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Leica M9 vs Panasonic GM1

Portability
79
Imaging
63
Features
30
Overall
49
Leica M9 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
53
Features
60
Overall
55

Leica M9 vs Panasonic GM1 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
  • Replacement is Leica M9-P
Panasonic GM1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 204g - 99 x 55 x 30mm
  • Announced December 2013
  • Replacement is Panasonic GM5
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Leica M9 vs Panasonic GM1 Overview

Below, we will be evaluating the Leica M9 versus Panasonic GM1, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Leica and Panasonic. The image resolution of the M9 (18MP) and the GM1 (16MP) is pretty comparable but the M9 (Full frame) and GM1 (Four Thirds) come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The M9 was revealed 5 years earlier than the GM1 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a concise summary of how the M9 grades versus the GM1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Leica M9 over the Panasonic GM1

 M9 GM1 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GM1 over the Leica M9

 GM1 M9 
AnnouncedDecember 2013September 2009More modern by 52 months
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1036k230kSharper screen (+806k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Leica M9 and Panasonic GM1

 M9 GM1 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Leica M9 vs Panasonic GM1 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to consider its weight and size. The Leica M9 comes with outer dimensions of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") along with a weight of 585 grams (1.29 lbs) and the Panasonic GM1 has specifications of 99mm x 55mm x 30mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") and a weight of 204 grams (0.45 lbs).

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Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have at that time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the M9 and the GM1.

Leica M9 vs Panasonic GM1 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the M9 and GM1 is 79 and 93 respectively.

Leica M9 vs Panasonic GM1 top view buttons comparison

Leica M9 vs Panasonic GM1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is tough to visualise the gap in sensor sizes merely by checking out specs. The pic underneath should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the M9 and GM1.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The M9 with its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Leica M9 will show more detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots much more aggressively. The more aged M9 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Leica M9 vs Panasonic GM1 sensor size comparison

Leica M9 vs Panasonic GM1 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica M9 vs Panasonic GM1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica M9 Portrait photography information
Panasonic GM1 Portrait photography information
69
focusing manually
good resolution (18 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
saves RAW files
does not have liveview
65
you can focus manually
decent MP (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
saves RAW formats
cannot use external flash
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Leica M9
Street photography with Panasonic GM1
65
sensor size is big (Full frame)
saves RAW files
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
77
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
offers touch focus
lighter than competitors in class (204 grams)
good high ISO (25,600)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Leica M9
Sports photography with Panasonic GM1
44
good resolution (18MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
does not have liveview
slow fps (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery (350 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
48
silent shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
low max shutter speed (1/500 seconds)
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery (230 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Leica M9 Travel photography advice
Panasonic GM1 Travel photography advice
54
good resolution (18 megapixels)
no Timelapse function
not so great battery (350 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
74
lighter than competitors in class (204g)
offers touch focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
not so great battery (230 shots)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Leica M9 Landscape photography info
Panasonic GM1 Landscape photography info
60
focusing manually
switch lenses (Leica M mount)
good resolution (18MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
saves RAW files
small screen (2.5 inches)
does not have liveview
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery (350 CIPA)
no Timelapse function
69
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
decent MP (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery (230 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica M9 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic GM1 as a Vlogging camera
9
can't record video
35
has touchscreen
features face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (204g)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
does not have external mic jack
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Leica M9 vs Panasonic GM1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica M9 and Panasonic GM1
 Leica M9Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1
General Information
Brand Leica Panasonic
Model type Leica M9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1
Category Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2009-09-09 2013-12-19
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Full frame Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 36 x 24mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 864.0mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5212 x 3472 4592 x 3448
Max native ISO 2500 25600
Min native ISO 80 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 23
Lens
Lens support Leica M Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 59 107
Focal length multiplier 1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dot 1,036k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT color LCD TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (rangefinder) None
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/500s
Maximum silent shutter speed - 1/16000s
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 4.00 m
Flash settings Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180s 1/50s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 24p), 1280 x 720p (60p, 50p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 585 grams (1.29 lb) 204 grams (0.45 lb)
Dimensions 139 x 80 x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") 99 x 55 x 30mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 69 66
DXO Color Depth rating 22.5 22.3
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.7 11.7
DXO Low light rating 884 660
Other
Battery life 350 pictures 230 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $2,750 $750