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Leica M-Monochrom vs Panasonic GM1

Portability
78
Imaging
65
Features
23
Overall
48
Leica M-Monochrom front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
53
Features
60
Overall
55

Leica M-Monochrom vs Panasonic GM1 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
  • Released May 2012
Panasonic GM1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 204g - 99 x 55 x 30mm
  • Launched December 2013
  • Newer Model is Panasonic GM5
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Leica M-Monochrom vs Panasonic GM1 Overview

On this page, we will be contrasting the Leica M-Monochrom and Panasonic GM1, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Leica and Panasonic. The image resolution of the M-Monochrom (18MP) and the GM1 (16MP) is pretty close but the M-Monochrom (Full frame) and GM1 (Four Thirds) have totally different sensor sizes.

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The M-Monochrom was announced 19 months prior to the GM1 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting right into a complete comparison, here is a quick view of how the M-Monochrom scores versus the GM1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Leica M-Monochrom over the Panasonic GM1

 M-Monochrom GM1 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GM1 over the Leica M-Monochrom

 GM1 M-Monochrom 
LaunchedDecember 2013May 2012More recent by 19 months
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1036k230kCrisper screen (+806k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Leica M-Monochrom and Panasonic GM1

 M-Monochrom GM1 
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Leica M-Monochrom vs Panasonic GM1 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and size. The Leica M-Monochrom comes with outside measurements of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GM1 has specifications of 99mm x 55mm x 30mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") with a weight of 204 grams (0.45 lbs).

Look at the Leica M-Monochrom and Panasonic GM1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the M-Monochrom versus the GM1.

Leica M-Monochrom vs Panasonic GM1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the M-Monochrom and GM1 is 78 and 93 respectively.

Leica M-Monochrom vs Panasonic GM1 top view buttons comparison

Leica M-Monochrom vs Panasonic GM1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be hard to envision the gap in sensor measurements purely by researching a spec sheet. The visual below might give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the M-Monochrom and GM1.

As you can see, the 2 cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The M-Monochrom using its bigger sensor will make getting bokeh simpler and the Leica M-Monochrom will render greater detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The older M-Monochrom will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Leica M-Monochrom vs Panasonic GM1 sensor size comparison

Leica M-Monochrom vs Panasonic GM1 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica M-Monochrom vs Panasonic GM1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica M-Monochrom Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic GM1 Portrait photography highlights
71
focusing manually
MP count good (18 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
no liveview
65
has manual focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
saves RAW files
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Leica M-Monochrom as a Street photography camera
Panasonic GM1 as a Street photography camera
65
big sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
77
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
features touch focus
lighter than competition in class (204g)
very good ISO range (25,600)
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Leica M-Monochrom
Sports photography with Panasonic GM1
45
MP count good (18 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
no liveview
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
bad battery (350 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
48
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
low max shutter speed (1/500 seconds)
continuous shooting slow (5.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
low battery (230 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Leica M-Monochrom Travel photography advice
Panasonic GM1 Travel photography advice
54
MP count good (18 megapixels)
missing Timelapse mode
bad battery (350 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
74
lighter than competition in class (204 grams)
features touch focus
decent MP (16MP)
flash built-in
low battery (230 per charge)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Leica M-Monochrom
Landscape photography with Panasonic GM1
58
focusing manually
switch lenses (Leica M mount)
MP count good (18MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
screen is small (2.5 inch)
no liveview
lack of image stabilization
bad battery (350 per charge)
missing Timelapse mode
69
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
low battery (230 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica M-Monochrom as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic GM1 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video
35
touchscreen enabled
comes with face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (204g)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
missing external microphone port
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Leica M-Monochrom vs Panasonic GM1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica M-Monochrom and Panasonic GM1
 Leica M-MonochromPanasonic Lumix DMC-GM1
General Information
Make Leica Panasonic
Model Leica M-Monochrom Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1
Class Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2012-05-10 2013-12-19
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Full frame Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 36 x 24mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 864.0mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 18MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 5212 x 3472 4592 x 3448
Maximum native ISO 10000 25600
Lowest native ISO 160 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Leica M Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 59 107
Focal length multiplier 1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dot 1,036k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT color LCD with a sapphire glass LCD cover TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (rangefinder) None
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 32 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/500 seconds
Maximum silent shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 4.00 m
Flash options Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 seconds 1/50 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 24p), 1280 x 720p (60p, 50p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 600g (1.32 lb) 204g (0.45 lb)
Physical dimensions 139 x 80 x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") 99 x 55 x 30mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.3
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.7
DXO Low light score not tested 660
Other
Battery life 350 photographs 230 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $7,950 $750