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Leica M8 vs Sony A9 II

Portability
79
Imaging
50
Features
31
Overall
42
Leica M8 front
 
Sony Alpha A9 Mark II front
Portability
62
Imaging
76
Features
93
Overall
82

Leica M8 vs Sony A9 II 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
  • Announced July 2007
Sony A9 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Push to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 678g - 129 x 96 x 76mm
  • Introduced October 2019
  • Old Model is Sony A9
Photography Glossary

Leica M8 vs Sony A9 II Overview

Following is a extended comparison of the Leica M8 versus Sony A9 II, both Pro Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Leica and Sony. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the M8 (10MP) and A9 II (24MP) and the M8 (APS-H) and A9 II (Full frame) posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The M8 was introduced 13 years before the A9 II which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Leica M8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A9 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a detailed comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the M8 scores versus the A9 II with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Leica M8 over the Sony A9 II

 M8 A9 II 

Reasons to pick Sony A9 II over the Leica M8

 A9 II M8 
IntroducedOctober 2019July 2007More modern by 148 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1440k230kClearer display (+1210k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Leica M8 and Sony A9 II

 M8 A9 II 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Leica M8 vs Sony A9 II Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you should factor its weight and measurements. The Leica M8 enjoys outside measurements of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") having a weight of 591 grams (1.30 lbs) while the Sony A9 II has proportions of 129mm x 96mm x 76mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

Compare the Leica M8 versus Sony A9 II in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you use at that time. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the M8 versus the A9 II.

Leica M8 vs Sony A9 II size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the M8 and A9 II is 79 and 62 respectively.

Leica M8 vs Sony A9 II top view buttons comparison

Leica M8 vs Sony A9 II Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's difficult to envision the gap between sensor sizes purely by checking specs. The image here will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the M8 and A9 II.

All in all, both cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The M8 with its tinier sensor will make achieving bokeh trickier and the Sony A9 II will resolve extra detail using its extra 14 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics more aggressively. The more aged M8 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Leica M8 vs Sony A9 II sensor size comparison

Leica M8 vs Sony A9 II Screen and ViewFinder

Leica M8 vs Sony A9 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica M8 Portrait photography details
Sony A9 II Portrait photography details
54
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-H)
exports RAW files
no liveview feature
low MP (10MP)
85
has manual focus
megapixel count good (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Leica M8 as a Street photography camera
Sony A9 II as a Street photography camera
62
sensor size is nice (APS-H)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
78
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
provides touch to focus
environment sealing
great ISO range (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Leica M8 Sports photography features
Sony A9 II Sports photography features
43
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
sensor size is nice (APS-H)
great battery power (550 CIPA)
no liveview feature
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
does not have phase detect auto focus
88
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet mode (1/32,000 seconds)
max fps high (20.0 frames/s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
has tracking focus
environment sealing
great battery life (690 CIPA)
comes with phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Leica M8 Travel photography details
Sony A9 II Travel photography details
51
great battery power (550 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse recording
low MP (10MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
73
great battery life (690 shots)
environment sealing
supports bluetooth
provides touch to focus
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Leica M8 Landscape photography advice
Sony A9 II Landscape photography advice
55
has manual focus
swap lenses (Leica M mount)
sensor size is nice (APS-H)
does not have anti-alias filter
exports RAW files
great battery power (550 shots)
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
no liveview feature
no image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
does not have Time Lapse recording
86
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
great ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
great battery life (690 shots)
2 card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica M8 Vlogging highlights
Sony A9 II Vlogging highlights
9
lack of video recording
36
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does have microphone support
display is not selfie friendly
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Leica M8 vs Sony A9 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica M8 and Sony A9 II
 Leica M8Sony Alpha A9 Mark II
General Information
Manufacturer Leica Sony
Model type Leica M8 Sony Alpha A9 Mark II
Type Pro Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Announced 2007-07-31 2019-10-03
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - BIONZ X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-H Full frame
Sensor measurements 27 x 18mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 486.0mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Peak resolution 3936 x 2630 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 2500 51200
Highest enhanced ISO - 204800
Min native ISO 160 100
RAW data
Min enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 693
Lens
Lens mount type Leica M Sony E
Total lenses 59 121
Focal length multiplier 1.3 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.5 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 1,440 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (rangefinder) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 3,686 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate - 20.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution None 3840x2160
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 591 grams (1.30 lb) 678 grams (1.49 lb)
Physical dimensions 139 x 80 x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") 129 x 96 x 76mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 59 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 663 not tested
Other
Battery life 550 photographs 690 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous, 3 or 5 frames)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible)
Card slots One Two
Retail pricing $4,400 $4,498