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Leica M8 vs Panasonic S5

Portability
79
Imaging
50
Features
31
Overall
42
Leica M8 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
76
Features
92
Overall
82

Leica M8 vs Panasonic S5 Key Specs

Leica M8
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-H Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 2500
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Leica M Mount
  • 591g - 139 x 80 x 37mm
  • Revealed July 2007
Panasonic S5
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.0" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Push to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Leica L Mount
  • 714g - 133 x 97 x 82mm
  • Released August 2020
  • Later Model is Panasonic S5 II
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Leica M8 vs Panasonic S5 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Leica M8 vs Panasonic S5, both Pro Mirrorless cameras by rivals Leica and Panasonic. There is a big difference among the sensor resolutions of the M8 (10MP) and S5 (24MP) and the M8 (APS-H) and S5 (Full frame) posses different sensor size.

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The M8 was launched 14 years earlier than the S5 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Leica M8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise overview of how the M8 grades vs the S5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Leica M8 over the Panasonic S5

 M8 S5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic S5 over the Leica M8

 S5 M8 
ReleasedAugust 2020July 2007Newer by 158 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen size3.0"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1840k230kSharper screen (+1610k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Leica M8 and Panasonic S5

 M8 S5 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing

Leica M8 vs Panasonic S5 Physical Comparison

If you're going to travel with your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Leica M8 has got exterior dimensions of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 591 grams (1.30 lbs) whilst the Panasonic S5 has proportions of 133mm x 97mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2") having a weight of 714 grams (1.57 lbs).

Check the Leica M8 vs Panasonic S5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are using at that moment. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the M8 compared to the S5.

Leica M8 vs Panasonic S5 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the M8 and S5 is 79 and 60 respectively.

Leica M8 vs Panasonic S5 top view buttons comparison

Leica M8 vs Panasonic S5 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its tough to picture the difference in sensor dimensions only by looking through technical specs. The picture below should give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the M8 and S5.

As you can tell, each of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The M8 due to its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field tougher and the Panasonic S5 will provide you with extra detail utilizing its extra 14 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The more aged M8 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Leica M8 vs Panasonic S5 sensor size comparison

Leica M8 vs Panasonic S5 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica M8 vs Panasonic S5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Leica M8
Portrait photography with Panasonic S5
54
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-H)
delivers RAW files
doesn't have liveview
low MP (10 megapixels)
85
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
comes with face detect focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Leica M8 Street photography info
Panasonic S5 Street photography info
62
sensor size is nice (APS-H)
delivers RAW files
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
78
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
exports RAW files
offers focus by touch
environment proofing
above average high ISO (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Leica M8 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic S5 Sports photography highlights
43
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
sensor size is nice (APS-H)
great battery life (550 CIPA)
doesn't have liveview
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
doesn't have phase detect AF
81
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent mode (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
comes with tracking focus
environment proofing
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Leica M8 Travel photography information
Panasonic S5 Travel photography information
51
great battery life (550 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
low MP (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
79
environment proofing
supports bluetooth
offers focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Leica M8 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic S5 Landscape photography highlights
55
has manual focus
swap lenses (Leica M mount)
sensor size is nice (APS-H)
doesnt have low pass filter
delivers RAW files
great battery life (550 per charge)
screen is small (2.5")
doesn't have liveview
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
86
focusing manually
change lenses (Leica L mount)
pretty good screen size (3.0 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
no low pass filter
above average high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
two card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica M8 Vlogging details
Panasonic S5 Vlogging details
9
no video
79
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
includes microphone socket
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Leica M8 vs Panasonic S5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica M8 and Panasonic S5
 Leica M8Panasonic Lumix DC-S5
General Information
Make Leica Panasonic
Model Leica M8 Panasonic Lumix DC-S5
Category Pro Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Revealed 2007-07-31 2020-08-14
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-H Full frame
Sensor measurements 27 x 18mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 486.0mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3936 x 2630 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 2500 51200
Maximum boosted ISO - 204800
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW images
Lowest boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 225
Lens
Lens mounting type Leica M Leica L
Total lenses 59 31
Focal length multiplier 1.3 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 2.5" 3.0"
Resolution of screen 230k dots 1,840k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (rangefinder) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate - 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync w/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 200 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution None 3840x2160
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264, H.265
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes (can be charged with high-power laptop/tablet chargers or portable power banks)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 591 grams (1.30 lb) 714 grams (1.57 lb)
Physical dimensions 139 x 80 x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") 133 x 97 x 82mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 59 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 663 not tested
Other
Battery life 550 images 440 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card, SDXC Memory Card
Card slots One Dual
Launch pricing $4,400 $1,999