Leica
M9
 vs
Nikon
D600

Nikon D600

87

  
Leica M9

51

  
Winner

Nikon D600

Reasons to buy the Nikon D600

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
94.0
Screen size
 Large screen
3.2"
True resolution
 High true resolution
24.2 MP
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
14.2 EV
Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
2,980 ISO
 
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
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Thickness
 Thin
1.5"
Weight
 Light-weight
585 g
 

differences

Advantages of the Leica M9
Size Much smaller 139x80x37 mm vs 141x113x82 mm
Help
 3.2x smaller
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.5" vs 3.2"
Help
 2.2x thinner
Weight Significantly lighter 585 g vs 850 g
Help
 More than 30% lighter
Leica M9 Learn more about
the Leica M9

Advantages of the Nikon D600
Screen size Much larger screen 3.2" vs 2.5"
Help
 Around 30% larger screen
Autofocus Autofocus Phase detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 94.0 vs 69.0
Help
 Around 40% better image quality
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
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 2,980 ISO vs 884 ISO
Help
 The D600 has excellent image quality 1.8 f-stops higher ISO than the M9
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
 Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Battery life Much longer battery life 900 shots vs 350 shots
Help
 More than 2.5x more shots per battery charge
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 24.2 MP vs 18.1 MP
Help
 Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 121 lenses vs 22 lenses
Help
 5.5x more lenses available
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.2 EV vs 11.7 EV
Help
 2.5 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
Lowest price Much cheaper $1,996.95 vs $6,750.89
Help
 The best price we've seen is $4,754 cheaper (3.4x less)
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
 Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
 A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 2,500 ISO
Help
 The D600's maximum light sensitivity is 1.4 f-stops better
Startup delay Less startup delay 300 ms vs 800 ms
Help
 2.7x less delay when turning on
Color depth Better color depth 25.1 bits vs 22.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 2.6 more bits of color
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 5.5 fps vs 2 fps
Help
 Around 3x faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
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
Longest exposure Longer exposures 30s vs 4s
Help
 7.5x longer exposures
Nikon D600 Learn more about
the Nikon D600
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Leica M9 Leica M9
51 vs 87
Explain scores
Nikon D600 Nikon D600
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D600. 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.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
M9:Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
D600:Full frame 35.9x24.0mm
True resolution Capture extremely high resolution images Help
M9:18.1 MP
D600:24.2 MP
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
M9:800 ms
D600:300 ms
Color depth Good color depth Help
M9:22.5 bits
D600:25.1 bits
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
M9:Rangefinder
D600:Pentaprism
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second
Lowest price Very expensive Help
M9:$6,750.89
D600:$1,996.95
Weight Heavy Help
M9:585 g
D600:850 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 D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Compare the D7100 vs the M9
Compare the D7100 vs the D600
Canon EOS 6D

Canon EOS 6D

Pro DSLR

$1,999 body only

$2,599 with 24-105mm lens
Light sensitivity Much higher maximum light sensitivity
Light sensitivity (boost) Much higher boost light sensitivity
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 6D vs the M9
Compare the EOS 6D vs the D600
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,797 - $3,297 body only

$3,187 with 70-300mm lens
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a faster max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D800 vs the M9
Compare the D800 vs the D600
Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,250 - $3,499 body only

$3,800 - $4,099 with 24-105mm lens
Light sensitivity Much higher maximum light sensitivity
Focus points Has slightly more focus points
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the M9
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D600
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$3,400 body only
Fastest shutter speed Has a faster max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D700 vs the M9
Compare the D700 vs the D600
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D7000 vs the M9
Compare the D7000 vs the D600
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,479 body only

$2,699 - $3,000 with 24-105mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a faster max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the M9
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D600

Leica M9 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Fujifilm FinePix X100

Fujifilm FinePix X100

Boutique

$1,565
Autofocus Autofocus
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Startup delay Much more startup delay
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
Compare the FinePix X100 vs the M9
Leica M Typ 240

Leica M Typ 240

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens
Screen size Much larger screen
Movie format Shoots movies
Size Slightly larger
Weight Heavier
Compare the M Typ 240 vs the M9
Fujifilm X-Pro1

Fujifilm X-Pro1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,399 body only

$2,099 with 18-55mm lens
Screen size Much larger screen
Movie format Shoots movies
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
Startup delay More startup delay
Compare the X-Pro1 vs the M9
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1

Boutique

$2,780 - $2,798
Screen size Much larger screen
Movie format Shoots movies
Interchangeable lenses Built-in lens only
Thickness Thicker
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 vs the M9
Leica M8

Leica M8

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

Nikon D600 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D600.

appearance

Leica M9 Nikon D600
Leica M9 Nikon D600
Leica M9 Nikon D600

discussion

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