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Leica M8 vs Panasonic LF1

Portability
79
Imaging
50
Features
31
Overall
42
Leica M8 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
55
Overall
44

Leica M8 vs Panasonic LF1 Key Specs

Leica M8
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-H Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 2500
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Leica M Mount
  • 591g - 139 x 80 x 37mm
  • Announced July 2007
Panasonic LF1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400 (Expand to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-200mm (F2.0-5.9) lens
  • 192g - 103 x 62 x 28mm
  • Launched November 2013
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Leica M8 vs Panasonic LF1 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Leica M8 versus Panasonic LF1, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Leica and Panasonic. The resolution of the M8 (10MP) and the LF1 (12MP) is fairly comparable but the M8 (APS-H) and LF1 (1/1.7") posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The M8 was unveiled 7 years before the LF1 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Leica M8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LF1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the M8 scores versus the LF1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Leica M8 over the Panasonic LF1

 M8 LF1 

Reasons to pick Panasonic LF1 over the Leica M8

 LF1 M8 
LaunchedNovember 2013July 2007More recent by 77 months
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Leica M8 and Panasonic LF1

 M8 LF1 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Leica M8 vs Panasonic LF1 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera, you'll have to factor in its weight and volume. The Leica M8 has got external 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) and the Panasonic LF1 has sizing of 103mm x 62mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.1") with a weight of 192 grams (0.42 lbs).

Check the Leica M8 versus Panasonic LF1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the M8 compared to the LF1.

Leica M8 vs Panasonic LF1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the M8 and LF1 is 79 and 92 respectively.

Leica M8 vs Panasonic LF1 top view buttons comparison

Leica M8 vs Panasonic LF1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be difficult to see the gap in sensor measurements purely by checking out specs. The photograph here will provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the M8 and LF1.

All in all, the 2 cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The M8 having a larger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field simpler and the Panasonic LF1 will produce more detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The older M8 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Leica M8 vs Panasonic LF1 sensor size comparison

Leica M8 vs Panasonic LF1 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica M8 vs Panasonic LF1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica M8 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic LF1 Portrait photography factors
54
focusing manually
sensor size is nice (APS-H)
exports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
42
manual focus
includes face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Leica M8 Street photography advice
Panasonic LF1 Street photography advice
62
sensor size is nice (APS-H)
exports RAW formats
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Leica M8 Sports photography information
Panasonic LF1 Sports photography information
43
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
sensor size is nice (APS-H)
great battery power (550 CIPA)
doesn't have liveview
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
has no phase detect autofocus
39
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking autofocus
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Leica M8 Travel photography information
Panasonic LF1 Travel photography information
51
great battery power (550 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
64
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
does not have Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Leica M8 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic LF1 Landscape photography factors
55
focusing manually
change lenses (Leica M mount)
sensor size is nice (APS-H)
does not have anti aliasing filter
exports RAW formats
great battery power (550 per charge)
small screen (2.5 inches)
doesn't have liveview
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
54
manual focus
really wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
does not have Time Lapse recording
Leica struggles with L-Mount camera sales, tougher than Q or M

Vlogging Comparison

Leica M8 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic LF1 as a Vlogging camera
9
can't record video
36
really wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
does not have external mic socket
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Leica M8 vs Panasonic LF1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica M8 and Panasonic LF1
 Leica M8Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1
General Information
Brand Leica Panasonic
Model type Leica M8 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1
Category Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2007-07-31 2013-11-26
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-H 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 27 x 18mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 486.0mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3936 x 2630 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 2500 6400
Highest enhanced ISO - 12800
Minimum native ISO 160 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 23
Lens
Lens support Leica M fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-200mm (7.1x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.0-5.9
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 59 -
Focal length multiplier 1.3 4.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (rangefinder) Electronic
Features
Min shutter speed 8 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate - 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 7.00 m
Flash options Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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 gr (1.30 pounds) 192 gr (0.42 pounds)
Physical dimensions 139 x 80 x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") 103 x 62 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 59 52
DXO Color Depth rating 21.1 20.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.3 11.6
DXO Low light rating 663 211
Other
Battery life 550 pictures 250 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch cost $4,400 $500