Leica M Typ 262 vs Panasonic GX9: A Deep Dive into Two Distinct Mirrorless Cameras

When contemplating a new mirrorless camera purchase, the sheer variety of models can make the decision tricky, especially when comparing cameras that seemingly belong to different classes. Today I'm taking a hands-on look at two rather distinct cameras - the Leica M Typ 262, a classic rangefinder-style full-frame folly from 2015, and the Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9, a versatile advanced Micro Four Thirds offering from 2018. Both are rangefinder-styled mirrorless bodies, yet they cater to markedly different photographers and purposes.

Having personally tested thousands of cameras over the years, I want to unpack these two thoroughly - sensor, handling, autofocus, image quality, and more - drawing from studio and field trials alike. Whether you’re a Leica loyalist looking to understand the compromises or an enthusiast wondering if the Panasonic delivers modern practicality with style, this comprehensive comparison aims to help you place your bet wisely.

Let’s start with something fundamental: size and ergonomics.

Form Meets Function: Body Size and Ergonomics

One of the most immediate impressions when holding these cameras is their physical feel and how that translates to shooting comfort.

The Leica M Typ 262 is a robust, minimalist, and classic rangefinder body. Its dimensions (139 x 80 x 42 mm) and weight (~600g) give it a solid heft without being unwieldy. The camera’s all-metal construction and deliberate focus on simplicity mean there are very few buttons - Leica’s philosophy has always been about pared-down controls for manual-focus purists and deliberate photographers.

Conversely, the Panasonic GX9 offers a smaller, lighter (407g) and more contemporary design (124 x 72 x 47 mm), with a noticeably more rounded grip and tilt screen enhancing handheld versatility. The compactness is a real plus for street and travel photographers who want something pocketable but still comfortable for extended periods.

Being a Micro Four Thirds camera, the GX9’s smaller sensor size allows for more compact lenses, further increasing portability. If you prize discretion and carry weight, the Panasonic immediately wins in this category.

Controls at a Glance: Top Plate and Interface

Look carefully at their control layouts and you’ll see two philosophies again.

The Leica’s top plate is famously sparse: a shutter speed dial, a shutter release, ISO dial, and a single exposure compensation wheel. No touchscreen, no menu-driven complexities. This simplicity demands some adaptation, especially if you’re used to a DSLR or modern mirrorless interface, but it rewards you with tactile control that’s a delight once mastered. The lack of autofocus and live view means you have to rely heavily on zone focusing and the optical rangefinder window - a true old-school experience.

Panasonic’s GX9, however, embraces a fully modern approach with customizable dials, touchscreen input, and an electronic viewfinder with 2,760k dots resolution. You’ll find dedicated buttons for key functions, an intuitive menu system, and a tilting screen - features that accommodate both quick street shooting and comfortable tripod work.

This image highlights the user experience differences that are crucial to consider beyond raw specs.

The Heart of the Image: Sensor Technology and Image Quality

No discussion can avoid the sensor, as sensor size and technology play pivotal roles in both image quality and lens selection.

The Leica M Typ 262 sports a full-frame 24-megapixel CMOS sensor - a classic workhorse sensor size favored for its excellent per-pixel image quality, dynamic range, and low light performance. This sensor, coupled with Leica’s Maestro processor, delivers files with superb gradation, pleasing skin tones, and a level of detail that remains impressive even under stringent examination.

In contrast, the Panasonic GX9 uses a 20-megapixel Four Thirds sensor, effectively half the linear dimensions of a full-frame sensor. This smaller sensor naturally translates to a tighter crop factor (2.1x), which offers lens reach advantages but can limit low light capability and depth of field control. Despite these limitations, Panasonic’s Venus Engine processing and the absence of an anti-aliasing filter allow the GX9 to produce sharp, detailed images with commendable color fidelity in good lighting.

However, in challenging low-light conditions or for ultimate bokeh control, the Leica’s full-frame sensor delivers more natural tonal transition and less noise degradation at higher ISOs.

Viewing Experience: Optical vs Electronic Viewfinders

The Leica’s rangefinder heritage means it lacks an electronic viewfinder (EVF). Instead, it has an optical rangefinder window with a 0.68x magnification - a classic interface for precise manual focus, but one that takes some getting used to if you’re coming from an EVF or DSLR background.

The Panasonic GX9 offers a high-resolution (2,760k dot), full-coverage electronic viewfinder with 0.7x magnification, providing you a bright, detailed, real-time preview of your exposure, color, and autofocus. Add a tilting LCD touchscreen (3", 1,240k dots), and the GX9 stands out for framing versatility and immediate feedback.

This gives Panasonic a clear edge in flexibility, particularly for users who want quick image review and confidence in exposure before pressing the shutter.

Autofocus Capabilities: Manual Craft vs Modern Automation

If you’re enthralled by pure manual photography - focusing by feel, distance estimation and zone focusing - the Leica M Typ 262 is in your wheelhouse. It has no autofocus whatsoever, no focus peaking, no live view-assisted magnification - a pure mechanical/manual focus system based on the Leica M-mount lenses you choose.

The Panasonic GX9 is the polar opposite here. It is equipped with a hybrid autofocus system blending contrast and phase detection, featuring 49 AF points, face detection, tracking, and touch-to-focus. Continuous autofocus and up to 9 fps burst shooting cater well to action and wildlife shooters.

In real-world tests, the GX9’s AF lock is fast and reliable under most conditions, though low-light phase detection can sometimes falter compared to higher-end models. Meanwhile, the Leica’s manual focus embodies a tactile craft that will feel archaic on a fast-paced shoot but can also cultivate a deeper connection to your subjects.

Genre Performance Breakdown: Which Works Best Where?

I find examining cameras through the lens of specific photographic disciplines helps translate specs into practical decisions. Let’s see how these cameras stack up:

Portrait Photography

Leica’s 24MP full-frame sensor excels in rendering skin tones with subtle nuance and smooth tonal graduation - bokeh is creamy and pleasing, thanks in part to the legendary Leica M lenses. The manual focus pushes you to slow down and frame deliberately, which might suit environmental portrait or artistic work well.

The Panasonic’s smaller sensor limits bokeh creaminess but is especially handy for casual portraits, offering autofocus accuracy and quick responsiveness. Real-time exposure preview and face detection make it beginner-friendly.

Landscape Photography

Dynamic range leans heavily toward Leica here; the full-frame sensor captures extended highlights and shadows with elegance. Despite the M Typ 262 lacking weather sealing, the solid build and classic lenses can produce truly stunning landscapes - if you can work around the minimal exposure aids.

Panasonic’s GX9 shines in convenience, offering bracketing, focus stacking, and stabilization helpful in landscapes. Its electronic viewfinder assists with careful composition, although sensor size and resolution cap fine detail capture compared to Leica.

Wildlife & Sports

Speed and tracking depend heavily on autofocus and burst rates. Leica’s manual focus and 3 fps max continuous don’t favor wildlife or sports action, while Panasonic’s 9 fps and reliable AF tracking make it a lightweight competitor for casual wildlife and sports shooters - though it won’t challenge flagship sports models.

Street Photography

Here, the Panasonic’s small size, quiet shutter modes including an electronic silent shutter (up to 1/16,000s), and autofocus versatility earn it top marks. The Leica has a cult following for street due to its discreet styling and near-silent mechanical shutter but demands more from the photographer in terms of timing and focus mastery.

Macro and Night Photography

For macro, the Panasonic’s autofocus, focus bracketing, and stabilization make it relatively easy to extract sharp, detailed close-ups, especially when paired with native optics. The Leica’s manual focus offers precision but requires patience.

Night and astrophotography favor the Leica’s cleaner high-ISO performance and longer exposure flexibility - though it lacks dedicated astro modes. The GX9’s sensor stabilization aids handheld shots but generally can’t match the noise handling of a full-frame sensor in dark conditions.

Video Capabilities

The Panasonic GX9 offers solid video specs: 4K recording at 30fps, touch focus, and timelapse features. It embraces cine enthusiasts with useful stabilization, albeit lacking mic/headphone jacks. The Leica M Typ 262, being video-agnostic, offers no video features.

For hybrid shooters and vloggers, the GX9 is an easy pick.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

Leica M Typ 262 front Leica M Typ 262 screen back Panasonic GX9 front Panasonic GX9 screen back

Leica’s M-mount lenses are legendary but expensive, handcrafted, and optimized for full-frame - perfect if you value optical excellence and classic rendering, with 59 lenses available ranging from wide to telephoto primes.

Panasonic’s Micro Four Thirds mount is one of the most extensive on the market, with over 100 lenses available from Panasonic, Olympus, and third parties, covering everything from fisheye to super-telephoto. The smaller sensor size means lenses are generally more compact and affordable.

Build Quality, Weather Resistance, and Battery Life

Leica’s all-metal construction provides a durable feel, but the M Typ 262 lacks weather sealing, which may limit outdoor use in harsh conditions. Battery details are scarce, but Leica’s rangefinders traditionally have adequate but not exceptional endurance.

The Panasonic GX9 offers no weather sealing either, but its smaller battery has tested at around 260 shots per charge - not exceptional but manageable for day outings.

Connectivity and Modern Features

In this arena, the Panasonic GX9 wins with built-in WiFi and Bluetooth, HDMI out, touchscreen control, and USB charging capabilities. Leica’s 262 model includes basic USB 2.0 but no wireless connectivity.

Comprehensive Evaluation Scores

Let's put clear numbers on their overall performance and genre-specific capabilities.

Leica M Typ 262 scores strongly where it matters: image quality and build quality, but falls behind in usability and autofocus-related metrics.

The Panasonic GX9 provides a balanced all-rounder scorecard, leading in autofocus, video, and portability.

Final Thoughts: Which Mirrorless Camera Should You Choose?

Choosing between Leica’s M Typ 262 and Panasonic’s GX9 boils down to your priorities.

• If your passion lies in manual-focus photography with exceptional full-frame image quality, a timeless shooting experience, and you’re willing to live with minimal automation and a heftier price tag (~$5,000), the Leica M Typ 262 remains a compelling, almost artisan tool. It’s ideal for seasoned purists, documentary-style photography, or collectors who appreciate the M system lenses and tactile controls.

• If instead, you’re after an affordable, lightweight, versatile camera with snappy autofocus, excellent video, and an incredibly rich lens lineup (around $1,000), for genres ranging from street to travel and casual wildlife, the Panasonic Lumix GX9 will serve you very well. It offers modern conveniences like a tilting touchscreen, electronic viewfinder, and image stabilization without performance compromises in everyday shooting.

Personally, if I wanted a camera for a broad range of assignments with convenience and speed, I’d lean towards the GX9. But for a dedicated, deliberate photographer craving Leica’s unique craftsmanship and full-frame allure? The M Typ 262 is unmatched.

My Workflow Takeaway and Tips

A few hands-on pointers for those ready to choose and shoot:

• Leica owners should invest in quality prime lenses and embrace zone focusing with the rangefinder - practice is key to nailing manual focus under pressure.

• Panasonic users will benefit from learning the various AF modes and exploiting focus stacking for macros, as well as 4K video if your work calls for it.

• Both cameras require separate external flashes for fill lighting when needed, as Leica has no flash and Panasonic’s built-in flash is modest.

• Consider your usual shooting environments: the GX9’s lack of weather sealing means care in rain or dust, while the Leica is similarly vulnerable.

In Summary

Choosing between these cameras is truly about what kind of photographic journey you choose: handcrafted, manual precision and exquisite full-frame file quality with the Leica M Typ 262, or nimble versatility and smart modern features in the Panasonic GX9.

Hopefully, this comparison demystifies their capabilities and helps you find your perfect fit. Happy shooting!

If you’re hungry for more visual proof, check out the gallery comparison from both cameras.

Leica M Typ 262 front Leica M Typ 262 screen back Panasonic GX9 front Panasonic GX9 screen back