[Leica] Comparing micro 4/3 and M8

[simon.ogilvie at gmail.com (Simon Ogilvie)]

The recent discussions about micro 4/3 (and Sony NEX) got me thinking.
 I've been using my Leica M lenses on the Panasonic micro 4/3 cameras
for a little while, and more recently with a Sony NEX-5.  I like the
results, but quite often find that critical focussing is out,
particularly at wide apertures.  This would clearly be easier to get
right on an M8, and so I've been considering "upgrading" from my M6 as
I rarely use film any more.  The only experience I've had of using an
M8 was without UV/IR filters and the results were not surprisingly a
little disappointing.  With the right filters, how would the results
compare with micro 4/3 and the Sony?  Is the larger sensor of the M8
really that much better than the Sony's APS-C?  The M8 resolution is
lower than any of the others, so presumably the photo-sites are
considerably larger?  Sadly there's no way I can afford to go the
whole hog and get an M9, so it's a used M8 I'm looking at...