Clicky

Leica M8 vs Panasonic GF8

Portability
79
Imaging
50
Features
31
Overall
42
Leica M8 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 front
Portability
90
Imaging
54
Features
62
Overall
57

Leica M8 vs Panasonic GF8 Key Specs

Leica M8
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-H Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 2500
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Leica M Mount
  • 591g - 139 x 80 x 37mm
  • Launched July 2007
Panasonic GF8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 266g - 107 x 65 x 33mm
  • Introduced February 2016
  • Replaced the Panasonic GF7
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Leica M8 vs Panasonic GF8 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Leica M8 and Panasonic GF8, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Leica and Panasonic. There is a sizable difference among the image resolutions of the M8 (10MP) and GF8 (16MP) and the M8 (APS-H) and GF8 (Four Thirds) come with different sensor sizing.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

The M8 was launched 9 years earlier than the GF8 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving in to a thorough comparison, below is a simple view of how the M8 scores vs the GF8 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Leica M8 over the Panasonic GF8

 M8 GF8 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF8 over the Leica M8

 GF8 M8 
IntroducedFebruary 2016July 2007More recent by 104 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1040k230kCrisper screen (+810k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Leica M8 and Panasonic GF8

 M8 GF8 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Leica M8 vs Panasonic GF8 Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and volume. The Leica M8 features physical measurements 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 GF8 has sizing of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 266 grams (0.59 lbs).

Check out the Leica M8 and Panasonic GF8 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you use at that time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the M8 vs the GF8.

Leica M8 vs Panasonic GF8 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the M8 and GF8 is 79 and 90 respectively.

Leica M8 vs Panasonic GF8 top view buttons comparison

Leica M8 vs Panasonic GF8 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to imagine the difference in sensor measurements purely by looking through specifications. The photograph below should offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the M8 and GF8.

Plainly, the two cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The M8 due to its bigger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic GF8 will provide you with extra detail utilizing its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The older M8 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Leica M8 vs Panasonic GF8 sensor size comparison

Leica M8 vs Panasonic GF8 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica M8 vs Panasonic GF8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica M8 Portrait photography information
Panasonic GF8 Portrait photography information
54
manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-H)
exports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
low MP (10MP)
65
focusing manually
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
external flash not possible
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Street Comparison

Leica M8 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic GF8 as a Street photography camera
62
sensor size is good (APS-H)
exports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
80
has a tilting screen
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
comes with touch focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Sports Comparison

Leica M8 Sports photography info
Panasonic GF8 Sports photography info
43
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
sensor size is good (APS-H)
good battery power (550 shots)
doesn't have liveview
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
lack of phase detect autofocus
49
quiet shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
low max shutter speed (1/500 seconds)
max fps very slow (5.8 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery (230 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Travel Comparison

Leica M8 Travel photography features
Panasonic GF8 Travel photography features
51
good battery power (550 shots)
no Time Lapse function
low MP (10 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
66
comes with touch focus
good resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
not so great battery (230 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Landscape Comparison

Leica M8 Landscape photography details
Panasonic GF8 Landscape photography details
55
manual focus
swap lenses (Leica M mount)
sensor size is good (APS-H)
no anti-alias filter
exports RAW formats
good battery power (550 per charge)
tiny screen (2.5")
doesn't have liveview
does not have image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
no Time Lapse function
65
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery (230 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Vlogging Comparison

Leica M8 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic GF8 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video recording
33
screen is touchscreen
offers face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have microphone socket
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Leica M8 vs Panasonic GF8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica M8 and Panasonic GF8
 Leica M8Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8
General Information
Manufacturer Leica Panasonic
Model type Leica M8 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8
Class Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2007-07-31 2016-02-15
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-H Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 27 x 18mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 486.0mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3936 x 2630 4592 x 3448
Max native ISO 2500 25600
Lowest native ISO 160 200
RAW pictures
Lowest boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mount type Leica M Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 59 107
Focal length multiplier 1.3 2.1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (rangefinder) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/500 seconds
Maximum quiet shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate - 5.8 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 5.60 m (at ISO 200)
Flash modes Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, flash off
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 591 grams (1.30 lbs) 266 grams (0.59 lbs)
Dimensions 139 x 80 x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") 107 x 65 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 59 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 663 not tested
Other
Battery life 550 pictures 230 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3-shot/10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots One One
Retail cost $4,400 $549