Leica M9 vs Olympus E-P5

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Leica M9 vs Olympus E-P5, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Leica and Olympus. The resolution of the M9 (18MP) and the E-P5 (16MP) is fairly close but the M9 (Full frame) and E-P5 (Four Thirds) offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The M9 was manufactured 5 years before the E-P5 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple summary of how the M9 scores versus the E-P5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Leica M9 & Olympus PEN E-P5. The entire galleries are provided at Leica M9 Gallery & Olympus E-P5 Gallery.

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera, you're going to have to think about its weight and proportions. The Leica M9 comes with exterior measurements of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") and a weight of 585 grams (1.29 lbs) while the Olympus E-P5 has measurements of 122mm x 69mm x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5") with a weight of 420 grams (0.93 lbs).

See the Leica M9 vs Olympus E-P5 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose during that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the M9 and the E-P5.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the M9 and E-P5 is 79 and 85 respectively.

Normally, it is very difficult to see the difference in sensor sizing purely by looking through a spec sheet. The visual underneath might offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the M9 and E-P5.

Clearly, the two cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The M9 featuring a larger sensor will make achieving bokeh easier and the Leica M9 will provide you with more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop images way more aggressively. The older M9 will be behind in sensor technology.