Leica M8 vs Olympus E-P3
79 Imaging
50 Features
31 Overall
42
![Leica M8 front Leica M8 front](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/cameras/gallery/medium/Leica-M8/Leica-M8-front.jpg)
![Olympus PEN E-P3 front Olympus PEN E-P3 front](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/cameras/gallery/medium/Olympus-PEN-E-P3/Olympus-E-P3-front.jpg)
86 Imaging
48 Features
60 Overall
52
Leica M8 vs Olympus E-P3 Key Specs
(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
- Revealed July 2007
(Full Review)
- 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 12800
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 369g - 122 x 69 x 34mm
- Launched August 2011
- Earlier Model is Olympus E-P2
- Replacement is Olympus E-P5
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/maxresdefault-218x150.jpg)
Leica M8 vs Olympus E-P3 Overview
Let's look more closely at the Leica M8 and Olympus E-P3, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Leica and Olympus. The image resolution of the M8 (10MP) and the E-P3 (12MP) is very well matched but the M8 (APS-H) and E-P3 (Four Thirds) posses totally different sensor measurements.
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/photography-glossary-218x150.jpg)
The M8 was introduced 5 years before the E-P3 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).
Before going into a thorough comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the M8 grades against the E-P3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/snapchat-218x150.jpg)
Leica M8 vs Olympus E-P3 Gallery
Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Leica M8 & Olympus PEN E-P3. The whole galleries are viewable at Leica M8 Gallery & Olympus E-P3 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Leica M8 over the Olympus E-P3
M8 | E-P3 |
---|
Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Leica M8
E-P3 | M8 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | August 2011 | ![]() | July 2007 | More recent by 49 months |
Display dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 2.5" | Larger display (+0.5") |
Display resolution | 614k | ![]() | 230k | Sharper display (+384k dot) |
Touch friendly display | ![]() | Easily navigate |
Common features in the Leica M8 and Olympus E-P3
M8 | E-P3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | More exact focus | ||
Display type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed display |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Absent selfie screen |
Leica M8 vs Olympus E-P3 Physical Comparison
In case you're intending to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to consider its weight and volume. The Leica M8 has outer dimensions of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") having a weight of 591 grams (1.30 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-P3 has sizing of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") along with a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs).
Take a look at the Leica M8 and Olympus E-P3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.![Camera Size Comparison with Lenses Camera Size Comparison with Lenses](https://pxlmag.com/db/assets/camera-size-comparison-animation.gif)
Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are working with at that time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the M8 versus the E-P3.
![Leica M8 vs Olympus E-P3 size comparison Leica M8 vs Olympus E-P3 size comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Leica-M8-vs-Olympus-PEN-E-P3-size-comparison.jpg)
Using size and weight, the portability rating of the M8 and E-P3 is 79 and 86 respectively.
![Leica M8 vs Olympus E-P3 top view buttons comparison Leica M8 vs Olympus E-P3 top view buttons comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Leica-M8-vs-Olympus-PEN-E-P3-top-view-buttons-comparison.jpg)
Leica M8 vs Olympus E-P3 Sensor Comparison
Usually, it is tough to see the difference between sensor measurements just by looking at a spec sheet. The visual below might offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the M8 and E-P3.
As you can see, both of the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The M8 having a larger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-P3 will give greater detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos more aggressively. The older M8 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.
![Leica M8 vs Olympus E-P3 sensor size comparison Leica M8 vs Olympus E-P3 sensor size comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/sensor-compare/Leica-M8-vs-Olympus-PEN-E-P3-sensor-size-comparison.png)
Leica M8 vs Olympus E-P3 Screen and ViewFinder
![Leica M8 vs Olympus E-P3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison Leica M8 vs Olympus E-P3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Leica-M8-vs-Olympus-PEN-E-P3-screen-back-comparison.jpg)
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/tiktok-218x150.jpg)
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ai-licence-218x150.jpg)
Street Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/LP3_cut_13f_0212-218x150.jpg)
Sports Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/samsung-evo-microsd-cards-featur-218x150.jpg)
Travel Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/No-Surprise-Pentax-17-Pre-Orders-218x150.jpg)
Landscape Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/iphone-optical-stabilization-218x150.jpg)
Vlogging Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Approach-to-AI-Generated-Content-218x150.jpg)
Leica M8 vs Olympus E-P3 Specifications
Leica M8 | Olympus PEN E-P3 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Make | Leica | Olympus |
Model type | Leica M8 | Olympus PEN E-P3 |
Category | Pro Mirrorless | Entry-Level Mirrorless |
Revealed | 2007-07-31 | 2011-08-17 |
Physical type | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | - | TruePic VI |
Sensor type | CCD | CMOS |
Sensor size | APS-H | Four Thirds |
Sensor dimensions | 27 x 18mm | 17.3 x 13mm |
Sensor area | 486.0mm² | 224.9mm² |
Sensor resolution | 10MP | 12MP |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 3:2 | 4:3 |
Highest Possible resolution | 3936 x 2630 | 4032 x 3024 |
Maximum native ISO | 2500 | 12800 |
Lowest native ISO | 160 | 100 |
RAW files | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Autofocus touch | ||
Autofocus continuous | ||
Single autofocus | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Autofocus center weighted | ||
Multi area autofocus | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detection focus | ||
Contract detection focus | ||
Phase detection focus | ||
Total focus points | - | 35 |
Lens | ||
Lens support | Leica M | Micro Four Thirds |
Amount of lenses | 59 | 107 |
Crop factor | 1.3 | 2.1 |
Screen | ||
Type of screen | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Screen diagonal | 2.5 inches | 3 inches |
Resolution of screen | 230 thousand dots | 614 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch capability | ||
Screen technology | - | 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Optical (rangefinder) | Electronic (optional) |
Features | ||
Min shutter speed | 8 secs | 60 secs |
Max shutter speed | 1/8000 secs | 1/4000 secs |
Continuous shutter rate | - | 3.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Set white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash distance | no built-in flash | 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) |
Flash options | Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) |
Hot shoe | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Max flash synchronize | 1/250 secs | 1/180 secs |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | - | 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Maximum video resolution | None | 1920x1080 |
Video data format | - | AVCHD, Motion JPEG |
Mic support | ||
Headphone support | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | None |
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 | 591g (1.30 lb) | 369g (0.81 lb) |
Physical dimensions | 139 x 80 x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") | 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall rating | 59 | 51 |
DXO Color Depth rating | 21.1 | 20.8 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | 11.3 | 10.1 |
DXO Low light rating | 663 | 536 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 550 pictures | 330 pictures |
Battery style | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | - | BLS-5 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes (2 or 12 sec) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC card | SD/SDHC/SDXC card |
Card slots | One | One |
Price at release | $4,400 | $0 |