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Leica M8 vs Sony FX3

Portability
79
Imaging
50
Features
31
Overall
42
Leica M8 front
 
Sony FX3 front
Portability
62
Imaging
65
Features
92
Overall
75

Leica M8 vs Sony FX3 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
  • Released July 2007
Sony FX3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.00" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 80 - 102400 (Increase to 409600)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 716g - 130 x 78 x 85mm
  • Launched February 2021
Photography Glossary

Leica M8 vs Sony FX3 Overview

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Leica M8 versus Sony FX3, both Pro Mirrorless cameras by competitors Leica and Sony. The resolution of the M8 (10MP) and the FX3 (12MP) is pretty close but the M8 (APS-H) and FX3 (Full frame) feature different sensor measurements.

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The M8 was released 14 years earlier than the FX3 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go straight into a in depth comparison, below is a quick summation of how the M8 grades against the FX3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Leica M8 over the Sony FX3

 M8 FX3 

Reasons to pick Sony FX3 over the Leica M8

 FX3 M8 
LaunchedFebruary 2021July 2007More recent by 165 months
Screen typeFully articulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen sizing3.00"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1440k230kSharper screen (+1210k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Leica M8 and Sony FX3

 M8 FX3 
Focus manually Very precise focusing

Leica M8 vs Sony FX3 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to consider its weight and measurements. The Leica M8 offers 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 FX3 has proportions of 130mm x 78mm x 85mm (5.1" x 3.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 716 grams (1.58 lbs).

Examine the Leica M8 versus Sony FX3 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you use at that time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the M8 versus the FX3.

Leica M8 vs Sony FX3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the M8 and FX3 is 79 and 62 respectively.

Leica M8 vs Sony FX3 top view buttons comparison

Leica M8 vs Sony FX3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is difficult to visualize the difference in sensor measurements purely by looking through a spec sheet. The graphic below may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the M8 and FX3.

Clearly, the two cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The M8 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more difficult and the Sony FX3 will result in extra detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The older M8 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Leica M8 vs Sony FX3 sensor size comparison

Leica M8 vs Sony FX3 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica M8 vs Sony FX3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica M8 Portrait photography highlights
Sony FX3 Portrait photography highlights
54
manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-H)
supports RAW formats
does not have liveview
megapixel count low (10MP)
71
you can focus manually
big sensor size (Full frame)
comes with face detect focus
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Leica M8 Street photography information
Sony FX3 Street photography information
62
sensor size is decent (APS-H)
supports RAW formats
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
76
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
features focus by touch
environment sealing
good ISO range (102,400)
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Sports Comparison

Leica M8 Sports photography info
Sony FX3 Sports photography info
43
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
sensor size is decent (APS-H)
better than average battery pack (550 shots)
does not have liveview
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (10MP)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
comes with tracking focus
environment sealing
great battery pack (600 shots)
supports phase detect auto focus
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
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Travel Comparison

Leica M8 Travel photography info
Sony FX3 Travel photography info
51
better than average battery pack (550 per charge)
no Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (10MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
71
great battery pack (600 CIPA)
environment sealing
supports bluetooth
features focus by touch
selfie friendly screen
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Leica M8
Landscape photography with Sony FX3
55
manual focus
switch lenses (Leica M mount)
sensor size is decent (APS-H)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (550 CIPA)
small screen (2.5")
does not have liveview
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (10MP)
no Timelapse mode
77
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3.00 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
good ISO range (102,400)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
great battery pack (600 per charge)
has dual storage slots
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica M8 Vlogging info
Sony FX3 Vlogging info
9
can't shoot video
77
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
comes with mic jack
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Leica M8 vs Sony FX3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica M8 and Sony FX3
 Leica M8Sony FX3
General Information
Company Leica Sony
Model type Leica M8 Sony FX3
Category Pro Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Released 2007-07-31 2021-02-23
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-H Full frame
Sensor dimensions 27 x 18mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 486.0mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3936 x 2630 4240 x 2832
Maximum native ISO 2500 102400
Maximum enhanced ISO - 409600
Lowest native ISO 160 80
RAW pictures
Lowest enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 759
Lens
Lens support Leica M Sony E
Available lenses 59 187
Focal length multiplier 1.3 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully articulated
Screen sizing 2.5 inch 3.00 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dot 1,440k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (rangefinder) None
Features
Min shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed - 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync no built-in flash
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 @ 120p / 280 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.265, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 100p / 280 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.265, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 200 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.265, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 50p / 200 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.265, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 140 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.265, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 140 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.265, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.265, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 120p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 100p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 25p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 24p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution None 3840x2160
Video data format - MPEG-4, XAVC S, XAVC HS, XAVC S-1, H.264, H.265
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 591 grams (1.30 lbs) 716 grams (1.58 lbs)
Dimensions 139 x 80 x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") 130 x 78 x 85mm (5.1" x 3.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 59 85
DXO Color Depth rating 21.1 24.2
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.3 13.4
DXO Low light rating 663 3900
Other
Battery life 550 pictures 600 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures))
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC card Dual SD/CFexpress Type A slots
Storage slots One 2
Launch cost $4,400 $3,900