Leica M9-P vs Sony A7
78 Imaging
64 Features
30 Overall
50


78 Imaging
70 Features
80 Overall
74
Leica M9-P vs Sony A7 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
- Revealed June 2011
- Earlier Model is Leica M9
(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

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).

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.

Leica M9-P vs Sony A7 Gallery
Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Leica M9-P & Sony Alpha A7. The complete galleries are available at Leica M9-P Gallery & Sony A7 Gallery.
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 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | January 2014 | ![]() | June 2011 | More recent by 31 months |
Display type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting display |
Display dimension | 3" | ![]() | 2.5" | Larger display (+0.5") |
Display resolution | 1230k | ![]() | 230k | Sharper 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.
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.

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

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 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Leica M9-P vs Sony A7 Specifications
Leica M9-P | Sony 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 |