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Leica M8 vs Sony A7R IV

Portability
79
Imaging
50
Features
31
Overall
42
Leica M8 front
 
Sony Alpha A7R IV front
Portability
62
Imaging
81
Features
93
Overall
85

Leica M8 vs Sony A7R IV 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
Sony A7R IV
(Full Review)
  • 61MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Increase to 102800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 665g - 129 x 96 x 78mm
  • Revealed July 2019
  • Older Model is Sony A7R III
  • Renewed by Sony A7R V
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Leica M8 vs Sony A7R IV Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Leica M8 and Sony A7R IV, both Pro Mirrorless digital cameras by companies Leica and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the resolutions of the M8 (10MP) and A7R IV (61MP) and the M8 (APS-H) and A7R IV (Full frame) have different sensor sizing.

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The M8 was announced 13 years before the A7R IV and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Leica M8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A7R IV being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight to a in depth comparison, here is a short highlight of how the M8 scores versus the A7R IV in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Leica M8 over the Sony A7R IV

 M8 A7R IV 

Reasons to pick Sony A7R IV over the Leica M8

 A7R IV M8 
RevealedJuly 2019July 2007Fresher by 145 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1440k230kSharper display (+1210k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Leica M8 and Sony A7R IV

 M8 A7R IV 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Leica M8 vs Sony A7R IV Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry your camera, you should consider its weight and volume. The Leica M8 has physical dimensions of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") with a weight of 591 grams (1.30 lbs) while the Sony A7R IV has sizing of 129mm x 96mm x 78mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.1") along with a weight of 665 grams (1.47 lbs).

Examine the Leica M8 and Sony A7R IV in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the M8 against the A7R IV.

Leica M8 vs Sony A7R IV size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the M8 and A7R IV is 79 and 62 respectively.

Leica M8 vs Sony A7R IV top view buttons comparison

Leica M8 vs Sony A7R IV Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is tough to picture the difference between sensor sizing simply by going over technical specs. The graphic underneath will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the M8 and A7R IV.

As you have seen, both the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The M8 using its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF more difficult and the Sony A7R IV will deliver greater detail with its extra 51MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images way more aggressively. The older M8 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Leica M8 vs Sony A7R IV sensor size comparison

Leica M8 vs Sony A7R IV Screen and ViewFinder

Leica M8 vs Sony A7R IV Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica M8 Portrait photography factors
Sony A7R IV Portrait photography factors
54
focusing manually
decent sensor size (APS-H)
delivers RAW files
doesn't have liveview
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
88
manual focus
sensor resolution is excellent (61 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Leica M8 Street photography factors
Sony A7R IV Street photography factors
62
decent sensor size (APS-H)
delivers RAW files
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
79
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
comes with focus via touch
weather proofing
above average ISO range (32,000)
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Sports Comparison

Leica M8 Sports photography info
Sony A7R IV Sports photography info
43
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
decent sensor size (APS-H)
better than average battery life (550 CIPA)
doesn't have liveview
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
does not have phase detect auto focus
90
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is excellent (61MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proofing
better than average battery life (670 shots)
comes with phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Leica M8
Travel photography with Sony A7R IV
51
better than average battery life (550 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
74
better than average battery life (670 CIPA)
weather proofing
supports bluetooth
comes with focus via touch
sensor resolution is excellent (61 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Leica M8
Landscape photography with Sony A7R IV
55
focusing manually
change lenses (Leica M mount)
decent sensor size (APS-H)
does not have anti-alias filter
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (550 shots)
small screen (2.5 inches)
doesn't have liveview
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
no Time Lapse recording
88
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is excellent (61 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
does not have low pass filter
above average ISO range (32,000)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
better than average battery life (670 shots)
two card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica M8 Vlogging information
Sony A7R IV Vlogging information
9
can't shoot video
37
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does have external mic socket
screen is not selfie friendly
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Leica M8 vs Sony A7R IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica M8 and Sony A7R IV
 Leica M8Sony Alpha A7R IV
General Information
Brand Name Leica Sony
Model type Leica M8 Sony Alpha A7R IV
Category Pro Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Released 2007-07-31 2019-07-16
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-H Full frame
Sensor dimensions 27 x 18mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 486.0mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 61 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3936 x 2630 9504 x 6336
Maximum native ISO 2500 32000
Maximum enhanced ISO - 102800
Minimum native ISO 160 100
RAW photos
Minimum enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 567
Lens
Lens support Leica M Sony E
Amount of lenses 59 121
Crop factor 1.3 1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 2.5 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dots 1,440k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (rangefinder) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 5,760k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate - 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync.
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250s 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution None 3840x2160
Video format - MPEG-4, XAVC S, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.1 Gen 1(5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 591 grams (1.30 lbs) 665 grams (1.47 lbs)
Physical dimensions 139 x 80 x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") 129 x 96 x 78mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 59 99
DXO Color Depth rating 21.1 26.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.3 14.8
DXO Low light rating 663 3344
Other
Battery life 550 photos 670 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II compatible)
Card slots One Dual
Pricing at release $4,400 $3,498