M11 Monochromvs Olympus OM-D E-M5 III
Leica
M11 Monochrom (2023)
Starting from £8300 new
Best for Black & White Photography
View M11 Monochrom
OM System
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019)
Starting from £699 new
Best for Travel & lightweight outdoor photography
View Olympus OM-D E-M5 III
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Black & White Photography — M11 Monochrom (2023): The M11 Monochrom is the finest black-and-white camera in the world. A 60MP sensor with no colour filter array produces sharpness and tonal depth no colour camera can match — combined with extended high-ISO performance. Manual focus, no video, and an extraordinary price make it a specialist instrument, but for dedicated B&W photographers it is unmatched.
Travel & Lightweight Outdoor Photography — Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019): The lightest weather-sealed MFT camera — compact, travel-friendly, and capable with 7.5-stop IBIS in a body that fits in a jacket pocket.
Who should buy what
M11 Monochrom (2023)
- Dedicated black-and-white photographers who demand the finest possible monochrome files
- Fine art and documentary photographers who work exclusively in B&W
- Leica M system users who want maximum monochrome image quality
- Astrophotographers — monochrome sensors excel at capturing fine star detail
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019)
- Travel photographers who want a compact, weather-sealed MFT body
- Outdoor photographers upgrading from the E-M10 who want better sealing
- Enthusiasts who want strong IBIS in a lightweight, portable system
- Photographers who want a capable travel camera that won't weigh them down
Quick take: The m11 monochrom has the highest resolution at 60mp; the olympus om-d e-m5 iii is the most affordable; only the olympus om-d e-m5 iii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | M11 Monochrom (2023) | Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £8,300 | £699 |
| Sensor | 60.3MP Full-Frame Monochrome BSI CMOS (no colour filter array) | 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS |
| Resolution | 60.3MP | 20.4MP |
| Video | — | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Manual focus rangefinder (no autofocus) | Hybrid phase/contrast AF with face/eye detection |
| Stabilisation | — | 7.5-stop 5-axis IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 30fps electronic / 10fps mechanical |
| Battery Life | ~700 shots (CIPA) | 390 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 530g (body only) | 414g body only |
| Dimensions | 138.6 × 80.0 × 38.5mm | 125.3 × 85.2 × 49.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Optical rangefinder, 0.73× magnification | 0.35" OLED EVF, 2.36M dots |
| Screen | 2.3" touchscreen LCD, 2.33M dots | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Leica M-mount | Micro Four Thirds |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot + 64GB internal storage | Single SD UHS-I |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | M11 Monochrom | Olympus OM-D E-M5 III |
|---|---|---|
| Street | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Astrophotography | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Casual | — | |
| Sports & Action | ||
| Vlogging & Video |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with M11 Monochrom
Camera family history