Leica M9-P vs Olympus E-P3
78 Imaging
63 Features
30 Overall
49
86 Imaging
47 Features
60 Overall
52
Leica M9-P vs Olympus E-P3 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 18MP - Full frame Sensor
- 2.5" Fixed Screen
- ISO 80 - 2500
- No Anti-Alias Filter
- No Video
- Leica M Mount
- 600g - 139 x 80 x 37mm
- Released June 2011
- Replaced the Leica M9
(Full Review)
- 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 12800
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 369g - 122 x 69 x 34mm
- Announced August 2011
- Superseded the Olympus E-P2
- Successor is Olympus E-P5
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Following is a extensive review of the Leica M9-P vs Olympus E-P3, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Leica and Olympus. There exists a sizable gap among the image resolutions of the M9-P (18MP) and E-P3 (12MP) and the M9-P (Full frame) and E-P3 (Four Thirds) provide different sensor size.
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next monthThe M9-P was released about the same time to the E-P3 and they are of a similar age. Both cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).
Before getting straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a brief summary of how the M9-P matches up versus the E-P3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.
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Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Leica M9-P & Olympus PEN E-P3. The complete galleries are provided at Leica M9-P Gallery & Olympus E-P3 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Leica M9-P over the Olympus E-P3
| M9-P | E-P3 |
|---|
Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Leica M9-P
| E-P3 | M9-P | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display dimensions | 3" | 2.5" | Larger display (+0.5") | |
| Display resolution | 614k | 230k | Crisper display (+384k dot) | |
| Touch friendly display | Easily navigate |
Common features in the Leica M9-P and Olympus E-P3
| M9-P | E-P3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Announced | June 2011 | August 2011 | Same age | |
| Manually focus | Very exact focusing | |||
| Display type | Fixed | Fixed | Fixed display | |
| Selfie screen | Lacking selfie screen |
Leica M9-P vs Olympus E-P3 Physical Comparison
In case you're planning to carry around your camera, you need to factor its weight and proportions. The Leica M9-P has got outside dimensions of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") having a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) and the Olympus E-P3 has measurements of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") with a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs).
Check the Leica M9-P vs Olympus E-P3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are using during that time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the M9-P vs the E-P3.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the M9-P and E-P3 is 78 and 86 respectively.
Leica M9-P vs Olympus E-P3 Sensor Comparison
More often than not, it is very hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizes simply by researching a spec sheet. The picture here will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the M9-P and E-P3.
Clearly, each of the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The M9-P featuring a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Leica M9-P will render extra detail as a result of its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop images a bit more aggressively.
Leica M9-P vs Olympus E-P3 Screen and ViewFinder
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Leica M9-P vs Olympus E-P3 Specifications
| Leica M9-P | Olympus PEN E-P3 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Brand Name | Leica | Olympus |
| Model type | Leica M9-P | Olympus PEN E-P3 |
| Category | Pro Mirrorless | Entry-Level Mirrorless |
| Released | 2011-06-21 | 2011-08-17 |
| Body design | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Powered by | - | TruePic VI |
| Sensor type | CCD | CMOS |
| Sensor size | Full frame | Four Thirds |
| Sensor dimensions | 36 x 24mm | 17.3 x 13mm |
| Sensor surface area | 864.0mm² | 224.9mm² |
| Sensor resolution | 18 megapixels | 12 megapixels |
| Anti alias filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 3:2 | 4:3 |
| Highest Possible resolution | 5212 x 3472 | 4032 x 3024 |
| Maximum native ISO | 2500 | 12800 |
| Lowest native ISO | 80 | 100 |
| RAW pictures | ||
| Autofocusing | ||
| Manual focusing | ||
| AF touch | ||
| Continuous AF | ||
| AF single | ||
| AF tracking | ||
| AF selectice | ||
| AF center weighted | ||
| AF multi area | ||
| Live view AF | ||
| Face detection focusing | ||
| Contract detection focusing | ||
| Phase detection focusing | ||
| Total focus points | - | 35 |
| Lens | ||
| Lens mount type | Leica M | Micro Four Thirds |
| Number of lenses | 59 | 107 |
| Focal length multiplier | 1 | 2.1 |
| Screen | ||
| Range of screen | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
| Screen diagonal | 2.5 inches | 3 inches |
| Screen resolution | 230 thousand dot | 614 thousand dot |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch friendly | ||
| Screen technology | TFT color LCD | 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating |
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder | Optical (rangefinder) | Electronic (optional) |
| Viewfinder magnification | 0.68x | - |
| Features | ||
| Minimum shutter speed | 4 secs | 60 secs |
| Fastest shutter speed | 1/4000 secs | 1/4000 secs |
| Continuous shutter speed | 2.0 frames per sec | 3.0 frames per sec |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Expose Manually | ||
| Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
| Set WB | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Integrated flash | ||
| Flash distance | no built-in flash | 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) |
| Flash modes | Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) |
| External flash | ||
| Auto exposure bracketing | ||
| White balance bracketing | ||
| Fastest flash sync | - | 1/180 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 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
| Maximum video resolution | None | 1920x1080 |
| Video format | - | AVCHD, Motion JPEG |
| Mic 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 | 600 gr (1.32 pounds) | 369 gr (0.81 pounds) |
| Physical dimensions | 139 x 80 x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") | 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") |
| DXO scores | ||
| DXO Overall rating | 68 | 51 |
| DXO Color Depth rating | 22.5 | 20.8 |
| DXO Dynamic range rating | 11.6 | 10.1 |
| DXO Low light rating | 854 | 536 |
| Other | ||
| Battery life | 350 photographs | 330 photographs |
| Style of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
| Battery ID | - | BLS-5 |
| Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes (2 or 12 sec) |
| Time lapse recording | ||
| Storage media | SD/SDHC card | SD/SDHC/SDXC card |
| Storage slots | Single | Single |
| Launch pricing | $7,995 | $0 |