Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony a5100
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 a5100 front Sony Alpha a5100 front](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/cameras/gallery/medium/Sony-Alpha-a5100/Sony-a5100-front.jpg)
89 Imaging
66 Features
74 Overall
69
Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony a5100 Key Specs
(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
(Full Review)
- 24MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Screen
- ISO 100 - 25600
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony E Mount
- 283g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
- Launched August 2014
- Old Model is Sony a5000
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/snapchat-218x150.jpg)
Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony a5100 Overview
Following is a in depth assessment of the Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony a5100, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Leica and Sony. There is a large difference among the image resolutions of the M-Monochrom (18MP) and a5100 (24MP) and the M-Monochrom (Full frame) and a5100 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor dimensions.
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ai-licence-218x150.jpg)
The M-Monochrom was revealed 3 years before the a5100 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).
Before getting in to a more detailed comparison, below is a concise view of how the M-Monochrom matches up versus the a5100 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/No-Surprise-Pentax-17-Pre-Orders-218x150.jpg)
Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony a5100 Gallery
Below is a preview of the gallery images for Leica M-Monochrom & Sony Alpha a5100. The full galleries are viewable at Leica M-Monochrom Gallery & Sony a5100 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Leica M-Monochrom over the Sony a5100
M-Monochrom | a5100 |
---|
Reasons to pick Sony a5100 over the Leica M-Monochrom
a5100 | M-Monochrom | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | August 2014 | ![]() | May 2012 | More modern by 27 months |
Screen type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting screen |
Screen sizing | 3" | ![]() | 2.5" | Bigger screen (+0.5") |
Screen resolution | 922k | ![]() | 230k | Sharper screen (+692k dot) |
Touch friendly screen | ![]() | Quickly navigate |
Common features in the Leica M-Monochrom and Sony a5100
M-Monochrom | a5100 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | More exact focus | ||
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither provides selfie screen |
Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony a5100 Physical Comparison
For those who are aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to factor its weight and volume. The Leica M-Monochrom provides external dimensions of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") with a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) whilst the Sony a5100 has sizing of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") having a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).
Analyze the Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony a5100 in our completely 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)
Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the M-Monochrom against the a5100.
![Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony a5100 size comparison Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony a5100 size comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Leica-M-Monochrom-vs-Sony-Alpha-a5100-size-comparison.jpg)
Considering size and weight, the portability score of the M-Monochrom and a5100 is 78 and 89 respectively.
![Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony a5100 top view buttons comparison Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony a5100 top view buttons comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Leica-M-Monochrom-vs-Sony-Alpha-a5100-top-view-buttons-comparison.jpg)
Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony a5100 Sensor Comparison
Generally, it is very difficult to visualise the gap in sensor sizes just by viewing specs. The image here might offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the M-Monochrom and a5100.
All in all, each of the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The M-Monochrom with its bigger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field simpler and the Sony a5100 will render extra detail because of its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more aged M-Monochrom will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.
![Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony a5100 sensor size comparison Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony a5100 sensor size comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/sensor-compare/Leica-M-Monochrom-vs-Sony-Alpha-a5100-sensor-size-comparison.png)
Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony a5100 Screen and ViewFinder
![Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony a5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony a5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Leica-M-Monochrom-vs-Sony-Alpha-a5100-screen-back-comparison.jpg)
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/photography-glossary-218x150.jpg)
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/LP3_cut_13f_0212-218x150.jpg)
Street Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Approach-to-AI-Generated-Content-218x150.jpg)
Sports Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/tiktok-218x150.jpg)
Travel Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/iphone-optical-stabilization-218x150.jpg)
Landscape Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/maxresdefault-218x150.jpg)
Vlogging Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/samsung-evo-microsd-cards-featur-218x150.jpg)
Leica M-Monochrom vs Sony a5100 Specifications
Leica M-Monochrom | Sony Alpha a5100 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Make | Leica | Sony |
Model type | Leica M-Monochrom | Sony Alpha a5100 |
Type | Pro Mirrorless | Entry-Level Mirrorless |
Introduced | 2012-05-10 | 2014-08-17 |
Physical type | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | - | Bionz X |
Sensor type | CCD | CMOS |
Sensor size | Full frame | APS-C |
Sensor dimensions | 36 x 24mm | 23.5 x 15.6mm |
Sensor area | 864.0mm² | 366.6mm² |
Sensor resolution | 18MP | 24MP |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 3:2 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Highest resolution | 5212 x 3472 | 6000 x 4000 |
Highest native ISO | 10000 | 25600 |
Minimum native ISO | 160 | 100 |
RAW files | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch focus | ||
Continuous AF | ||
AF single | ||
Tracking AF | ||
Selective AF | ||
AF center weighted | ||
AF multi area | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detect focusing | ||
Contract detect focusing | ||
Phase detect focusing | ||
Total focus points | - | 179 |
Lens | ||
Lens support | Leica M | Sony E |
Amount of lenses | 59 | 121 |
Crop factor | 1 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fixed Type | Tilting |
Display diagonal | 2.5 inches | 3 inches |
Resolution of display | 230 thousand dots | 922 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch function | ||
Display technology | TFT color LCD with a sapphire glass LCD cover | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Optical (rangefinder) | None |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.68x | - |
Features | ||
Slowest shutter speed | 32 secs | 30 secs |
Maximum shutter speed | 1/4000 secs | 1/4000 secs |
Continuous shooting rate | 2.0 frames per second | 6.0 frames per second |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual mode | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Change WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash distance | no built-in flash | 4.00 m (at ISO 100) |
Flash settings | Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync | Flash off, auto, fill-flaw, slow sync, redeye reduction |
External flash | ||
AE bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Maximum flash synchronize | 1/180 secs | - |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | - | 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (120p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) |
Highest video resolution | None | 1920x1080 |
Video format | - | MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S |
Mic support | ||
Headphone support | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | Built-In |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environment sealing | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 600 grams (1.32 lbs) | 283 grams (0.62 lbs) |
Dimensions | 139 x 80 x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") | 110 x 63 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around rating | not tested | 80 |
DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | 23.8 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | 12.7 |
DXO Low light rating | not tested | 1347 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 350 pictures | 400 pictures |
Style of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | - | NP-FW50 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous (3-5 shot)) |
Time lapse feature | With downloadable app | |
Type of storage | SD/SDHC card | SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
Card slots | Single | Single |
Cost at launch | $7,950 | $448 |