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Leica M8 vs Olympus PEN-F

Portability
79
Imaging
50
Features
31
Overall
42
Leica M8 front
 
Olympus PEN-F front
Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67

Leica M8 vs Olympus PEN-F Key Specs

Leica M8
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-H Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • 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 PEN-F
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Introduced January 2016
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Leica M8 vs Olympus PEN-F Overview

Following is a complete analysis of the Leica M8 versus Olympus PEN-F, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by rivals Leica and Olympus. There is a substantial difference among the sensor resolutions of the M8 (10MP) and PEN-F (20MP) and the M8 (APS-H) and PEN-F (Four Thirds) enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The M8 was revealed 9 years earlier than the PEN-F which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the M8 grades against the PEN-F for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Leica M8 over the Olympus PEN-F

 M8 PEN-F 

Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Leica M8

 PEN-F M8 
IntroducedJanuary 2016July 2007More modern by 103 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1037k230kSharper display (+807k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Leica M8 and Olympus PEN-F

 M8 PEN-F 
Focus manually More exact focus

Leica M8 vs Olympus PEN-F Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera, you'll need to factor its weight and proportions. The Leica M8 offers exterior dimensions of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 591 grams (1.30 lbs) and the Olympus PEN-F has measurements of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs).

Check out the Leica M8 versus Olympus PEN-F in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you use at that moment. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the M8 and the PEN-F.

Leica M8 vs Olympus PEN-F size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the M8 and PEN-F is 79 and 84 respectively.

Leica M8 vs Olympus PEN-F top view buttons comparison

Leica M8 vs Olympus PEN-F Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to picture the contrast in sensor sizes just by looking through specs. The image here should give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the M8 and PEN-F.

All in all, each of these cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The M8 with its larger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field simpler and the Olympus PEN-F will result in extra detail because of its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop photos much more aggressively. The more aged M8 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Leica M8 vs Olympus PEN-F sensor size comparison

Leica M8 vs Olympus PEN-F Screen and ViewFinder

Leica M8 vs Olympus PEN-F Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica M8 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus PEN-F as a Portrait photography camera
54
focusing manually
nice sensor size (APS-H)
supports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
low MP (10 megapixels)
75
focusing manually
good resolution (20MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Leica M8 Street photography details
Olympus PEN-F Street photography details
62
nice sensor size (APS-H)
supports RAW formats
no moving screen
no image stabilization
84
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
comes with focus via touch
above average high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Leica M8 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus PEN-F as a Sports photography camera
43
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
nice sensor size (APS-H)
good battery pack (550 shots)
doesn't have liveview
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
no phase detect AF
67
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
bad battery (330 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Leica M8 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus PEN-F as a Travel photography camera
51
good battery pack (550 per charge)
no Time Lapse recording
low MP (10 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
75
comes with focus via touch
good resolution (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
bad battery (330 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Leica M8 Landscape photography info
Olympus PEN-F Landscape photography info
55
focusing manually
change lenses (Leica M mount)
nice sensor size (APS-H)
no low pass filter
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (550 shots)
small screen (2.5")
doesn't have liveview
no image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
no Time Lapse recording
76
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
bad battery (330 per charge)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Leica M8 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus PEN-F as a Vlogging camera
9
can't shoot video
78
selfie friendly screen
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lack of external mic socket
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Leica M8 vs Olympus PEN-F Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica M8 and Olympus PEN-F
 Leica M8Olympus PEN-F
General Information
Company Leica Olympus
Model type Leica M8 Olympus PEN-F
Class Pro Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Released 2007-07-31 2016-01-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - TruePic VII
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 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3936 x 2630 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 2500 25600
Minimum native ISO 160 200
RAW images
Minimum boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 81
Lens
Lens support Leica M Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 59 107
Focal length multiplier 1.3 2.1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (rangefinder) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.62x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Maximum quiet shutter speed - 1/16000 secs
Continuous shooting rate - 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain)
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 591g (1.30 pounds) 427g (0.94 pounds)
Dimensions 139 x 80 x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 59 74
DXO Color Depth rating 21.1 23.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.3 12.4
DXO Low light rating 663 894
Other
Battery life 550 pictures 330 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - BLN-1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $4,400 $1,000