Leica
M9
 vs
Nikon
D800

Nikon D800

80
Winner

Nikon D800

Reasons to buy the Nikon D800

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
95.0
Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Screen size
 Large screen
3.2"
True resolution
 High true resolution
36.2 MP
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
14.4 EV
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 146x123x82 mm
Help
 3.6x smaller
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.5" vs 3.2"
Help
 2.2x thinner
Weight Significantly lighter 585 g vs 900 g
Help
 Around 40% lighter
Leica M9 Learn more about
the Leica M9

Advantages of the Nikon D800
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
True resolution Much higher true resolution 36.2 MP vs 18.1 MP
Help
 Capture around 2x more detail in your photos
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 95.0 vs 69.0
Help
 Around 40% better image quality
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 921k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 More than 4x higher resolution screen
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 2,853 ISO vs 884 ISO
Help
 The D800 has excellent image quality 1.7 f-stops higher ISO than the M9
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
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
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.4 EV vs 11.7 EV
Help
 2.7 f-stops more dynamic range
Battery life Longer battery life 900 shots vs 600 shots
Help
 50% more shots per battery charge
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 2,500 ISO
Help
 The D800's maximum light sensitivity is 1.4 f-stops better
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
Lowest price Much cheaper $2,999.00 vs $6,995.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $3,996 cheaper (2.3x less)
Color depth Better color depth 25.3 bits vs 22.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 2.8 more bits of color
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
 Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
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
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 4 fps vs 2 fps
Help
 2x faster continuous shooting
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 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 D800 Learn more about
the Nikon D800
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Leica M9 Leica M9
48 vs 80
Explain scores
Nikon D800 Nikon D800
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D800. 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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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
M9:Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
D800:Full frame 35.9x24.0mm
True resolution Capture extremely high resolution images Help
M9:18.1 MP
D800:36.2 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
D800:900 shots
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
Color depth Good color depth Help
M9:22.5 bits
D800:25.3 bits
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
M9:Rangefinder
D800:Pentaprism
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
M9:1/4000s
D800:1/8000s
Lowest price Very expensive Help
M9:$6,995.00
D800:$2,999.00
Weight Heavy Help
M9:585 g
D800:900 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
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
Light sensitivity Much higher maximum light sensitivity
Cross type focus points Has much more cross-type focus points
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the M9
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D800
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,349 body only
Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the D700 vs the M9
Compare the D700 vs the D800
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
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 D800
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 body only
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D4 vs the M9
Compare the D4 vs the D800
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,198 body only

$2,898 - $2,999 with 24-105mm lens
Lowest price Is slightly 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 D800
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR

$5,197 body only
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3S vs the M9
Compare the D3S vs the D800
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 D800

Leica M9 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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

Nikon D800 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D800.

appearance

Leica M9 Nikon D800
Leica M9 Nikon D800
Leica M9 Nikon D800

discussion

Showing 3 comments

Blabla (0:44 PM, May 12, 2012)
Fanboyism ...
Just LOL

Better image quality with a shitty kodak sensor, yes !
Take a look on DxO and photozone and learn to see reality.

Oh and Leica is now focusing on luxury market, not on photography.
 
Anurag (0:03 PM, May 12, 2012)
Dear Johnw, I am with you in your opinion.
 
Johnw (11:57 PM, April 13, 2012)
this website is stupid. the leicas image quality is miles better but its like comparing chalk and cheese. if you want to shot film, save $2500, shoot sports, etc get the 800... however, the leica has a better picture dispite the 36mp (size aint everything kids), its tiny, the lens are the best, smallest lenses know to humanity. as much as this review lists a billion reasons that the d800 wins, most of those reasons are irrelevant. pure photography doesn't need all the bells and whistles and pointless nonsense on the d800. get manual, get real, learn use a camera rather than the camera doing it all for you... or not, like i said, chalk and cheese.