Leica M9 vs Olympus E-M1 III

Its time to look more in depth at the Leica M9 vs Olympus E-M1 III, both Pro Mirrorless cameras by brands Leica and Olympus. The resolution of the M9 (18MP) and the E-M1 III (20MP) is fairly comparable but the M9 (Full frame) and E-M1 III (Four Thirds) posses totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The M9 was manufactured 11 years before the E-M1 III and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Leica M9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-M1 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going right into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief view of how the M9 grades against the E-M1 III in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Leica M9 and Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III. The entire galleries are viewable at Leica M9 Gallery and Olympus E-M1 III Gallery.

If you're intending to carry your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor its weight and measurements. The Leica M9 enjoys exterior measurements of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") along with a weight of 585 grams (1.29 lbs) while the Olympus E-M1 III has proportions of 134mm x 91mm x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") having a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs).

Examine the Leica M9 vs Olympus E-M1 III in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the M9 vs the E-M1 III.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the M9 and E-M1 III is 79 and 67 respectively.

Normally, it is hard to envision the gap in sensor sizing simply by going through specifications. The photograph underneath will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the M9 and E-M1 III.

To sum up, the two cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The M9 due to its larger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Olympus E-M1 III will produce more detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will let you crop images way more aggressively. The older M9 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.