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Leica M8 vs Panasonic S5 II

Portability
79
Imaging
50
Features
31
Overall
42
Leica M8 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 Mark II front
Portability
59
Imaging
79
Features
93
Overall
84

Leica M8 vs Panasonic S5 II 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 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.00" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Raise to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 5952 x 3968 video
  • Leica L Mount
  • 740g - 134 x 102 x 90mm
  • Released January 2023
  • Succeeded the Panasonic S5
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Leica M8 vs Panasonic S5 II Overview

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Leica M8 versus Panasonic S5 II, both Pro Mirrorless cameras by competitors Leica and Panasonic. There exists a substantial gap among the sensor resolutions of the M8 (10MP) and S5 II (24MP) and the M8 (APS-H) and S5 II (Full frame) have totally different sensor measurements.

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The M8 was introduced 16 years prior to the S5 II which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Leica M8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S5 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple view of how the M8 scores against the S5 II when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Leica M8 over the Panasonic S5 II

 M8 S5 II 

Reasons to pick Panasonic S5 II over the Leica M8

 S5 II M8 
ReleasedJanuary 2023July 2007More modern by 187 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimensions3.00"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 II

 M8 S5 II 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus

Leica M8 vs Panasonic S5 II Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera, you have to think about its weight and size. The Leica M8 offers external measurements of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") and a weight of 591 grams (1.30 lbs) and the Panasonic S5 II has specifications of 134mm x 102mm x 90mm (5.3" x 4.0" x 3.5") accompanied by a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

Compare the Leica M8 versus Panasonic S5 II in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have at that moment. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the M8 compared to the S5 II.

Leica M8 vs Panasonic S5 II size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the M8 and S5 II is 79 and 59 respectively.

Leica M8 vs Panasonic S5 II top view buttons comparison

Leica M8 vs Panasonic S5 II Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to see the gap in sensor sizes only by looking through specifications. The image here will give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the M8 and S5 II.

Plainly, the 2 cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The M8 with its smaller sensor will make achieving bokeh tougher and the Panasonic S5 II will result in greater detail using its extra 14 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures more aggressively. The more aged M8 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Leica M8 vs Panasonic S5 II sensor size comparison

Leica M8 vs Panasonic S5 II Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Leica M8 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic S5 II as a Portrait photography camera
54
focusing manually
nice sensor size (APS-H)
delivers RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
megapixel count low (10MP)
87
focusing manually
decent MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports face detection focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Leica M8 Street photography details
Panasonic S5 II Street photography details
62
nice sensor size (APS-H)
delivers RAW formats
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
78
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
saves RAW files
boasts touch to focus
weather proof
above average high ISO (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Leica M8 Sports photography advice
Panasonic S5 II Sports photography advice
43
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
nice sensor size (APS-H)
great battery life (550 per charge)
doesn't have liveview
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (10MP)
lack of phase detect AF
83
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
silent mode (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
terrible battery (370 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Leica M8 Travel photography info
Panasonic S5 II Travel photography info
51
great battery life (550 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (10MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
72
weather proof
connects via bluetooth
boasts touch to focus
decent MP (24MP)
selfie friendly screen
terrible battery (370 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Leica M8
Landscape photography with Panasonic S5 II
55
focusing manually
change lenses (Leica M mount)
nice sensor size (APS-H)
no anti aliasing filter
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (550 per charge)
screen is small (2.5")
doesn't have liveview
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse mode
83
focusing manually
change lenses (Leica L mount)
screen is a decent size (3.00 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
no anti aliasing filter
above average high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW files
weather proof
two card slots
terrible battery (370 CIPA)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Leica M8 Vlogging features
Panasonic S5 II Vlogging features
9
no video
79
selfie friendly screen
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection focus
high quality video (5952 x 3968 pixels)
includes external mic socket
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Leica M8 vs Panasonic S5 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica M8 and Panasonic S5 II
 Leica M8Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 Mark II
General Information
Manufacturer Leica Panasonic
Model Leica M8 Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 Mark II
Category Pro Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Revealed 2007-07-31 2023-01-04
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-H Full frame
Sensor dimensions 27 x 18mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 486.0mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 24 megapixels
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
Min native ISO 160 100
RAW images
Min boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 779
Lens
Lens mounting type Leica M Leica L
Amount of lenses 59 65
Crop factor 1.3 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 2.5 inch 3.00 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 1,840k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (rangefinder) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 3,680k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Maximum silent shutter speed - 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting rate - 9.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
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
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 5952 x 3968 @ 30p/24p
Maximum video resolution None 5952x3968
Video file format - MPEG-4, H.264, H.265
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.2 Gen 2 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 591g (1.30 lb) 740g (1.63 lb)
Physical dimensions 139 x 80 x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") 134 x 102 x 90mm (5.3" x 4.0" x 3.5")
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 photographs 370 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - DMW-BLJ31
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card, SDXC Memory Card
Card slots One Two
Pricing at launch $4,400 $2,000