Leica M9 vs Olympus E-PL3
79 Imaging
63 Features
30 Overall
49
88 Imaging
48 Features
52 Overall
49
Leica M9 vs Olympus E-PL3 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 18MP - Full frame Sensor
- 2.5" Fixed Display
- ISO 80 - 2500
- No Anti-Alias Filter
- No Video
- Leica M Mount
- 585g - 139 x 80 x 37mm
- Announced September 2009
- Newer Model is Leica M9-P
(Full Review)
- 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 200 - 12800
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 313g - 110 x 64 x 37mm
- Released September 2011
- Older Model is Olympus E-PL2
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Here is a complete review of the Leica M9 versus Olympus E-PL3, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Leica and Olympus. There is a sizable difference among the resolutions of the M9 (18MP) and E-PL3 (12MP) and the M9 (Full frame) and E-PL3 (Four Thirds) use different sensor sizing.
Photography GlossaryThe M9 was manufactured 24 months prior to the E-PL3 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).
Before diving through a full comparison, below is a simple summary of how the M9 matches up vs the E-PL3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.
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Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Leica M9 & Olympus PEN E-PL3. The entire galleries are available at Leica M9 Gallery & Olympus E-PL3 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Leica M9 over the Olympus E-PL3
| M9 | E-PL3 |
|---|
Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Leica M9
| E-PL3 | M9 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Released | September 2011 |  | September 2009 | Fresher by 24 months |
| Display type | Tilting |  | Fixed | Tilting display |
| Display dimension | 3" |  | 2.5" | Larger display (+0.5") |
| Display resolution | 460k |  | 230k | Clearer display (+230k dot) |
Common features in the Leica M9 and Olympus E-PL3
| M9 | E-PL3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manual focus |  | More accurate focusing | ||
| Selfie screen |  | Absent selfie screen | ||
| Touch friendly display |  | Absent Touch friendly display |
Leica M9 vs Olympus E-PL3 Physical Comparison
In case you're aiming to carry your camera, you're going to have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Leica M9 features outer dimensions of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") having a weight of 585 grams (1.29 lbs) while the Olympus E-PL3 has dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs).
Look at the Leica M9 versus Olympus E-PL3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are employing at that time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the M9 and the E-PL3.
Using size and weight, the portability score of the M9 and E-PL3 is 79 and 88 respectively.
Leica M9 vs Olympus E-PL3 Sensor Comparison
Generally, it's hard to imagine the difference in sensor sizing just by going through a spec sheet. The visual here will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the M9 and E-PL3.
As you can see, each of the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The M9 due to its larger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh easier and the Leica M9 will produce greater detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The older M9 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.
Leica M9 vs Olympus E-PL3 Screen and ViewFinder
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Leica M9 vs Olympus E-PL3 Specifications
| Leica M9 | Olympus PEN E-PL3 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Brand Name | Leica | Olympus |
| Model | Leica M9 | Olympus PEN E-PL3 |
| Category | Pro Mirrorless | Entry-Level Mirrorless |
| Announced | 2009-09-09 | 2011-09-20 |
| Physical type | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Processor | - | Truepic VI |
| Sensor type | CCD | CMOS |
| Sensor size | Full frame | Four Thirds |
| Sensor dimensions | 36 x 24mm | 17.3 x 13mm |
| Sensor surface area | 864.0mm² | 224.9mm² |
| Sensor resolution | 18MP | 12MP |
| Anti aliasing filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 3:2 | 4:3 |
| Max resolution | 5212 x 3472 | 4032 x 3024 |
| Max native ISO | 2500 | 12800 |
| Min native ISO | 80 | 200 |
| RAW format | ||
| Autofocusing | ||
| Focus manually | ||
| Touch focus | ||
| AF continuous | ||
| Single AF | ||
| Tracking AF | ||
| AF selectice | ||
| AF center weighted | ||
| Multi area AF | ||
| Live view AF | ||
| Face detect focusing | ||
| Contract detect focusing | ||
| Phase detect focusing | ||
| Number of focus points | - | 35 |
| Lens | ||
| Lens mounting type | Leica M | Micro Four Thirds |
| Available lenses | 59 | 107 |
| Crop factor | 1 | 2.1 |
| Screen | ||
| Type of display | Fixed Type | Tilting |
| Display size | 2.5 inch | 3 inch |
| Resolution of display | 230 thousand dots | 460 thousand dots |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch functionality | ||
| Display technology | TFT color LCD | HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating |
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder | Optical (rangefinder) | Electronic (optional) |
| Viewfinder magnification | 0.68x | - |
| Features | ||
| Min shutter speed | 4 secs | 60 secs |
| Max shutter speed | 1/4000 secs | 1/4000 secs |
| Continuous shutter rate | 2.0 frames per sec | 6.0 frames per sec |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Expose Manually | ||
| Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
| Set WB | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Built-in flash | ||
| Flash range | no built-in flash | no built-in flash |
| Flash modes | Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) |
| External flash | ||
| AEB | ||
| WB bracketing | ||
| Max flash synchronize | 1/180 secs | 1/160 secs |
| Exposure | ||
| Multisegment metering | ||
| Average metering | ||
| Spot metering | ||
| Partial metering | ||
| AF area metering | ||
| Center weighted metering | ||
| Video features | ||
| Supported video resolutions | - | 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
| Max video resolution | None | 1920x1080 |
| Video format | - | AVCHD, Motion JPEG |
| Mic port | ||
| Headphone port | ||
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | None | None |
| Bluetooth | ||
| NFC | ||
| HDMI | ||
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| GPS | None | None |
| Physical | ||
| Environment sealing | ||
| Water proof | ||
| Dust proof | ||
| Shock proof | ||
| Crush proof | ||
| Freeze proof | ||
| Weight | 585g (1.29 lbs) | 313g (0.69 lbs) |
| Dimensions | 139 x 80 x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") | 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") |
| DXO scores | ||
| DXO Overall score | 69 | 52 |
| DXO Color Depth score | 22.5 | 20.9 |
| DXO Dynamic range score | 11.7 | 10.3 |
| DXO Low light score | 884 | 499 |
| Other | ||
| Battery life | 350 pictures | 300 pictures |
| Battery type | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
| Battery model | - | BLS-5 |
| Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes (2 or 12 sec) |
| Time lapse recording | ||
| Storage type | SD/SDHC card | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
| Card slots | One | One |
| Price at release | $2,750 | $399 |