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Leica M8 Digital Camera
Leica M8
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Leica M9 Digital Camera
Leica M9
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Olympus PEN-F Digital Camera
Olympus PEN-F
Available colors
Editiorial reviews
22
22 editorial reviews
In 1954, at Photokina (or 'Foto Kina'), Leica introduced the first M series camera, the M3, the first Leica rangefinder body with a bayonet interchangeable lens mount, it was the beginning of a legendary series of cameras and lenses, the latest of which, the M7 is one of the only 35 mm rangefinder cameras still in production. For over half a century Leica has resisted the temptation to change the essential simple design established with the original M3 (it wasn't until 2002 that an electronically-controlled shutter was introduced allowing aperture priority automatic exposure). With an average 10 years between major upgrades and many of the original M3s still in regular use, the M platform is felt by its legion of fans to be the purest photographic tool available, and a welcome antidote to the mass of plastic feature-laden models that make up the rest of the market. Owning a Leica M camera has always been something people do with their hearts as much as their heads - and some of the 20th century's greatest photographers and most famous images were taken using them. It is no surprise then, that - despite talking about it for at least five years - Leica felt no need to rush into things when they decided it was time to bring the M into the digital age.Read more
Is the Leica M8 Still A Good Choice? By Steve Huff (or, one hour with an old friend, the Leica M8) Hey guys! Still working on my film stuff as I am awaiting aRead more
The launch of theLeica M8has been a rocky road. The initial release of cameras suffered from a number of problems, including bright light streaking and green ghosting. These have been fixed through a factory recall of the first batch of cameras, and all cameras shipped since late December have sorted this out. The firmware in [Read More]Read more
Read editorial reviews
17
3.1 out of 5
5 user ratings
5 stars
20 %
4 stars
0 %
3 stars
40 %
2 stars
40 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews
48
4.2 out of 5
18 user ratings
5 stars
38 %
4 stars
61 %
3 stars
0 %
2 stars
0 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews
User rating
40
4.0 out of 5
40 user ratings
5 stars
25 %
4 stars
55 %
3 stars
17 %
2 stars
2 %
1 stars
0 %
38
4.1 out of 5
38 user ratings
5 stars
31 %
4 stars
47 %
3 stars
21 %
2 stars
0 %
1 stars
0 %
42
4.0 out of 5
42 user ratings
5 stars
40 %
4 stars
28 %
3 stars
26 %
2 stars
4 %
1 stars
0 %

Sensor

Sensor typeCCDCCDLive MOS
Image sensor formatAPS-HFull frameFour Thirds
Sensor size1.06 in0.94 in0.68 in
Sensor photo detectors10.0 Mpx19.0 Mpx22.0 Mpx
Effective pixels10.0 Mpx18.0 Mpx20.0 Mpx
Image ratio w:h3:23:2
  • 1:1
  • 4:3
  • 3:2
  • 16:9
Max resolution3936 x 2630 px5212 x 3472 px5184 x 3888 px
Other resolutions
  • 2952x1972
  • 1968x1315
  • 1312x876
  • 3840x2592
  • 2592x1728
  • 1728x1152
  • 1280x846
  • 3712x2784
  • 2624x1968
  • 1824x1368
  • 640x480
Processor
N/A
N/A
TruePic VII

Image

ISO16080
  • 80
  • 25600
  • Auto
ISO minimum16016080
ISO maximum2500250025600
White balance presets667
White balance modesAutoAuto
  • Flash
  • Fluorescent
  • Shade
  • Sunny
  • Tungsten
  • Underwater
Custom white balanceyesyesyes
Supported image file formatsJPEG
  • JPEG
  • RAW
  • JPG
  • RAW
Image stabilizernonoyes
Image stabilization typeNoNo
N/A
Supported aspect ratios3:2
N/A
  • 1:1
  • 3:2
  • 3:4
  • 4:3
  • 16:9
Uncompressed formatRAWRAWRAW
ISO Auto
N/A
yesyes
Boosted ISO minimum
N/A
8080
ISO high auto
N/A
N/A
yes
Maximum image resolution
N/A
N/A
5184 x 3888 px
Photo effects
N/A
N/A
  • Black&White
  • Muted
  • Neutral
  • Vivid
Image stabilization axis
N/A
N/A
5-axis
HDR
N/A
N/A
yes
AEB/HDR support
N/A
N/A
yes

Optics and focus

Lens mountLeica MLeica MMicro Four Thirds
Magnification (Crop factor)1.33 x1.0 x2.0 x
Focal length multiplier1.3x1x2x
Autofocus
  • Continuous Auto Focus
  • Single Auto Focus
  • Continuous Auto Focus
  • Single Auto Focus
  • Continuous Auto Focus
  • Contrast Detection Auto Focus
  • Single Auto Focus
  • Tracking Auto Focus
Auto Focus (AF) lockyes
N/A
yes
Manual focusyesyesyes
Image stabiliserNoNoBuilt-in
Phase detection autofocusyesnono
AF assist (auto-focus assist light)
N/A
noLamp
Contrast autofocus
N/A
noyes
Maximum aperture
N/A
N/A
1.8
Focus adjustment
N/A
N/A
Auto/Manual
Contrast adjustment
N/A
N/A
yes
Saturation adjustment
N/A
N/A
yes
Brightness adjustment
N/A
N/A
yes
Autofocus in recording mode
N/A
N/A
yes
Auto Focus (AF) assist beam
N/A
N/A
yes
Number of focus points
N/A
N/A
81
Filter diameter
N/A
N/A
1.81 in
Number of AF points (contrast)
N/A
N/A
81

Screen and viewfinder

Screen size2.5 in2.5 in3.0 in
Articulated LCDnonoyes
Screen technologyLCDLCDLCD
Screen dots2300002300001037000
Touch screennonoyes
Field of view100.0 %
N/A
100.0 %
Live viewnonoyes
Viewfinder
Optical
Optical
Electronic
Separate info displaynonono
Viewfinder magnification
N/A
0.68 x1.23 x
Display aspect ratio
N/A
N/A
3:2
Viewfinder coverage
N/A
N/A
100.0 %
Viewfinder resolution
N/A
N/A
2360000.0 px
Diopter adjustment (D-D)
N/A
N/A
4 - 2

Photography features

Minimum shutter speed8.0 s4.0 s60.0 s
Maximum shutter speed1.0 s1.0 s1.0 s
Shutter prioritynonoyes
Aperture priorityyesyesyes
Manual exposure modeyesyesyes
Exposure compensation plus335
Exposure compensation minus-3-3-5
Expousure compensation steps1/31/31/3
Continuous shootingyesyesyes
Built-in flashyesyesno
Flash modes
  • Auto
  • Manual
  • Manual
  • Slow Sync
  • Auto
  • Fill-in
  • Flash OFF
  • Manual
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Slow Sync
External flash connectionHot shoeHot shoeHot shoe
Flash metering systemM-TTLM-TTLFP-TTL
External flashyesyesyes
Self-timeryesyesyes
Manual settingsyesyesyes
Self-timer options
  • 2
  • 12
  • 2
  • 12
  • 2
  • 12
  • custom
Speed (JPEG)2.0 fps2.0 fps10.0 fps
WB Bracketing
N/A
NoYes
Subject / scene modes
N/A
noyes
Flash sync speed
N/A
1/180s1/250s
Continuous drive
N/A
2.0 fps10.0 fps
Metering modes
N/A
Center-weighted
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Spot
Speed (RAW)
N/A
2.0 fps10.0 fps
Shooting modes
N/A
N/A
Auto
Camera shutter type
N/A
N/A
Electronic
Number of exposures
N/A
N/A
3
Auto exposure lock
N/A
N/A
yes
AE EV steps
N/A
N/A
  • 1/3
  • 2/3
  • 1
Self-timer delay
N/A
N/A
  • 2
  • 12
Histogram
N/A
N/A
yes
AE frames
N/A
N/A
  • 2
  • 3
  • 5
  • 7
Scene modes
N/A
N/A
  • Beach
  • Candlelight
  • Children
  • Documents
  • Fireworks
  • Night
  • Panorama
  • Portrait
  • Snow
  • Sports
  • Sunset
  • Landscape
Exposure bracketing
N/A
N/A
0.3 - 0.5±EV

Videography features

Video recordingnonoyes
HD typeNot supported
N/A
Full HD
Maximum resolution
N/A
N/A
1920 x 1080 px
Recording resolutions
N/A
N/A
  • 640 x 480
  • 1280 x 720
  • 1920 x 1080
Supported video file formats
N/A
N/A
  • AVC
  • AVI
  • H.264
  • M-JPEG
  • MOV
  • MPEG-4
Analog signal format system
N/A
N/A
  • NTSC
  • PAL
Max resolution (highest frame rate)
N/A
N/A
1920 x 1080
Max frame rate (highest resolution)
N/A
N/A
60.0 fps
Max frame rate (regardless of res.)
N/A
N/A
60.0 fps
Motion JPEG frame rate
N/A
N/A
60.0 fps

Audio features

Built-in microphonenonoyes
Built-in speakers
N/A
N/A
yes
Voice recording
N/A
N/A
yes
Audio system
N/A
N/A
Stereo
Supported audio file formats
N/A
N/A
PCM
Noise reduction
N/A
N/A
yes

Design

Body typeMILCMILCMILC
Body materialAluminum-magnesiumAluminum-magnesiumAluminium
Colour of product
  • Black,Silver
  • Chrome,Silver
  • Black,Chrome
  • Grey,Stainless steel
  • Black
  • Black,Silver
Anti-dust systemnonoyes
Environmentally sealednonono

Dimensions

Weight19.22 oz20.64 oz13.16 oz
Width5.47 in5.47 in4.91 in
Height3.15 in3.15 in2.84 in
Depth1.46 in1.46 in1.47 in

Storage

Compatible memory cards
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
Dual memory card slotsno
N/A
N/A
Storage types
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
Memory slots
N/A
N/A
1
Camera file system
N/A
N/A
  • DCF
  • DPOF
  • Exif 2.2
  • PRINT Image Matching III

Power

Battery life (CIPA)575
N/A
330
Battery technology
Lithium-Ion
Lithium-Ion
Lithium-Ion
Rechargeable batteryyes
N/A
yes
Power source type
N/A
N/A
Battery
Battery life (max)
N/A
N/A
1.33 h
Number of batteries supported
N/A
N/A
1

Connectivity

HDMInonoyes
USB version2.02.02.0
Headphone portno
N/A
no
Microphone portno
N/A
no
WirelessNo
N/A
Built-In
Remote controlnoNoyes
PictBridgeno
N/A
no
NFCnonono
Wireless network (Wi-Fi)nonoyes
Bluetoothno
N/A
no
AV outputno
N/A
no
Firewirenonono
HDMI connector type
N/A
N/A
Micro
USB port
N/A
N/A
yes
Supported WiFi types
N/A
N/A
  • IEEE 802.11b
  • IEEE 802.11g
  • IEEE 802.11n

Other features

Timelapse recordingnonoyes
GPSnonono
Orientation sensornoyesyes
Languages support
N/A
N/A
Multi

Often compared with Leica M8

Often compared with Leica M9

Often compared with Olympus PEN-F