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Leica M8 vs Olympus E-PL2

Portability
79
Imaging
50
Features
31
Overall
42
Leica M8 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47

Leica M8 vs Olympus E-PL2 Key Specs

Leica M8
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-H Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 2500
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Leica M Mount
  • 591g - 139 x 80 x 37mm
  • Introduced July 2007
Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Announced February 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL3
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Leica M8 vs Olympus E-PL2 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Leica M8 versus Olympus E-PL2, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Leica and Olympus. The sensor resolution of the M8 (10MP) and the E-PL2 (12MP) is pretty well matched but the M8 (APS-H) and E-PL2 (Four Thirds) boast totally different sensor size.

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The M8 was brought out 4 years prior to the E-PL2 and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go straight to a complete comparison, here is a concise summation of how the M8 matches up versus the E-PL2 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Leica M8 over the Olympus E-PL2

 M8 E-PL2 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Leica M8

 E-PL2 M8 
AnnouncedFebruary 2011July 2007More recent by 43 months
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Leica M8 and Olympus E-PL2

 M8 E-PL2 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Leica M8 vs Olympus E-PL2 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera often, you need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Leica M8 has got exterior 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-PL2 has proportions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs).

Analyze the Leica M8 versus Olympus E-PL2 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have attached during that time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the M8 against the E-PL2.

Leica M8 vs Olympus E-PL2 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the M8 and E-PL2 is 79 and 85 respectively.

Leica M8 vs Olympus E-PL2 top view buttons comparison

Leica M8 vs Olympus E-PL2 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very difficult to see the difference between sensor measurements merely by checking a spec sheet. The graphic here will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the M8 and E-PL2.

Clearly, both of these cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The M8 featuring a bigger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-PL2 will give more detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots more aggressively. The older M8 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Leica M8 vs Olympus E-PL2 sensor size comparison

Leica M8 vs Olympus E-PL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica M8 vs Olympus E-PL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica M8 Portrait photography features
Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography features
54
focusing manually
good sensor size (APS-H)
delivers RAW files
doesn't have liveview
low MP (10MP)
60
you can focus manually
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Leica M8
Street photography with Olympus E-PL2
62
good sensor size (APS-H)
delivers RAW files
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
73
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Leica M8 Sports photography features
Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography features
43
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
good sensor size (APS-H)
better than average battery life (550 per charge)
doesn't have liveview
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
no phase detect auto focus
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
bad battery (280 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Leica M8
Travel photography with Olympus E-PL2
51
better than average battery life (550 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low MP (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
51
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse recording
bad battery (280 shots)
low megapixels (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Leica M8 Landscape photography advice
Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography advice
55
focusing manually
change lenses (Leica M mount)
good sensor size (APS-H)
no anti-alias filter
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (550 per charge)
tiny screen (2.5")
doesn't have liveview
does not have image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
61
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
bad battery (280 shots)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica M8 Vlogging advice
Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging advice
9
can't shoot video
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic socket
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Leica M8 vs Olympus E-PL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica M8 and Olympus E-PL2
 Leica M8Olympus PEN E-PL2
General Information
Manufacturer Leica Olympus
Model type Leica M8 Olympus PEN E-PL2
Category Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2007-07-31 2011-02-11
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Truepic V
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 resolution 3936 x 2630 4032 x 3024
Highest native ISO 2500 6400
Min native ISO 160 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount type Leica M Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 59 107
Focal length multiplier 1.3 2.1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (rangefinder) Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate - 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 10.00 m
Flash settings Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 591g (1.30 lbs) 362g (0.80 lbs)
Physical dimensions 139 x 80 x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 59 55
DXO Color Depth rating 21.1 21.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.3 10.2
DXO Low light rating 663 573
Other
Battery life 550 shots 280 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $4,400 $0