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Leica M9-P vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
78
Imaging
64
Features
30
Overall
50
Leica M9-P front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Leica M9-P vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Leica M9-P
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 2500
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • No Video
  • Leica M Mount
  • 600g - 139 x 80 x 37mm
  • Announced June 2011
  • Succeeded the Leica M9
Sony NEX-3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 297g - 117 x 62 x 33mm
  • Revealed June 2010
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-C3
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Leica M9-P vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

On this page, we will be evaluating the Leica M9-P and Sony NEX-3, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Leica and Sony. There is a big difference between the resolutions of the M9-P (18MP) and NEX-3 (14MP) and the M9-P (Full frame) and NEX-3 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor size.

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The M9-P was brought out 13 months after the NEX-3 which makes them a generation away from each other. The two cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving into a complete comparison, here is a quick summation of how the M9-P matches up versus the NEX-3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Leica M9-P over the Sony NEX-3

 M9-P NEX-3 
RevealedJune 2011June 2010More modern by 13 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Leica M9-P

 NEX-3 M9-P 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution920k230kClearer screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Leica M9-P and Sony NEX-3

 M9-P NEX-3 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Leica M9-P vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Leica M9-P provides exterior dimensions of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") along with a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) while the Sony NEX-3 has dimensions of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Look at the Leica M9-P and Sony NEX-3 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the M9-P and the NEX-3.

Leica M9-P vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the M9-P and NEX-3 is 78 and 89 respectively.

Leica M9-P vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Leica M9-P vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to see the difference between sensor sizes purely by reviewing technical specs. The image below may give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the M9-P and NEX-3.

As you have seen, both cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The M9-P because of its bigger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field simpler and the Leica M9-P will offer more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots more aggressively. The fresher M9-P will have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Leica M9-P vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Leica M9-P vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica M9-P vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica M9-P Portrait photography factors
Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography factors
70
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
no liveview feature
72
you can focus manually
good resolution (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Leica M9-P as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Street photography camera
64
big sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
76
tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Leica M9-P Sports photography factors
Sony NEX-3 Sports photography factors
44
megapixel count decent (18MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
no liveview feature
max frames per second low (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
low battery life (350 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
52
good resolution (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Leica M9-P Travel photography info
Sony NEX-3 Travel photography info
54
megapixel count decent (18MP)
missing Time Lapse mode
low battery life (350 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
59
good resolution (14MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Leica M9-P Landscape photography info
Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography info
60
has manual focus
swap lenses (Leica M mount)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
does not have low pass filter
delivers RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.5")
no liveview feature
lack of image stabilization
low battery life (350 shots)
missing Time Lapse mode
68
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
good resolution (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica M9-P Vlogging advice
Sony NEX-3 Vlogging advice
9
no video recording
27
supports face detect autofocus
does not have a selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have mic support
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Leica M9-P vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica M9-P and Sony NEX-3
 Leica M9-PSony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Brand Name Leica Sony
Model Leica M9-P Sony Alpha NEX-3
Category Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2011-06-21 2010-06-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor dimensions 36 x 24mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 864.0mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5212 x 3472 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 2500 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount Leica M Sony E
Total lenses 59 121
Focal length multiplier 1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 2.5" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT color LCD TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (rangefinder) None
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x -
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 2.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash settings Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 600 gr (1.32 lb) 297 gr (0.65 lb)
Physical dimensions 139 x 80 x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 68 68
DXO Color Depth score 22.5 22.1
DXO Dynamic range score 11.6 12.0
DXO Low light score 854 830
Other
Battery life 350 shots 330 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail cost $7,995 $0