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Leica M8 vs Sony A7S

Portability
79
Imaging
50
Features
31
Overall
42
Leica M8 front
 
Sony Alpha A7S front
Portability
77
Imaging
60
Features
73
Overall
65

Leica M8 vs Sony A7S 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
  • Announced July 2007
Sony A7S
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 409600
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 489g - 127 x 94 x 48mm
  • Released April 2014
  • New Model is Sony A7S II
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Leica M8 vs Sony A7S Overview

Following is a in-depth assessment of the Leica M8 vs Sony A7S, both Pro Mirrorless cameras by brands Leica and Sony. The image resolution of the M8 (10MP) and the A7S (12MP) is relatively close but the M8 (APS-H) and A7S (Full frame) posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The M8 was introduced 7 years earlier than the A7S which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Leica M8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A7S being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight to a complete comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the M8 grades versus the A7S in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Leica M8 over the Sony A7S

 M8 A7S 

Reasons to pick Sony A7S over the Leica M8

 A7S M8 
ReleasedApril 2014July 2007More modern by 81 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1230k230kClearer screen (+1000k dot)

Common features in the Leica M8 and Sony A7S

 M8 A7S 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Leica M8 vs Sony A7S Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you need to factor in its weight and volume. The Leica M8 has outside dimensions of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") with a weight of 591 grams (1.30 lbs) and the Sony A7S has sizing of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") accompanied by a weight of 489 grams (1.08 lbs).

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Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are using during that time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the M8 and the A7S.

Leica M8 vs Sony A7S size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the M8 and A7S is 79 and 77 respectively.

Leica M8 vs Sony A7S top view buttons comparison

Leica M8 vs Sony A7S Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very tough to envision the contrast in sensor sizes merely by looking through specifications. The image here will help give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the M8 and A7S.

To sum up, both of these cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The M8 using its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF harder and the Sony A7S will result in extra detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The more aged M8 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Leica M8 vs Sony A7S sensor size comparison

Leica M8 vs Sony A7S Screen and ViewFinder

Leica M8 vs Sony A7S Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica M8 Portrait photography factors
Sony A7S Portrait photography factors
54
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-H)
exports RAW formats
no liveview
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
68
you can focus manually
big sensor size (Full frame)
has face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Leica M8 Street photography factors
Sony A7S Street photography factors
62
sensor size is nice (APS-H)
exports RAW formats
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
76
screen tilts up and down
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW files
weather proof
lighter than competition in class (489g)
very good high ISO (409,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Leica M8 Sports photography advice
Sony A7S Sports photography advice
43
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
sensor size is nice (APS-H)
good battery power (550 CIPA)
no liveview
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
does not have phase detect auto focus
52
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
big sensor size (Full frame)
has tracking focus
weather proof
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (360 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Leica M8 Travel photography details
Sony A7S Travel photography details
51
good battery power (550 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
low megapixels (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
58
lighter than competition in class (489g)
weather proof
terrible battery pack (360 per charge)
low megapixels (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Leica M8 Landscape photography information
Sony A7S Landscape photography information
55
has manual focus
switch lenses (Leica M mount)
sensor size is nice (APS-H)
does not have anti-alias filter
exports RAW formats
good battery power (550 CIPA)
screen is somewhat small (2.5")
no liveview
no image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
does not have Timelapse function
66
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
big sensor size (Full frame)
very good high ISO (409,600)
supports RAW files
weather proof
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
terrible battery pack (360 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Leica M8
Vlogging with Sony A7S
9
no video
34
has face detect autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
comes with microphone port
lighter than competition in class (489 grams)
does not contain selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
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Leica M8 vs Sony A7S Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica M8 and Sony A7S
 Leica M8Sony Alpha A7S
General Information
Brand Leica Sony
Model Leica M8 Sony Alpha A7S
Type Pro Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Announced 2007-07-31 2014-04-06
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-H Full frame
Sensor measurements 27 x 18mm 35.8 x 23.9mm
Sensor surface area 486.0mm² 855.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3936 x 2630 4240 x 2832
Highest native ISO 2500 409600
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount Leica M Sony E
Total lenses 59 121
Crop factor 1.3 1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 2.5 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dot 1,230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (rangefinder) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Min shutter speed 8s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed - 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync no built-in flash
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 3840 x 2160, XAVC S 1080 60p(50Mbps), 30p (50Mbps), 24p (50Mbps). 720 120p (50Mbps). AVCHD 60p (28Mbps), 60i (24Mbps/17Mbps), 24p (24Mbps/17Mbps)
Highest video resolution None 3840x2160
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 591 grams (1.30 lb) 489 grams (1.08 lb)
Physical dimensions 139 x 80 x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") 127 x 94 x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 59 87
DXO Color Depth score 21.1 23.9
DXO Dynamic range score 11.3 13.2
DXO Low light score 663 3702
Other
Battery life 550 shots 360 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures))
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $4,400 $1,998