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Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony NEX-F3

Portability
78
Imaging
65
Features
23
Overall
48
Leica M-Monochrom front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-F3 front
Portability
86
Imaging
57
Features
60
Overall
58

Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony NEX-F3 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
  • Introduced May 2012
Sony NEX-F3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 314g - 117 x 67 x 42mm
  • Announced August 2012
  • Old Model is Sony NEX-C3
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-3N
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Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony NEX-F3 Overview

Following is a in-depth comparison of the Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony NEX-F3, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Leica and Sony. The image resolution of the M-Monochrom (18MP) and the NEX-F3 (16MP) is fairly similar but the M-Monochrom (Full frame) and NEX-F3 (APS-C) use totally different sensor measurements.

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The M-Monochrom was released 3 months earlier than the NEX-F3 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go in to a detailed comparison, below is a brief summation of how the M-Monochrom grades against the NEX-F3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Leica M-Monochrom over the Sony NEX-F3

 M-Monochrom NEX-F3 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-F3 over the Leica M-Monochrom

 NEX-F3 M-Monochrom 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Leica M-Monochrom and Sony NEX-F3

 M-Monochrom NEX-F3 
AnnouncedMay 2012August 2012Similar generation
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony NEX-F3 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera, you will have to factor its weight and measurements. The Leica M-Monochrom comes with outside dimensions of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) and the Sony NEX-F3 has proportions of 117mm x 67mm x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7") having a weight of 314 grams (0.69 lbs).

Compare the Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony NEX-F3 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the M-Monochrom versus the NEX-F3.

Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony NEX-F3 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the M-Monochrom and NEX-F3 is 78 and 86 respectively.

Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony NEX-F3 top view buttons comparison

Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony NEX-F3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is hard to visualise the difference between sensor sizes simply by reviewing a spec sheet. The picture underneath may give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the M-Monochrom and NEX-F3.

As you can see, the 2 cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The M-Monochrom due to its larger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Leica M-Monochrom will offer you more detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos much more aggressively.

Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony NEX-F3 sensor size comparison

Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony NEX-F3 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony NEX-F3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica M-Monochrom Portrait photography information
Sony NEX-F3 Portrait photography information
71
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (18MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
no liveview feature
74
has manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Leica M-Monochrom Street photography information
Sony NEX-F3 Street photography information
65
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
76
tilting screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Leica M-Monochrom Sports photography information
Sony NEX-F3 Sports photography information
45
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
no liveview feature
max frames per second low (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
bad battery pack (350 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
53
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
better than average battery pack (470 shots)
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Leica M-Monochrom Travel photography details
Sony NEX-F3 Travel photography details
54
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse function
bad battery pack (350 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
69
better than average battery pack (470 shots)
resolution is good (16MP)
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Leica M-Monochrom as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-F3 as a Landscape photography camera
58
focusing manually
change lenses (Leica M mount)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
screen is small (2.5 inches)
no liveview feature
does not have image stabilization
bad battery pack (350 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse function
70
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
better than average battery pack (470 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Leica M-Monochrom
Vlogging with Sony NEX-F3
9
lack of video recording
27
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
does not have external mic support
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Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony NEX-F3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica M-Monochrom and Sony NEX-F3
 Leica M-MonochromSony Alpha NEX-F3
General Information
Brand Leica Sony
Model Leica M-Monochrom Sony Alpha NEX-F3
Type Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2012-05-10 2012-08-16
Physical type 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 area 864.0mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5212 x 3472 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 10000 16000
Minimum native ISO 160 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Leica M Sony E
Amount of lenses 59 121
Focal length multiplier 1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.5" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology TFT color LCD with a sapphire glass LCD cover TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (rangefinder) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x -
Features
Min shutter speed 32 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash -
Flash options Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 600g (1.32 lb) 314g (0.69 lb)
Dimensions 139 x 80 x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") 117 x 67 x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 73
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.3
DXO Low light score not tested 1114
Other
Battery life 350 images 470 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $7,950 $470