| | Leica DM4 M | Leica DM6 M |
Stand | Power supply | Integrated within stand | within electronics box CTR6 or CTR6 LED |
| Display | Information display | Leica SmartTouch with information and controls |
| Interfaces | 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x I2C | 2 x USB 2.0, 2 x I2C |
Operation | Focus | Mechanical | Motorized |
| | 2-ratio gearbox (coarse/fine) | 5 electronic ratios |
| | | includes parfocal function |
| | | switch between coarse and fine mode |
| | | memory locations for two z-positions |
| Objective turret | Absolute coded | Motorized |
| | – 6x M32 thread | includes dry and immersion mode |
| | – 7x M25 thread (optional) | 6x M32 thread, 7x M25 thread (optional) |
| Stage | Mechanical | Motorized (optional) |
| | ceramic-coated | with stepper motor |
| | y-drive with belt | switch between fast and precision mode |
| | removable stage drive with adjustable torque | includes memory location for up to |
| | 110° swivel | 5 stage positions |
| | left-handed version optionally available | Mechanical |
| | | ceramic-coated |
| | | y-drive with belt |
| | | removable stage drive with adjustable torque |
| | | 110° swivel |
| | | left-handed version optionally available |
| Controls | 6 programmable function buttons | 6 programmable function buttons |
| | | SmartMove |
| | | controls for z (focus) movement and x,y (stage) movement |
| | | 4 programmable function buttons |
| | | Leica STP8000 |
| | | controls for z (coarse and fine focus) and x,y (stage) movement |
| | | 11 programmable function buttons |
| | | touchpanel with information and control panels |
| Specimen overview tool | No | Yes |
Transmitted light axis | Illumination | LED | either 12 V 100 W halogen lamp or LED |
| Automation | | |
| Light manager: automatic Köhler light management sets the best values for aperture, field diaphragm, and light intensity | Yes | Yes |
| Contrast manager: switch from one contrast method to another with one push of a button | Yes | Yes |
| Constant Color Intensity Control: maintains a constant color temperature (3200 K) | Not necessary for LED | Yes for Halogen versions |
| | | Not necessary for LED |
| Contrast method | BF, PH, DF, ICT, POL | BF, PH, DF, POL |
| | | DIC (fully automatic) |
Incident light axis | Motorized filter cube turret | 4-fold and 5-fold | 4-fold and 5-fold |
| Illumination | LED lamphousing | LED lamphousing |
| | Halogen illumination with external power supply | Halogen illumination with external power supply |
| Automation | | |
| Illumination Manager: Objective related setting of light intensity and aperture diaphragm | Yes | Yes |
| Contrast manager: switch from one contrast method to another with one push of a button | Yes | Yes |
| Round and square illuminated field diaphragms for ocular and camera observation (motorized) | Yes | Yes |
Condensers | Automation | condenser head, motorized | condenser head, motorized |
| | 7x condenser disk, motorized (optional) | 7x condenser disk, motorized (optional) |
| | polarizer, motorized (optional) | polarizer, motorized (optional) |