Leica M9 vs Olympus TG-5

The Leica M9 and the Olympus Tough TG-5 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in September 2009 and May 2017. The M9 is a rangefinder-style mirrorless camera, while the TG-5 is a fixed lens compact. The cameras are based on a full frame (M9) and a 1/2.3-inch (TG-5) sensor. The Leica has a resolution of 18.1 megapixels, whereas the Olympus provides 12 MP.

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

Headline Specifications

Leica M9		Olympus TG-5
Rangefinder camera		Fixed lens compact camera
Leica M mount lenses		25-100mm f/2.0-4.9
18.1 MP, Full Frame Sensor		12 MP, 1/2.3" Sensor
no Video		4K/30p Video
ISO 80-2500		ISO 100-12800
Optical viewfinder		No viewfinder, LCD framing
2.5" LCD, 230k dots		3.0" LCD, 460k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
2 shutter flaps per second		20 shutter flaps per second
No shake reduction		In-body stabilization
Not weather sealed		Waterproof body (15m)
139 x 80 x 37 mm, 585 g		113 x 66 x 32 mm, 250 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Leica M9 and the Olympus Tough TG-5? 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 physical size and weight of the Leica M9 and the Olympus TG-5 are illustrated 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 M9 can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the TG-5 is also available in two color-versions, but different ones (black, red).

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Olympus TG-5 is considerably smaller (33 percent) than the Leica M9. It is noteworthy in this context that the TG-5 is splash and dust-proof, while the M9 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing. More than that, the TG-5 is water-proof up to 15m and can, thus, be used for underwater photography.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the TG-5 has a lens built in, whereas the M9 is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the M9 and their specifications in the Leica M Lens Catalog.

The power pack in the TG-5 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. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, just click on the right or left arrow next to the camera that you would like to inspect. Alternatively, you can also use the CAM-parator to select your camera combination among a larger number of options.

Camera Body Specifications

	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 M9»	5.5 in	3.1 in	1.5 in	20.6 oz	..	n	Sep 2009	7,999	-		Leica M9
	Olympus TG-5«	4.4 in	2.6 in	1.3 in	8.8 oz	340	Y	May 2017	449	-		Olympus TG-5
	Canon SX730« »	4.3 in	2.5 in	1.6 in	10.6 oz	250	n	Apr 2017	399	-		Canon SX730
	Canon T5i« »	5.2 in	3.9 in	3.1 in	20.5 oz	440	n	Mar 2013	649	-		Canon T5i
	Canon T2i« »	5.1 in	3.9 in	2.4 in	18.7 oz	440	n	Feb 2010	699	-		Canon T2i
	Canon T1i« »	5.1 in	3.9 in	2.4 in	18.3 oz	400	n	Mar 2009	799	-		Canon T1i
	Leica M10-P« »	5.5 in	3.1 in	1.5 in	23.3 oz	210	Y	Aug 2018	7,995			Leica M10-P
	Leica M10« »	5.5 in	3.1 in	1.5 in	23.3 oz	210	Y	Jan 2017	6,595			Leica M10
	Leica T« »	5.3 in	2.7 in	1.3 in	13.5 oz	400	n	Apr 2014	1,850	-		Leica T
	Leica X Typ 113« »	5.2 in	2.9 in	3.1 in	17.1 oz	350	n	Sep 2014	2,295			Leica X Typ 113
	Leica X Vario« »	5.2 in	2.9 in	3.7 in	24.0 oz	450	n	Jun 2013	2,850			Leica X Vario
	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 M8« »	5.5 in	3.1 in	1.5 in	20.8 oz	..	n	Sep 2006	5,499	-		Leica M8
	Nikon W300« »	4.4 in	2.6 in	1.1 in	8.1 oz	280	Y	May 2017	389			Nikon W300
	Olympus TG-6« »	4.4 in	2.6 in	1.3 in	8.9 oz	340	Y	May 2019	449			Olympus TG-6
	Olympus TG-4« »	4.4 in	2.6 in	1.2 in	8.7 oz	380	Y	Apr 2015	379	-		Olympus TG-4
	Olympus XZ-1« »	4.4 in	2.6 in	1.7 in	9.7 oz	320	n	Jan 2011	499	-		Olympus XZ-1
Convert to Metric
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. 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 TG-5 was launched at a lower price than the M9, despite having a lens built in. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. 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. 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 are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Leica M9 features a full frame sensor and the Olympus TG-5 a 1/2.3-inch sensor. The sensor area in the TG-5 is 97 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.0 and 5.6. The sensor in the M9 has a native 3:2 aspect ratio, while the one in the TG-5 offers a 4:3 aspect.

With 18.1MP, the M9 offers a higher resolution than the TG-5 (12MP), but the M9 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 6.91μm versus 1.53μm for the TG-5) due to its larger sensor. However, the TG-5 is a much more recent model (by 7 years and 8 months) than the M9, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixels. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the M9 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Leica M9 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the M9 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 26.1 x 17.4 inch or 66.2 x 44.1 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 20.8 x 13.9 inch or 53 x 35.3 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 17.4 x 11.6 inch or 44.1 x 29.4 cm. The corresponding values for the Olympus TG-5 are 20 x 15 inch or 50.8 x 38.1 cm for good quality, 16 x 12 inch or 40.6 x 30.5 cm for very good quality, and 13.3 x 10 inch or 33.9 x 25.4 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Leica M9 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 80 to ISO 2500. The corresponding ISO settings for the Olympus Tough TG-5 are ISO 100 to ISO 12800 (no boost).

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. 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 table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The TG-5 indeed provides for movie recording, while the M9 does not. The highest resolution format that the TG-5 can use is 4K/30p.

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the M9 has an optical viewfinder, which can be very useful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the TG-5 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Leica M9 and Olympus TG-5 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The TG-5 has one, while the M9 does not. While the built-in flash of the TG-5 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The Olympus TG-5 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.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the M9 and the TG-5 write their files to SDXC cards. The TG-5 supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the M9 cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD 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 M9 and Olympus Tough TG-5 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

It is notable that the M9 has a hotshoe, while the TG-5 does not. This socket makes it possible to easily attach optional accessories, such as an external flash gun.

Travel and landscape photographers will find it useful that the TG-5 has an internal geolocalization sensor and can record GPS coordinates in its EXIF data.

Both the M9 and the TG-5 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on eBay. The M9 was replaced by the Leica M Typ 240, while the TG-5 was followed by the Olympus TG-6. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Leica and Olympus websites.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Is the Leica M9 better than the Olympus TG-5 or vice versa? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Reasons to prefer the Leica M9:

• More detail: Offers more megapixels (18.1 vs 12MP) with a 25% higher linear resolution.
• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• Better image quality: Features bigger pixels on a larger sensor for higher quality imaging.
• Richer colors: The pixel size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger pixels capture a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger pixels means good image quality even under poor lighting.
• Easier framing: Has an optical viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/4000s vs 1/2000s) to freeze action.
• More flexible: Accepts interchangeable lenses, so that lens characteristics can be altered.
• Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
• More prestigious: Has the Leica luxury appeal, which ensures a high resale price.
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in September 2009).

Advantages of the Olympus Tough TG-5:

• 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.
• 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 (460k vs 230k dots).
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (20 vs 2 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• Ready to shoot: Has an integrated lens, whereas the M9 necessitates an extra lens.
• More compact: Is smaller (113x66mm vs 139x80mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight even though it has a lens built in (unlike the M9).
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
• Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
• Water-proof: Is rugged and sealed and can thus be used for underwater photography (up to 15m).
• Easier fill-in: Has a small integrated flash to brighten shadows of backlit subjects.
• Easier geotagging: Features an internal GPS sensor to log localization data.
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.
• More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
• More modern: Reflects 7 years and 8 months of technical progress since the M9 launch.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the TG-5 is the clear winner of the contest (18 : 12 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 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 technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the M9 or the TG-5 perform in practice. 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 why expert reviews are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, and photographyblog). 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.

Review Scores

	Camera Model						Camera Launch (announced)	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price (USD)	Used Price (USD)	Camera Model
	Leica M9»	-	-	4.5/5	4.5/5	-	Sep 2009	7,999	-		Leica M9
	Olympus TG-5«	+ +	-	4/5	o	4/5	May 2017	449	-		Olympus TG-5
	Canon SX730« »	+	-	4/5	-	4/5	Apr 2017	399	-		Canon SX730
	Canon T5i« »	-	76/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Mar 2013	649	-		Canon T5i
	Canon T2i« »	+ +	77/100	4/5	5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2010	699	-		Canon T2i
	Canon T1i« »	+ +	74/100	4.5/5	5/5	4.5/5	Mar 2009	799	-		Canon T1i
	Leica M10-P« »	-	-	-	-	4/5	Aug 2018	7,995			Leica M10-P
	Leica M10« »	-	-	4/5	-	4.5/5	Jan 2017	6,595			Leica M10
	Leica T« »	-	-	4/5	-	4/5	Apr 2014	1,850	-		Leica T
	Leica X Typ 113« »	-	-	3.5/5	-	4/5	Sep 2014	2,295			Leica X Typ 113
	Leica X Vario« »	-	-	4/5	4/5	4/5	Jun 2013	2,850			Leica X Vario
	Leica M Typ 240« »	-	-	4/5	-	-	Sep 2012	6,950	-		Leica M Typ 240
	Leica M8« »	-	+ +	-	-	-	Sep 2006	5,499	-		Leica M8
	Nikon W300« »	+	-	4/5	-	4/5	May 2017	389			Nikon W300
	Olympus TG-6« »	+ +	-	4/5	-	4/5	May 2019	449			Olympus TG-6
	Olympus TG-4« »	+	79/100	4/5	4/5	4/5	Apr 2015	379	-		Olympus TG-4
	Olympus XZ-1« »	-	74/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2011	499	-		Olympus XZ-1
Notes: (+ +) 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.

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. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

Specifications: Leica M9 vs Olympus TG-5

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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