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Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-6

Portability
79
Imaging
50
Features
31
Overall
42
Leica M8 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-6 front
Portability
85
Imaging
58
Features
76
Overall
65

Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-6 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-6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 345g - 120 x 67 x 43mm
  • Released March 2013
  • Renewed by Sony A6000
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Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-6 Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-6, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by rivals Leica and Sony. There is a substantial difference among the resolutions of the M8 (10MP) and NEX-6 (16MP) and the M8 (APS-H) and NEX-6 (APS-C) provide different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The M8 was launched 6 years before the NEX-6 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting right into a in depth comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the M8 matches up versus the NEX-6 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Leica M8 over the Sony NEX-6

 M8 NEX-6 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-6 over the Leica M8

 NEX-6 M8 
ReleasedMarch 2013July 2007Newer by 68 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution921k230kCrisper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Leica M8 and Sony NEX-6

 M8 NEX-6 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-6 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to travel with your camera often, you have to take into account its weight and size. The Leica M8 offers exterior 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-6 has specifications of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") and a weight of 345 grams (0.76 lbs).

Check the Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-6 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select at that moment. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the M8 vs the NEX-6.

Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-6 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the M8 and NEX-6 is 79 and 85 respectively.

Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-6 top view buttons comparison

Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-6 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to picture the difference in sensor dimensions simply by going through technical specs. The pic below might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the M8 and NEX-6.

As you can tell, both the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The M8 featuring a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF simpler and the Sony NEX-6 will show greater detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics more aggressively. The more aged M8 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-6 sensor size comparison

Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-6 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-6 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica M8 Portrait photography info
Sony NEX-6 Portrait photography info
54
manual focus
decent sensor size (APS-H)
saves RAW files
does not have liveview
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
74
manual focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports face detect focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Leica M8 as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-6 as a Street photography camera
62
decent sensor size (APS-H)
saves RAW files
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
78
screen tilts
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (345 grams)
good ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Leica M8 Sports photography information
Sony NEX-6 Sports photography information
43
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
decent sensor size (APS-H)
better than average battery (550 CIPA)
does not have liveview
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10MP)
doesn't have phase detect AF
66
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Leica M8 Travel photography info
Sony NEX-6 Travel photography info
51
better than average battery (550 shots)
lack of Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (10MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
75
lighter than competition in class (345 grams)
decent megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Leica M8 Landscape photography features
Sony NEX-6 Landscape photography features
55
manual focus
swap lenses (Leica M mount)
decent sensor size (APS-H)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
saves RAW files
better than average battery (550 CIPA)
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
does not have liveview
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse recording
75
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3")
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica M8 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-6 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video
32
supports face detect focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (345 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have microphone jack
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Leica M8 vs Sony NEX-6 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica M8 and Sony NEX-6
 Leica M8Sony Alpha NEX-6
General Information
Make Leica Sony
Model type Leica M8 Sony Alpha NEX-6
Category Pro Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2007-07-31 2013-03-25
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 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 486.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3936 x 2630 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 2500 25600
Minimum native ISO 160 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 99
Lens
Lens mount type Leica M Sony E
Available lenses 59 121
Crop factor 1.3 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.5" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech - Xtra Fine LCD with Tilt Up 90� and Down 45�
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (rangefinder) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed - 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.00 m
Flash settings Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 591 gr (1.30 lb) 345 gr (0.76 lb)
Physical dimensions 139 x 80 x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") 120 x 67 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 59 78
DXO Color Depth rating 21.1 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.3 13.1
DXO Low light rating 663 1018
Other
Battery life 550 photos 360 photos
Style 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 With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $4,400 $365