Leica
M9
 vs
Nikon
D7000

Updated (February, 2013): Compare the Leica M9 vs Nikon D7100

Nikon D7000

87

  
Leica M9

51

  
Winner

Nikon D7000

Reasons to buy the Nikon D7000

Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13.9 EV
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
 Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Battery life
 Great battery life
1050 shots
 
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 Significantly smaller 139x80x37 mm vs 132x105x77 mm
Help
 2.6x smaller
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
Help
 Around 2.5x larger sensor
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.5" vs 3"
Help
 2.1x thinner
True resolution Higher true resolution 18.1 MP vs 16.1 MP
Help
 Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
Weight Lighter 585 g vs 780 g
Help
 Around 30% lighter
Leica M9 Learn more about
the Leica M9

Advantages of the Nikon D7000
Autofocus Autofocus Phase detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.5"
Help
 More than 20% larger screen
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 24fps 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
Battery life Much longer battery life 1050 shots vs 350 shots
Help
 3x more shots per battery charge
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
Lens availability Much more lenses available 169 lenses vs 22 lenses
Help
 More than 7.5x more lenses available
Overall image quality Better image quality 80.0 vs 69.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.9 EV vs 11.7 EV
Help
 2.2 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 $896.95 vs $6,750.89
Help
 The best price we've seen is $5,854 cheaper (7.5x 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 D7000's maximum light sensitivity is 1.4 f-stops better
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 6 fps vs 2 fps
Help
 3x faster continuous shooting
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Startup delay Less startup delay 400 ms vs 800 ms
Help
 2x less delay when turning on
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,167 ISO vs 884 ISO
Help
 The D7000 has a slight edge (0.4 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
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
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 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 D7000 Learn more about
the Nikon D7000
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Leica M9 Leica M9
51 vs 87
Explain scores
Nikon D7000 Nikon D7000
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D7000. 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 entry-level DSLR.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Sensor size Large sensors Help
M9:Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
D7000:APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
True resolution Capture very high resolution images Help
M9:18.1 MP
D7000:16.1 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
D7000:400 ms
Color depth Good color depth Help
M9:22.5 bits
D7000:23.5 bits
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
M9:Rangefinder
D7000:Pentaprism
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
M9:1/4000s
D7000:1/8000s
Weight Heavy Help
M9:585 g
D7000:780 g
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

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the M9
Compare the D5100 vs the D7000
Nikon D600

Nikon D600

Pro DSLR

$1,997 body only

$2,397 with 24-85mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Screen size Has a slightly larger screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the D600 vs the M9
Compare the D600 vs the D7000
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$3,400 body only
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D700 vs the M9
Compare the D700 vs the D7000
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,479 body only

$2,699 - $3,000 with 24-105mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the M9
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D7000
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,797 body only

$3,187 with 70-300mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Screen size Has a slightly larger screen
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D800 vs the M9
Compare the D800 vs the D7000
Pentax K-5

Pentax K-5

Entry-level DSLR

$692 - $699 body only

$828 - $829 with 18-55mm lens
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the K-5 vs the M9
Compare the K-5 vs the D7000
Canon EOS 6D

Canon EOS 6D

Pro DSLR

$1,999 body only

$2,599 with 24-105mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Light sensitivity Much higher maximum light sensitivity
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the EOS 6D vs the M9
Compare the EOS 6D vs the D7000

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 D7000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Screen size Larger screen
Battery life Shorter battery life
Lowest price Slightly more expensive
Compare the D7100 vs the D7000
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
True resolution Higher true resolution
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D7000
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,499 body only

$1,699 with 28-135mm lens
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points
True resolution Higher true resolution
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D7000
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$675 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Weight Lighter
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay
Weather sealed No weather sealing
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the D90 vs the D7000
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Weather sealed No weather sealing
Compare the D5200 vs the D7000

appearance

Leica M9 Nikon D7000
Leica M9 Nikon D7000
Leica M9 Nikon D7000

discussion

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