Leica
M9
 vs
Nikon
D4

Nikon D4

76
Winner

Nikon D4

Reasons to buy the Nikon D4

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
89.0
Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Screen size
 Large screen
3.2"
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
11 fps
Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
2,965 ISO
Leica M9

48
Runner-up

Leica M9

Reasons to buy the Leica M9

Size
 Really small
Mid size 139x80x37 mm
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Thickness
 Thin
1.5"
Weight
 Light-weight
585 g

differences

Advantages of the Leica M9
Size Much smaller 139x80x37 mm vs 160x157x91 mm
Help
 5.6x smaller
Weight Much lighter 585 g vs 1,340 g
Help
 2.3x lighter
Thickness Much thinner 1.5" vs 3.6"
Help
 2.5x thinner
True resolution Higher true resolution 18.1 MP vs 15.9 MP
Help
 Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
Leica M9 Learn more about
the Leica M9

Advantages of the Nikon D4
Battery life Much longer battery life 2600 shots vs 600 shots
Help
 Around 4.5x more shots per battery charge
Screen size Much larger screen 3.2" vs 2.5"
Help
 Around 30% larger screen
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 4x higher resolution screen
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 89.0 vs 69.0
Help
 Around 30% better image quality
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 2,965 ISO vs 884 ISO
Help
 The D4 has excellent image quality 1.7 f-stops higher ISO than the M9
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 204,800 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 2,500 ISO
Help
 The D4's maximum light sensitivity is 2.4 f-stops better
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
 Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 121 lenses vs 22 lenses
Help
 5.5x more lenses available
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 11 fps vs 2 fps
Help
 5.5x faster continuous shooting
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.1 EV vs 11.7 EV
Help
 1.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
 Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Color depth Better color depth 24.7 bits vs 22.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 2.2 more bits of color
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Viewfinder Has a through-the-lens viewfinder Pentaprism vs Rangefinder
Help
 Through-the-lens viewfinders let you see exactly what your photo will look like
Lowest price Cheaper $5,999.00 vs $6,995.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $996 cheaper (more than 10% less)
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 30s vs 4s
Help
 7.5x longer exposures
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Nikon D4 Learn more about
the Nikon D4
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Leica M9 Leica M9
48 vs 76
Explain scores
Nikon D4 Nikon D4
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D4. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a mirrorless interchangeable-lens with a pro DSLR.

advice

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0
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by Phoenix-Mayet 5 days ago
Leica M9 vs Nikon D4

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1
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by John-Newton last month
Nikon D4 vs Nikon D800

I am no expert on cinematography, but some friends of mine and I produce low budget (actually no...

One person recommends the Nikon D800:

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0
votes
by Judson-Abts last month
Nikon D4 vs Nikon D800

I currently have the D3x and D7000.  I shoot some commercial, some events, some video.  I am try...

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
True resolution Capture extremely high resolution images Help
M9:18.1 MP
D4:15.9 MP
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Battery life Great battery life Help
M9:600 shots
D4:2600 shots
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
Color depth Good color depth Help
M9:22.5 bits
D4:24.7 bits
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
M9:Rangefinder
D4:Pentaprism
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
M9:1/4000s
D4:1/8000s
Lowest price Very expensive Help
M9:$6,995.00
D4:$5,999.00
Built-in flash No built-in flash Help
Professional
Weight Heavy Help
M9:585 g
D4:1,340 g
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is much less expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D800 vs the M9
Compare the D800 vs the D4
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR

$5,197 body only
Battery life Has a much longer battery life
Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the D3S vs the M9
Compare the D3S vs the D4
Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,499 - $3,500 body only

$4,299 - $4,300 with 24-105mm lens
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Light sensitivity Much higher maximum light sensitivity
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the M9
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D4
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Lowest price Is much less expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D7000 vs the M9
Compare the D7000 vs the D4
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,198 body only

$2,898 - $2,999 with 24-105mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is much less expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the M9
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D4
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the M9
Compare the D5100 vs the D4
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,349 body only
Lowest price Is much less expensive
Built-in flash Has a built-in flash
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the D700 vs the M9
Compare the D700 vs the D4

Leica M9 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Fujifilm X-Pro1

Fujifilm X-Pro1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,991 - $2,298 body only
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Movie format Shoots movies
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
Battery life Shorter battery life
Compare the X-Pro1 vs the M9
Fujifilm FinePix X100

Fujifilm FinePix X100

Boutique

$1,199
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Movie format Shoots movies
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Compare the FinePix X100 vs the M9
Leica M8

Leica M8

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed
Longest exposure Slightly longer exposures
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
Compare the M8 vs the M9
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,200 body only

$1,350 - $1,499 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Shoots movies
Screen size Much larger screen
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
Battery life Shorter battery life
Compare the NEX-7 vs the M9

Nikon D4 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 1D X

Canon EOS 1D X

Pro DSLR

$6,799 - $6,800 body only
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Weight Heavier
Compare the EOS 1D X vs the D4
Nikon D3X

Nikon D3X

Pro DSLR

$7,997 - $8,000 body only
Battery life Much longer battery life
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the D3X vs the D4
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Pro DSLR

$2,000 - $5,930 body only
Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points
Size Smaller
Battery life Much shorter battery life
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the EOS-1D Mark IV vs the D4

appearance

Leica M9 Nikon D4
Leica M9 Nikon D4
Leica M9 Nikon D4

discussion

Showing 1 comments

Hamad222 (9:18 AM, March 01, 2012)
Leica M9 p with black color is the camera for all of us . I have a nikon d3s with most of the nikon lenses there , I am happy but tiered of carrying all and deciding which to take and which to leave at home. I found out that the nikon D3s scares people and I am a hobist not a journalist so I will sell all nikon and buy the balck Beauty Leica M9-P and rediscover photography once again..........