Leica M9 vs Sony a5100

The following is a in-depth overview of the Leica M9 vs Sony a5100, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Leica and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the M9 (18MP) and a5100 (24MP) and the M9 (Full frame) and a5100 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The M9 was released 6 years before the a5100 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the M9 scores versus the a5100 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Leica M9 & Sony Alpha a5100. The complete galleries are viewable at Leica M9 Gallery & Sony a5100 Gallery.

For those who are looking to travel with your camera, you need to factor its weight and size. The Leica M9 offers exterior measurements of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") along with a weight of 585 grams (1.29 lbs) while the Sony a5100 has specifications of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") and a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

Analyze the Leica M9 vs Sony a5100 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the M9 versus the a5100.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the M9 and a5100 is 79 and 89 respectively.

More often than not, its difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor dimensions just by seeing a spec sheet. The pic here might provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the M9 and a5100.

As you can see, both cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The M9 because of its bigger sensor will make getting bokeh less difficult and the Sony a5100 will produce extra detail as a result of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots more aggressively. The more aged M9 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.