Leica M Typ 262 vs Nikon D850

The Leica M (Typ 262) and the Nikon D850 are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in November 2015 and July 2017. The M Typ 262 is a rangefinder-style mirrorless camera, while the D850 is a DSLR. Both cameras are equipped with a full frame sensor. The Leica has a resolution of 23.7 megapixels, whereas the Nikon provides 45.4 MP.

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

Headline Specifications

Leica M Typ 262		Nikon D850
Rangefinder camera		Digital single lens reflex
Leica M mount lenses		Nikon F mount lenses
23.7 MP, Full Frame Sensor		45.4 MP, Full Frame Sensor
no Video		4K/30p Video
ISO 200-6,400		ISO 64-25,600 (32 - 102,400)
Optical viewfinder		Optical viewfinder
3.0 LCD, 921k dots		3.2 LCD, 2359k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Tilting touchscreen
3 shutter flaps per second		9 shutter flaps per second
Weathersealed body		Weathersealed body
139 x 80 x 42 mm, 680 g		146 x 124 x 79 mm, 1005 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Leica M (Typ 262) and the Nikon D850? 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

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Leica M Typ 262 and the Nikon D850 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The M Typ 262 can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the D850 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 Nikon D850 is considerably larger (63 percent) than the Leica M Typ 262. Moreover, the D850 is substantially heavier (48 percent) than the M Typ 262. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments.

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. Both cameras have similarly sized sensors, but DSLRs have a larger flange-to-focal plane distance than mirrorless cameras, which imposes contraints on the optical engineering process and generally leads to bigger and heavier lenses. You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Leica M Lens Catalog (M Typ 262) and the Nikon Lens Catalog (D850).

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.		Leica M Typ 262	139 mm	80 mm	42 mm	680 g	..	Y	Nov 2015	5,195
2.		Nikon D850	146 mm	124 mm	79 mm	1005 g	1840	Y	Jul 2017	3,299
3.		Canon 1D X Mark II	158 mm	168 mm	83 mm	1530 g	1210	Y	Feb 2016	5,999
4.		Canon 5DS	152 mm	116 mm	76 mm	930 g	700	Y	Feb 2015	3,699
5.		Canon 5DS R	152 mm	116 mm	76 mm	930 g	700	Y	Feb 2015	3,699
6.		Leica M10-R	139 mm	80 mm	39 mm	660 g	210	Y	Jul 2020	8,295
7.		Leica Q2	130 mm	80 mm	92 mm	718 g	370	Y	Mar 2019	4,995
8.		Leica M-E Typ 240	139 mm	80 mm	42 mm	680 g	..	Y	Jun 2019	3,999
9.		Leica M10-P	139 mm	80 mm	39 mm	660 g	210	Y	Aug 2018	7,995
10.		Leica M10	139 mm	80 mm	39 mm	660 g	210	Y	Jan 2017	6,595
11.		Leica Q Typ 116	130 mm	80 mm	93 mm	640 g	300	n	Jun 2015	4,249
12.		Leica SL	147 mm	104 mm	39 mm	847 g	400	Y	Oct 2015	7,450
13.		Leica M Typ 240	139 mm	80 mm	42 mm	680 g	..	Y	Sep 2012	6,950
14.		Nikon D5	160 mm	159 mm	92 mm	1415 g	3780	Y	Jan 2016	6,499
15.		Nikon D750	141 mm	113 mm	78 mm	750 g	1230	Y	Sep 2014	2,299
16.		Nikon D810	146 mm	123 mm	82 mm	980 g	1200	Y	Jun 2014	3,299
17.		Nikon D610	141 mm	113 mm	82 mm	850 g	900	Y	Oct 2013	1,999
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The D850 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 36 percent) than the M Typ 262, 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. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units 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.

Both cameras under consideration feature a full frame sensor, but their sensors differ slightly in size. They nevertheless have the same format factor of 1.0. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

With 45.4MP, the D850 offers a higher resolution than the M Typ 262 (23.7MP), but the D850 has smaller individual pixels (pixel pitch of 4.35μm versus 6.01μm for the M Typ 262). Yet, the D850 is a somewhat more recent model (by 1 year and 8 months) than the M Typ 262, and its sensor might 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 neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Nikon D850 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the D850 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 41.3 x 27.5 inches or 104.9 x 69.9 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 33 x 22 inches or 83.9 x 55.9 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 27.5 x 18.3 inches or 69.9 x 46.6 cm. The corresponding values for the Leica M Typ 262 are 29.8 x 19.9 inches or 75.6 x 50.5 cm for good quality, 23.8 x 15.9 inches or 60.5 x 40.4 cm for very good quality, and 19.8 x 13.3 inches or 50.4 x 33.7 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Leica M (Typ 262) has a native sensitivity range from ISO 200 to ISO 6400, which can be extended to ISO 100-6400. The corresponding ISO settings for the Nikon D850 are ISO 64 to ISO 25600, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 32-102400.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. 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.		Leica M Typ 262	Full Frame	23.7	5952	3976	none	..	..	..	..
2.		Nikon D850	Full Frame	45.4	8256	5504	4K/30p	26.4	14.8	2660	100
3.		Canon 1D X Mark II	Full Frame	20.0	5472	3648	4K/60p	24.1	13.5	3207	88
4.		Canon 5DS	Full Frame	50.3	8688	5792	1080/30p	24.7	12.4	2381	87
5.		Canon 5DS R	Full Frame	50.3	8688	5792	1080/30p	24.6	12.4	2308	86
6.		Leica M10-R	Full Frame	40.9	7864	5200	none	..	..	..	..
7.		Leica Q2	Full Frame	46.7	8368	5584	4K/30p	26.4	13.5	2491	96
8.		Leica M-E Typ 240	Full Frame	23.7	5952	3976	1080/25p	..	..	..	..
9.		Leica M10-P	Full Frame	23.8	5952	3992	none	..	..	..	..
10.		Leica M10	Full Frame	23.8	5952	3992	none	24.4	13.2	2133	86
11.		Leica Q Typ 116	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.3	12.7	2221	85
12.		Leica SL	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	25.0	13.4	1821	88
13.		Leica M Typ 240	Full Frame	23.7	5952	3976	1080/25p	24.0	13.3	1860	84
14.		Nikon D5	Full Frame	20.7	5588	3712	4K/30p	25.1	12.3	2343	88
15.		Nikon D750	Full Frame	24.2	6016	4016	1080/60p	24.8	14.5	2956	93
16.		Nikon D810	Full Frame	36.2	7360	4912	1080/60p	25.7	14.8	2853	97
17.		Nikon D610	Full Frame	24.2	6016	4016	1080/30p	25.1	14.4	2925	94

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The D850 indeed provides for movie recording, while the M Typ 262 does not. The highest resolution format that the D850 can use is 4K/30p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The M Typ 262 and the D850 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 viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (100%), but the viewfinder of the D850 has a higher magnification than the one of the M Typ 262 (0.75x vs 0.68x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Leica M Typ 262 and Nikon D850 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Size (inch)	LCD Resolution (000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Leica M Typ 262	optical	n	3.0	921	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0	n	n
2.		Nikon D850	optical	Y	3.2	2359	tilting	Y	1/8000s	9.0	n	n
3.		Canon 1D X Mark II	optical	Y	3.2	1620	fixed	Y	1/8000s	16.0	n	n
4.		Canon 5DS	optical	Y	3.2	1040	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0	n	n
5.		Canon 5DS R	optical	Y	3.2	1040	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0	n	n
6.		Leica M10-R	optical	n	3.0	1037	fixed	Y	1/4000s	4.5	n	n
7.		Leica Q2	3680	n	3.0	1040	fixed	Y	1/2000s	20.0	n	Y
8.		Leica M-E Typ 240	optical	n	3.0	920	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0	n	n
9.		Leica M10-P	optical	n	3.0	1037	fixed	Y	1/4000s	5.0	n	n
10.		Leica M10	optical	n	3.0	1037	fixed	n	1/4000s	5.0	n	n
11.		Leica Q Typ 116	3680	n	3.0	1040	fixed	Y	1/2000s	10.0	n	Y
12.		Leica SL	4400	Y	3.0	1040	fixed	Y	1/8000s	11.0	n	n
13.		Leica M Typ 240	optical	n	3.0	920	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0	n	n
14.		Nikon D5	optical	Y	3.2	2359	fixed	Y	1/8000s	14.0	n	n
15.		Nikon D750	optical	Y	3.2	1229	tilting	n	1/4000s	6.0	Y	n
16.		Nikon D810	optical	Y	3.2	1229	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0	Y	n
17.		Nikon D610	optical	Y	3.2	921	fixed	n	1/4000s	6.0	Y	n

One differentiating feature between the two cameras concerns the touch sensitivity of the rear screen. The D850 has a touchscreen, while the M Typ 262 has a conventional panel. Touch control can be particularly helpful, for example, for setting the focus point.

The Nikon D850 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 M Typ 262 writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the D850 uses SDHC or XQD cards. The D850 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the M Typ 262 only has one slot. The D850 supports UHS-II cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 312 MB/s), while the M Typ 262 can use UHS-I cards (up to 104 MB/s).

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 Leica M (Typ 262) and Nikon D850 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 Microphone	Internal Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Leica M Typ 262	Y	-	-	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
2.		Nikon D850	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	Y	Y	Y
3.		Canon 1D X Mark II	Y	mono	mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	-	-	-
4.		Canon 5DS	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	mini	3.0	-	-	-
5.		Canon 5DS R	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	mini	3.0	-	-	-
6.		Leica M10-R	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-
7.		Leica Q2	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	-	-	Y	-	Y
8.		Leica M-E Typ 240	Y	mono	-	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Leica M10-P	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-
10.		Leica M10	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-
11.		Leica Q Typ 116	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
12.		Leica SL	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	full	3.0	Y	-	-
13.		Leica M Typ 240	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
14.		Nikon D5	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	-	-	-
15.		Nikon D750	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
16.		Nikon D810	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	Y	-	-
17.		Nikon D610	Y	mono	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	-	-	-

It is notable that the D850 offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the M Typ 262 does not provide wifi capability.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Nikon D850 (unlike the M Typ 262) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

The D850 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Nikon. In contrast, the M Typ 262 has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the M Typ 262 was succeeded by the Leica M10. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Leica and Nikon websites.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is there a clear favorite between the Leica M Typ 262 and the Nikon D850? Which camera is better? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Advantages of the Leica M (Typ 262):

• More compact: Is smaller (139x80mm vs 146x124mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
• Less heavy: Is lighter (by 325g or 32 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
• More prestigious: Has the Leica luxury appeal, which ensures a high resale price.
• More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in November 2015).

Arguments in favor of the Nikon D850:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (45.4 vs 23.7MP), which boosts linear resolution by 39%.
• Broader imaging potential: Can capture not only stills but also 4K/30p video.
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.75x vs 0.68x).
• Easier setting verification: Features a control panel on top to check shooting parameters.
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (2359k vs 921k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
• Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (9 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.0 vs 2.0).
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
• Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
• Faster buffer clearing: Supports a more advanced SD data transfer standard (UHS-II vs UHS-I).
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (36 percent cheaper at launch).
• More modern: Was introduced somewhat (1 year and 8 months) more recently.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the D850 is the clear winner of the contest (20 : 4 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 wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the M Typ 262 or the D850 perform in practice. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

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], 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	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Leica M Typ 262	..	..	..	..	..	Nov 2015	5,195
2.		Nikon D850	4.5/5	+ +	89/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jul 2017	3,299
3.		Canon 1D X Mark II	..	..	89/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2016	5,999
4.		Canon 5DS	..	+	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	3,699
5.		Canon 5DS R	5/5	+	83/100	5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	3,699
6.		Leica M10-R	4.5/5	..	..	..	4/5	Jul 2020	8,295
7.		Leica Q2	..	..	84/100	4.5/5	4/5	Mar 2019	4,995
8.		Leica M-E Typ 240	..	..	..	..	..	Jun 2019	3,999
9.		Leica M10-P	..	..	..	..	4/5	Aug 2018	7,995
10.		Leica M10	4.5/5	..	..	4/5	4.5/5	Jan 2017	6,595
11.		Leica Q Typ 116	5/5	..	80/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2015	4,249
12.		Leica SL	4/5	..	84/100	4.5/5	4/5	Oct 2015	7,450
13.		Leica M Typ 240	4/5	..	..	4/5	..	Sep 2012	6,950
14.		Nikon D5	..	..	89/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jan 2016	6,499
15.		Nikon D750	5/5	+ +	90/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2014	2,299
16.		Nikon D810	5/5	..	86/100	5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2014	3,299
17.		Nikon D610	4/5	+ +	87/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2013	1,999
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The review scores listed above should be treated 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 rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just make your choice using the following search menu. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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Specifications: Leica M Typ 262 vs Nikon D850

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

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