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Leica M9-P vs Sony A7

Portability
78
Imaging
64
Features
30
Overall
50
Leica M9-P front
 
Sony Alpha A7 front
Portability
78
Imaging
71
Features
80
Overall
74

Leica M9-P vs Sony A7 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
  • Revealed June 2011
  • Earlier Model is Leica M9
Sony A7
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 50 - 25600
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 474g - 127 x 94 x 48mm
  • Launched January 2014
  • Successor is Sony A7 II
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Leica M9-P vs Sony A7 Overview

Below is a complete analysis of the Leica M9-P versus Sony A7, both Pro Mirrorless digital cameras by manufacturers Leica and Sony. There is a large difference between the resolutions of the M9-P (18MP) and A7 (24MP) but they possess the exact same sensor sizing (Full frame).

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The M9-P was launched 3 years prior to the A7 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Leica M9-P being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A7 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight into a in depth comparison, below is a concise overview of how the M9-P matches up vs the A7 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Leica M9-P over the Sony A7

 M9-P A7 

Reasons to pick Sony A7 over the Leica M9-P

 A7 M9-P 
LaunchedJanuary 2014June 2011More recent by 31 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1230k230kSharper display (+1000k dot)

Common features in the Leica M9-P and Sony A7

 M9-P A7 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Leica M9-P vs Sony A7 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to lug around your camera regularly, you will want to think about its weight and dimensions. The Leica M9-P comes with outside measurements of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) and the Sony A7 has dimensions of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") with a weight of 474 grams (1.04 lbs).

Check out the Leica M9-P versus Sony A7 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you select during that time. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the M9-P and the A7.

Leica M9-P vs Sony A7 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the M9-P and A7 is 78 and 78 respectively.

Leica M9-P vs Sony A7 top view buttons comparison

Leica M9-P vs Sony A7 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's tough to picture the gap between sensor measurements only by checking a spec sheet. The visual below might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the M9-P and A7.

Clearly, each of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different resolution. You can anticipate the Sony A7 to give more detail utilizing its extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The older M9-P is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Leica M9-P vs Sony A7 sensor size comparison

Leica M9-P vs Sony A7 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica M9-P vs Sony A7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Leica M9-P
Portrait photography with Sony A7
70
focusing manually
MP count decent (18MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
does not have liveview
82
you can focus manually
MP count decent (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
has face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Leica M9-P
Street photography with Sony A7
64
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
79
screen tilts up and down
big sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
lighter than competition (474g)
good ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Leica M9-P
Sports photography with Sony A7
44
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
does not have liveview
low frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery life (350 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
66
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
MP count decent (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
weather sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
bad battery (340 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Leica M9-P Travel photography details
Sony A7 Travel photography details
54
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
terrible battery life (350 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than competition (474 grams)
weather sealing
MP count decent (24MP)
bad battery (340 CIPA)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Leica M9-P Landscape photography factors
Sony A7 Landscape photography factors
60
focusing manually
swap lenses (Leica M mount)
MP count decent (18MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
does not have anti aliasing filter
delivers RAW formats
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
does not have liveview
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery life (350 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
76
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
no image stabilization
bad battery (340 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica M9-P Vlogging information
Sony A7 Vlogging information
9
lack of video recording
36
has face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external mic jack
lighter than competition (474 grams)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
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Leica M9-P vs Sony A7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica M9-P and Sony A7
 Leica M9-PSony Alpha A7
General Information
Brand Name Leica Sony
Model type Leica M9-P Sony Alpha A7
Class Pro Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Revealed 2011-06-21 2014-01-22
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Full frame Full frame
Sensor dimensions 36 x 24mm 35.8 x 23.9mm
Sensor area 864.0mm² 855.6mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5212 x 3472 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 2500 25600
Min native ISO 80 50
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 117
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type Leica M Sony E
Amount of lenses 59 121
Crop factor 1 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 2.5 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 1,230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT color LCD Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (rangefinder) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x 0.71x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync no built-in flash
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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 600 grams (1.32 lb) 474 grams (1.04 lb)
Dimensions 139 x 80 x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") 127 x 94 x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 68 90
DXO Color Depth rating 22.5 24.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.6 14.2
DXO Low light rating 854 2248
Other
Battery life 350 pictures 340 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $7,995 $798