With the advent of so-called mirrorless cameras we now have an alternative – several in fact. For between $500 and $1,000 there are now quite a few choices of so-called mirrorless cameras with 12 – 16MP sensors. Add a good quality lens adaptor, and just about any Leica M mount (or older screw mount) lens can be used. Total cost – about 1/10th of another M9. Image quality? Not as good as an M9, to be sure, but still quite OK, and there as a back-up when needed.
This article will look at three current alternatives, the Sony NEX-5, Panasonic GH2, and Olympus E-PL2. The Sony has an APS-C sized sensor with a 1.5X crop factor when used with a full-frame Leica lens, while the Panasonic and Olympus are Micro 4/3, with a 2X crop factor.
