Leica M9

Leica M9
Mirrorless interchangeable-lens Mirrorless interchangeable-lens
September, 2009

Summary Leica M9

Prices Price
Body only $7,000 Kit Unknown
all M9 prices
Score Snapsort rank
Within its price range #n/a of 38 Among similar cameras #n/a of 47
details details
Specifications Key specs
Sensor size Help Full frame 36.0x24.0mm 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 all Leica M9 lenses at LensHero
Leica M9Leica M9

Videos

Leica M9 - Field Test and Hand...

Leica M9 hands-on preview by W...

Street Photography With the Le...
Leica M9 - Field Test and Hands-on Review - DigitalRev.com
  • Review
  • Pro
 Leica M9 hands-on preview by What Digital Camera
  • Review
 Street Photography With the Leica M9 and GoPro HD 960 in Los Angeles
  • Review

Browse all Leica M9 videos

Pros

The Leica M9 vs other recent mirrorless cameras

Viewfinder Doesn't use battery, see more detail Help
Rangefinder
True resolution High true resolution Help
18.1 MP
Battery life Incredible battery life Help
600 shots
Color depth Good color depth Help
22.5 bits
Sensor size Very large sensor Help
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
External flash External flash Help
Better lighting

Cons

The Leica M9 vs other recent mirrorless cameras

Screen size Very small screen Help
2.5"
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
2,500 ISO
Touch screen No touch screen Help
More buttons
Autofocus Manual focus only Help
None
Panorama Lacks in-camera panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
3D Doesn't take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Live view No live view Help
Preview with viewfinder
Light sensitivity (boost) Lacks boost light sensitivity Help
None
Sensor type Sensor type Help
CCD
Built-in flash No built-in flash Help
Professional
Movie format No movies Help
None
Screen resolution Very low resolution screen Help
230k dots
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
2 fps
Screen flips out Fixed screen Help
Less flexible
Autofocus Manual focus only Help
None
Announced Old Help
September, 2009
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor Help
May require cleaning
Weight Very heavy Help
585 g
Lowest price Very expensive Help
$6,999.99
Popularity Not so popular Help
Among snapsort users
Longest exposure Short exposures Help
4 seconds

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Appearance

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

Discussion What do you think about the Leica M9?

Speech is free, but discussion at Snapsort is moderated! Please discuss your opinion of this camera here, and discuss feedback for Snapsort at our support community.

Showing 5 comments

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 Milan (Mike) Svitek Milan (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 Milan (Mike) Svitek Milan (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