Leica M11vs D850
Leica
Leica M11 (2022)
Starting from £7999 new
Best for Rangefinder enthusiasts & collectors
View Leica M11
Nikon
D850 (2017)
Starting from £2199 new
Best for Landscape, wildlife & professional studio photography
View D850
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Rangefinder Enthusiasts & Collectors — Leica M11 (2022): 60MP of full-frame resolution in the thinnest digital M ever made — the M11 is the definitive expression of Leica's rangefinder tradition.
Landscape, Wildlife & Professional Studio Photography — D850 (2017): The finest DSLR ever made — 45MP, 9fps, and nearly 2000 shots per charge in a body that still outperforms most mirrorless cameras for battery life.
Who should buy what
Leica M11 (2022)
- Rangefinder photographers who want the pinnacle of the M system
- M10-R owners upgrading to the BSI sensor and simplified base plate
- Collectors and enthusiasts who want the most refined digital Leica M ever made
- Photographers who want to slow down and shoot with intention
D850 (2017)
- Nikon F-mount lens owners who want the highest resolution DSLR before switching to mirrorless
- Landscape and wildlife photographers who value the optical viewfinder and outstanding battery life
- Professional photographers who need 45MP resolution without the price of a medium format system
- Photojournalists and event photographers with a large F-mount lens investment
Quick take: The leica m11 has the highest resolution at 60mp; the d850 is the most affordable; only the d850 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Leica M11 (2022) | D850 (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £7,999 | £2,199 |
| Sensor | 60MP full-frame BSI CMOS (Tri-resolution: 60/36/18MP) | 45.7MP full-frame BSI-CMOS |
| Resolution | 60.0MP | 45.7MP |
| Video | None | 4K UHD/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Manual focus only (rangefinder coupled) | 153-point AF system (99 cross-type) — Multi-CAM 20K |
| Stabilisation | None | None (relies on VR lenses) |
| Burst Rate | 4.5fps | 9fps (7fps with tilt screen AF) |
| Battery Life | 700 shots (CIPA) | ~1840 shots (CIPA) — outstanding |
| Weight | 530g body only | 915g body only |
| Dimensions | 138.6 × 80.0 × 38.5mm | 146 × 124 × 78.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Optical rangefinder (0.73× magnification) | Optical pentaprism — 0.75× magnification, 100% coverage |
| Screen | 2.3" fixed TFT LCD | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.36M dots |
| Mount | Leica M-mount | Nikon F mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II + 64GB internal storage | Dual slots — XQD and SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB 3.0, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic & headphone jacks |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Leica M11 | D850 |
|---|---|---|
| Street | — | |
| Documentary | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Sports | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — |
More comparisons with Leica M11
Camera family history