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Leica M-Monochrom vs Olympus E-M1X

Portability
78
Imaging
65
Features
23
Overall
48
Leica M-Monochrom front
 
Olympus OM-D E-M1X front
Portability
54
Imaging
62
Features
93
Overall
74

Leica M-Monochrom vs Olympus E-M1X Key Specs

Leica M-Monochrom
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 10000
  • No Video
  • Leica M Mount
  • 600g - 139 x 80 x 37mm
  • Announced May 2012
Olympus E-M1X
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 997g - 144 x 147 x 75mm
  • Announced January 2019
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-M1 II
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Leica M-Monochrom vs Olympus E-M1X Overview

On this page, we are looking at the Leica M-Monochrom vs Olympus E-M1X, both Pro Mirrorless cameras by manufacturers Leica and Olympus. The image resolution of the M-Monochrom (18MP) and the E-M1X (20MP) is very comparable but the M-Monochrom (Full frame) and E-M1X (Four Thirds) boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The M-Monochrom was manufactured 7 years prior to the E-M1X which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Leica M-Monochrom being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-M1X being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving into a detailed comparison, here is a short overview of how the M-Monochrom scores vs the E-M1X with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Leica M-Monochrom over the Olympus E-M1X

 M-Monochrom E-M1X 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1X over the Leica M-Monochrom

 E-M1X M-Monochrom 
AnnouncedJanuary 2019May 2012More modern by 81 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1037k230kCrisper display (+807k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Leica M-Monochrom and Olympus E-M1X

 M-Monochrom E-M1X 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing

Leica M-Monochrom vs Olympus E-M1X Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera, you'll need to think about its weight and measurements. The Leica M-Monochrom comes with exterior measurements of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") along with a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) and the Olympus E-M1X has proportions of 144mm x 147mm x 75mm (5.7" x 5.8" x 3.0") and a weight of 997 grams (2.20 lbs).

Check the Leica M-Monochrom vs Olympus E-M1X in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the M-Monochrom and the E-M1X.

Leica M-Monochrom vs Olympus E-M1X size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the M-Monochrom and E-M1X is 78 and 54 respectively.

Leica M-Monochrom vs Olympus E-M1X top view buttons comparison

Leica M-Monochrom vs Olympus E-M1X Sensor Comparison

Often, it's difficult to envision the contrast in sensor sizes purely by checking out technical specs. The pic here should give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the M-Monochrom and E-M1X.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The M-Monochrom because of its larger sensor will make getting bokeh easier and the Olympus E-M1X will produce more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop images more aggressively. The more aged M-Monochrom will be behind in sensor tech.

Leica M-Monochrom vs Olympus E-M1X sensor size comparison

Leica M-Monochrom vs Olympus E-M1X Screen and ViewFinder

Leica M-Monochrom vs Olympus E-M1X Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica M-Monochrom as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus E-M1X as a Portrait photography camera
71
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (18MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
saves RAW files
doesn't have liveview
77
focusing manually
MP count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Leica M-Monochrom
Street photography with Olympus E-M1X
65
sensor size is large (Full frame)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
67
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
offers touch focus
weather proofing
above average high ISO (25,600)
heavier than average in class (997g)
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Sports Comparison

Leica M-Monochrom Sports photography factors
Olympus E-M1X Sports photography factors
45
megapixel count decent (18MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
doesn't have liveview
max frames per second low (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery (350 CIPA)
lack of phase detect auto focus
81
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
fast shooting (60.0 fps)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proofing
better than average battery power (870 per charge)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Leica M-Monochrom Travel photography advice
Olympus E-M1X Travel photography advice
54
megapixel count decent (18MP)
missing Timelapse mode
not so great battery (350 CIPA)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
68
better than average battery power (870 per charge)
weather proofing
connects via bluetooth
offers touch focus
MP count good (20MP)
screen is selfie friendly
heavier than average in class (997 grams)
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Landscape Comparison

Leica M-Monochrom as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus E-M1X as a Landscape photography camera
58
focusing manually
swap lenses (Leica M mount)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
saves RAW files
small screen (2.5 inches)
doesn't have liveview
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery (350 CIPA)
missing Timelapse mode
80
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
better than average battery power (870 shots)
two card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica M-Monochrom Vlogging info
Olympus E-M1X Vlogging info
9
lack of video recording
68
screen is selfie friendly
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection autofocus
high res video (4096 x 2160 pxls)
includes external mic socket
heavier than average in class (997 grams)
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Leica M-Monochrom vs Olympus E-M1X Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica M-Monochrom and Olympus E-M1X
 Leica M-MonochromOlympus OM-D E-M1X
General Information
Make Leica Olympus
Model type Leica M-Monochrom Olympus OM-D E-M1X
Class Pro Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Announced 2012-05-10 2019-01-24
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Dual TruePic VIII
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Full frame Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 36 x 24mm 17.4 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 864.0mm² 226.2mm²
Sensor resolution 18MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3
Full resolution 5212 x 3472 5184 x 3888
Max native ISO 10000 25600
Min native ISO 160 200
RAW format
Min boosted ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 121
Lens
Lens support Leica M Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 59 107
Crop factor 1 2.1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 2.5" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT color LCD with a sapphire glass LCD cover -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (rangefinder) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x 0.74x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 32 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Highest quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 60.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), manual
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution None 4096x2160
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes (USB-PD allows charging by laptop or external power bank)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 600 grams (1.32 lb) 997 grams (2.20 lb)
Physical dimensions 139 x 80 x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") 144 x 147 x 75mm (5.7" x 5.8" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 350 photographs 870 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Built-in
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC card -
Card slots 1 Two
Cost at launch $7,950 $2,999