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Leica M9-P vs Olympus E-P3

Portability
78
Imaging
64
Features
30
Overall
50
Leica M9-P front
 
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52

Leica M9-P vs Olympus E-P3 Key Specs

Leica M9-P
(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
Olympus E-P3
(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  • Superseded the Olympus E-P2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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Leica M9-P vs Olympus E-P3 Overview

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.

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The 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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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 dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution614k230kCrisper display (+384k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Leica M9-P and Olympus E-P3

 M9-P E-P3 
AnnouncedJune 2011August 2011Same age
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Display typeFixed 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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Leica M9-P vs Olympus E-P3 size comparison

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 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Leica M9-P vs Olympus E-P3 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica M9-P vs Olympus E-P3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Leica M9-P
Portrait photography with Olympus E-P3
70
you can focus manually
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
does not have liveview
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Leica M9-P Street photography information
Olympus E-P3 Street photography information
64
big sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
76
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
offers touch to focus
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Leica M9-P as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-P3 as a Sports photography camera
44
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
does not have liveview
continuous shooting slow (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
terrible battery life (350 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Leica M9-P
Travel photography with Olympus E-P3
54
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
terrible battery life (350 shots)
does not have selfie friendly screen
60
offers touch to focus
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Leica M9-P Landscape photography information
Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography information
60
you can focus manually
change lenses (Leica M mount)
MP count decent (18MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
no anti-alias filter
delivers RAW files
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
does not have liveview
no image stabilization
terrible battery life (350 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
65
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica M9-P as a Vlogging camera
Olympus E-P3 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video recording
35
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of external mic jack
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Leica M9-P vs Olympus E-P3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica M9-P and Olympus E-P3
 Leica M9-POlympus 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