M10vs Nikon Z9
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 & Wildlife — Nikon Z9 (2021): The Z9 redefined what professional mirrorless could be — no mechanical shutter, 45MP stacked BSI, and 8K RAW in the most rugged Z body.
Who should buy what
M10 (2017)
- Serious photographers who want to slow down
- Street and documentary photographers
- Leica M-mount lens owners
Nikon Z9 (2021)
- Professional sports, wildlife and photojournalism photographers
- Nikon D6 or D850 users making the final switch to mirrorless
- Those who need the fastest, most reliable AF Nikon has ever made
- Professionals who need a flagship body with no mechanical shutter
Quick take: The nikon z9 has the highest resolution at 46mp; the m10 is the most affordable; only the nikon z9 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | M10 (2017) | Nikon Z9 (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £4,000 | £5,499 |
| Sensor | 24MP Full-Frame CMOS | 45.7MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.0MP | 45.7MP |
| Video | — | 8K/30p RAW, 4K/120p, ProRes RAW |
| Autofocus | Manual focus (rangefinder coupled) | Subject detection AF, 493-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | None | 6-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 20fps RAW / 120fps JPEG |
| Battery Life | ~220 shots (CIPA) | 740 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 660g (with battery) | 1340g body only |
| Dimensions | 139 × 80 × 38.5mm | 149.0 × 149.5 × 90.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Optical rangefinder, 0.73× magnification | 0.5" Quad-VGA OLED EVF, 3.69M dots, 120fps |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.04M dots | 3.2" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Leica M-mount | Nikon Z-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual CFexpress Type B / XQD |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0, Wi-Fi | USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | M10 | Nikon Z9 |
|---|---|---|
| Street | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Astrophotography | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wildlife | ||
| Photojournalism | — |
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