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Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
79
Imaging
50
Features
31
Overall
42
Leica M8 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
53
Features
58
Overall
55

Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-5 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
  • Revealed July 2007
Sony NEX-5
(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
Photography Glossary

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.

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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.

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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 
LaunchedJune 2010July 2007Fresher by 34 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution920k230kSharper 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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

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 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Leica M8
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-5
54
manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-H)
delivers RAW files
does not have liveview
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
71
manual focus
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Leica M8 Street photography information
Sony NEX-5 Street photography information
62
sensor size is nice (APS-H)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
76
screen tilts
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Leica M8 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Sports photography camera
43
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
sensor size is nice (APS-H)
good battery life (550 per charge)
does not have liveview
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
no phase detect auto focus
51
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Leica M8 Travel photography features
Sony NEX-5 Travel photography features
51
good battery life (550 per charge)
missing Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution low (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
59
good MP (14MP)
missing Timelapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Leica M8 Landscape photography details
Sony NEX-5 Landscape photography details
55
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Leica M mount)
sensor size is nice (APS-H)
no anti-alias filter
delivers RAW files
good battery life (550 per charge)
small screen (2.5")
does not have liveview
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10MP)
missing Time Lapse mode
67
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Leica M8
Vlogging with Sony NEX-5
9
no video recording
28
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
missing microphone jack
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Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica M8 and Sony NEX-5
 Leica M8Sony 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