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Leica M8 vs Panasonic GH4

Portability
79
Imaging
50
Features
31
Overall
42
Leica M8 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 front
Portability
66
Imaging
53
Features
88
Overall
67

Leica M8 vs Panasonic GH4 Key Specs

Leica M8
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-H Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 2500
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Leica M Mount
  • 591g - 139 x 80 x 37mm
  • Released July 2007
Panasonic GH4
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 560g - 133 x 93 x 84mm
  • Announced February 2014
  • Old Model is Panasonic GH3
  • Updated by Panasonic GH5
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Leica M8 vs Panasonic GH4 Overview

Here, we will be looking at the Leica M8 versus Panasonic GH4, both Pro Mirrorless digital cameras by rivals Leica and Panasonic. There is a big difference between the sensor resolutions of the M8 (10MP) and GH4 (16MP) and the M8 (APS-H) and GH4 (Four Thirds) provide totally different sensor size.

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The M8 was announced 7 years earlier than the GH4 which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Leica M8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic GH4 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going into a in depth comparison, here is a brief summary of how the M8 grades vs the GH4 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Leica M8 over the Panasonic GH4

 M8 GH4 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH4 over the Leica M8

 GH4 M8 
AnnouncedFebruary 2014July 2007More modern by 79 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1036k230kCrisper screen (+806k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Leica M8 and Panasonic GH4

 M8 GH4 
Manually focus Dial precise focus

Leica M8 vs Panasonic GH4 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera frequently, you need to consider its weight and volume. The Leica M8 comes with outside dimensions of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") and a weight of 591 grams (1.30 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GH4 has sizing of 133mm x 93mm x 84mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.3") with a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs).

Compare the Leica M8 versus Panasonic GH4 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. The following is a front view size comparison of the M8 compared to the GH4.

Leica M8 vs Panasonic GH4 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the M8 and GH4 is 79 and 66 respectively.

Leica M8 vs Panasonic GH4 top view buttons comparison

Leica M8 vs Panasonic GH4 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes only by reviewing specs. The image underneath will help provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the M8 and GH4.

All in all, the 2 cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The M8 with its bigger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Panasonic GH4 will offer you greater detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures way more aggressively. The more aged M8 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Leica M8 vs Panasonic GH4 sensor size comparison

Leica M8 vs Panasonic GH4 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica M8 vs Panasonic GH4 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica M8 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic GH4 Portrait photography factors
54
manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-H)
delivers RAW formats
no liveview
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
71
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Leica M8 Street photography details
Panasonic GH4 Street photography details
62
sensor size is nice (APS-H)
delivers RAW formats
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
71
screen articulates fully
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
offers touch focus
environment sealing
lighter than average (560g)
very good high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Leica M8 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic GH4 Sports photography highlights
43
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
sensor size is nice (APS-H)
good battery life (550 shots)
no liveview
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
lacks phase detect auto focus
62
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
environment sealing
no image stabilization
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Leica M8
Travel photography with Panasonic GH4
51
good battery life (550 shots)
no Timelapse recording
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
77
lighter than average (560 grams)
environment sealing
offers touch focus
good megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Leica M8 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic GH4 Landscape photography advice
55
manual focus
change lenses (Leica M mount)
sensor size is nice (APS-H)
doesnt have low pass filter
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (550 per charge)
screen is small (2.5 inch)
no liveview
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
no Timelapse recording
72
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
no image stabilization
Leica struggles with L-Mount camera sales, tougher than Q or M

Vlogging Comparison

Leica M8 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic GH4 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video
71
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
includes face detect focus
high quality video (4096 x 2160 pxls)
includes microphone port
lighter than average (560g)
no image stabilization
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Leica M8 vs Panasonic GH4 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica M8 and Panasonic GH4
 Leica M8Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4
General Information
Brand Name Leica Panasonic
Model Leica M8 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4
Type Pro Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Released 2007-07-31 2014-02-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine IX
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-H Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 27 x 18mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 486.0mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3936 x 2630 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 2500 25600
Lowest native ISO 160 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 49
Lens
Lens mounting type Leica M Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 59 107
Focal length multiplier 1.3 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 2.5 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dot 1,036k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - OLED
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (rangefinder) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.67x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed - 12.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 17.00 m (at ISO 200)
Flash options Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync Auto, auto/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync/redeye reduction, forced off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 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 - 4096 x 2160 (24p), 3840 x 2160 (24p, 25p, 30p), 1920 x 1080 (24p, 25p, 30p, 50p, 60p), 1280 x 720 (24p, 25p, 30p), 640 x 480 (25p, 30p)
Max video resolution None 4096x2160
Video data 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 591 gr (1.30 lb) 560 gr (1.23 lb)
Physical dimensions 139 x 80 x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") 133 x 93 x 84mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 59 74
DXO Color Depth score 21.1 23.2
DXO Dynamic range score 11.3 12.8
DXO Low light score 663 791
Other
Battery life 550 images 500 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - DMW-BLF19
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs (single or three-shot))
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $4,400 $1,500