Leica M9
Winner
Leica M9

59

vs
Leica M8

41

Leica M8
Runner-up
 
 
 
 

Reasons to buy the Leica M9

Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Size
 Really small
Mid size 139x80x37 mm
Interchangeable lenses
 Interchangeable lenses
Many lenses to choose from
Thickness
 Thin
1.5"
 

Reasons to buy the Leica M8

Size
 Really small
Mid size 139x80x37 mm
Interchangeable lenses
 Interchangeable lenses
Many lenses to choose from
Thickness
 Thin
1.5"
Weight
 Light-weight
591 g
 
Differences | Recommendations | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Leica M8
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Longest exposure Slightly longer exposures 8s vs 4s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Leica M8 Learn more about
the Leica M8

Advantages of the Leica M9
Color depth Better color depth 22.5 bits vs 21.1 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.4 more bits of color
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 884 ISO vs 663 ISO
Help
 The M9 has a slight edge (0.4 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 18.1 MP vs 10.4 MP
Help
 Capture more than 70% more detail in your photos
Overall image quality Better image quality 69.0 vs 59.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-C 27.0x18.0mm
Help
 Around 80% larger sensor
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.7 EV vs 11.3 EV
Help
 0.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Continuous shooting Supports continuous shooting 2 fps vs None
Help
 Allows taking many pictures in rapid succession
Leica M9 Learn more about
the Leica M9
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Leica M8 Leica M8
41 vs 59
Explain scores
Leica M9 Leica M9
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Leica M9.

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Viewfinder Both have rangefinder viewfinders Help
Rangefinder
Sensor size Large sensors Help
M8:APS-C 27.0x18.0mm
M9:Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
External flash Each supports an external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor type Lower-end sensor types Help
CCD
Longest exposure Short max exposure time Help
M8:8s
M9:4s
Built-in flash No built-in flash Help
Professional
Weight Heavy Help
M8:591 g
M9:585 g
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
Live view No live view Help
Preview with viewfinder
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Screen size Very small screens Help
2.5"
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
2,500 ISO
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Continuous shooting Poor or no continuous shooting Help
M8:None
M9:2 fps
Movie format Do not shoot movies Help
No movies

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Fujifilm FinePix X100

Fujifilm FinePix X100

Boutique

$1,565
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the FinePix X100 vs the M8
Compare the FinePix X100 vs the M9
Leica M Typ 240

Leica M Typ 240

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens
Low light performance Is much less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the M Typ 240 vs the M8
Compare the M Typ 240 vs the M9
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1

Boutique

$2,780 - $2,798
Low light performance Is much less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 vs the M8
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 vs the M9
Fujifilm X-Pro1

Fujifilm X-Pro1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,199 body only

$1,599 with 18-55mm lens
Screen size Has a much larger screen
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the X-Pro1 vs the M8
Compare the X-Pro1 vs the M9
Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,250 - $3,299 body only

$3,800 - $3,899 with 24-105mm lens
Low light performance Is much less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the M8
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the M9
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,405 body only

$2,699 - $3,000 with 24-105mm lens
Low light performance Is much less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the M8
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the M9
Fujifilm X-E1

Fujifilm X-E1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$799 - $1,000 body only

$1,199 with 18-55mm lens
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Sensor size Has a marginally smaller sensor
Compare the X-E1 vs the M8
Compare the X-E1 vs the M9

Leica M8 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Leica D-Lux 6

Leica D-Lux 6

Pro digicam

$799
Screen size Much larger screen
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Interchangeable lenses Built-in lens only
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
Compare the D-Lux 6 vs the M8

Leica M9 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,797 body only

$3,187 with 70-300mm lens
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Screen size Much larger screen
Size Much larger
Thickness Much thicker
Compare the D800 vs the M9
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Screen size Much larger screen
Lens availability Much more lenses available
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
Size Much larger
Compare the D7000 vs the M9

appearance

Leica M8 Leica M9
Leica M8 Leica M9
Leica M8 Leica M9

discussion

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