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Leica M-E Typ 220 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
79
Imaging
65
Features
28
Overall
50
Leica M-E Typ 220 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Leica M-E Typ 220 vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Leica M-E Typ 220
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 2500
  • No Video
  • Leica M Mount
  • 585g - 139 x 80 x 37mm
  • Released September 2012
Sony NEX-3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 297g - 117 x 62 x 33mm
  • Announced June 2010
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-C3
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Leica M-E Typ 220 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

In this article, we are contrasting the Leica M-E Typ 220 and Sony NEX-3, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Leica and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the M-E Typ 220 (18MP) and NEX-3 (14MP) and the M-E Typ 220 (Full frame) and NEX-3 (APS-C) use totally different sensor sizing.

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The M-E Typ 220 was released 2 years after the NEX-3 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting through a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the M-E Typ 220 grades against the NEX-3 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Leica M-E Typ 220 over the Sony NEX-3

 M-E Typ 220 NEX-3 
AnnouncedSeptember 2012June 2010Newer by 28 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Leica M-E Typ 220

 NEX-3 M-E Typ 220 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Leica M-E Typ 220 and Sony NEX-3

 M-E Typ 220 NEX-3 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Leica M-E Typ 220 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you will need to factor in its weight and volume. The Leica M-E Typ 220 comes with external dimensions of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") with a weight of 585 grams (1.29 lbs) and the Sony NEX-3 has sizing of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Take a look at the Leica M-E Typ 220 and Sony NEX-3 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the M-E Typ 220 compared to the NEX-3.

Leica M-E Typ 220 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the M-E Typ 220 and NEX-3 is 79 and 89 respectively.

Leica M-E Typ 220 vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Leica M-E Typ 220 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to envision the difference in sensor dimensions just by going through a spec sheet. The image below should provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the M-E Typ 220 and NEX-3.

As you can see, the 2 cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The M-E Typ 220 featuring a larger sensor will make getting shallower DOF easier and the Leica M-E Typ 220 will show greater detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop images a little more aggressively. The younger M-E Typ 220 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Leica M-E Typ 220 vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Leica M-E Typ 220 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica M-E Typ 220 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica M-E Typ 220 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Portrait photography camera
71
focusing manually
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
exports RAW files
does not have liveview
72
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Leica M-E Typ 220
Street photography with Sony NEX-3
65
sensor size is large (Full frame)
exports RAW files
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
76
tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Leica M-E Typ 220
Sports photography with Sony NEX-3
46
MP count decent (18MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
does not have liveview
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
lacks phase detect auto focus
52
megapixel count decent (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
no image stabilization
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Leica M-E Typ 220 Travel photography information
Sony NEX-3 Travel photography information
57
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse function
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
59
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Leica M-E Typ 220 Landscape photography highlights
Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography highlights
61
focusing manually
change lenses (Leica M mount)
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
exports RAW files
small screen (2.5 inches)
does not have liveview
no image stabilization
missing Time Lapse function
68
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica M-E Typ 220 Vlogging highlights
Sony NEX-3 Vlogging highlights
9
no video
27
has face detection focusing
does not feature selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic jack
Leica struggles with L-Mount camera sales, tougher than Q or M

Leica M-E Typ 220 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica M-E Typ 220 and Sony NEX-3
 Leica M-E Typ 220Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Manufacturer Leica Sony
Model type Leica M-E Typ 220 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Class Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2012-09-17 2010-06-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor dimensions 36 x 24mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 864.0mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 5212 x 3472 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 2500 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support Leica M Sony E
Amount of lenses 59 121
Crop factor 1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.5 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT color LCD TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (rangefinder) None
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x -
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash settings Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB none USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 585g (1.29 pounds) 297g (0.65 pounds)
Dimensions 139 x 80 x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 69 68
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 22.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.7 12.0
DXO Low light rating 787 830
Other
Battery life - 330 shots
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $0 $0