Leica
M9
 vs
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-GF2

Updated (June, 2011): Compare the Leica M9 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

51

  
Leica M9

51

  

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
Live view
 Has live view
Preview your photos
3D
 Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Badge
 Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
Size
 Really small
Mid size 113x68x33 mm
 
Tie

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
Size
 Really small
Mid size 139x80x37 mm
Interchangeable lenses
 Interchangeable lenses
Many lenses to choose from
Thickness
 Thin
1.5"
 

differences

Advantages of the Leica M9
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 884 ISO vs 506 ISO
Help
 The M9 has a slight edge (0.8 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Rangefinder vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm
Help
 Around 4x larger sensor
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 69.0 vs 54.0
Help
 Around 30% better image quality
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
Battery life Longer battery life 350 shots vs 300 shots
Help
 Around 20% more shots per battery charge
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 800 ms vs 1000 ms
Help
 20% less delay when turning on
Leica M9 Learn more about
the Leica M9

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-GF2
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.5"
Help
 More than 20% larger screen
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
 Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Autofocus Autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
 Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Lowest price Much cheaper $299.99 vs $6,750.89
Help
 The best price we've seen is $6,451 cheaper (22.5x less)
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
 Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 2,500 ISO
Help
 The DMC-GF2's maximum light sensitivity is 1.4 f-stops better
Size Smaller 113x68x33 mm vs 139x80x37 mm
Help
 Around 40% smaller
Weight Much lighter 310 g vs 585 g
Help
 Around 50% lighter
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
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 4s
Help
 15x longer exposures
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 26 lenses vs 22 lenses
Help
 Around 20% more lenses available
Thickness Thinner 1.3" vs 1.5"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-GF2
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Leica M9 Leica M9
51 vs 51
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
Green arrow Too close to call! Snapsort considers these cameras too competitive to make a clear recommendation.

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
M9:800 ms
DMC-GF2:1000 ms
External flash Each supports an external flash Help
Better lighting
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
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
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
M9:2,500 ISO
DMC-GF2:6,400 ISO
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
M9:2 fps
DMC-GF2:3.2 fps

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$549
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is significantly larger
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the M9
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2

Leica M9 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Fujifilm FinePix X100

Fujifilm FinePix X100

Boutique

$1,565
Movie format Shoots movies
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
Movie format Shoots movies
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Size 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
Movie format Shoots movies
Screen size Much larger screen
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
Lens availability Fewer lenses available
Compare the X-Pro1 vs the M9
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1

Boutique

$2,780 - $2,798
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Movie format Shoots movies
Viewfinder No viewfinder
Interchangeable lenses Built-in lens only
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 vs the M9
Leica M8

Leica M8

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed
Longest exposure Slightly longer exposures
Color depth Worse color depth
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Compare the M8 vs the M9

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$339 - $514 with 14-42mm lens
Battery life Slightly longer battery life
Weight Lighter
Startup delay More startup delay
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$229 - $239 body only

$399 - $419 with 14-42mm lens
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Color depth Worse color depth
Startup delay More startup delay
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,100 with 14-45mm lens
Battery life Significantly longer battery life
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Touch screen No touch screen
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$329 with 14-42mm lens
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Battery life Longer battery life
Color depth Worse color depth
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF5 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$656 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Touch screen No touch screen
Lens availability Fewer lenses available
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2

appearance

Leica M9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
Leica M9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
Leica M9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

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