Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Leica M9 vs Nikon D4

Nikon D3S

67

Winner

Nikon D3S

"The D3's proportions make it almost square, and thanks to a magnesium shell it is literally as solid as a brick."
dpreview.com | talking about the D3S's build-quality
"Class-leading high ISO performance and incredibly versatile ISO 100-12,800 sensitivity range"
dpreview.com | talking about the D3S's iso-noise

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3S

Light sensitivity
High ISO
12,800 ISO
Weather sealed
Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Low light performance
Low noise at high ISO
3,253 ISO
Sensor size
Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x23.9mm
External mic jack
External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Battery life
Great battery life
4400 shots
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 160x157x88 mm
Help
5.4x smaller
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 18.1 MP vs 12.1 MP
Help
Capture more than 50% more detail in your photos
Weight Much lighter 585 g vs 1,240 g
Help
2.1x lighter
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.5" vs 3.5"
Help
2.4x thinner
Leica M9 Learn more about
the Leica M9

Advantages of the Nikon D3S

Battery life Much longer battery life 4400 shots vs 600 shots
Help
Around 7.5x more shots per battery charge
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.5"
Help
More than 20% larger screen
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 3,253 ISO vs 884 ISO
Help
The D3S has excellent image quality 1.9 f-stops higher ISO than the M9
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 24fps vs None
Help
Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
Overall image quality Better image quality 82.0 vs 69.0
Help
Around 20% better image quality
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 2,500 ISO
Help
The D3S'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
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 102,400 ISO vs None
Help
Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 121 lenses vs 22 lenses
Help
5.5x more lenses available
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 9 fps vs 2 fps
Help
4.5x faster continuous shooting
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12 EV vs 11.7 EV
Help
0.3 f-stops more dynamic range
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
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $5,196.95 vs $6,995.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $1,798 cheaper (around 30% less)
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 22.5 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1 more bits of color
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 D3S Learn more about
the Nikon D3S
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Leica M9 Leica M9
48 vs 67
Explain scores
Nikon D3S Nikon D3S
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3S. 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
D3S:Full frame 36.0x23.9mm
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
D3S:4400 shots
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
Color depth Good color depth Help
M9:22.5 bits
D3S:23.5 bits
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
M9:Rangefinder
D3S:Pentaprism
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
M9:1/4000s
D3S:1/8000s
Lowest price Very expensive Help
M9:$6,995.00
D3S:$5,196.95
Built-in flash No built-in flash Help
Professional
Weight Heavy Help
M9:585 g
D3S:1,240 g
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Movie format One shoots movies Help
M9:None
D3S:720p @ 24fps

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 body only

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a slightly larger screen
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,649 body only

Lowest price Is much less expensive
Built-in flash Has a built-in flash
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,130 body only

$2,875 - $2,999 with 24-105mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
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

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a slightly larger screen
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Pro DSLR

$5,000 - $5,930 body only

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Cross type focus points Has much more cross-type focus points
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier

Leica M9 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Fujifilm X-Pro1

Fujifilm X-Pro1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$2,298 body only

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Movie format Shoots movies
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
Battery life Shorter battery life
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
Leica M8

Leica M8

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$759 body only

Lowest price Much cheaper
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
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

Nikon D3S Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D3X

Nikon D3X

Pro DSLR

$7,997 - $8,000 body only

True resolution Much higher true resolution
Overall image quality Better image quality
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Low light performance Much more noise at high ISO
Nikon D3

Nikon D3

Pro DSLR

Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Movie format Does not take movies
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO

appearance

Leica M9 Nikon D3S
Leica M9 Nikon D3S
Leica M9 Nikon D3S

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