Leica M9 vs Sony a5000

On this page, we are looking at the Leica M9 versus Sony a5000, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Leica and Sony. The image resolution of the M9 (18MP) and the a5000 (20MP) is fairly close but the M9 (Full frame) and a5000 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The M9 was announced 5 years earlier than the a5000 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting straight to a full comparison, here is a simple summary of how the M9 grades versus the a5000 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Leica M9 and Sony Alpha a5000. The whole galleries are viewable at Leica M9 Gallery and Sony a5000 Gallery.

If you are going to travel with your camera often, you'll have to factor in its weight and size. The Leica M9 comes with physical dimensions of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 585 grams (1.29 lbs) and the Sony a5000 has specifications of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Compare the Leica M9 versus Sony a5000 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you use at that moment. Underneath is a front view over all size comparison of the M9 compared to the a5000.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the M9 and a5000 is 79 and 89 respectively.

Normally, it is difficult to see the difference in sensor dimensions merely by researching technical specs. The image underneath should give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the M9 and a5000.

As you can tell, the two cameras have different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The M9 with its larger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field simpler and the Sony a5000 will result in more detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more aged M9 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.