Leica M10 Comparison Review
The Leica M10 (Typ 3656) is a rangefinder-style mirrorless camera that was announced in January 2017 and is equipped with a full frame sensor. It offers a resolution of 23.8 megapixel.

The Leica M10 has a Camera Elo of 1788. This rating puts the M10 among the top 40 percent of all rangefinder cameras. In terms of its sensor size category (full frame cameras) the M10 ranks below average. Based on its within category standings, the camera earns a 3-star performance rating.
Leica M10 |
Rangefinder camera |
Leica M mount lenses |
23.8 MP, Full Frame Sensor |
no Video |
ISO 100-50000 |
Optical viewfinder |
3.0" LCD, 1037k dots |
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) |
5 shutter flaps per second |
210 shots per battery charge |
139 x 80 x 39 mm, 660 g |

Read on to find out more about the camera's size, sensor, features, reception by expert reviewers, and how it compares to other digital cameras.
Body comparison with a credit card
An illustration of the physical dimensions of the Leica M10 vis-à-vis a credit card is provided in the side-by-side display below. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are presented. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.



The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the Leica M10 alongside a set of comparators. If you want to review a camera pair side-by-side, just select a right-side comparator from among the camera models in the table. Alternatively, you can also move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons there.
Camera Model |
Camera Width |
Camera Height |
Camera Depth |
Camera Weight |
Battery Life (CIPA) |
Weather Sealing (yes/no) |
Camera Launch (announced) |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price (USD) |
Used Price (USD) |
Camera Model |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Leica M10 | 5.5 in | 3.1 in | 1.5 in | 23.3 oz | 210 | n | Jan 2017 | 6,595 | Leica M10 | |||
Canon 6D Mark II« » | 5.7 in | 4.4 in | 3.0 in | 27.0 oz | 1200 | Y | Jun 2017 | 1,999 | Canon 6D Mark II | |||
Canon 1D X Mark II« » | 6.2 in | 6.6 in | 3.3 in | 54.0 oz | 1210 | Y | Feb 2016 | 5,999 | Canon 1D X Mark II | |||
Leica M10-P« » | 5.5 in | 3.1 in | 1.5 in | 23.3 oz | 210 | n | Aug 2018 | 7,995 | Leica M10-P | |||
Leica M Typ 262« » | 5.5 in | 3.1 in | 1.7 in | 24.0 oz | .. | Y | Nov 2015 | 5,195 | - | Leica M Typ 262 | ||
Leica Q Typ 116« » | 5.1 in | 3.1 in | 3.7 in | 22.6 oz | 300 | n | Jun 2015 | 4,249 | Leica Q Typ 116 | |||
Leica SL« » | 5.8 in | 4.1 in | 1.5 in | 29.9 oz | 400 | Y | Oct 2015 | 7,450 | Leica SL | |||
Leica M Typ 240« » | 5.5 in | 3.1 in | 1.7 in | 24.0 oz | .. | Y | Sep 2012 | 6,950 | - | Leica M Typ 240 | ||
Leica M9« » | 5.5 in | 3.1 in | 1.5 in | 20.6 oz | .. | n | Sep 2009 | 7,999 | - | Leica M9 | ||
Leica M8« » | 5.5 in | 3.1 in | 1.5 in | 20.8 oz | .. | n | Sep 2006 | 5,499 | - | Leica M8 | ||
Nikon D5« » | 6.3 in | 6.3 in | 3.6 in | 49.9 oz | 3780 | Y | Jan 2016 | 6,499 | Nikon D5 | |||
The listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The Leica M10 was launched in the US market at a price of $6,595. 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 with a 35mm slide
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.
The Leica M10 features a full frame sensor and has a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 1.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the Leica M10 among the large-sensor cameras that aim for top notch image quality.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. 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.
Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
Camera Model |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Leica M10 | Full Frame | 23.8 | 5952 | 3992 | - | 24.4 | 13.2 | 2133 | 86 | Leica M10 | |
Canon 6D Mark II« » | Full Frame | 26.0 | 6240 | 4160 | 1080/60p | 24.4 | 11.9 | 2862 | 85 | Canon 6D Mark II | |
Canon 1D X Mark II« » | Full Frame | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 4K/60p | 24.1 | 13.5 | 3207 | 88 | Canon 1D X Mark II | |
Leica M10-P« » | Full Frame | 23.8 | 5952 | 3992 | - | - | - | - | - | Leica M10-P | |
Leica M Typ 262« » | Full Frame | 23.7 | 5952 | 3976 | - | - | - | - | - | Leica M Typ 262 | |
Leica Q Typ 116« » | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 24.3 | 12.7 | 2221 | 85 | Leica Q Typ 116 | |
Leica SL« » | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/30p | 25.0 | 13.4 | 1821 | 88 | Leica SL | |
Leica M Typ 240« » | Full Frame | 23.7 | 5952 | 3976 | 1080/25p | 24.0 | 13.3 | 1860 | 84 | Leica M Typ 240 | |
Leica M9« » | Full Frame | 18.1 | 5212 | 3472 | - | 22.5 | 11.7 | 884 | 69 | Leica M9 | |
Leica M8« » | APS-H | 10.4 | 3936 | 2630 | - | 21.1 | 11.3 | 663 | 59 | Leica M8 | |
Nikon D5« » | Full Frame | 20.7 | 5588 | 3712 | 4K/30p | 25.1 | 12.3 | 2343 | 88 | Nikon D5 |
Feature comparison
Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The tables below summarize some of the other core capabilities of the Leica M10 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.
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) |
Shutter speed (1/sec) |
Shutter flaps (1/sec) |
Built-in Flash (yes/no) |
Built-in Image Stab |
Camera Model |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Leica M10 | optical | n | 3.0 | 1037 | fixed | n | 4000 | 5.0 | n | n | Leica M10 | |
Canon 6D Mark II« » | optical | Y | 3.0 | 1040 | swivel | Y | 4000 | 6.5 | n | n | Canon 6D Mark II | |
Canon 1D X Mark II« » | optical | Y | 3.2 | 1620 | fixed | Y | 8000 | 16.0 | n | n | Canon 1D X Mark II | |
Leica M10-P« » | optical | n | 3.0 | 1037 | fixed | Y | 4000 | 5.0 | n | n | Leica M10-P | |
Leica M Typ 262« » | optical | n | 3.0 | 921 | fixed | n | 4000 | 3.0 | n | n | Leica M Typ 262 | |
Leica Q Typ 116« » | 3680 | n | 3.0 | 1040 | fixed | Y | 2000 | 10.0 | n | n | Leica Q Typ 116 | |
Leica SL« » | 4400 | Y | 3.0 | 1040 | fixed | Y | 8000 | 11.0 | n | n | Leica SL | |
Leica M Typ 240« » | optical | n | 3.0 | 920 | fixed | n | 4000 | 3.0 | n | n | Leica M Typ 240 | |
Leica M9« » | optical | n | 2.5 | 230 | fixed | n | 4000 | 2.0 | n | n | Leica M9 | |
Leica M8« » | optical | n | 2.5 | 230 | fixed | n | 8000 | 2.0 | n | n | Leica M8 | |
Nikon D5« » | optical | Y | 3.2 | 2359 | fixed | Y | 8000 | 14.0 | n | n | Nikon D5 |
Camera Model |
Hotshoe Port |
Internal Microphone |
Internal Speaker |
Microphone Port |
Headphone Port |
HDMI Port |
USB Type |
WiFi Support |
NFC Support |
Bluetooth Support |
Camera Model |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Leica M10 | Y | - | - | - | - | - | - | Y | - | - | Leica M10 | |
Canon 6D Mark II« » | Y | stereo | mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | Y | Y | Canon 6D Mark II | |
Canon 1D X Mark II« » | Y | mono | mono | Y | Y | mini | 3.0 | - | - | - | Canon 1D X Mark II | |
Leica M10-P« » | Y | - | - | - | - | - | - | Y | - | - | Leica M10-P | |
Leica M Typ 262« » | Y | - | - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | Leica M Typ 262 | |
Leica Q Typ 116« » | Y | stereo | mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | Leica Q Typ 116 | |
Leica SL« » | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | full | 3.0 | Y | - | - | Leica SL | |
Leica M Typ 240« » | Y | stereo | mono | - | - | - | 2.0 | Y | - | - | Leica M Typ 240 | |
Leica M9« » | Y | - | - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | Leica M9 | |
Leica M8« » | Y | - | - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | Leica M8 | |
Nikon D5« » | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | mini | 3.0 | - | - | - | Nikon D5 |
Expert reviews
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 handling experience and imaging performance when actually working with the M10. 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. This is why expert reviews are important. The adjacent table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, photographyblog). The full reviews are available by clicking on the site logo in the table header.
Camera Model |
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Camera Launch (announced) |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price (USD) |
Used Price (USD) |
Camera Model |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Leica M10 | - | - | 4/5 | - | 4.5/5 | Jan 2017 | 6,595 | Leica M10 | |||
Canon 6D Mark II« » | Rec | 80/100 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | Jun 2017 | 1,999 | Canon 6D Mark II | |||
Canon 1D X Mark II« » | - | 89/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Feb 2016 | 5,999 | Canon 1D X Mark II | |||
Leica M10-P« » | - | - | - | - | 4/5 | Aug 2018 | 7,995 | Leica M10-P | |||
Leica M Typ 262« » | - | - | - | - | - | Nov 2015 | 5,195 | - | Leica M Typ 262 | ||
Leica Q Typ 116« » | - | 80/100 | 4.5/5 | - | 4.5/5 | Jun 2015 | 4,249 | Leica Q Typ 116 | |||
Leica SL« » | - | 84/100 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | Oct 2015 | 7,450 | Leica SL | |||
Leica M Typ 240« » | - | - | 4/5 | - | - | Sep 2012 | 6,950 | - | Leica M Typ 240 | ||
Leica M9« » | - | - | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | - | Sep 2009 | 7,999 | - | Leica M9 | ||
Leica M8« » | - | HiRec | - | - | - | Sep 2006 | 5,499 | - | Leica M8 | ||
Nikon D5« » | - | 89/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Jan 2016 | 6,499 | Nikon D5 |
The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.
Leica M10 FAQ
Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the M10.
What type of imaging sensor is used in the M10?
The camera features a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor.
Which image processing chip is used to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?
Leica equipped the M10 with the Maestro II image processor.
What is the ISO sensitivity range of the M10?
The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 50000.
What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with flash?
The M10's flash sync speed is 1/180 sec.
Which battery does the M10 use?
The camera gets its power from the BP-SCL5, which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.
Check Amazon price
Camera to camera comparisons
If you would like to see a side-by-side review of this and another camera, just use the search menu below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.
- Canon 200D vs Pentax 645Z
- Canon 5D Mark III vs Sony A6300
- Canon 700D vs Canon 80D
- Canon M50 vs Panasonic S1R
- Leica CL vs Fujifilm X-E2
- Leica M9 vs Leica X Vario
- Nikon P1000 vs Fujifilm X-A2
- Olympus E-M1 II vs Leica TL2
- Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus E-PL9
- Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic LX100 II
- Panasonic GX8 vs Panasonic GX80
- Sony RX100 III vs Canon G16
Specifications: Leica M10
Camera Model | Leica M10 | |
Camera Type | Rangefinder camera | |
Camera Lens | Leica M mount lenses | |
Launch Date | January 2017 | |
Launch Price | USD 6595 | |
Sensor Specs | ||
Sensor Technology | CMOS | |
Sensor Format | Full Frame Sensor | |
Sensor Size | 35.8 x 23.9 mm | |
Sensor Area | 855.62 mm2 | |
Sensor Diagonal | 43 mm | |
Crop Factor | 1.0x | |
Sensor Resolution | 23.8 Megapixels | |
Image Resolution | 5952 x 3992 pixels | |
Pixel Pitch | 6.00 μm | |
Pixel Density | 2.78 MP/cm2 | |
Moiré control | no AA filter | |
Movie Capability | no Video | |
ISO Setting | 100-50000 ISO | |
Image Processor | Maestro II | |
DXO Sensor Quality (score) | 86 | |
DXO Color Depth (bits) | 24.4 | |
DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 13.2 | |
DXO Low Light (ISO) | 2133 | |
Screen Specs | ||
Viewfinder Type | Optical viewfinder | |
Viewfinder Field of View | 100% | |
Viewfinder Magnification | 0.73x | |
LCD Framing | Live View | |
Rear LCD Size | 3.0 inch | |
LCD Resolution | 1037k dots | |
LCD Attachment | Fixed screen | |
Shooting Specs | ||
Autofocus System | Contrast-detect AF | |
Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/4000s | |
Continuous Shooting | 5 shutter flaps/s | |
Fill Flash | no On-Board Flash | |
Storage Medium | SDXC cards | |
Second Storage Option | Single card slot | |
Connectivity Specs | ||
External Flash | Hotshoe | |
USB Connector | USB no | |
HDMI Port | no HDMI | |
Wifi Support | Wifi built-in | |
Body Specs | ||
Battery Type | BP-SCL5 power pack | |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 210 shots per charge | |
Body Dimensions |
139 x 80 x 39 mm (5.5 x 3.1 x 1.5 in) |
|
Camera Weight | 660 g (23.3 oz) |
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