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Leica M9 vs Nikon 1 AW1

Portability
79
Imaging
63
Features
30
Overall
49
Leica M9 front
 
Nikon 1 AW1 front
Portability
86
Imaging
45
Features
62
Overall
51

Leica M9 vs Nikon 1 AW1 Key Specs

Leica M9
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 2500
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • No Video
  • Leica M Mount
  • 585g - 139 x 80 x 37mm
  • Introduced September 2009
  • Successor is Leica M9-P
Nikon 1 AW1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon 1 Mount
  • 356g - 114 x 72 x 37mm
  • Introduced September 2013
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Leica M9 vs Nikon 1 AW1 Overview

The following is a in-depth assessment of the Leica M9 and Nikon 1 AW1, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Leica and Nikon. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the M9 (18MP) and 1 AW1 (14MP) and the M9 (Full frame) and 1 AW1 (1") enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The M9 was manufactured 5 years earlier than the 1 AW1 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting through a complete comparison, below is a quick overview of how the M9 matches up versus the 1 AW1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Leica M9 over the Nikon 1 AW1

 M9 1 AW1 

Reasons to pick Nikon 1 AW1 over the Leica M9

 1 AW1 M9 
IntroducedSeptember 2013September 2009Newer by 49 months
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Leica M9 and Nikon 1 AW1

 M9 1 AW1 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Leica M9 vs Nikon 1 AW1 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to travel with your camera often, you will have to consider its weight and size. The Leica M9 features outer measurements of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") along with a weight of 585 grams (1.29 lbs) whilst the Nikon 1 AW1 has specifications of 114mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.5") having a weight of 356 grams (0.78 lbs).

Take a look at the Leica M9 and Nikon 1 AW1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you select during that time. Following is the front view scale comparison of the M9 against the 1 AW1.

Leica M9 vs Nikon 1 AW1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the M9 and 1 AW1 is 79 and 86 respectively.

Leica M9 vs Nikon 1 AW1 top view buttons comparison

Leica M9 vs Nikon 1 AW1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's hard to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions only by checking a spec sheet. The pic here might offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the M9 and 1 AW1.

Clearly, the two cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The M9 because of its bigger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Leica M9 will resolve more detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots much more aggressively. The more aged M9 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Leica M9 vs Nikon 1 AW1 sensor size comparison

Leica M9 vs Nikon 1 AW1 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica M9 vs Nikon 1 AW1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica M9 Portrait photography info
Nikon 1 AW1 Portrait photography info
69
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
doesn't have liveview
60
manual focus
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
comes with face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Leica M9 Street photography info
Nikon 1 AW1 Street photography info
65
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
68
decent sensor size (1")
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
fixed screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Leica M9 Sports photography factors
Nikon 1 AW1 Sports photography factors
44
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
doesn't have liveview
slow frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
bad battery life (350 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
60
fast continuous shooting (60.0 frames/s)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
decent sensor size (1")
comes with tracking focus
weather sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
no image stabilization
terrible battery life (220 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Leica M9 Travel photography features
Nikon 1 AW1 Travel photography features
54
megapixel count decent (18MP)
lack of Timelapse mode
bad battery life (350 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
63
weather sealing
megapixel count decent (14MP)
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
terrible battery life (220 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Leica M9 as a Landscape photography camera
Nikon 1 AW1 as a Landscape photography camera
60
has manual focus
change lenses (Leica M mount)
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
does not have anti aliasing filter
delivers RAW files
screen is small (2.5")
doesn't have liveview
does not have image stabilization
bad battery life (350 shots)
lack of Timelapse mode
61
manual focus
change lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
decent sized screen (3")
megapixel count decent (14MP)
decent sensor size (1")
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
no image stabilization
terrible battery life (220 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica M9 Vlogging highlights
Nikon 1 AW1 Vlogging highlights
9
no video shooting
29
comes with face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
doesn't have mic socket
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Leica M9 vs Nikon 1 AW1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica M9 and Nikon 1 AW1
 Leica M9Nikon 1 AW1
General Information
Brand Name Leica Nikon
Model Leica M9 Nikon 1 AW1
Category Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2009-09-09 2013-09-19
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - EXPEED 3A
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Full frame 1"
Sensor dimensions 36 x 24mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 864.0mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 5212 x 3472 4608 x 3072
Max native ISO 2500 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 160
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 135
Lens
Lens mounting type Leica M Nikon 1
Total lenses 59 13
Crop factor 1 2.7
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology TFT color LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (rangefinder) None
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames/s 60.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 5.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync Fill flash, fill w/slow sync, rear curtain sync, rear w/slow sync, redeye reduction, redeye w/slow sync, off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/60 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60i, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 30p), 640 x 240 (400 fps), 320 x 120 (1200 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 585 grams (1.29 lb) 356 grams (0.78 lb)
Dimensions 139 x 80 x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") 114 x 72 x 37mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 69 51
DXO Color Depth score 22.5 20.2
DXO Dynamic range score 11.7 10.9
DXO Low light score 884 428
Other
Battery life 350 photos 220 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - EN-EL20
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $2,750 $0