
Rear LCD Size 2.5inch 3.0inch
LCD Resolution 207k dots 1230k dots
LCD Attachment Fixed screen Tilting screen
Shooting Specs Leica Digilux 3 Sony A7 II
Focus System Phase-detect AF On-Sensor Phase-detect
Manual Focusing Aidno Peaking FeatureFocus Peaking
Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous Shooting 3 shutter flaps/s 5 shutter flaps/s
Image StabilizationLens stabilization onlyIn-body stabilization
Fill Flash Built-in Flash no On-Board Flash
Storage Medium SDXC cards MS or SDXC cards
Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
UHS card support no UHS-I
Connectivity Specs Leica Digilux 3 Sony A7 II
External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
HDMI Port no HDMI micro HDMI
Microphone Port no MIC socket External MIC port
Headphone Socket no Headphone port Headphone port
Wifi Support no Wifi Wifi built-in
Near-Field Communication no NFC NFC built-in
Body Specs Leica Digilux 3 Sony A7 II
Environmental Sealingnot weather sealedWeathersealed body
Battery Type Leica BP-DC3 Sony NP-FW50
Battery Life (CIPA)750 shots per charge350 shots per charge
In-Camera Charging no USB charging USB charging
Body Dimensions 146 x 87 x 77 mm
(5.7 x 3.4 x 3.0 in)
127 x 96 x 60 mm
(5.0 x 3.8 x 2.4 in)
Camera Weight 606 g (21.4 oz) 599 g (21.1 oz)
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