MP 0.72vs Olympus OM-D E-M5 III
Leica
MP 0.72 (2003)
Starting from £4850 new
Best for Street, Documentary & Reportage Film Photography
View MP 0.72
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?
Street, Documentary & Reportage Film Photography — MP 0.72 (2003): The purist's Leica — a fully mechanical 35mm rangefinder with no electronics bar the meter. Still built by hand in Wetzlar. The most honest camera ever made.
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
MP 0.72 (2003)
- Serious film photographers who want the finest rangefinder ever made
- Street and documentary photographers who shoot Kodak Tri-X or HP5
- Leica M-mount collectors and long-term lens owners
- Photographers who value mechanical precision over electronic convenience
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 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 | MP 0.72 (2003) | Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £4,850 | £699 |
| Sensor | 35mm film | 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS |
| Resolution | — | 20.4MP |
| Video | — | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Manual focus rangefinder — coupled 0.72× viewfinder | Hybrid phase/contrast AF with face/eye detection |
| Stabilisation | — | 7.5-stop 5-axis IBIS |
| Burst Rate | ~1fps (manual film advance) | 30fps electronic / 10fps mechanical |
| Battery Life | Effectively unlimited — battery powers meter only | 390 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 600g (body only) | 414g body only |
| Dimensions | 138 × 77 × 38mm | 125.3 × 85.2 × 49.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Optical rangefinder, 0.72× magnification, 28–135mm framelines | 0.35" OLED EVF, 2.36M dots |
| Screen | None | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Leica M-mount | Micro Four Thirds |
| Memory Cards | 35mm film (ISO 25–3200 recommended) | Single SD UHS-I |
| Connectivity | None | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | MP 0.72 | Olympus OM-D E-M5 III |
|---|---|---|
| Street | ||
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with MP 0.72
Camera family history