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Leica M9 vs Sony a5100

Portability
79
Imaging
63
Features
30
Overall
49
Leica M9 front
 
Sony Alpha a5100 front
Portability
89
Imaging
66
Features
74
Overall
69

Leica M9 vs Sony a5100 Key Specs

Leica M9
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 2500
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • No Video
  • Leica M Mount
  • 585g - 139 x 80 x 37mm
  • Released September 2009
  • Newer Model is Leica M9-P
Sony a5100
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 283g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
  • Introduced August 2014
  • Replaced the Sony a5000
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Leica M9 vs Sony a5100 Overview

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.

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Reasons to pick Leica M9 over the Sony a5100

 M9 a5100 

Reasons to pick Sony a5100 over the Leica M9

 a5100 M9 
IntroducedAugust 2014September 2009Newer by 60 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution922k230kSharper screen (+692k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Leica M9 and Sony a5100

 M9 a5100 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Leica M9 vs Sony a5100 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Leica M9 vs Sony a5100 size comparison

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

Leica M9 vs Sony a5100 top view buttons comparison

Leica M9 vs Sony a5100 Sensor Comparison

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.

Leica M9 vs Sony a5100 sensor size comparison

Leica M9 vs Sony a5100 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica M9 vs Sony a5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Leica M9
Portrait photography with Sony a5100
69
you can focus manually
good megapixels (18MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
saves RAW files
does not have liveview
72
has manual focus
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
saves RAW files
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Leica M9
Street photography with Sony a5100
65
sensor size is great (Full frame)
saves RAW files
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
82
tilting screen
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
features focus by touch
good high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Leica M9 Sports photography advice
Sony a5100 Sports photography advice
44
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
does not have liveview
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
bad battery (350 per charge)
lack of phase detect auto focus
68
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
great battery (400 per charge)
supports phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Leica M9 as a Travel photography camera
Sony a5100 as a Travel photography camera
54
good megapixels (18MP)
lack of Timelapse mode
bad battery (350 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
80
great battery (400 CIPA)
features focus by touch
megapixel count good (24MP)
has built in flash
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Leica M9 Landscape photography advice
Sony a5100 Landscape photography advice
60
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Leica M mount)
good megapixels (18MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
no low pass filter
saves RAW files
screen is small (2.5 inches)
does not have liveview
does not have image stabilization
bad battery (350 per charge)
lack of Timelapse mode
79
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
great battery (400 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
Leica struggles with L-Mount camera sales, tougher than Q or M

Vlogging Comparison

Leica M9 Vlogging factors
Sony a5100 Vlogging factors
9
no video shooting
34
built-in touchscreen
supports face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have external mic jack
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Leica M9 vs Sony a5100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica M9 and Sony a5100
 Leica M9Sony Alpha a5100
General Information
Manufacturer Leica Sony
Model Leica M9 Sony Alpha a5100
Type Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2009-09-09 2014-08-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor dimensions 36 x 24mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 864.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5212 x 3472 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 2500 25600
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 179
Lens
Lens mounting type Leica M Sony E
Number of lenses 59 121
Crop factor 1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (rangefinder) None
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync Flash off, auto, fill-flaw, slow sync, redeye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (120p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 585 gr (1.29 lb) 283 gr (0.62 lb)
Physical dimensions 139 x 80 x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") 110 x 63 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 69 80
DXO Color Depth score 22.5 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score 11.7 12.7
DXO Low light score 884 1347
Other
Battery life 350 shots 400 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous (3-5 shot))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC card SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $2,750 $448