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Leica M9-P vs Panasonic S5

Portability
78
Imaging
64
Features
30
Overall
50
Leica M9-P front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
77
Features
92
Overall
83

Leica M9-P vs Panasonic S5 Key Specs

Leica M9-P
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 2500
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • No Video
  • Leica M Mount
  • 600g - 139 x 80 x 37mm
  • Released June 2011
  • Superseded the Leica M9
Panasonic S5
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.0" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Boost to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Leica L Mount
  • 714g - 133 x 97 x 82mm
  • Announced August 2020
  • Successor is Panasonic S5 II
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Leica M9-P vs Panasonic S5 Overview

Below is a detailed review of the Leica M9-P vs Panasonic S5, both Pro Mirrorless cameras by manufacturers Leica and Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap among the resolutions of the M9-P (18MP) and S5 (24MP) but they enjoy the exact same sensor sizes (Full frame).

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The M9-P was revealed 10 years earlier than the S5 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Leica M9-P being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting through a complete comparison, below is a simple summary of how the M9-P scores vs the S5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Leica M9-P over the Panasonic S5

 M9-P S5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic S5 over the Leica M9-P

 S5 M9-P 
AnnouncedAugust 2020June 2011More recent by 111 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimension3.0"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1840k230kSharper screen (+1610k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Leica M9-P and Panasonic S5

 M9-P S5 
Manual focus Dial precise focus

Leica M9-P vs Panasonic S5 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to lug around your camera often, you'll need to take into account its weight and size. The Leica M9-P features exterior dimensions of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") with a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) while the Panasonic S5 has specifications of 133mm x 97mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2") with a weight of 714 grams (1.57 lbs).

Look at the Leica M9-P vs Panasonic S5 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you choose at the time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the M9-P compared to the S5.

Leica M9-P vs Panasonic S5 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the M9-P and S5 is 78 and 60 respectively.

Leica M9-P vs Panasonic S5 top view buttons comparison

Leica M9-P vs Panasonic S5 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements purely by seeing specifications. The visual underneath will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the M9-P and S5.

To sum up, the 2 cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different resolution. You can count on the Panasonic S5 to show extra detail because of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The older M9-P will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Leica M9-P vs Panasonic S5 sensor size comparison

Leica M9-P vs Panasonic S5 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica M9-P vs Panasonic S5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica M9-P Portrait photography factors
Panasonic S5 Portrait photography factors
70
you can focus manually
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
no liveview feature
86
you can focus manually
MP count good (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Leica M9-P Street photography details
Panasonic S5 Street photography details
64
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
78
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
offers focus by touch
weather sealing
great ISO range (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Leica M9-P Sports photography features
Panasonic S5 Sports photography features
44
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
no liveview feature
slow frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low battery pack (350 shots)
no phase detect auto focus
82
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
quiet shooting (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather sealing
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Leica M9-P Travel photography information
Panasonic S5 Travel photography information
54
good megapixels (18MP)
does not have Timelapse recording
low battery pack (350 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
79
weather sealing
supports bluetooth
offers focus by touch
MP count good (24MP)
screen is selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Leica M9-P
Landscape photography with Panasonic S5
60
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Leica M mount)
good megapixels (18MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
no anti aliasing filter
supports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
no liveview feature
lack of image stabilization
low battery pack (350 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse recording
86
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Leica L mount)
pretty good screen size (3.0")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
doesnt have low pass filter
great ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
2 card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica M9-P Vlogging advice
Panasonic S5 Vlogging advice
9
no video
79
screen is selfie friendly
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
includes external mic support
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Leica M9-P vs Panasonic S5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica M9-P and Panasonic S5
 Leica M9-PPanasonic Lumix DC-S5
General Information
Company Leica Panasonic
Model Leica M9-P Panasonic Lumix DC-S5
Category Pro Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Released 2011-06-21 2020-08-14
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Full frame Full frame
Sensor dimensions 36 x 24mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 864.0mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 5212 x 3472 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 2500 51200
Max enhanced ISO - 204800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Min enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 225
Lens
Lens mount Leica M Leica L
Number of lenses 59 31
Crop factor 1 1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 2.5 inch 3.0 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 1,840k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (rangefinder) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x 0.74x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 2.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in 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
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 200 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution None 3840x2160
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264, H.265
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 600 grams (1.32 lbs) 714 grams (1.57 lbs)
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 Overall score 68 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.6 not tested
DXO Low light score 854 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 images 440 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card, SDXC Memory Card
Card slots One 2
Retail pricing $7,995 $1,999