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Leica M10-P vs M10-R

The Leica M10-P and the Leica M10-R are two enthusiast cameras that were announced, respectively, in August 2018 and July 2020. Both the M10-P and the M10-R are rangefinder-focusing mirrorless cameras that are equipped with a full frame sensor. The M10-P has a resolution of 23.8 megapixels, whereas the M10-R 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
Leica M10-P
versus
Leica M10-R
Leica M10-P   Leica M10-R
Rangefinder camera Rangefinder camera
Leica M mount lenses Leica M mount lenses
23.8 MP – Full Frame sensor 40.9 MP – Full Frame sensor
no Video no Video
ISO 100-50,000 ISO 100-50,000
Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
3.0" LCD – 1037k dots 3.0" LCD – 1037k dots
Fixed touchscreen Fixed touchscreen
5 shutter flaps per second 4.5 shutter flaps per second
Weathersealed bodyWeathersealed body
210 shots per battery charge210 shots per battery charge
139 x 80 x 39 mm, 660 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 Leica M10-P 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.

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Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Leica M10-P and the Leica M10-R 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.

Both cameras are available in two different colors (black, silver).

Size Leica M10-P vs Leica M10-R
Compare M10-P versus M10-R top
Comparison M10-P or M10-R rear

In this particular case, the Leica M10-P and the Leica M10-R have exactly the same width and height, and, thus, have identically-sized bodies. Moreover, the two cameras also share the same weight. 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. In this particular case, both cameras feature the same lens mount, so that they can use the same lenses. You can compare the optics available in the Leica M Lens Catalog.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

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Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Leica M10-P 139 mm 80 mm 39 mm 660 g 210 Y Aug 2018 7,995 amazon.com
2.
 
Leica M10-R 139 mm 80 mm 39 mm 660 g 210 Y Jul 2020 8,295 amazon.com
3.
 
Leica M11 139 mm 80 mm 39 mm 640 g 700 Y Jan 2022 8,995 amazon.com
4.
 
Leica Q2 130 mm 80 mm 92 mm 718 g 370 Y Mar 2019 4,995 amazon.com
5.
 
Leica M-E Typ 240 139 mm 80 mm 42 mm 680 g .. Y Jun 2019 3,999ebay.com
6.
 
Leica M10 139 mm 80 mm 39 mm 660 g 210 Y Jan 2017 6,595ebay.com
7.
 
Leica TL2 134 mm 69 mm 33 mm 399 g 250 n Jul 2017 1,950ebay.com
8.
 
Leica M Typ 262 139 mm 80 mm 42 mm 680 g .. Y Nov 2015 5,195ebay.com
9.
 
Leica Q Typ 116 130 mm 80 mm 93 mm 640 g 300 n Jun 2015 4,249ebay.com
10.
 
Leica M Typ 240 139 mm 80 mm 42 mm 680 g .. Y Sep 2012 6,950ebay.com
11.
 
Leica M9 139 mm 80 mm 37 mm 585 g .. n Sep 2009 7,999ebay.com
12.
 
Leica M8 139 mm 80 mm 37 mm 591 g .. n Sep 2006 5,499ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The M10-P was somewhat cheaper (by 4 percent) than the M10-R at launch, but both cameras fall into the same price category. 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 size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a full frame sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 1.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the large-sensor cameras that aim for top notch image quality. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Leica M10-P and Leica M10-R sensor measures

While the two cameras under review share the same sensor size, the M10-R offers a higher resolution of 40.9 megapixels, compared with 23.8 MP of the M10-P. This megapixels advantage translates into a 32 percent gain in linear resolution. On the other hand, these sensor specs imply that the M10-R has a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 4.57μm versus 6.00μm for the M10-P). However, it should be noted that the M10-R is a somewhat more recent model (by 1 year and 10 months) than the M10-P, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that at least partly compensate for the smaller pixel size. 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 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 Leica M10-P are 29.8 x 20 inches or 75.6 x 50.7 cm for good quality, 23.8 x 16 inches or 60.5 x 40.6 cm for very good quality, and 19.8 x 13.3 inches or 50.4 x 33.8 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Leica M10-P has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 50000. The Leica M10-R offers exactly the same ISO settings.

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.

M10-P versus M10-R MP

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Leica M10-P Full Frame 23.8 5952 3992none25.114.1273993
2.
 
Leica M10-R Full Frame 40.9 7864 5200none25.314.3292495
3.
 
Leica M11 Full Frame 60.3 9528 6328none26.314.83376100
4.
 
Leica Q2 Full Frame 46.7 8368 55844K/30p26.413.5249196
5.
 
Leica M-E Typ 240 Full Frame 23.7 5952 39761080/25p25.214.2282194
6.
 
Leica M10 Full Frame 23.8 5952 3992none24.413.2213386
7.
 
Leica TL2 APS-C 24.1 6014 40144K/30p23.913.3175382
8.
 
Leica M Typ 262 Full Frame 23.7 5952 3976none24.813.7247890
9.
 
Leica Q Typ 116 Full Frame 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.312.7222185
10.
 
Leica M Typ 240 Full Frame 23.7 5952 39761080/25p24.013.3186084
11.
 
Leica M9 Full Frame 18.1 5212 3472none22.511.788469
12.
 
Leica M8 APS-H 10.4 3936 2630none21.111.366359
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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Both the M10-P and the M10-R offer Live View, so that they make it possible to use the rear screen for framing. Both cameras are still-image focused and cannot record videos.
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Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The M10-P 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 viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (100%), as well as the same magnification (0.73x). The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Leica M10-P and Leica M10-R in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

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Core Features
# image 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.
 
Leica M10-Poptical n3.0 / 1037 fixed Y 1/4000s 5.0/s n n
2.
 
Leica M10-Roptical n3.0 / 1037 fixed Y 1/4000s 4.5/s n n
3.
 
Leica M11optical n3.0 / 2333 fixed Y 1/4000s 4.5/s n n
4.
 
Leica Q23680 n3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/2000s 10.0/s n Y
5.
 
Leica M-E Typ 240optical n3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s n n
6.
 
Leica M10optical n3.0 / 1037 fixed n 1/4000s 5.0/s n n
7.
 
Leica TL2optional n3.7 / 1230 fixed Y 1/4000s 7.0/s n n
8.
 
Leica M Typ 262optical n3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s n n
9.
 
Leica Q Typ 1163680 n3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/2000s 10.0/s n Y
10.
 
Leica M Typ 240optical n3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s n n
11.
 
Leica M9optical n2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 2.0/s n n
12.
 
Leica M8optical n2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/8000s 2.0/s n n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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The Leica M10-P and the Leica M10-R both have 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.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the M10-P and the M10-R write their files to SDXC cards. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

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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 M10-P and Leica M10-R and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Leica M10-PY- / -----Y--
2.
 
Leica M10-RY- / -----Y--
3.
 
Leica M11Y- / ----3.2Y-Y
4.
 
Leica Q2Ystereo / mono----Y-Y
5.
 
Leica M-E Typ 240Ymono / ----2.0---
6.
 
Leica M10Y- / -----Y--
7.
 
Leica TL2Ystereo / mono--micro3.0Y--
8.
 
Leica M Typ 262Y- / ----2.0---
9.
 
Leica Q Typ 116Ystereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
10.
 
Leica M Typ 240Ystereo / mono---2.0---
11.
 
Leica M9Y- / ----2.0---
12.
 
Leica M8Y- / ----2.0---
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Both the M10-P and the M10-R are recent models that are part of the current product line-up. The M10-P replaced the earlier Leica M9-P, while the M10-R does not have a direct predecessor. Further information on the features and operation of the M10-P and M10-R can be found, respectively, in the Leica M10-P Manual (free pdf) or the online Leica M10-R Manual.

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Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Which of the two cameras – the Leica M10-P or the Leica M10-R – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.


Reasons to prefer the Leica M10-P:

  • More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in August 2018).


Advantages of the Leica M10-R:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (40.9 vs 23.8MP), which boosts linear resolution by 32%.
  • More modern: Was introduced somewhat (1 year and 10 months) more recently.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the M10-R comes out slightly ahead of the M10-P (2 : 1 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

M10-P 01:02 M10-R

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 M10-P or the M10-R. 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], 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.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Leica M10-P....3/5....4/5 Aug 2018 7,995 amazon.com
2.
 
Leica M10-R4.5/5..4/5....4/5 Jul 2020 8,295 amazon.com
3.
 
Leica M114.5/5..4.5/5..4.5/54.5/5 Jan 2022 8,995 amazon.com
4.
 
Leica Q2....4.5/584/1004.5/54/5 Mar 2019 4,995 amazon.com
5.
 
Leica M-E Typ 240............ Jun 2019 3,999ebay.com
6.
 
Leica M104.5/5......4/54.5/5 Jan 2017 6,595ebay.com
7.
 
Leica TL23.5/5..3/5..4/54/5 Jul 2017 1,950ebay.com
8.
 
Leica M Typ 262............ Nov 2015 5,195ebay.com
9.
 
Leica Q Typ 1165/5....80/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2015 4,249ebay.com
10.
 
Leica M Typ 2404/5......4/5.. Sep 2012 6,950ebay.com
11.
 
Leica M9........4.5/5.. Sep 2009 7,999ebay.com
12.
 
Leica M8......+ +.... Sep 2006 5,499ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, 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, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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    Specifications: Leica M10-P vs Leica M10-R

    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.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Leica M10-P Leica M10-R
    Camera Type Rangefinder camera Rangefinder camera
    Camera Lens Leica M mount lenses Leica M mount lenses
    Launch Date August 2018 July 2020
    Launch Price USD 7,995 USD 8,295
    Sensor Specs Leica M10-P Leica M10-R
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format Full Frame Sensor Full Frame Sensor
    Sensor Size 35.8 x 23.9 mm 35.8 x 23.9 mm
    Sensor Area 855.62 mm2 855.62 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 43 mm 43 mm
    Crop Factor 1.0x 1.0x
    Sensor Resolution 23.8 Megapixels 40.9 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 5952 x 3992 pixels 7864 x 5200 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 6.00 μm 4.57 μm
    Pixel Density 2.78 MP/cm2 4.78 MP/cm2
    Moiré control no AA filter no AA filter
    Movie Capability no Video no Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 50,000 ISO 100 - 50,000 ISO
    Image Processor Maestro II Maestro II
    Screen Specs Leica M10-P Leica M10-R
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100% 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.73x 0.73x
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 1037k dots 1037k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen Fixed screen
    Touch Input Touchscreen Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Leica M10-P Leica M10-R
    Focus System Manual Focus Manual Focus
    Manual Focusing AidFocus PeakingFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/4000s 1/4000s
    Continuous Shooting 5 shutter flaps/s 4.5 shutter flaps/s
    Time-Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer built-inIntervalometer built-in
    Fill Flash no On-Board Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    UHS card support UHS-I UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs Leica M10-P Leica M10-R
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector no USB no USB
    HDMI Port no HDMI no HDMI
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in Wifi built-in
    Body Specs Leica M10-P Leica M10-R
    Environmental SealingWeathersealed bodyWeathersealed body
    Battery Type BP-SCL5 BP-SCL5
    Battery Life (CIPA)210 shots per charge210 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 139 x 80 x 39 mm
    (5.5 x 3.1 x 1.5 in)
    139 x 80 x 39 mm
    (5.5 x 3.1 x 1.5 in)
    Camera Weight 660 g (23.3 oz) 660 g (23.3 oz)
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