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Leica

M6

Reissued mechanical M rangefinder for 35mm film — the classic Leica experience returns.

$5,695

Launch price

Released Oct 2022

vs
Alpha 1 II

Sony

Alpha 1 II

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

$6,499

Launch price

Released Nov 2024

Alpha 1 II is 2.1 years newer.

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Wins

3categories

M6

VloggingPortrait

Wins

12categories

Alpha 1 II

Sports & ActionVideo & Hybrid

3 categories tied

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

M6 wins 0 categories·Alpha 1 II wins 5 categories
  • BAlpha 1 II has higher Resolution (50.1 MP vs 0 MP)
  • 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 Burst (electronic) (30 fps vs 15 fps)

Key specs at a glance

M6Alpha 1 II
SensorFull FrameFull Frame
ISO max25,60032,000
Burst15 fps30 fps
4K60 fps120 fps
IBIS6-stop8.5-stop
Weight598 g743 g
Battery640 shots520 shots
Resolution50.1 MP

Size and weight, to scale

M6

139 × 79 × 38 mm

598 g (1.32 lb / 21.09 oz)

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

for scale

Alpha 1 II front view

Alpha 1 II

136 × 97 × 83 mm

743 g (1.64 lb / 26.21 oz)

M6 is 18mm shorter and 45mm thinner than Alpha 1 II but it is also 3mm wider.

M6 is 145 g lighter than Alpha 1 II.

Depth (front-to-back): 38mm M6 · 83mm Alpha 1 II

Sensor size, to scale

M6

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

M6: mount data unavailable

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 caseM6Alpha 1 II
Portrait
6.5Good
8.5Excellent✓ wins
Sports & Action
5.5Fair
10.0Excellent✓ wins
Video & Hybrid
6.0Good
9.5Excellent✓ wins
Landscape
4.0Fair
9.0Excellent✓ wins
Travel
6.0Good
6.0Good
Wildlife
6.5Good
9.5Excellent✓ wins
Vlogging
7.0Good✓ wins
5.5Fair

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose

M6

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 138.6, 79.3, 38.25

  • Subject recognition

    Adds Vehicle

  • Weight

    598 g vs 743 g — lower is better

  • 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

  • Resolution

    50.1 MP vs 0 MP — higher is better

  • 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

  • Subject recognition

    Adds Insect, Car/Train, Airplane

Both cameras share

  • AA filterBoth support aa filter
  • 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

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

M6

Pros

  • Mechanical film M
  • Iconic design
  • Built to last
  • Pure analog workflow

Cons

  • Film only
  • Manual everything
  • Ongoing film/processing costs

Alpha 1 II

Pros

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

Cons

  • Very expensive
  • Complex menus
  • Large files

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the M6 and Alpha 1 II at major authorized retailers.

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Full specifications

= category winner

M6
Alpha 1 II
Resolution
0 MP
50.1 MP
Sensor type
Film (35mm)
Full Frame Stacked Exmor RS CMOS
Sensor size
36.0 × 24.0 mm
35.9 × 24.0 mm
AA filter
Yes
Yes
M6
Alpha 1 II
Processor
Maestro IV
BIONZ XR + AI processing unit
M6
Alpha 1 II
ISO min (native)
100
100
ISO max (native)
25,600
32,000+0.3 stops
ISO max (expanded)
102,400
102,400
M6
Alpha 1 II
Shutter type
Mechanical + Electronic
Mechanical + Electronic
Max mechanical speed
1/8000 sec
1/8000 sec
Max electronic speed
1/16000 sec
1/32000 sec

Frequently asked

Quick answers generated from verified specs.

Which is better for landscape, M6 or Alpha 1 II?

Alpha 1 II scores 9.0/10 versus 4.0/10 for M6 — 50.1MP — massive detail for large prints.

What's the resolution difference between the M6 and Alpha 1 II?

M6 is 0 MP and Alpha 1 II is 50.1 MP, so the Alpha 1 II captures more detail for cropping and large prints.

Do the M6 and Alpha 1 II have in-body image stabilization?

M6 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization, while Alpha 1 II has 8.5-stop in-body image stabilization.

Which shoots faster bursts — the M6 or the Alpha 1 II?

M6 reaches 15 fps electronic. Alpha 1 II reaches 30 fps electronic.

What's the weight difference between the M6 and Alpha 1 II?

M6 weighs 598 g and Alpha 1 II weighs 743 g, so the M6 is 145 g lighter.

Do the M6 and Alpha 1 II record 4K video?

M6: 4K up to 60p. Alpha 1 II: 8K (max), 4K up to 120p.

Are the M6 and Alpha 1 II weather sealed?

M6: No. Alpha 1 II: Yes.

Which has better battery life?

Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the M6 and 520 shots for the Alpha 1 II, giving the M6 the edge.

How much does each cost?

M6 launched at $5,695 and Alpha 1 II at $6,499. The M6 is $804 less.

Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.

Add any camera to get a three-way M6 vs Alpha 1 II vs X comparison.

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

Product images courtesy of Leica and Sony press materials.