Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony NEX-7
78 Imaging
65 Features
23 Overall
48
![Leica M-Monochrom front Leica M-Monochrom front](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/cameras/w300/fronton/Leica_M-Monochrom_1.jpg)
![Sony Alpha NEX-7 front Sony Alpha NEX-7 front](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/cameras/gallery/medium/Sony-Alpha-NEX-7/Sony-NEX-7-front.jpg)
84 Imaging
64 Features
71 Overall
66
Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony NEX-7 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 18MP - Full frame Sensor
- 2.5" Fixed Screen
- ISO 160 - 10000
- No Video
- Leica M Mount
- 600g - 139 x 80 x 37mm
- Released May 2012
(Full Review)
- 24MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Screen
- ISO 100 - 16000
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony E Mount
- 400g - 120 x 67 x 43mm
- Announced December 2011
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/LP3_cut_13f_0212-218x150.jpg)
Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony NEX-7 Overview
Lets look more closely at the Leica M-Monochrom versus Sony NEX-7, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by companies Leica and Sony. There exists a sizable gap between the resolutions of the M-Monochrom (18MP) and NEX-7 (24MP) and the M-Monochrom (Full frame) and NEX-7 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor dimensions.
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/No-Surprise-Pentax-17-Pre-Orders-218x150.jpg)
The M-Monochrom was announced 5 months later than the NEX-7 and they are both of a similar age. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).
Before getting in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief summary of how the M-Monochrom grades against the NEX-7 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/maxresdefault-218x150.jpg)
Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony NEX-7 Gallery
The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Leica M-Monochrom & Sony Alpha NEX-7. The whole galleries are available at Leica M-Monochrom Gallery & Sony NEX-7 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Leica M-Monochrom over the Sony NEX-7
M-Monochrom | NEX-7 |
---|
Reasons to pick Sony NEX-7 over the Leica M-Monochrom
NEX-7 | M-Monochrom | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting screen |
Screen sizing | 3" | ![]() | 2.5" | Bigger screen (+0.5") |
Screen resolution | 921k | ![]() | 230k | Crisper screen (+691k dot) |
Common features in the Leica M-Monochrom and Sony NEX-7
M-Monochrom | NEX-7 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Announced | May 2012 | ![]() | December 2011 | Similar age |
Manual focus | ![]() | More exact focus | ||
Selfie screen | ![]() | Lack of selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly screen | ![]() | Lack of Touch friendly screen |
Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony NEX-7 Physical Comparison
For anybody who is going to carry your camera, you will want to factor its weight and measurements. The Leica M-Monochrom offers physical measurements of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) while the Sony NEX-7 has proportions of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") having a weight of 400 grams (0.88 lbs).
Look at the Leica M-Monochrom versus Sony NEX-7 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.![Camera Size Comparison with Lenses Camera Size Comparison with Lenses](https://pxlmag.com/db/assets/camera-size-comparison-animation.gif)
Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the M-Monochrom compared to the NEX-7.
![Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony NEX-7 size comparison Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony NEX-7 size comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Leica-M-Monochrom-vs-Sony-Alpha-NEX-7-size-comparison.jpg)
Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the M-Monochrom and NEX-7 is 78 and 84 respectively.
![Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony NEX-7 top view buttons comparison Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony NEX-7 top view buttons comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Leica-M-Monochrom-vs-Sony-Alpha-NEX-7-top-view-buttons-comparison.jpg)
Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony NEX-7 Sensor Comparison
Sometimes, it's hard to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing simply by reading through a spec sheet. The photograph here should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the M-Monochrom and NEX-7.
Clearly, each of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The M-Monochrom with its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult and the Sony NEX-7 will give extra detail with its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots a little more aggressively.
![Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony NEX-7 sensor size comparison Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony NEX-7 sensor size comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/sensor-compare/Leica-M-Monochrom-vs-Sony-Alpha-NEX-7-sensor-size-comparison.png)
Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony NEX-7 Screen and ViewFinder
![Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony NEX-7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony NEX-7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Leica-M-Monochrom-vs-Sony-Alpha-NEX-7-screen-back-comparison.jpg)
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/iphone-optical-stabilization-218x150.jpg)
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
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Street Comparison
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Sports Comparison
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Travel Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/samsung-evo-microsd-cards-featur-218x150.jpg)
Landscape Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/snapchat-218x150.jpg)
Vlogging Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/photography-glossary-218x150.jpg)
Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony NEX-7 Specifications
Leica M-Monochrom | Sony Alpha NEX-7 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Leica | Sony |
Model | Leica M-Monochrom | Sony Alpha NEX-7 |
Type | Pro Mirrorless | Advanced Mirrorless |
Released | 2012-05-10 | 2011-12-13 |
Body design | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor Chip | - | Bionz |
Sensor type | CCD | CMOS |
Sensor size | Full frame | APS-C |
Sensor dimensions | 36 x 24mm | 23.5 x 15.6mm |
Sensor surface area | 864.0mm² | 366.6mm² |
Sensor resolution | 18 megapixels | 24 megapixels |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 3:2 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Highest resolution | 5212 x 3472 | 6000 x 4000 |
Highest native ISO | 10000 | 16000 |
Lowest native ISO | 160 | 100 |
RAW pictures | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
AF touch | ||
Continuous AF | ||
Single AF | ||
AF tracking | ||
AF selectice | ||
AF center weighted | ||
AF multi area | ||
Live view AF | ||
Face detection AF | ||
Contract detection AF | ||
Phase detection AF | ||
Number of focus points | - | 25 |
Lens | ||
Lens mounting type | Leica M | Sony E |
Total lenses | 59 | 121 |
Focal length multiplier | 1 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Range of screen | Fixed Type | Tilting |
Screen diagonal | 2.5 inch | 3 inch |
Screen resolution | 230 thousand dot | 921 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch screen | ||
Screen technology | TFT color LCD with a sapphire glass LCD cover | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Optical (rangefinder) | Electronic |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 100% |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.68x | 0.73x |
Features | ||
Slowest shutter speed | 32 secs | 30 secs |
Maximum shutter speed | 1/4000 secs | 1/4000 secs |
Continuous shooting speed | 2.0 frames per sec | 10.0 frames per sec |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Change WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Integrated flash | ||
Flash range | no built-in flash | 6.00 m |
Flash options | Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless |
Hot shoe | ||
AE bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Maximum flash sync | 1/180 secs | 1/160 secs |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | - | 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Highest video resolution | None | 1920x1080 |
Video file format | - | MPEG-4, AVCHD |
Mic input | ||
Headphone input | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | Eye-Fi Connected |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environmental seal | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 600 gr (1.32 pounds) | 400 gr (0.88 pounds) |
Dimensions | 139 x 80 x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") | 120 x 67 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around score | not tested | 81 |
DXO Color Depth score | not tested | 24.1 |
DXO Dynamic range score | not tested | 13.4 |
DXO Low light score | not tested | 1016 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 350 photos | 430 photos |
Form of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery model | - | NPFW50 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 or 5 images)) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Storage media | SD/SDHC card | SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
Storage slots | Single | Single |
Price at launch | $7,950 | $699 |