Leica M9

Full frame, 18.1 MP, 2.5"
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        Summary Leica M9

        Prices Price
        Body only
        Unknown
        Kit
        Unknown
        Score Snapsort rank
        Among similar cameras
        #n/a of 26
        Specifications Key specs
        Sensor size
        Help Full frame 36x24mm
        Screen resolution
        Help 230k dots
        Megapixels
        Help 18.1 MP
        Movie format
        Help None
        Screen size
        Help 2.5"
        Light sensitivity
        Help 2,500 ISO
        see all specifications
        Lenses Lenses
        Browse Leica M9 lenses at LensHero
        Leica M9Leica M9

        gallery

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

        Videos

        Leica M9 - Field Test and Hand...

        Leica M9 - Field Test and Hands-on Review - DigitalRev.com
        • Review
        • Pro

        Leica M9 hands-on preview by W...

        Leica M9 hands-on preview by What Digital Camera
        • Review

        Street Photography With the Le...

        Street Photography With the Leica M9 and GoPro HD 960 in Los Angeles
        • Review

        Pros

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        The Leica M9 vs other recent mirrorless cameras

        Low light performance Very low noise at high ISO Help
        854 ISO
        Color depth Great color depth Help
        22.5 bits
        Viewfinder Doesn't use battery, see more detail Help
        Rangefinder
        Overall image quality Incredible overall image quality Help
        69.0
        Dynamic range Very wide dynamic range Help
        11.6 EV
        Thickness Thin Help
        1.5"

        Cons

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        The Leica M9 vs other recent mirrorless cameras

        Movie format No movies Help
        None
        Screen size Very small screen Help
        2.5"
        Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
        2 fps
        Touch screen No touch screen Help
        More buttons
        Screen flips out Fixed screen Help
        Less flexible
        Live view No live view Help
        Preview with viewfinder
        Sensor type Sensor type Help
        CCD
        Built-in flash No built-in flash Help
        Professional
        Popularity Not so popular Help
        Among snapsort users
        Screen resolution Very low resolution screen Help
        230k dots
        Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
        Risk of blur
        Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
        2,500 ISO
        Weather sealed No weather sealing Help
        Need to shelter it from weather
        Autofocus Manual focus only Help
        None
        Announced Old Help
        September 2009
        Weight Heavy Help
        585 g
        Longest exposure Very short exposures Help
        8 seconds

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        front photo of the Leica M9back photo of the Leica M9angle photo of the Leica M9

        Discussion

        Leica M9
        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!
         
        Avatar for Mike Svitek 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.
         
        Avatar for Mike Svitek 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