Leica M9 vs Nikon D800

Lets look much closer at the Leica M9 vs Nikon D800, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Leica and Nikon. There exists a sizable gap between the sensor resolutions of the M9 (18MP) and D800 (36MP) but both cameras have the same sensor size (Full frame).

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The M9 was released 3 years before the D800 which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Leica M9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Nikon D800 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple overview of how the M9 grades versus the D800 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Leica M9 & Nikon D800. The complete galleries are available at Leica M9 Gallery & Nikon D800 Gallery.

When you are going to carry around your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Leica M9 enjoys external measurements of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") with a weight of 585 grams (1.29 lbs) while the Nikon D800 has dimensions of 146mm x 123mm x 82mm (5.7" x 4.8" x 3.2") with a weight of 900 grams (1.98 lbs).

Check the Leica M9 vs Nikon D800 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are employing during that time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the M9 vs the D800.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the M9 and D800 is 79 and 54 respectively.

Sometimes, it's hard to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes purely by checking a spec sheet. The image here should give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the M9 and D800.

As you can see, each of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You can expect to see the Nikon D800 to give more detail as a result of its extra 18MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The more aged M9 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.