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Leica

Q2 Monochrom

Monochrome-only Q2 with 47MP sensor and fixed Summilux 28mm f/1.7 for black-and-white purists.

$5,995

Launch price

Released Nov 2020

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 4 years newer.

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Wins

3categories

Q2 Monochrom

WildlifePortrait

Wins

9categories

Alpha 1 II

Sports & ActionVideo & Hybrid

3 categories tied

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

Q2 Monochrom 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 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 60 fps)
  • BAlpha 1 II has higher RAW buffer depth (200 frames vs 120 frames)
  • BAlpha 1 II has higher Burst (electronic) (30 fps vs 20 fps)
  • BAlpha 1 II has higher ISO max (native) (32,000 vs 25,600)

Key specs at a glance

Q2 MonochromAlpha 1 II
Resolution47.3 MP50.1 MP
SensorFull FrameFull Frame
ISO max25,60032,000
Burst20 fps30 fps
4K60 fps120 fps
IBIS7-stop8.5-stop
Weight718 g743 g
Battery640 shots520 shots

Size and weight, to scale

Q2 Monochrom

130 × 80 × 92 mm

718 g (1.58 lb / 25.33 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)

Q2 Monochrom is 6mm narrower and 17mm shorter than Alpha 1 II but it is also 9mm thicker.

Q2 Monochrom is 25 g lighter than Alpha 1 II.

Depth (front-to-back): 92mm Q2 Monochrom · 83mm Alpha 1 II

Sensor size, to scale

Q2 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

Q2 Monochrom: 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 caseQ2 MonochromAlpha 1 II
Portrait
8.5Excellent
8.5Excellent
Sports & Action
6.5Good
10.0Excellent✓ wins
Video & Hybrid
6.0Good
9.5Excellent✓ wins
Landscape
8.5Excellent
9.0Excellent✓ wins
Travel
6.5Good✓ wins
6.0Good
Wildlife
9.0Excellent
9.5Excellent✓ wins
Vlogging
5.5Fair
5.5Fair

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose

Q2 Monochrom

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 130, 80, 92

  • Subject recognition

    Adds Vehicle

  • Battery life (CIPA)

    640 shots vs 520 shots — higher is better

  • AF frame coverage

    100 % vs 94 % — higher is better

  • Weight

    718 g vs 743 g — lower 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

  • Codecs

    Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I

  • AA filter

    Only Alpha 1 II supports it

  • Subject recognition

    Adds Insect, Car/Train, Airplane

  • 4K max frame rate

    120 fps vs 60 fps — higher is better

  • Internal RAW video

    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 stabilization (IBIS)Both support in-body stabilization (ibis)

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

Q2 Monochrom

Pros

  • 47MP monochrome
  • Summilux 28mm f/1.7
  • Weather sealed
  • Unique B&W compact

Cons

  • Monochrome only
  • Fixed lens
  • Very niche

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 Q2 Monochrom and Alpha 1 II at major authorized retailers.

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Full specifications

= category winner

Q2 Monochrom
Alpha 1 II
Resolution
47.3 MP
50.1 MP+6%
Sensor type
Monochrome Full Frame CMOS
Full Frame Stacked Exmor RS CMOS
Sensor size
36.0 × 24.0 mm
35.9 × 24.0 mm
AA filter
No
Yes
Q2 Monochrom
Alpha 1 II
Processor
Maestro IV
BIONZ XR + AI processing unit
Q2 Monochrom
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
Q2 Monochrom
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 sports, Q2 Monochrom or Alpha 1 II?

Alpha 1 II scores 10.0/10 versus 6.5/10 for Q2 Monochrom — 30fps burst — pro-level action capture.

What's the resolution difference between the Q2 Monochrom and Alpha 1 II?

Q2 Monochrom is 47.3 MP and Alpha 1 II is 50.1 MP, so the Alpha 1 II captures more detail for cropping and large prints.

Do the Q2 Monochrom and Alpha 1 II have in-body image stabilization?

Q2 Monochrom has 7-stop in-body image stabilization, while Alpha 1 II has 8.5-stop in-body image stabilization.

Which shoots faster bursts — the Q2 Monochrom or the Alpha 1 II?

Q2 Monochrom reaches 20 fps electronic. Alpha 1 II reaches 30 fps electronic.

What's the weight difference between the Q2 Monochrom and Alpha 1 II?

Q2 Monochrom weighs 718 g and Alpha 1 II weighs 743 g, so the Q2 Monochrom is 25 g lighter.

Do the Q2 Monochrom and Alpha 1 II record 4K video?

Q2 Monochrom: 4K up to 60p. Alpha 1 II: 8K (max), 4K up to 120p.

Are the Q2 Monochrom and Alpha 1 II weather sealed?

Q2 Monochrom: Yes. Alpha 1 II: Yes.

Which has better battery life?

Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the Q2 Monochrom and 520 shots for the Alpha 1 II, giving the Q2 Monochrom the edge.

How much does each cost?

Q2 Monochrom launched at $5,995 and Alpha 1 II at $6,499. The Q2 Monochrom is $504 less.

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

Add any camera to get a three-way Q2 Monochrom 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.