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Leica M9 vs Olympus E-PL3

Portability
79
Imaging
63
Features
30
Overall
49
Leica M9 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49

Leica M9 vs Olympus E-PL3 Key Specs

Leica M9
(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
Olympus E-PL3
(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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Leica M9 vs Olympus E-PL3 Overview

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.

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The 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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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 
ReleasedSeptember 2011September 2009Fresher by 24 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k230kClearer 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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Leica M9 vs Olympus E-PL3 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the M9 and E-PL3 is 79 and 88 respectively.

Leica M9 vs Olympus E-PL3 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Leica M9 vs Olympus E-PL3 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica M9 vs Olympus E-PL3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica M9 Portrait photography info
Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography info
69
manual focus
good MP (18 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW files
doesn't have liveview
60
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
supports RAW files
low MP (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Leica M9 as a Street photography camera
Olympus E-PL3 as a Street photography camera
65
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW files
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
84
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Leica M9
Sports photography with Olympus E-PL3
44
good MP (18MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
doesn't have liveview
low fps (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
bad battery pack (350 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
slow frames per second (6.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
terrible battery pack (300 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Leica M9 Travel photography information
Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography information
54
good MP (18 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse function
bad battery pack (350 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
44
lack of Time Lapse recording
terrible battery pack (300 shots)
low MP (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Leica M9 Landscape photography information
Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography information
60
manual focus
switch lenses (Leica M mount)
good MP (18MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
no low pass filter
supports RAW files
screen is small (2.5")
doesn't have liveview
does not have image stabilization
bad battery pack (350 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
61
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (300 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica M9 Vlogging info
Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging info
9
no video shooting
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of mic socket
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Leica M9 vs Olympus E-PL3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica M9 and Olympus E-PL3
 Leica M9Olympus 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