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Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
79
Imaging
50
Features
31
Overall
42
Leica M8 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
69
Overall
61

Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-5N Key Specs

Leica M8
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-H Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • 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 NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Released October 2011
  • Succeeded the Sony NEX-5
  • Updated by Sony NEX-5R
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Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

On this page, we are evaluating the Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-5N, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Leica and Sony. There is a sizeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the M8 (10MP) and NEX-5N (16MP) and the M8 (APS-H) and NEX-5N (APS-C) posses different sensor measurements.

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The M8 was unveiled 5 years prior to the NEX-5N and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving straight to a complete comparison, here is a quick view of how the M8 matches up versus the NEX-5N when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Leica M8 over the Sony NEX-5N

 M8 NEX-5N 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Leica M8

 NEX-5N M8 
ReleasedOctober 2011July 2007More recent by 50 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Leica M8 and Sony NEX-5N

 M8 NEX-5N 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Leica M8 has outer measurements 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 NEX-5N has dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Examine the Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-5N in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilising at the time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the M8 and the NEX-5N.

Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

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

Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be difficult to visualize the difference between sensor measurements purely by reviewing specifications. The visual below should offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the M8 and NEX-5N.

Plainly, each of these cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The M8 having a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony NEX-5N will offer greater detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics more aggressively. The older M8 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Leica M8 Portrait photography highlights
Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography highlights
54
has manual focus
decent sensor size (APS-H)
exports RAW files
doesn't have liveview
sensor resolution low (10MP)
74
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Leica M8 as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Street photography camera
62
decent sensor size (APS-H)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
80
screen tilts up and down
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
features touch to focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Leica M8
Sports photography with Sony NEX-5N
43
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
decent sensor size (APS-H)
great battery power (550 CIPA)
doesn't have liveview
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
no phase detect auto focus
58
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great battery life (460 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Leica M8 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Travel photography camera
51
great battery power (550 per charge)
does not have Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (10MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
71
great battery life (460 per charge)
features touch to focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse function
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Leica M8 Landscape photography factors
Sony NEX-5N Landscape photography factors
55
has manual focus
change lenses (Leica M mount)
decent sensor size (APS-H)
no anti aliasing filter
exports RAW files
great battery power (550 CIPA)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
doesn't have liveview
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10MP)
does not have Timelapse mode
71
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
decent megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (460 shots)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica M8 Vlogging details
Sony NEX-5N Vlogging details
9
no video recording
33
touchscreen functionality
has face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have microphone socket
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Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica M8 and Sony NEX-5N
 Leica M8Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Brand Leica Sony
Model Leica M8 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Class Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2007-07-31 2011-10-03
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-H APS-C
Sensor measurements 27 x 18mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 486.0mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3936 x 2630 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 2500 25600
Minimum native ISO 160 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount Leica M Sony E
Total lenses 59 121
Crop factor 1.3 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.5" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (rangefinder) Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate - 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 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
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 591g (1.30 lb) 269g (0.59 lb)
Physical 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 score 59 77
DXO Color Depth score 21.1 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score 11.3 12.7
DXO Low light score 663 1079
Other
Battery life 550 shots 460 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $4,400 $550