Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-3

On this page, we will be contrasting the Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-3, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Leica and Sony. There exists a crucial gap among the resolutions of the M8 (10MP) and NEX-3 (14MP) and the M8 (APS-H) and NEX-3 (APS-C) have different sensor sizing.

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The M8 was unveiled 3 years earlier than the NEX-3 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving right into a in depth comparison, here is a simple summation of how the M8 scores vs the NEX-3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Leica M8 and Sony Alpha NEX-3. The full galleries are available at Leica M8 Gallery and Sony NEX-3 Gallery.

In case you're looking to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor in its weight and size. The Leica M8 enjoys outer dimensions of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") having a weight of 591 grams (1.30 lbs) and the Sony NEX-3 has specifications of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Compare the Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have attached at the time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the M8 and the NEX-3.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the M8 and NEX-3 is 79 and 89 respectively.

Typically, it is very tough to visualize the gap in sensor measurements simply by going through technical specs. The visual underneath should offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the M8 and NEX-3.

As you can tell, each of these cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The M8 having a bigger sensor is going to make getting bokeh simpler and the Sony NEX-3 will provide extra detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The older M8 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.