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Leica M-Monochrom vs Nikon Z5

Portability
78
Imaging
65
Features
23
Overall
48
Leica M-Monochrom front
 
Nikon Z5 front
Portability
62
Imaging
77
Features
86
Overall
80

Leica M-Monochrom vs Nikon Z5 Key Specs

Leica M-Monochrom
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 10000
  • No Video
  • Leica M Mount
  • 600g - 139 x 80 x 37mm
  • Announced May 2012
Nikon Z5
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Increase to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 675g - 134 x 101 x 70mm
  • Introduced July 2020
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Leica M-Monochrom vs Nikon Z5 Overview

Lets look a bit more in depth at the Leica M-Monochrom versus Nikon Z5, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by competitors Leica and Nikon. There exists a considerable gap among the resolutions of the M-Monochrom (18MP) and Z5 (24MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor dimensions (Full frame).

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The M-Monochrom was launched 9 years earlier than the Z5 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Leica M-Monochrom being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Nikon Z5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight to a detailed comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the M-Monochrom grades against the Z5 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Leica M-Monochrom over the Nikon Z5

 M-Monochrom Z5 

Reasons to pick Nikon Z5 over the Leica M-Monochrom

 Z5 M-Monochrom 
IntroducedJuly 2020May 2012More recent by 99 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3.2"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.7")
Screen resolution1040k230kCrisper screen (+810k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Leica M-Monochrom and Nikon Z5

 M-Monochrom Z5 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Leica M-Monochrom vs Nikon Z5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera regularly, you'll need to think about its weight and proportions. The Leica M-Monochrom provides external dimensions of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") with a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) whilst the Nikon Z5 has measurements of 134mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.3" x 4.0" x 2.8") and a weight of 675 grams (1.49 lbs).

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Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the M-Monochrom and the Z5.

Leica M-Monochrom vs Nikon Z5 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the M-Monochrom and Z5 is 78 and 62 respectively.

Leica M-Monochrom vs Nikon Z5 top view buttons comparison

Leica M-Monochrom vs Nikon Z5 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to visualise the gap in sensor measurements only by viewing specifications. The photograph below will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the M-Monochrom and Z5.

To sum up, each of these cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit not the same resolution. You can count on the Nikon Z5 to render greater detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The older M-Monochrom will be behind in sensor technology.

Leica M-Monochrom vs Nikon Z5 sensor size comparison

Leica M-Monochrom vs Nikon Z5 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica M-Monochrom vs Nikon Z5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Leica M-Monochrom
Portrait photography with Nikon Z5
71
has manual focus
megapixel count good (18MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
doesn't have liveview
86
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Leica M-Monochrom Street photography advice
Nikon Z5 Street photography advice
65
sensor size is large (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
74
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
features focus via touch
weather sealing
above average high ISO (51,200)
heavier than average (675g)
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Sports Comparison

Leica M-Monochrom Sports photography info
Nikon Z5 Sports photography info
45
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
doesn't have liveview
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
low battery life (350 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
82
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
has tracking focus
weather sealing
better than average battery life (470 shots)
supports phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (4.5 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Leica M-Monochrom Travel photography factors
Nikon Z5 Travel photography factors
54
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
missing Timelapse recording
low battery life (350 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
68
better than average battery life (470 per charge)
weather sealing
supports bluetooth
features focus via touch
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
heavier than average (675g)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Leica M-Monochrom Landscape photography details
Nikon Z5 Landscape photography details
58
has manual focus
switch lenses (Leica M mount)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.5")
doesn't have liveview
does not have image stabilization
low battery life (350 CIPA)
missing Timelapse recording
87
focusing manually
change lenses (Nikon Z mount)
screen is a decent size (3.2")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
above average high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
better than average battery life (470 shots)
two card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica M-Monochrom Vlogging advice
Nikon Z5 Vlogging advice
9
no video shooting
34
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
comes with mic socket
does not have a selfie friendly screen
heavier than average (675g)
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Leica M-Monochrom vs Nikon Z5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica M-Monochrom and Nikon Z5
 Leica M-MonochromNikon Z5
General Information
Make Leica Nikon
Model Leica M-Monochrom Nikon Z5
Class Pro Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2012-05-10 2020-07-20
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Expeed 6
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Full frame Full frame
Sensor dimensions 36 x 24mm 35.9 x 23.9mm
Sensor surface area 864.0mm² 858.0mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 5212 x 3472 6016 x 4016
Max native ISO 10000 51200
Max enhanced ISO - 102400
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW pictures
Lowest enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 273
Lens
Lens mount Leica M Nikon Z
Total lenses 59 15
Crop factor 1 1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.5 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT color LCD with a sapphire glass LCD cover -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (rangefinder) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 3,690 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x 0.8x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 32 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per sec 4.5 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync Front-curtain sync, slow sync, rear-curtain sync, red-eye reduction, red-eye reduction with slow sync, slow rear-curtain sync, off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/200 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution None 3840x2160
Video file format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 600g (1.32 lb) 675g (1.49 lb)
Physical dimensions 139 x 80 x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") 134 x 101 x 70mm (5.3" x 4.0" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 350 photographs 470 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - EN-EL15c
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible)
Card slots Single 2
Pricing at release $7,950 $1,399