Leica M9 vs Sony A850

On this page, we are matching up the Leica M9 vs Sony A850, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Leica and Sony. There is a significant difference among the sensor resolutions of the M9 (18MP) and A850 (25MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor sizes (Full frame).

Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

The M9 was manufactured 7 months before the A850 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Leica M9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting right into a full comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the M9 matches up vs the A850 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Leica M9 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A850. The entire galleries are provided at Leica M9 Gallery and Sony A850 Gallery.

For those who are planning to carry around your camera often, you have to take into account its weight and size. The Leica M9 provides physical measurements of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 585 grams (1.29 lbs) while the Sony A850 has specifications of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Contrast the Leica M9 vs Sony A850 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you use at that time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the M9 versus the A850.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the M9 and A850 is 79 and 54 respectively.

In many cases, it can be difficult to picture the gap in sensor sizes simply by looking through a spec sheet. The picture below may offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the M9 and A850.

As you can see, both of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You should expect to see the Sony A850 to render extra detail due to its extra 7MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images a bit more aggressively. The more aged M9 will be behind in sensor tech.