M11 Monochromvs GH5
Leica
M11 Monochrom (2023)
Starting from £8300 new
Best for Black & White Photography
View M11 Monochrom
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Black & White Photography — M11 Monochrom (2023): The M11 Monochrom is the finest black-and-white camera in the world. A 60MP sensor with no colour filter array produces sharpness and tonal depth no colour camera can match — combined with extended high-ISO performance. Manual focus, no video, and an extraordinary price make it a specialist instrument, but for dedicated B&W photographers it is unmatched.
Video, Filmmaking & Hybrid Shooting — GH5 (2017): The GH5 redefined what a consumer video camera could do — 4K/60p and 10-bit 4:2:2 internal recording made it the independent filmmaker's tool of choice for years.
Who should buy what
M11 Monochrom (2023)
- Dedicated black-and-white photographers who demand the finest possible monochrome files
- Fine art and documentary photographers who work exclusively in B&W
- Leica M system users who want maximum monochrome image quality
- Astrophotographers — monochrome sensors excel at capturing fine star detail
GH5 (2017)
- Independent filmmakers who need 10-bit 4:2:2 internal recording without a dedicated cinema camera
- YouTube creators who want 4K/60p, a fully articulating screen, and unlimited recording
- Photographers who shoot primarily stills but need serious video capability as a second
- GH4 owners who want 4K/60p and 10-bit — a significant step up
Quick take: The m11 monochrom has the highest resolution at 60mp; the gh5 is the most affordable; only the gh5 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | M11 Monochrom (2023) | GH5 (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £8,300 | £699 |
| Sensor | 60.3MP Full-Frame Monochrome BSI CMOS (no colour filter array) | 20.3MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS |
| Resolution | 60.3MP | 20.3MP |
| Video | — | 4K/60p, C4K/30p, 1080p/180p; 10-bit 4:2:2 internal; unlimited recording |
| Autofocus | Manual focus rangefinder (no autofocus) | Contrast-detect DFD AF, face/eye detection |
| Stabilisation | — | IBIS — up to 5 stops; Dual IS 2 with compatible lenses (6.5 stops) |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 12fps (AFS), 9fps (AFC) |
| Battery Life | ~700 shots (CIPA) | ~410 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 530g (body only) | 725g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 138.6 × 80.0 × 38.5mm | 138.5 × 98.1 × 87.4mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Optical rangefinder, 0.73× magnification | EVF, 3.68M dots, 0.76× magnification |
| Screen | 2.3" touchscreen LCD, 2.33M dots | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.62M dots |
| Mount | Leica M-mount | Micro Four Thirds |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot + 64GB internal storage | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3.5mm mic, headphone jack, HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | M11 Monochrom | GH5 |
|---|---|---|
| Street | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Astrophotography | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Casual | — | |
| Sports & Action | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Wildlife | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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