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Leica M9 vs Samsung NX300M

Portability
79
Imaging
63
Features
30
Overall
49
Leica M9 front
 
Samsung NX300M front
Portability
86
Imaging
63
Features
73
Overall
67

Leica M9 vs Samsung NX300M 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
  • Released September 2009
  • Updated by Leica M9-P
Samsung NX300M
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 331g - 122 x 64 x 41mm
  • Announced January 2013
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Leica M9 vs Samsung NX300M Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Leica M9 vs Samsung NX300M, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Leica and Samsung. The image resolution of the M9 (18MP) and the NX300M (20MP) is pretty close but the M9 (Full frame) and NX300M (APS-C) use different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The M9 was announced 4 years before the NX300M which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the M9 scores against the NX300M when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Leica M9 over the Samsung NX300M

 M9 NX300M 

Reasons to pick Samsung NX300M over the Leica M9

 NX300M M9 
AnnouncedJanuary 2013September 2009More modern by 40 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3.3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.8")
Screen resolution768k230kClearer screen (+538k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Leica M9 and Samsung NX300M

 M9 NX300M 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Leica M9 vs Samsung NX300M Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera frequently, you need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Leica M9 features exterior dimensions of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") with a weight of 585 grams (1.29 lbs) and the Samsung NX300M has dimensions of 122mm x 64mm x 41mm (4.8" x 2.5" x 1.6") with a weight of 331 grams (0.73 lbs).

Contrast the Leica M9 vs Samsung NX300M in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the M9 and the NX300M.

Leica M9 vs Samsung NX300M size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the M9 and NX300M is 79 and 86 respectively.

Leica M9 vs Samsung NX300M top view buttons comparison

Leica M9 vs Samsung NX300M Sensor Comparison

Often, its difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizes only by researching a spec sheet. The picture below should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the M9 and NX300M.

Clearly, both of those cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The M9 using its bigger sensor is going to make getting bokeh simpler and the Samsung NX300M will render greater detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The more aged M9 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Leica M9 vs Samsung NX300M sensor size comparison

Leica M9 vs Samsung NX300M Screen and ViewFinder

Leica M9 vs Samsung NX300M Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Leica M9
Portrait photography with Samsung NX300M
69
focusing manually
decent megapixels (18MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
77
focusing manually
MP count good (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Leica M9 Street photography info
Samsung NX300M Street photography info
65
sensor size is great (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
80
screen tilts up and down
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
has touch to focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Leica M9
Sports photography with Samsung NX300M
44
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
doesn't have liveview
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
bad battery power (350 shots)
lacks phase detect AF
73
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
has phase detect autofocus
does not have image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Leica M9 as a Travel photography camera
Samsung NX300M as a Travel photography camera
54
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse function
bad battery power (350 CIPA)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
67
has touch to focus
MP count good (20MP)
does not have Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Leica M9 Landscape photography highlights
Samsung NX300M Landscape photography highlights
60
focusing manually
swap lenses (Leica M mount)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
doesnt have low pass filter
exports RAW formats
screen is small (2.5 inch)
doesn't have liveview
does not have image stabilization
bad battery power (350 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse function
72
focusing manually
switch lenses (Samsung NX mount)
screen is a good size (3.3 inch)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica M9 as a Vlogging camera
Samsung NX300M as a Vlogging camera
9
no video recording
33
touchscreen functionality
includes face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
does not have external mic socket
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Leica M9 vs Samsung NX300M Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica M9 and Samsung NX300M
 Leica M9Samsung NX300M
General Information
Manufacturer Leica Samsung
Model Leica M9 Samsung NX300M
Category Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2009-09-09 2013-01-03
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - DRIMe IV
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor dimensions 36 x 24mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface 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
Full resolution 5212 x 3472 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 2500 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 247
Lens
Lens mounting type Leica M Samsung NX
Amount of lenses 59 32
Focal length multiplier 1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.5" 3.3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 768 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT color LCD Active Matrix OLED screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (rangefinder) None
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s 9.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, 1st/2nd Curtain, Smart Flash, Manual
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080, 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 585 grams (1.29 lbs) 331 grams (0.73 lbs)
Dimensions 139 x 80 x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") 122 x 64 x 41mm (4.8" x 2.5" x 1.6")
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 330 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - BP1130
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 sec to 30 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $2,750 $699