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Leica M9 vs Panasonic S1R

Portability
79
Imaging
63
Features
30
Overall
49
Leica M9 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-S1R front
Portability
54
Imaging
79
Features
84
Overall
81

Leica M9 vs Panasonic S1R 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
  • Released September 2009
  • Replacement is Leica M9-P
Panasonic S1R
(Full Review)
  • 47MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Expand to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Leica L Mount
  • 1020g - 149 x 110 x 97mm
  • Introduced February 2019
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Leica M9 vs Panasonic S1R Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Leica M9 and Panasonic S1R, both Pro Mirrorless cameras by manufacturers Leica and Panasonic. There is a considerable difference among the resolutions of the M9 (18MP) and S1R (47MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor sizing (Full frame).

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The M9 was launched 10 years prior to the S1R and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Leica M9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S1R being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a short view of how the M9 matches up versus the S1R with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Leica M9 over the Panasonic S1R

 M9 S1R 

Reasons to pick Panasonic S1R over the Leica M9

 S1R M9 
IntroducedFebruary 2019September 2009Fresher by 114 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3.2"2.5"Larger display (+0.7")
Display resolution2100k230kSharper display (+1870k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Leica M9 and Panasonic S1R

 M9 S1R 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Leica M9 vs Panasonic S1R Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Leica M9 provides physical dimensions of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") and a weight of 585 grams (1.29 lbs) and the Panasonic S1R has measurements of 149mm x 110mm x 97mm (5.9" x 4.3" x 3.8") and a weight of 1020 grams (2.25 lbs).

Check out the Leica M9 and Panasonic S1R in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the M9 against the S1R.

Leica M9 vs Panasonic S1R size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the M9 and S1R is 79 and 54 respectively.

Leica M9 vs Panasonic S1R top view buttons comparison

Leica M9 vs Panasonic S1R Sensor Comparison

Often, it's difficult to see the gap in sensor sizing purely by viewing specs. The visual below will offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the M9 and S1R.

All in all, each of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You can expect to see the Panasonic S1R to result in greater detail utilizing its extra 29 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The older M9 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Leica M9 vs Panasonic S1R sensor size comparison

Leica M9 vs Panasonic S1R Screen and ViewFinder

Leica M9 vs Panasonic S1R Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica M9 Portrait photography info
Panasonic S1R Portrait photography info
69
you can focus manually
MP count good (18 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
doesn't have liveview
87
manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/320 seconds)
MP count high (47 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
has face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Leica M9
Street photography with Panasonic S1R
65
large sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
71
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW files
comes with touch to focus
weather sealing
above average high ISO (25,600)
more heavy than others (1,020 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Leica M9 Sports photography advice
Panasonic S1R Sports photography advice
44
MP count good (18 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
doesn't have liveview
max frames per second very slow (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
bad battery life (350 per charge)
does not have phase detect AF
78
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count high (47 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
has tracking autofocus
weather sealing
low battery pack (360 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Leica M9 Travel photography details
Panasonic S1R Travel photography details
54
MP count good (18 megapixels)
no Time Lapse function
bad battery life (350 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
60
weather sealing
connects via bluetooth
comes with touch to focus
MP count high (47 megapixels)
low battery pack (360 shots)
more heavy than others (1,020g)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Leica M9 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic S1R Landscape photography highlights
60
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Leica M mount)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
does not have anti-alias filter
delivers RAW files
screen is small (2.5")
doesn't have liveview
lack of image stabilization
bad battery life (350 CIPA)
no Time Lapse function
82
manual focus
change lenses (Leica L mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count high (47MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
does not have anti aliasing filter
above average high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
two card slots
low battery pack (360 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica M9 Vlogging info
Panasonic S1R Vlogging info
9
no video recording
32
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does have external microphone socket
does not have a selfie friendly screen
more heavy than others (1,020 grams)
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Leica M9 vs Panasonic S1R Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica M9 and Panasonic S1R
 Leica M9Panasonic Lumix DC-S1R
General Information
Make Leica Panasonic
Model Leica M9 Panasonic Lumix DC-S1R
Class Pro Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Released 2009-09-09 2019-02-01
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - Venus Engine
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Full frame Full frame
Sensor measurements 36 x 24mm 36 x 24mm
Sensor area 864.0mm² 864.0mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixel 47 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 5212 x 3472 8000 x 6000
Max native ISO 2500 25600
Max enhanced ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Lowest enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 225
Lens
Lens mounting type Leica M Leica L
Number of lenses 59 30
Crop factor 1 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.5 inch 3.2 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 2,100 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (rangefinder) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 5,760 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x 0.78x
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Max silent shutter speed - 1/16000s
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames/s 9.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes 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
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180s 1/320s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 150 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution None 3840x2160
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 585 gr (1.29 lbs) 1020 gr (2.25 lbs)
Physical dimensions 139 x 80 x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") 149 x 110 x 97mm (5.9" x 4.3" x 3.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 69 100
DXO Color Depth score 22.5 26.4
DXO Dynamic range score 11.7 14.1
DXO Low light score 884 3525
Other
Battery life 350 photos 360 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card -
Card slots Single 2
Pricing at release $2,750 $3,698