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Leica

CL

Compact APS-C L-mount rangefinder-style body.

$2,795

Released Nov 2017

vs
Alpha 1 II

Sony

Alpha 1 II

50MP stacked flagship with 30fps RAW, 8K video, and Sony's fastest hybrid performance.

$6,499

Released Nov 2024

Alpha 1 II is 7 years newer.

Wins

3categories

CL

WildlifeTravel

Wins

12categories

Alpha 1 II

Video & HybridWildlife

3 categories tied

TL;DR — Key differences

CL wins 0 categories·Alpha 1 II wins 5 categories
  • BAlpha 1 II has higher AF points / zones (759 vs 49)
  • BAlpha 1 II has higher EVF resolution (9,437,184 vs 2,360,000)
  • BAlpha 1 II has higher RAW buffer depth (200 frames vs 60 frames)
  • BAlpha 1 II has higher Resolution (50.1 MP vs 24.2 MP)
  • BAlpha 1 II has higher Burst (electronic) (30 fps vs 15 fps)

Key specs at a glance

CLAlpha 1 II
Resolution24.2 MP50.1 MP
SensorAPS-CFull Frame
ISO max25,60032,000
Burst15 fps30 fps
4K60 fps120 fps
IBIS6-stop8.5-stop
Weight520 g743 g
Battery640 shots520 shots

Size and weight, to scale

CL

138 × 98 × 88 mm

520 g (1.15 lb / 18.34 oz)

Alpha 1 II front view

Alpha 1 II

136 × 97 × 83 mm

743 g (1.64 lb / 26.21 oz)

CL is 2mm wider, 1mm taller, and 5mm thicker than Alpha 1 II.

CL is 223 g lighter than Alpha 1 II.

Depth (front-to-back): 88mm CL · 83mm Alpha 1 II

Sensor size, to scale

CL

23.5 × 15.6 mm · APS-C

367 mm² area

Alpha 1 II

35.9 × 24 mm · Full Frame

862 mm² area

2.3× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.

Lens ecosystem

Native lens selection

CL

Leica L

80+

native lenses available

30 first-party50 third-party

Alpha 1 II

✓ more lenses

Sony E

350+

native lenses available

80 first-party270 third-party

Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use caseCLAlpha 1 II
Portrait
6.5Good
8.5Excellent✓ wins
Sports & Action
6.0Good
9.0Excellent✓ wins
Video & Hybrid
6.0Good
9.5Excellent✓ wins
Landscape
5.0Fair
9.0Excellent✓ wins
Travel
8.5Excellent✓ wins
6.0Good
Wildlife
9.0Excellent
9.5Excellent✓ wins
Vlogging
7.0Good✓ wins
5.5Fair

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose

CL

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 138, 98, 88

  • Weight

    520 g vs 743 g — lower is better

  • Subject recognition

    Adds Vehicle

  • Battery life (CIPA)

    640 shots vs 520 shots — higher is better

  • AF frame coverage

    100 % vs 94 % — higher is better

Reasons to choose

Alpha 1 II

  • AF low-light limit

    -4 EV vs -3 EV — lower is better

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 136.1, 96.9, 82.9

  • AF points / zones

    759 vs 49 — higher is better

  • EVF resolution

    9,437,184 vs 2,360,000 — higher is better

  • RAW buffer depth

    200 frames vs 60 frames — higher is better

  • Codecs

    Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I

  • Resolution

    50.1 MP vs 24.2 MP — higher is better

  • AA filter

    Only Alpha 1 II supports it

Both cameras share

  • ISO min (native)Both 100
  • Eye AFBoth support eye af
  • Animal / bird AFBoth support animal / bird af
  • Pre-Capture / Pre-ReleaseBoth support pre-capture / pre-release
  • Max video bit rateBoth 150 Mbps
  • In-body stabilizationBoth support in-body stabilization

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

CL

Pros

  • Beautiful design
  • Compact
  • L-mount

Cons

  • Older
  • 24MP APS-C
  • Limited lens selection

Alpha 1 II

Pros

  • 50MP stacked sensor
  • 30fps blackout-free burst
  • 8K 30p video
  • Best Sony AF

Cons

  • Very expensive
  • Complex menus
  • Large files

Full specifications

= category winner

CL
Alpha 1 II
Resolution
24.2 MP
50.1 MP2.1× more
Sensor type
APS-C CMOS
Full Frame Stacked Exmor RS CMOS
Sensor size
23.5 × 15.6 mm
35.9 × 24.0 mm
AA filter
No
Yes
CL
Alpha 1 II
AF system
Contrast-detect AF
Fast Hybrid AF (phase-detection / contrast-detection)
AF points / zones
49
75915.5× more
AF frame coverage
100 %+6%
94 %
AF low-light limit
-3 EV
-4 EV
Eye AF
Yes
Yes
Animal / bird AF
Yes
Yes
Subject recognition
Human, Animal, Bird, Vehicle
Human, Animal, Bird, Insect, Car/Train, Airplane
CL
Alpha 1 II
Burst (mechanical)
6 fps
10 fps+67%
Burst (electronic)
15 fps
30 fps2× more
Pre-Capture / Pre-Release
Yes
Yes
RAW buffer depth
60 frames
200 frames3.3× more
CL
Alpha 1 II
Max resolution
4K UHD
8K
4K max frame rate
60 fps
120 fps2× more
Max video bit rate
150 Mbps
150 Mbps
Internal RAW video
No
Yes
Log profile
Standard profiles
S-Log3 / HLG / S-Cinetone
Codecs
H.265, H.264
XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I, H.265, H.264
CL
Alpha 1 II
Weight
520 g−223 g less
743 g
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
138 × 98 × 88 mm
136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
Yes

Frequently asked

Quick answers generated from verified specs.

Which is better for landscape, CL or Alpha 1 II?

Alpha 1 II scores 9.0/10 versus 5.0/10 for CL — 50.1MP — massive detail for large prints.

What's the resolution difference between the CL and Alpha 1 II?

CL is 24.2 MP and Alpha 1 II is 50.1 MP, so the Alpha 1 II captures more detail for cropping and large prints.

Do the CL and Alpha 1 II have in-body image stabilization?

CL has 6-stop in-body image stabilization, while alpha 1 II has 8.5-stop in-body image stabilization.

Which shoots faster bursts — the CL or the Alpha 1 II?

CL reaches 15 fps electronic. Alpha 1 II reaches 30 fps electronic.

What's the weight difference between the CL and Alpha 1 II?

CL weighs 520 g and Alpha 1 II weighs 743 g, so the CL is 223 g lighter.

Do the CL and Alpha 1 II record 4K video?

CL: 4K up to 60p. Alpha 1 II: 8K (max), 4K up to 120p.

Are the CL and Alpha 1 II weather sealed?

CL: Yes. Alpha 1 II: Yes.

Which has better battery life?

Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the CL and 520 shots for the Alpha 1 II, giving the CL the edge.

How much does each cost?

CL launched at $2,795 and Alpha 1 II at $6,499. The CL is $3,704 less.

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.

Product images courtesy of Leica and Sony press materials.