Canon 30D vs Leica M10-R

The Canon EOS 30D and the Leica M10-R are two enthusiast cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in February 2006 and July 2020. The 30D is a DSLR, while the M10-R is a rangefinder-focusing mirrorless camera. The cameras are based on an APS-C (30D) and a full frame (M10-R) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 8.2 megapixels, whereas the Leica provides 40.9 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Canon 30D		Leica M10-R
Digital single lens reflex		Rangefinder camera
Canon EF mount lenses		Leica M mount lenses
8.2 MP – APS-C sensor		40.9 MP – Full Frame sensor
no Video		no Video
ISO 100-1,600 (100 - 3,200)		ISO 100-50,000
Optical viewfinder		Optical viewfinder
2.5" LCD – 230k dots		3.0" LCD – 1037k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Fixed touchscreen
5 shutter flaps per second		4.5 shutter flaps per second
not weather sealed		Weathersealed body
750 shots per battery charge		210 shots per battery charge
144 x 106 x 74 mm, 785 g		139 x 80 x 39 mm, 660 g

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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS 30D and the Leica M10-R? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Canon 30D and the Leica M10-R. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The M10-R can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the 30D is only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Leica M10-R is notably smaller (27 percent) than the Canon 30D. Moreover, the M10-R is markedly lighter (16 percent) than the 30D. It is noteworthy in this context that the M10-R is splash and dust-proof, while the 30D does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. A larger imaging sensor will tend to go along with bigger and heavier lenses, although exceptions exist. You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Canon EF Lens Catalog (30D) and the Leica M Lens Catalog (M10-R).

Concerning battery life, the 30D gets 750 shots out of its Canon BP-511A battery, while the M10-R can take 210 images on a single charge of its Leica BP-SCL5 power pack.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

Body Specifications

#		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Canon 30D	144 mm	106 mm	74 mm	785 g	750	n	Feb 2006	1,399	ebay.com
2.		Leica M10-R	139 mm	80 mm	39 mm	660 g	210	Y	Jul 2020	8,295	ebay.com
3.		Canon 70D	139 mm	104 mm	79 mm	755 g	920	Y	Jul 2013	1,199	ebay.com
4.		Canon 60D	145 mm	106 mm	79 mm	755 g	1100	Y	Aug 2010	1,399	ebay.com
5.		Canon 7D	148 mm	111 mm	74 mm	860 g	800	Y	Sep 2009	1,699	ebay.com
6.		Canon 50D	146 mm	108 mm	74 mm	822 g	800	Y	Aug 2008	1,299	ebay.com
7.		Canon 40D	146 mm	108 mm	74 mm	822 g	750	n	Aug 2007	1,299	ebay.com
8.		Canon XTi	127 mm	84 mm	65 mm	556 g	370	n	Aug 2006	799	ebay.com
9.		Canon XT	127 mm	94 mm	64 mm	540 g	400	n	Feb 2005	899	ebay.com
10.		Canon 20D	144 mm	106 mm	72 mm	770 g	700	n	Aug 2004	1,499	ebay.com
11.		Canon 10D	150 mm	107 mm	75 mm	850 g	500	n	Feb 2003	1,999	ebay.com
12.		Canon Rebel	142 mm	99 mm	72 mm	649 g	400	n	Aug 2003	899	ebay.com
13.		Leica M11	139 mm	80 mm	39 mm	640 g	700	Y	Jan 2022	8,995	amazon.com
14.		Leica Q2	130 mm	80 mm	92 mm	718 g	370	Y	Mar 2019	4,995	amazon.com
15.		Leica M-E Typ 240	139 mm	80 mm	42 mm	680 g	500	Y	Jun 2019	3,999	ebay.com
16.		Leica M10-P	139 mm	80 mm	39 mm	660 g	210	Y	Aug 2018	7,995	ebay.com
17.		Leica M Typ 240	139 mm	80 mm	42 mm	680 g	500	Y	Sep 2012	6,950	ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The 30D was launched at a markedly lower price (by 83 percent) than the M10-R, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon 30D features an APS-C sensor and the Leica M10-R a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the M10-R is 153 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.6 and 1.0. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

With 40.9MP, the M10-R offers a higher resolution than the 30D (8.2MP), but the M10-R has smaller individual pixels (pixel pitch of 4.57μm versus 6.42μm for the 30D). Yet, the M10-R is a much more recent model (by 14 years and 4 months) than the 30D, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the M10-R has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Leica M10-R implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the M10-R for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 39.3 x 26 inches or 99.9 x 66 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 31.5 x 20.8 inches or 79.9 x 52.8 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 26.2 x 17.3 inches or 66.6 x 44 cm. The corresponding values for the Canon 30D are 17.5 x 11.7 inches or 44.5 x 29.7 cm for good quality, 14 x 9.3 inches or 35.6 x 23.7 cm for very good quality, and 11.7 x 7.8 inches or 29.7 x 19.8 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon EOS 30D has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 1600, which can be extended to ISO 100-3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Leica M10-R are ISO 100 to ISO 50000 (no boost).

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

#		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Canon 30D	APS-C	8.2	3504	2336	none	21.5	10.8	736	59
2.		Leica M10-R	Full Frame	40.9	7864	5200	none	25.3	14.3	2924	95
3.		Canon 70D	APS-C	20.0	5472	3648	1080/30p	22.5	11.6	926	68
4.		Canon 60D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	22.2	11.5	813	66
5.		Canon 7D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	22.0	11.7	854	66
6.		Canon 50D	APS-C	15.1	4752	3168	none	21.8	11.4	696	63
7.		Canon 40D	APS-C	10.1	3888	2592	none	22.1	11.3	703	64
8.		Canon XTi	APS-C	10.1	3888	2592	none	22.1	11.0	664	62
9.		Canon XT	APS-C	8.0	3456	2304	none	21.8	10.8	637	60
10.		Canon 20D	APS-C	8.2	3504	2336	none	21.9	11.0	721	62
11.		Canon 10D	APS-C	6.3	3072	2048	none	21.1	10.9	571	57
12.		Canon Rebel	APS-C	6.3	3072	2048	none	21.0	10.8	544	55
13.		Leica M11	Full Frame	60.3	9528	6328	none	26.3	14.8	3376	100
14.		Leica Q2	Full Frame	46.7	8368	5584	4K/30p	26.4	13.5	2491	96
15.		Leica M-E Typ 240	Full Frame	23.7	5952	3976	1080/25p	25.2	14.2	2821	94
16.		Leica M10-P	Full Frame	23.8	5952	3992	none	25.1	14.1	2739	93
17.		Leica M Typ 240	Full Frame	23.7	5952	3976	1080/25p	24.0	13.3	1860	84
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The 30D and the M10-R are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder. The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The viewfinder in the M10-R offers a wider field of view (100%) than the one in the 30D (95%), so that a larger proportion of the captured image is visible in the finder. In addition, the viewfinder of the M10-R has a higher magnification (0.73x vs 0.56x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Canon 30D, the Leica M10-R, and comparable cameras.

Core Features

#		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Max Shutter Speed *	Max Shutter Flaps *	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Canon 30D	optical	Y	2.5 / 230	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0/s	Y	n
2.		Leica M10-R	optical	n	3.0 / 1037	fixed	Y	1/4000s	4.5/s	n	n
3.		Canon 70D	optical	Y	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/8000s	7.0/s	Y	n
4.		Canon 60D	optical	Y	3.0 / 1040	swivel	n	1/8000s	5.3/s	Y	n
5.		Canon 7D	optical	Y	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/8000s	8.0/s	Y	n
6.		Canon 50D	optical	Y	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/8000s	6.3/s	Y	n
7.		Canon 40D	optical	Y	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/8000s	6.5/s	Y	n
8.		Canon XTi	optical	n	2.5 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
9.		Canon XT	optical	n	1.8 / 115	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
10.		Canon 20D	optical	Y	1.8 / 118	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0/s	Y	n
11.		Canon 10D	optical	Y	1.8 / 118	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
12.		Canon Rebel	optical	n	1.8 / 118	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.5/s	Y	n
13.		Leica M11	optical	n	3.0 / 2333	fixed	Y	1/4000s	4.5/s	n	n
14.		Leica Q2	3680	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	Y	1/2000s	10.0/s	n	Y
15.		Leica M-E Typ 240	optical	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	n	n
16.		Leica M10-P	optical	n	3.0 / 1037	fixed	Y	1/4000s	5.0/s	n	n
17.		Leica M Typ 240	optical	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	n	n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The 30D has one, while the M10-R does not. While the built-in flash of the 30D is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The Leica M10-R has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The 30D writes its imaging data to Compact Flash cards, while the M10-R uses SDXC cards.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS 30D and Leica M10-R and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

#		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Canon 30D	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
2.		Leica M10-R	Y	- / -	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-
3.		Canon 70D	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
4.		Canon 60D	Y	mono / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
5.		Canon 7D	Y	mono / -	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
6.		Canon 50D	Y	- / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
7.		Canon 40D	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
8.		Canon XTi	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Canon XT	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
10.		Canon 20D	Y	- / -	-	-	-	1.1	-	-	-
11.		Canon 10D	Y	- / -	-	-	-	1.1	-	-	-
12.		Canon Rebel	Y	- / -	-	-	-	1.1	-	-	-
13.		Leica M11	Y	- / -	-	-	-	3.2	Y	-	Y
14.		Leica Q2	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	-	-	Y	-	Y
15.		Leica M-E Typ 240	Y	mono / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
16.		Leica M10-P	Y	- / -	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-
17.		Leica M Typ 240	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-

It is notable that the M10-R offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the 30D does not provide wifi capability.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Canon 30D (unlike the M10-R) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Both the 30D and the M10-R have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The 30D was replaced by the Canon 40D, while the M10-R does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the 30D and M10-R can be found, respectively, in the Canon 30D Manual (free pdf) or the online Leica M10-R Manual.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is there a clear favorite between the Canon 30D and the Leica M10-R? Which camera is better? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Arguments in favor of the Canon EOS 30D:

• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• Easier setting verification: Features an LCD display on top to control shooting parameters.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (750 versus 210) on a single battery charge.
• Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
• Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (83 percent cheaper at launch).
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in February 2006).

Reasons to prefer the Leica M10-R:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (40.9 vs 8.2MP), which boosts linear resolution by 124%.
• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• Better image quality: Is equipped with a larger and more technologically advanced sensor.
• Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
• More complete view: Has a viewfinder with a larger field of view (100% vs 95%).
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.73x vs 0.56x).
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.0" vs 2.5") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1037k vs 230k dots).
• Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• More compact: Is smaller (139x80mm vs 144x106mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 125g or 16 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
• Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• More prestigious: Has the Leica luxury appeal, which ensures a high resale value.
• More modern: Reflects 14 years and 4 months of technical progress since the 30D launch.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the M10-R is the clear winner of the contest (18 : 8 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the 30D or the M10-R. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

#		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Canon 30D	..	+ +	..	+ +	o	..	Feb 2006	1,399	ebay.com
2.		Leica M10-R	4.5/5	..	4/5	..	..	4/5	Jul 2020	8,295	ebay.com
3.		Canon 70D	5/5	+ +	..	83/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jul 2013	1,199	ebay.com
4.		Canon 60D	5/5	+	..	79/100	4/5	4.5/5	Aug 2010	1,399	ebay.com
5.		Canon 7D	5/5	+ +	..	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2009	1,699	ebay.com
6.		Canon 50D	..	+ +	..	+ +	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2008	1,299	ebay.com
7.		Canon 40D	..	+ +	..	+ +	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2007	1,299	ebay.com
8.		Canon XTi	..	+ +	..	+ +	o	4/5	Aug 2006	799	ebay.com
9.		Canon XT	..	80/100	..	+ +	o	..	Feb 2005	899	ebay.com
10.		Canon 20D	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Aug 2004	1,499	ebay.com
11.		Canon 10D	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Feb 2003	1,999	ebay.com
12.		Canon Rebel	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Aug 2003	899	ebay.com
13.		Leica M11	4.5/5	..	4.5/5	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2022	8,995	amazon.com
14.		Leica Q2	..	..	4.5/5	84/100	4.5/5	4/5	Mar 2019	4,995	amazon.com
15.		Leica M-E Typ 240	..	..	..	..	..	..	Jun 2019	3,999	ebay.com
16.		Leica M10-P	..	..	3/5	..	..	4/5	Aug 2018	7,995	ebay.com
17.		Leica M Typ 240	4/5	..	..	..	4/5	..	Sep 2012	6,950	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Other camera comparisons

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