Leica M9 vs Sony NEX-3

Its time to take a closer look at the Leica M9 versus Sony NEX-3, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Leica and Sony. There is a noticeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the M9 (18MP) and NEX-3 (14MP) and the M9 (Full frame) and NEX-3 (APS-C) use totally different sensor size.

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The M9 was manufactured 9 months earlier than the NEX-3 so they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go straight into a in depth comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the M9 matches up versus the NEX-3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Leica M9 & Sony Alpha NEX-3. The entire galleries are available at Leica M9 Gallery & Sony NEX-3 Gallery.

When you are looking to lug around your camera often, you will have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Leica M9 enjoys exterior dimensions 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 NEX-3 has proportions of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Take a look at the Leica M9 versus Sony NEX-3 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the M9 against the NEX-3.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the M9 and NEX-3 is 79 and 89 respectively.

In many cases, its difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements simply by reading technical specs. The visual below should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the M9 and NEX-3.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The M9 because of its larger sensor will make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Leica M9 will offer extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics much more aggressively. The older M9 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.