Leica M9 vs Sony A7

Following is a in depth assessment of the Leica M9 and Sony A7, both Pro Mirrorless cameras by companies Leica and Sony. There is a substantial difference among the image resolutions of the M9 (18MP) and A7 (24MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor sizing (Full frame).

Photography Glossary

The M9 was announced 5 years prior to the A7 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Leica M9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A7 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple summary of how the M9 grades versus the A7 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Leica M9 & Sony Alpha A7. The whole galleries are viewable at Leica M9 Gallery & Sony A7 Gallery.

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera frequently, you should consider its weight and proportions. The Leica M9 provides outer measurements of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") with a weight of 585 grams (1.29 lbs) and the Sony A7 has measurements of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") with a weight of 474 grams (1.04 lbs).

Compare the Leica M9 and Sony A7 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the M9 compared to the A7.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the M9 and A7 is 79 and 78 respectively.

Usually, it is very hard to see the difference in sensor sizes merely by researching a spec sheet. The pic underneath should provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the M9 and A7.

As you can see, both of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same resolution. You can expect the Sony A7 to result in greater detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs more aggressively. The more aged M9 will be behind in sensor technology.