Reasons to choose M Monochrom (Typ 246)
Released in 2015, M Monochrom (Typ 246) has about 856 mm² of sensor area, 24 MP effective resolution, and a 680 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.
Side-by-side comparison
Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246)
vs Leica SL (Typ 601)
VS
Sensor area
856 mm²
M Monochrom (Typ 246)864 mm²
SL (Typ 601)- Area ratio
- 1.01:1
- Absolute difference
- 8 mm²
- Relative difference
- 1%
The SL (Typ 601) has the larger sensor area. More area usually means greater light-gathering potential, though real image quality still depends on sensor architecture and generation.
Key specification differences
M Monochrom (Typ 246)MetricSL (Typ 601)
24 MPEffective pixels24 MP
35.8 × 23.9Sensor36 × 24
5.97 µmPixel pitch6 µm
35.65 µm²Pixel area36 µm²
2.8 MP/cm²Pixel density2.78 MP/cm²
1.01Crop factor1
1,920 × 1,080Maximum video4,096 × 2,160
680 gWeight847 g
SD/SDHC/SDXCStorageSD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II support)
Lithium-ion battery BP-SCL2 Li-ion batteryBatteryProprietary lithium-ion battery Li-ion battery
Amber marks the value that is generally preferable in this comparison context. It is not an overall camera score.
How to choose between these cameras
The SL (Typ 601) has the larger sensor area. The M Monochrom (Typ 246) has the lighter body. The M Monochrom (Typ 246) and SL (Typ 601) have the same effective resolution. The M Monochrom (Typ 246) and SL (Typ 601) were both released in 2015. Also consider the lens system and subjects you shoot.
Reasons to choose SL (Typ 601)
Released in 2015, SL (Typ 601) has about 864 mm² of sensor area, 24 MP effective resolution, and a 847 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.