Sony A58 vs Leica SL (Typ 601)

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Sony A58 vs Leica SL (Typ 601)

APS-C 366.6mm²
20.1 megapixels
ISO 100 - 16,000

Go in depth with our full Sony A58 Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A58 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A58.
Compare Sony A58 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A58 conclusion.

35mm 864.0mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 50 - 50,000

Go in depth with our full Leica SL (Typ 601) Review.
How does it shoot? Leica SL (Typ 601) in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the SL (Typ 601).
What’s the bottom line? Read our Leica SL (Typ 601) conclusion.

Succeeded by the Sony A68
Compare A58 vs A68

Succeeded by the Leica SL2
Compare SL (Typ 601) vs SL2

Compare SONY A68 vs LEICA SL2

Buy From

Differences

Sony A58 advantages over Leica SL (Typ 601)

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

700 vs 400 shots
Capture more photos
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos

Leica SL (Typ 601) advantages over Sony A58

Larger sensor
35mm vs APS-C
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 6.00 vs 4.31 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Shoot 4K video
4K (DCI) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Fast startup
~1.10 vs 1.9 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
SL (Typ 601) test data on DxO Mark A58 test data on DxO Mark

1,821 vs 753 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Built-in GPS
GPS vs None
Geotag your photos
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Thinner
39 mm vs 77 mm
Thinner
Higher max flash sync
1/250 vs 1/160 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
More dots on screen
1040k vs 461k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
More viewfinder magnification
0.80x vs 0.57x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
24.2 vs 20.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster JPEG shooting
10.6 fps vs 4.9 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 8 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
10.5 fps vs 4.8 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
33 vs 6 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/16000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
50000 vs 16000 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Focus peaking
Both provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A58 User Reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony A58

Kit with 18-55mm Lens

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Leica SL (Typ 601)

Body Only

All SL (Typ 601) Deals

Review Excerpt

Improved 20.1-megapixel resolution; Impressive image quality, especially for its price; Fast and decisive autofocus (in most conditions); Very good battery life; Good video quality (Full HD 1080p, though it doesn't support 60p frame rate).
Plastic lens mount; Slower burst mode speeds and shallower buffer than A57; LCD no longer fully articulating; Mediocre kit lens; Electronic instead of an optical viewfinder may be a turnoff for some.
Read our Sony A58 Review

Superb build quality; Amazing EVF; Great image quality from RAW files; Good high ISO performance; Very good dynamic range; Very low shutter lag; Fast AF on stationary objects; Class-leading ~11 fps burst mode; 4K DCI and UHD video; Full HD up to 120p. Built-in Wi-Fi and GPS; Dual card slots; Decent battery life for its class.
Big for a full-frame mirrorless camera; Very slow buffer clearing; Contrast-detect AF system struggles with moving subjects; In-camera JPEGs are muted and dull; Very limited native lens selection (but supports many other Leica lenses via adapters); Expensive.
Read our Leica SL (Typ 601) Review

The Competition

Compared to Pentax K-5 IIs

Sony A58

Pentax K-5 IIs

$598
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

$497
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Sony A58 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Leica SL (Typ 601)

Pentax K-5 IIs

$3802
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$497
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Fast startup

Compare Leica SL (Typ 601) vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Compared to Nikon D5200

Sony A58

Nikon D5200

$598
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$500
APS-C

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony A58 vs Nikon D5200

Leica SL (Typ 601)

Nikon D5200

$3802
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$500
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Leica SL (Typ 601) vs Nikon D5200

Compared to Canon T5i

Sony A58

Canon T5i

$598
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$539
APS-C

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony A58 vs Canon T5i

Leica SL (Typ 601)

Canon T5i

$3802
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$539
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Leica SL (Typ 601) vs Canon T5i

Compared to Leica M-D (Typ 262)

Sony A58

Leica M-D (Typ 262)

$598
APS-C

Rear display
Lens selection

$5995
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony A58 vs Leica M-D (Typ 262)

Leica SL (Typ 601)

Leica M-D (Typ 262)

$3802
35mm

Rear display
Focus peaking

$5995
35mm

Compare Leica SL (Typ 601) vs Leica M-D (Typ 262)

Compared to Sony A9

Sony A58

Sony A9

$598
APS-C

In-camera panoramas
Internal flash

$3147
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony A58 vs Sony A9

Leica SL (Typ 601)

Sony A9

$3802
35mm

Built-in GPS
Top deck display

$3147
35mm

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Leica SL (Typ 601) vs Sony A9

Compare Other Cameras?