Leica M10-P vs Nikon D780

The Leica M10-P and the Nikon D780 are two enthusiast cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in August 2018 and January 2020. The M10-P is a rangefinder-style mirrorless camera, while the D780 is a DSLR. Both cameras are equipped with a full frame sensor. The Leica has a resolution of 23.8 megapixels, whereas the Nikon provides 24.3 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		Nikon D780
Rangefinder camera		Digital single lens reflex
Leica M mount lenses		Nikon F mount lenses
23.8 MP, Full Frame Sensor		24.3 MP, Full Frame Sensor
no Video		4K/30p Video
ISO 100-50,000		ISO 100-51,200 (50 - 204,800)
Optical viewfinder		Optical viewfinder
3.0 LCD, 1037k dots		3.2 LCD, 2359k dots
Fixed touchscreen		Tilting touchscreen
5 shutter flaps per second		12 shutter flaps per second
Weathersealed body		Weathersealed body
210 shots per battery charge		2260 shots per battery charge
139 x 80 x 39 mm, 660 g		144 x 116 x 76 mm, 840 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Leica M10-P and the Nikon D780? 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 M10-P and the Nikon D780 is provided in the side-by-side display below. 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-P can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the D780 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 D780 is considerably larger (50 percent) than the Leica M10-P. Moreover, the D780 is markedly heavier (27 percent) than the M10-P. 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 (M10-P) and the Nikon Lens Catalog (D780).

The power pack in the D780 can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

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 M10-P	139 mm	80 mm	39 mm	660 g	210	Y	Aug 2018	7,995
2.		Nikon D780	144 mm	116 mm	76 mm	840 g	2260	Y	Jan 2020	2,299
3.		Leica M10-R	139 mm	80 mm	39 mm	660 g	210	Y	Jul 2020	8,295
4.		Leica M-E Typ 240	139 mm	80 mm	42 mm	680 g	..	Y	Jun 2019	3,999
5.		Leica CL	131 mm	78 mm	45 mm	403 g	220	n	Nov 2017	2,795
6.		Leica M10	139 mm	80 mm	39 mm	660 g	210	Y	Jan 2017	6,595
7.		Leica TL2	134 mm	69 mm	33 mm	399 g	250	n	Jul 2017	1,950
8.		Leica M Typ 262	139 mm	80 mm	42 mm	680 g	..	Y	Nov 2015	5,195
9.		Leica Q Typ 116	130 mm	80 mm	93 mm	640 g	300	n	Jun 2015	4,249
10.		Leica M Typ 240	139 mm	80 mm	42 mm	680 g	..	Y	Sep 2012	6,950
11.		Leica M9	139 mm	80 mm	37 mm	585 g	..	n	Sep 2009	7,999
12.		Leica M8	139 mm	80 mm	37 mm	591 g	..	n	Sep 2006	5,499
13.		Nikon D6	160 mm	163 mm	92 mm	1270 g	3580	Y	Feb 2020	6,499
14.		Nikon Z6 II	134 mm	101 mm	70 mm	705 g	410	Y	Oct 2020	1,999
15.		Nikon D7500	136 mm	104 mm	73 mm	720 g	950	Y	Apr 2017	1,299
16.		Nikon D500	147 mm	115 mm	81 mm	860 g	1240	Y	Jan 2016	1,999
17.		Nikon D750	141 mm	113 mm	78 mm	750 g	1230	Y	Sep 2014	2,299
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 D780 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 71 percent) than the M10-P, 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 sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants 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. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and 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 24.3MP, the D780 offers a higher resolution than the M10-P (23.8MP), but the D780 has marginally smaller individual pixels (pixel pitch of 5.94μm versus 6.00μm for the M10-P). Yet, the D780 is a somewhat more recent model (by 1 year and 4 months) than the M10-P, 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 the M10-P has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The D780 has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Leica M10-P has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 50000. The corresponding ISO settings for the Nikon D780 are ISO 100 to ISO 51200, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-204800.

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. 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 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 M10-P	Full Frame	23.8	5952	3992	none	..	..	..	..
2.		Nikon D780	Full Frame	24.3	6048	4024	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
3.		Leica M10-R	Full Frame	40.9	7864	5200	none	..	..	..	..
4.		Leica M-E Typ 240	Full Frame	23.7	5952	3976	1080/25p	..	..	..	..
5.		Leica CL	APS-C	24.1	6014	4014	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
6.		Leica M10	Full Frame	23.8	5952	3992	none	24.4	13.2	2133	86
7.		Leica TL2	APS-C	24.1	6014	4014	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
8.		Leica M Typ 262	Full Frame	23.7	5952	3976	none	..	..	..	..
9.		Leica Q Typ 116	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.3	12.7	2221	85
10.		Leica M Typ 240	Full Frame	23.7	5952	3976	1080/25p	24.0	13.3	1860	84
11.		Leica M9	Full Frame	18.1	5212	3472	none	22.5	11.7	884	69
12.		Leica M8	APS-H	10.4	3936	2630	none	21.1	11.3	663	59
13.		Nikon D6	Full Frame	20.7	5568	3712	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
14.		Nikon Z6 II	Full Frame	24.3	6048	4024	4K/60p	..	..	..	..
15.		Nikon D7500	APS-C	20.7	5568	3712	4K/30p	24.3	14.0	1483	86
16.		Nikon D500	APS-C	20.7	5568	3712	4K/30p	24.0	14.0	1324	83
17.		Nikon D750	Full Frame	24.2	6016	4016	1080/60p	24.8	14.5	2956	93

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The D780 indeed provides for movie recording, while the M10-P does not. The highest resolution format that the D780 can use is 4K/30p.

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The M10-P and the D780 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 M10-P has a higher magnification than the one of the D780 (0.73x vs 0.70x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Leica M10-P and Nikon D780 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

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 M10-P	optical	n	3.0	1037	fixed	Y	1/4000s	5.0	n	n
2.		Nikon D780	optical	Y	3.2	2359	tilting	Y	1/8000s	12.0	n	n
3.		Leica M10-R	optical	n	3.0	1037	fixed	Y	1/4000s	4.5	n	n
4.		Leica M-E Typ 240	optical	n	3.0	920	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0	n	n
5.		Leica CL	2360	Y	3.0	1040	fixed	Y	1/8000s	10.0	n	n
6.		Leica M10	optical	n	3.0	1037	fixed	n	1/4000s	5.0	n	n
7.		Leica TL2	optional	n	3.7	1230	fixed	Y	1/4000s	7.0	n	n
8.		Leica M Typ 262	optical	n	3.0	921	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0	n	n
9.		Leica Q Typ 116	3680	n	3.0	1040	fixed	Y	1/2000s	10.0	n	Y
10.		Leica M Typ 240	optical	n	3.0	920	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0	n	n
11.		Leica M9	optical	n	2.5	230	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.0	n	n
12.		Leica M8	optical	n	2.5	230	fixed	n	1/8000s	2.0	n	n
13.		Nikon D6	optical	Y	3.2	2359	fixed	Y	1/8000s	14.0	n	n
14.		Nikon Z6 II	3690	Y	3.2	2100	tilting	Y	1/8000s	14.0	n	Y
15.		Nikon D7500	optical	Y	3.2	922	tilting	Y	1/8000s	8.0	Y	n
16.		Nikon D500	optical	Y	3.2	2359	tilting	Y	1/8000s	10.0	n	n
17.		Nikon D750	optical	Y	3.2	1229	tilting	n	1/4000s	6.0	Y	n

One feature that is present on the D780, but is missing on the M10-P is a top-level LCD. While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.

The Leica M10-P and the Nikon D780 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 D780 write their files to SDXC cards. The D780 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the M10-P only has one slot. The D780 supports UHS-II cards (on both slots), while the M10-P can use UHS-I 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 Leica M10-P and Nikon D780 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 M10-P	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-
2.		Nikon D780	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	3.1	Y	-	Y
3.		Leica M10-R	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-
4.		Leica M-E Typ 240	Y	mono	-	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
5.		Leica CL	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-
6.		Leica M10	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-
7.		Leica TL2	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	3.0	Y	-	-
8.		Leica M Typ 262	Y	-	-	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Leica Q Typ 116	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
10.		Leica M Typ 240	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
11.		Leica M9	Y	-	-	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
12.		Leica M8	Y	-	-	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
13.		Nikon D6	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	3.1	Y	-	Y
14.		Nikon Z6 II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
15.		Nikon D7500	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	Y	-	Y
16.		Nikon D500	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	Y	Y	Y
17.		Nikon D750	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	Y	-	-

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Nikon D780 (unlike the M10-P) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Both the M10-P and the D780 are recent models that are part of the current product line-up. The M10-P replaced the earlier Leica M9-P, while the D780 followed on from the Nikon D750. 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 how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Leica M10-P and the Nikon D780? Which camera is better? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Reasons to prefer the Leica M10-P:

• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.73x vs 0.70x).
• More compact: Is smaller (139x80mm vs 144x116mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
• Less heavy: Is lighter (by 180g or 21 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 August 2018).

Advantages of the Nikon D780:

• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• Broader imaging potential: Can capture not only stills but also 4K/30p video.
• Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
• 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 1037k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (12 vs 5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (2260 versus 210) out of a single battery charge.
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• 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 (71 percent cheaper at launch).
• More modern: Was introduced somewhat (1 year and 4 months) more recently.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the D780 is the clear winner of the contest (17 : 6 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. 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 comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the M10-P or the D780. 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 why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular 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 M10-P	..	..	..	..	4/5	Aug 2018	7,995
2.		Nikon D780	5/5	..	87/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2020	2,299
3.		Leica M10-R	4.5/5	..	..	..	4/5	Jul 2020	8,295
4.		Leica M-E Typ 240	..	..	..	..	..	Jun 2019	3,999
5.		Leica CL	..	..	..	..	4/5	Nov 2017	2,795
6.		Leica M10	4.5/5	..	..	4/5	4.5/5	Jan 2017	6,595
7.		Leica TL2	3.5/5	..	..	4/5	4/5	Jul 2017	1,950
8.		Leica M Typ 262	..	..	..	..	..	Nov 2015	5,195
9.		Leica Q Typ 116	5/5	..	80/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2015	4,249
10.		Leica M Typ 240	4/5	..	..	4/5	..	Sep 2012	6,950
11.		Leica M9	..	..	..	4.5/5	..	Sep 2009	7,999
12.		Leica M8	..	..	+ +	..	..	Sep 2006	5,499
13.		Nikon D6	..	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2020	6,499
14.		Nikon Z6 II	4.5/5	..	89/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2020	1,999
15.		Nikon D7500	4.5/5	+ +	86/100	5/5	4.5/5	Apr 2017	1,299
16.		Nikon D500	5/5	+ +	91/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jan 2016	1,999
17.		Nikon D750	5/5	+ +	90/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2014	2,299
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. 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

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Specifications: Leica M10-P vs Nikon D780

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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