Leica M9

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	Price

	Body only $3,496 Kit Unknown
	all M9 prices

	Snapsort rank

	Within its price range #n/a of 18 details Among similar cameras #n/a of 23 details

	Key specs

	Sensor size Full frame 36x24mm Screen resolution 230k dots
	Megapixels 18.1 MP Movie format None
	Screen size 2.5" Light sensitivity 2,500 ISO
	see all specifications

	Lenses

Browse Leica M9 lenses at LensHero

Explore our gallery of 50 sample photos taken by the Leica M9.

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The Leica M9 vs other recent mirrorless cameras

	Very low noise at high ISO
	854 ISO

	Great color depth
	22.5 bits

	Doesn't use battery, see more detail
	Rangefinder

	Thin
	1.5"

	Incredible overall image quality
	69.0

	Very wide dynamic range
	11.6 EV

	Incredible startup delay
	800 ms startup delay

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The Leica M9 vs other recent mirrorless cameras

	No movies
	None

	Very small screen
	2.5"

	Slow continuous shooting
	2 fps

	No touch screen
	More buttons

	No weather sealing
	Need to shelter it from weather

	Manual focus only
	None

	Old
	September 2009

	Expensive
	$3,495.95

	No built-in flash
	Professional

	Not so popular
	Among snapsort users

	Very low resolution screen
	230k dots

	No image stabilization
	Risk of blur

	Very poor maximum light sensitivity
	2,500 ISO

	Lower true resolution
	18.1 MP

	Fixed screen
	Less flexible

	No live view
	Preview with viewfinder

	Sensor type
	CCD

	Heavy
	585 g

	Very short exposures
	8 seconds

Image quality data for the Leica M9 provided by DxOMark

M9

Leica

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Showing 6 comments

Mike S

(4:53 AM, November 30, 2013)

Some people don't get it. Running around with big SLR bodies and long lenses is fine for some people, but Henri Cartier Bresson thought such equipment heavy, intrusive, and gaudy. The Leica gives you a small size but a full frame and great quality and lenses. It's expensive, but worth it for certain photographers.

C.W. Wiley

(0:32 AM, April 20, 2012)

Well, I have had several Leicas in my day. M3 SS - M2 leaver rewind release - IIIC and a black dial IIIF not in that order. Even the lowly, now very out dated screw mount Leica still commands some respect. I have never handled any camera, and I have had quite a few in my day including medium formats, that feels and handles like a Leica. True, they are pricey, but not any more so than some high end Canons or Nikons. True again a rangefinder is not for everybody. However, they do have a specific purpose and have more than earned their respect and place in the photographic world. An M9 is on my forever wish list though I seriously doubt at this point in my life I will ever be able to afford one, but If I could I surely would, no doubt! And for what its worth, that's my "Two cents worth." Thanks for the read!

Mike Svitek

(0:31 AM, April 06, 2012)

Aaaaand I agree with this also. I too own a DSLR and an M9, along with a Digital Medium Format. My I mainly use my D800 for whenever I need the specific mechanics of the system but, with the M9, everything is so simple, just like using an old film SLR, you set everything EXACTLY how you want it, and a full-frame sensor in such a small body ALWAYS creates high quality images. Its perfect to use on the streets!
However, one can't deny that the whole Leica system is quite expensive, bodies and lenses.

EHM

(8:54 PM, April 05, 2012)

Sorry, but I don't agree. Yes a DSLR will have better performance, but the use of a rangefinder is so different from the use of a dslr. You shouldn't compare those types of camera's. I have a nikon d7000 and a M9 and I love both camera's, but I use them for diffent types of photografy. With the dslr I tent to take a lot of photo's and select the best ones later. With the rangefinder I think about the photo I want to make and take a lot more time.
And the quality of the Leica lenses is so good, you just have to see them to believe. But if you don't have the money (or just don't have the patience to save for a M9 like I did) you should go for the best camera your money can buy. That is IMHO always the best you can do. But please don't bash people who have a Leica.

Mike Svitek

(11:04 PM, February 22, 2012)

I agree with you 100% ^
But there is one thing the specs don't mention, and that's the fact that this camera is, in fact, capable of using the Leica Noctilux lens, which is the only f/1 lens in existence aside from Medium Format lenses... the problem is that the lens costs more than the camera (about $10k).

L8tr597

(11:11 PM, August 07, 2011)

i do not think its worth the money....sorry i know SOME with unlimited wallets, just to pull it out a few time for those "in the know" about such high dollar, but you don't get crap for it, tell me a Nikon D3x or D3s even wouldn't be a better investment albeit much larger in size, its because when you spend $7,000 you should get quit a lot for that amount of American money

Leica M9

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The Leica M9 vs other recent mirrorless cameras

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The Leica M9 vs other recent mirrorless cameras

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