Leica M11 Monochrome vs Olympus E-PL5

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Leica M11 Monochrome vs Olympus E-PL5, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Leica and Olympus. There is a sizable difference among the image resolutions of the M11 Monochrome (60MP) and E-PL5 (16MP) and the M11 Monochrome (Full frame) and E-PL5 (Four Thirds) provide different sensor dimensions.

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The M11 Monochrome was manufactured 10 years later than the E-PL5 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go into a thorough comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the M11 Monochrome grades vs the E-PL5 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Leica M11 Monochrome & Olympus PEN E-PL5. The entire galleries are available at Leica M11 Monochrome Gallery & Olympus E-PL5 Gallery.

If you are looking to carry your camera, you should factor in its weight and volume. The Leica M11 Monochrome features physical dimensions of 139mm x 80mm x 39mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") having a weight of 640 grams (1.41 lbs) while the Olympus E-PL5 has sizing of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs).

See the Leica M11 Monochrome vs Olympus E-PL5 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the M11 Monochrome versus the E-PL5.

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the M11 Monochrome and E-PL5 is 76 and 88 respectively.

Often, it can be tough to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing only by looking through a spec sheet. The graphic below may offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the M11 Monochrome and E-PL5.

As you can see, both cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The M11 Monochrome because of its larger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field easier and the Leica M11 Monochrome will provide you with more detail due to its extra 44 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics more aggressively. The fresher M11 Monochrome provides an advantage in sensor tech.