Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-5
79 Imaging
50 Features
31 Overall
42


89 Imaging
53 Features
58 Overall
55
Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-5 Key Specs
(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
- Revealed July 2007
(Full Review)
- 14MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 200 - 12800
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony E Mount
- 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
- Launched June 2010
- Replacement is Sony NEX-5N

Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-5 Overview
In this article, we are evaluating the Leica M8 and Sony NEX-5, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Leica and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap among the image resolutions of the M8 (10MP) and NEX-5 (14MP) and the M8 (APS-H) and NEX-5 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor sizing.

The M8 was introduced 3 years earlier than the NEX-5 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).
Before going through a in depth comparison, below is a short highlight of how the M8 scores against the NEX-5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-5 Gallery
Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Leica M8 & Sony Alpha NEX-5. The whole galleries are available at Leica M8 Gallery & Sony NEX-5 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Leica M8 over the Sony NEX-5
M8 | NEX-5 |
---|
Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Leica M8
NEX-5 | M8 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | June 2010 | ![]() | July 2007 | Fresher by 34 months |
Display type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting display |
Display sizing | 3" | ![]() | 2.5" | Larger display (+0.5") |
Display resolution | 920k | ![]() | 230k | Sharper display (+690k dot) |
Common features in the Leica M8 and Sony NEX-5
M8 | NEX-5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | More exact focus | ||
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither provides selfie screen | ||
Touch display | ![]() | Neither provides Touch display |
Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison
When you are planning to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Leica M8 provides physical measurements of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") having a weight of 591 grams (1.30 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5 has dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).
Analyze the Leica M8 and Sony NEX-5 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilising at the time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the M8 versus the NEX-5.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the M8 and NEX-5 is 79 and 89 respectively.

Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison
Typically, it is hard to see the contrast in sensor sizing just by going through technical specs. The graphic here will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the M8 and NEX-5.
As you can tell, both of those cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The M8 with its larger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field easier and the Sony NEX-5 will show extra detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos a little more aggressively. The older M8 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications
Leica M8 | Sony Alpha NEX-5 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand Name | Leica | Sony |
Model type | Leica M8 | Sony Alpha NEX-5 |
Category | Pro Mirrorless | Entry-Level Mirrorless |
Revealed | 2007-07-31 | 2010-06-07 |
Body design | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor | - | Bionz |
Sensor type | CCD | CMOS |
Sensor size | APS-H | APS-C |
Sensor measurements | 27 x 18mm | 23.4 x 15.6mm |
Sensor surface area | 486.0mm² | 365.0mm² |
Sensor resolution | 10MP | 14MP |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 3:2 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Highest Possible resolution | 3936 x 2630 | 4592 x 3056 |
Maximum native ISO | 2500 | 12800 |
Lowest native ISO | 160 | 200 |
RAW data | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
AF touch | ||
Continuous AF | ||
Single AF | ||
AF tracking | ||
AF selectice | ||
AF center weighted | ||
AF multi area | ||
Live view AF | ||
Face detect AF | ||
Contract detect AF | ||
Phase detect AF | ||
Total focus points | - | 25 |
Lens | ||
Lens support | Leica M | Sony E |
Available lenses | 59 | 121 |
Focal length multiplier | 1.3 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fixed Type | Tilting |
Display diagonal | 2.5" | 3" |
Resolution of display | 230 thousand dot | 920 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch capability | ||
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Optical (rangefinder) | None |
Features | ||
Min shutter speed | 8 seconds | 30 seconds |
Max shutter speed | 1/8000 seconds | 1/4000 seconds |
Continuous shutter speed | - | 7.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Custom WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | no built-in flash | 12.00 m |
Flash modes | Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in |
Hot shoe | ||
AEB | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Max flash sync | 1/250 seconds | 1/160 seconds |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment exposure | ||
Average exposure | ||
Spot exposure | ||
Partial exposure | ||
AF area exposure | ||
Center weighted exposure | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | - | 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Maximum video resolution | None | 1920x1080 |
Video format | - | AVCHD |
Microphone input | ||
Headphone input | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environmental seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 591 gr (1.30 lbs) | 287 gr (0.63 lbs) |
Dimensions | 139 x 80 x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") | 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall rating | 59 | 69 |
DXO Color Depth rating | 21.1 | 22.2 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | 11.3 | 12.2 |
DXO Low light rating | 663 | 796 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 550 images | 330 images |
Type of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | - | NPFW50 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC card | SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
Storage slots | One | One |
Pricing at release | $4,400 | $599 |