M10vs D5
Nikon
D5 (2016)
Starting from £1800 new
Best for Professional Sports, Photojournalism & Wildlife
View D5
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Street & Documentary — M10 (2017): The M10 returned Leica to its roots — thinner, cleaner, and video-free by design. The 24MP sensor is the perfect resolution for a manual-focus rangefinder. The simplified control layout respects the M tradition without digital clutter. A camera for photographers who want to slow down and engage with every frame. One of the most satisfying cameras to use — assuming you have M-mount glass to pair with it.
Professional Sports, Photojournalism & Wildlife — D5 (2016): Nikon's ultimate pro DSLR and a certified space traveller — the D5's 153-point AF, 12fps, and ISO 3,280,000 made it the weapon of choice for Olympic and space photography.
Who should buy what
M10 (2017)
- Serious photographers who want to slow down
- Street and documentary photographers
- Leica M-mount lens owners
D5 (2016)
- Sports and wildlife photographers with an F-mount telephoto investment
- Photojournalists who need the fastest, most reliable DSLR AF available
- Nikon system professionals looking for a flagship body at used prices
- Collectors of cameras with a documented space pedigree
Quick take: The m10 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the d5 is the most affordable; only the d5 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | M10 (2017) | D5 (2016) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £4,000 | £1,800 |
| Sensor | 24MP Full-Frame CMOS | 20.8MP full-frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.0MP | 20.8MP |
| Video | — | 4K UHD 30fps (heavy sensor crop) |
| Autofocus | Manual focus (rangefinder coupled) | Multi-CAM 20K 153-point AF system, 99 cross-type |
| Stabilisation | None | — |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 12fps mechanical |
| Battery Life | ~220 shots (CIPA) | ~3780 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 660g (with battery) | 1405g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 139 × 80 × 38.5mm | 160 × 158.5 × 92mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Optical rangefinder, 0.73× magnification | OVF 0.72× magnification, 100% coverage |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.04M dots | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.36M dots |
| Mount | Leica M-mount | Nikon F mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual XQD slots (XQD variant) |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0, Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet (RJ-45), USB 3.0 |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | M10 | D5 |
|---|---|---|
| Street | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Astrophotography | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wildlife | ||
| Wedding & Events | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history