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Leica M9 vs Samsung NX3000

Portability
79
Imaging
63
Features
30
Overall
49
Leica M9 front
 
Samsung NX3000 front
Portability
89
Imaging
64
Features
62
Overall
63

Leica M9 vs Samsung NX3000 Key Specs

Leica M9
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 2500
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • No Video
  • Leica M Mount
  • 585g - 139 x 80 x 37mm
  • Launched September 2009
  • New Model is Leica M9-P
Samsung NX3000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 230g - 117 x 66 x 39mm
  • Launched May 2014
  • Older Model is Samsung NX2000
Photography Glossary

Leica M9 vs Samsung NX3000 Overview

Here is a in-depth analysis of the Leica M9 and Samsung NX3000, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Leica and Samsung. The resolution of the M9 (18MP) and the NX3000 (20MP) is relatively comparable but the M9 (Full frame) and NX3000 (APS-C) use totally different sensor size.

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The M9 was revealed 5 years earlier than the NX3000 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the M9 scores against the NX3000 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Leica M9 over the Samsung NX3000

 M9 NX3000 

Reasons to pick Samsung NX3000 over the Leica M9

 NX3000 M9 
LaunchedMay 2014September 2009Fresher by 57 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution461k230kCrisper screen (+231k dot)

Common features in the Leica M9 and Samsung NX3000

 M9 NX3000 
Manually focus More exact focus
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Leica M9 vs Samsung NX3000 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera, you should take into account its weight and proportions. The Leica M9 provides outer measurements of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") and a weight of 585 grams (1.29 lbs) whilst the Samsung NX3000 has measurements of 117mm x 66mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.5") along with a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs).

Analyze the Leica M9 and Samsung NX3000 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are employing at the time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the M9 and the NX3000.

Leica M9 vs Samsung NX3000 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the M9 and NX3000 is 79 and 89 respectively.

Leica M9 vs Samsung NX3000 top view buttons comparison

Leica M9 vs Samsung NX3000 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to envision the difference in sensor sizing merely by seeing a spec sheet. The photograph here may give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the M9 and NX3000.

As you can see, each of the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The M9 with its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult and the Samsung NX3000 will provide more detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots much more aggressively. The older M9 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Leica M9 vs Samsung NX3000 sensor size comparison

Leica M9 vs Samsung NX3000 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica M9 vs Samsung NX3000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica M9 Portrait photography highlights
Samsung NX3000 Portrait photography highlights
69
manual focus
resolution is good (18MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
no liveview feature
78
focusing manually
good resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Leica M9 Street photography info
Samsung NX3000 Street photography info
65
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
81
has a tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lighter than competition (230 grams)
great high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Leica M9 Sports photography info
Samsung NX3000 Sports photography info
44
resolution is good (18MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
no liveview feature
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
low battery life (350 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
57
good resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Leica M9 as a Travel photography camera
Samsung NX3000 as a Travel photography camera
54
resolution is good (18MP)
no Time Lapse mode
low battery life (350 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
68
lighter than competition (230g)
good resolution (20MP)
no Timelapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Leica M9
Landscape photography with Samsung NX3000
60
manual focus
switch lenses (Leica M mount)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
doesnt have low pass filter
delivers RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
no liveview feature
does not have image stabilization
low battery life (350 per charge)
no Time Lapse mode
73
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Samsung NX mount)
good sized screen (3")
good resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
great high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica M9 Vlogging features
Samsung NX3000 Vlogging features
9
no video shooting
34
comes with face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (230g)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
no microphone support
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Leica M9 vs Samsung NX3000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica M9 and Samsung NX3000
 Leica M9Samsung NX3000
General Information
Make Leica Samsung
Model Leica M9 Samsung NX3000
Type Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2009-09-09 2014-05-26
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor measurements 36 x 24mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 864.0mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 5212 x 3472 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 2500 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW files
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 - 35
Cross focus points - 1
Lens
Lens mount Leica M Samsung NX
Available lenses 59 32
Crop factor 1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 461 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (rangefinder) None
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync no built-in flash
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 585 gr (1.29 lbs) 230 gr (0.51 lbs)
Dimensions 139 x 80 x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") 117 x 66 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 69 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.7 not tested
DXO Low light score 884 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 photographs 370 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - B740
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2-30 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC card microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $2,750 $897