Leica
M11 Monochrom
Black-and-white-only Leica M with 60MP monochrome full-frame sensor, ISO 125-200000, and 256GB internal memory.
$9,195
Released Apr 2023
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 1.6 years newer.
Wins
M11 Monochrom
Wins
Alpha 1 II
1 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- BAlpha 1 II has higher AF points / zones (759 vs 0)
- BAlpha 1 II has higher IBIS effectiveness (8.5 stops vs 0 stops)
- BAlpha 1 II has higher RAW buffer depth (200 frames vs 15 frames)
- BAlpha 1 II has higher Burst (electronic) (30 fps vs 4.5 fps)
- AM11 Monochrom has higher ISO max (native) (200,000 vs 32,000)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
M11 Monochrom
139 × 80 × 39 mm
542 g (1.19 lb / 19.12 oz)
Alpha 1 II
136 × 97 × 83 mm
743 g (1.64 lb / 26.21 oz)
M11 Monochrom is 17mm shorter and 44mm thinner than Alpha 1 II but it is also 3mm wider.
M11 Monochrom is 201 g lighter than Alpha 1 II.
Depth (front-to-back): 39mm M11 Monochrom · 83mm Alpha 1 II
Sensor size, to scale
M11 Monochrom
36 × 24 mm · Full Frame
864 mm² area
Alpha 1 II
35.9 × 24 mm · Full Frame
862 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
M11 Monochrom: mount data unavailable
Alpha 1 II
✓ more lensesSony E
350+
native lenses available
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
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
M11 Monochrom
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 139, 80, 38.5
ISO max (native)
200,000 vs 32,000 — higher is better
Weight
542 g vs 743 g — lower is better
Battery life (CIPA)
700 shots vs 520 shots — higher is better
Resolution
60.3 MP vs 50.1 MP — higher is better
Reasons to choose
Alpha 1 II
AF points / zones
759 vs 0 — higher is better
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird…
Codecs
Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I…
IBIS effectiveness
8.5 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 136.1, 96.9, 82.9
RAW buffer depth
200 frames vs 15 frames — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
30 fps vs 4.5 fps — higher is better
Burst (mechanical)
10 fps vs 4.5 fps — higher is better
Both cameras share
- ✓Max video bit rate — Both 150 Mbps
- ✓Touchscreen — Both support touchscreen
- ✓Wi-Fi — Both support wi-fi
- ✓Bluetooth — Both support bluetooth
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
M11 Monochrom
Pros
- ✓60MP monochrome sensor
- ✓ISO up to 200000
- ✓256GB internal memory
- ✓Pure black-and-white files
Cons
- –Monochrome only
- –Manual focus only
- –No video
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
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for sports, M11 Monochrom or Alpha 1 II?
Alpha 1 II scores 9.0/10 versus 0.5/10 for M11 Monochrom — 30fps burst — pro-level action capture.
What's the resolution difference between the M11 Monochrom and Alpha 1 II?
M11 Monochrom is 60.3 MP and Alpha 1 II is 50.1 MP, so the M11 Monochrom captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the M11 Monochrom and Alpha 1 II have in-body image stabilization?
M11 Monochrom does not have IBIS, while alpha 1 II has 8.5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the M11 Monochrom or the Alpha 1 II?
M11 Monochrom reaches 4.5 fps electronic. Alpha 1 II reaches 30 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the M11 Monochrom and Alpha 1 II?
M11 Monochrom weighs 542 g and Alpha 1 II weighs 743 g, so the M11 Monochrom is 201 g lighter.
Do the M11 Monochrom and Alpha 1 II record 4K video?
M11 Monochrom: 4K up to 60p. Alpha 1 II: 8K (max), 4K up to 120p.
Are the M11 Monochrom and Alpha 1 II weather sealed?
M11 Monochrom: No. Alpha 1 II: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 700 shots (CIPA) for the M11 Monochrom and 520 shots for the Alpha 1 II, giving the M11 Monochrom the edge.
How much does each cost?
M11 Monochrom launched at $9,195 and Alpha 1 II at $6,499. The Alpha 1 II is $2,696 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Leica and Sony press materials.