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Leica M8 vs Olympus E-420

Portability
79
Imaging
50
Features
31
Overall
42
Leica M8 front
 
Olympus E-420 front
Portability
77
Imaging
45
Features
36
Overall
41

Leica M8 vs Olympus E-420 Key Specs

Leica M8
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-H Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 2500
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Leica M Mount
  • 591g - 139 x 80 x 37mm
  • Released July 2007
Olympus E-420
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 426g - 130 x 91 x 53mm
  • Announced June 2008
  • Replaced the Olympus E-410
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Leica M8 vs Olympus E-420 Overview

Following is a comprehensive comparison of the Leica M8 vs Olympus E-420, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Leica and Olympus. The image resolution of the M8 (10MP) and the E-420 (10MP) is pretty well matched but the M8 (APS-H) and E-420 (Four Thirds) come with different sensor dimensions.

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The M8 was released 10 months prior to the E-420 so they are of a similar age. The two cameras come with different body type with the Leica M8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a detailed comparison, below is a brief view of how the M8 matches up against the E-420 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Leica M8 over the Olympus E-420

 M8 E-420 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Leica M8

 E-420 M8 
AnnouncedJune 2008July 2007More modern by 10 months
Screen dimension2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Common features in the Leica M8 and Olympus E-420

 M8 E-420 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Leica M8 vs Olympus E-420 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera, you're going to have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Leica M8 features external measurements of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") along with a weight of 591 grams (1.30 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-420 has proportions of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") having a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs).

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Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are working with at that time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the M8 versus the E-420.

Leica M8 vs Olympus E-420 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the M8 and E-420 is 79 and 77 respectively.

Leica M8 vs Olympus E-420 top view buttons comparison

Leica M8 vs Olympus E-420 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be tough to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes simply by looking at specifications. The picture here will help provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the M8 and E-420.

Plainly, the 2 cameras posses the exact same megapixels albeit different sensor sizes. The M8 offers the bigger sensor which will make getting shallow depth of field less difficult. The more aged M8 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Leica M8 vs Olympus E-420 sensor size comparison

Leica M8 vs Olympus E-420 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica M8 vs Olympus E-420 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica M8 Portrait photography information
Olympus E-420 Portrait photography information
54
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-H)
exports RAW files
no liveview
low resolution sensor (10MP)
57
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Leica M8
Street photography with Olympus E-420
62
sensor size is decent (APS-H)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
64
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (426g)
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Leica M8 Sports photography highlights
Olympus E-420 Sports photography highlights
43
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
sensor size is decent (APS-H)
great battery power (550 per charge)
no liveview
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
low resolution sensor (10MP)
has no phase detect auto focus
39
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect autofocus
max fps low (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
not so great battery (500 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Leica M8 Travel photography information
Olympus E-420 Travel photography information
51
great battery power (550 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse mode
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
53
lighter than competition in class (426 grams)
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
not so great battery (500 shots)
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Leica M8 Landscape photography factors
Olympus E-420 Landscape photography factors
55
has manual focus
change lenses (Leica M mount)
sensor size is decent (APS-H)
does not have anti-alias filter
exports RAW files
great battery power (550 shots)
small screen (2.5 inches)
no liveview
no image stabilization
low resolution sensor (10MP)
lack of Time Lapse mode
47
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
small screen (2.7")
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
not so great battery (500 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica M8 Vlogging info
Olympus E-420 Vlogging info
9
can't record video
9
can't record video
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Leica M8 vs Olympus E-420 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica M8 and Olympus E-420
 Leica M8Olympus E-420
General Information
Brand Leica Olympus
Model type Leica M8 Olympus E-420
Category Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2007-07-31 2008-06-23
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - TruePic III
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-H Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 27 x 18mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 486.0mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3
Maximum resolution 3936 x 2630 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 2500 1600
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support Leica M Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 59 45
Focal length multiplier 1.3 2.1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5" 2.7"
Screen resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (rangefinder) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed - 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Maximum video resolution None None
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 591 grams (1.30 lbs) 426 grams (0.94 lbs)
Dimensions 139 x 80 x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 59 56
DXO Color Depth rating 21.1 21.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.3 10.4
DXO Low light rating 663 527
Other
Battery life 550 pictures 500 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC card Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $4,400 $999