Updated (November, 2011): Compare the Leica M9 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Leica M9

54

Winner

Leica M9

Reasons to buy the Leica M9

Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Rangefinder
Color depth
Great color depth
22.5 bits
Sensor size
Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Battery life
Great battery life
600 shots
Size
Really small
Mid size 139x80x37 mm
Interchangeable lenses
Interchangeable lenses
Many lenses to choose from
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

40

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Screen size
Large screen
3.0"
Live view
Has live view
Preview your photos
Badge
Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
Size
Really small
Mid size 119x71x36 mm
Interchangeable lenses
Interchangeable lenses
Many lenses to choose from
Sensor cleaning
Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos

differences

Advantages of the Leica M9

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 884 ISO vs 513 ISO
Help
The M9 has a slight edge (0.8 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm
Help
More than 3.5x larger sensor
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Rangefinder vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 69.0 vs 54.0
Help
Around 30% better image quality
Battery life Much longer battery life 600 shots vs 400 shots
Help
50% more shots per battery charge
Color depth Better color depth 22.5 bits vs 21.2 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.3 more bits of color
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.7 EV vs 10.3 EV
Help
1.4 f-stops more dynamic range
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 18.1 MP vs 12 MP
Help
Capture more than 50% more detail in your photos
Leica M9 Learn more about
the Leica M9

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-GF1

Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.5"
Help
More than 20% larger screen
Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 30fps vs None
Help
Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Lowest price Much cheaper $1,125.00 vs $6,995.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $5,870 cheaper (6.2x less)
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
Automatically focuses shooting video
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 460k dots vs 230k dots
Help
2x higher resolution screen
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
Weight Much lighter 330 g vs 585 g
Help
More than 40% lighter
Longest exposure Much longer exposures 60s vs 4s
Help
15x longer exposures
Size Smaller 119x71x36 mm vs 139x80x37 mm
Help
Around 30% smaller
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
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 26 lenses vs 22 lenses
Help
Around 20% more lenses available
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 2,500 ISO
Help
The DMC-GF1's maximum light sensitivity is 0.4 f-stops better
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-GF1
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Leica M9 Leica M9
54 vs 40
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Leica M9.

advice

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Leica M9 vs Nikon D4

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similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Battery life Great battery life Help
M9:600 shots
DMC-GF1:400 shots
Lowest price Very expensive Help
M9:$6,995.00
DMC-GF1:$1,125.00
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
M9:2,500 ISO
DMC-GF1:3,200 ISO
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
Movie format One shoots movies Help
M9:None
DMC-GF1:720p @ 30fps
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
M9:230k dots
DMC-GF1:460k dots

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Fujifilm FinePix X100

Fujifilm FinePix X100

Boutique

$1,199

Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is significantly larger
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$643 - $1,125 body only

$739 - $964 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,200 body only

$1,350 - $1,499 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Lens availability Slightly fewer lenses available
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$599

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Lens availability Slightly fewer lenses available
Startup delay Has significantly more startup delay
Olympus OM-D E-M5

Olympus OM-D E-M5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,000 - $1,299 body only

$1,100 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Leica X1

Leica X1

Boutique

$2,242

Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is much more expensive

Leica M9 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Fujifilm X-Pro1

Fujifilm X-Pro1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,991 - $2,298 body only

Screen size Much larger screen
Movie format Shoots movies
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only

Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Screen size Much larger screen
Size Much larger
Thickness Much thicker
Leica M8

Leica M8

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed
Longest exposure Slightly longer exposures
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,198 body only

$2,898 - $2,999 with 24-105mm lens

Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Screen size Much larger screen
Size Much larger
Thickness Much thicker
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Screen size Much larger screen
Movie format Shoots movies
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
Size Much larger

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Startup delay Significantly more startup delay
Battery life Shorter battery life
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$376 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Battery life Significantly shorter battery life
Sensor size Slightly smaller sensor
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Battery life Shorter battery life
Lens availability Fewer lenses available
Olympus PEN E-PL1

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$260 - $279 with 14-42mm lens

Image stabilization Image stabilization
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Screen size Much smaller screen
Shutter lag Much more shutter lag
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$350

Image stabilization Image stabilization
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Startup delay Much more startup delay

appearance

Leica M9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
Leica M9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
Leica M9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

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