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Leica M9

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How it works?
  1. User ratingsUser ratingsratings of product added by Productz users
  2. Expert ratingsExpert ratingsexperts ratings from editorial reviews
  3. Consumer ratingsConsumer ratingsratings from the biggest online stores worldwide
Legend
  1. Excellent
  2. Good
  3. Poor
  4. Average
3.6
based on all reviews
User ratings:
38
4.1 out of 5
38 user ratings
5 stars
31 %
4 stars
47 %
3 stars
21 %
2 stars
0 %
1 stars
0 %
Editorial reviews:
21
  1. See more
3.1 out of 5
5 user ratings
5 stars
20 %
4 stars
0 %
3 stars
40 %
2 stars
40 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews

Pros

  • the Leica M9 can bring into the photography is simply amazing
  • color accuracy
  • noise

Cons

  • It can be difficult to see in bright light
  • TTL center-biased metering with preset working aperture
  • Leica doesn't have a proprietary RAW format

Key specs

  • CCD
  • Full frame
  • 24x36 mm
  • 18 Mpx
  • 5212, 3472 px
  • Leica M
  • Continuous Auto Focus, Single Auto Focus
  • 2.5 in
  • no

Compare technical data of the product to its category

Leica

Leica M9 - Pros & Cons

Leica M9

Pros

  • the Leica M9 can bring into the photography is simply amazing
  • color accuracy
  • noise
  • and overall image quality
  • Focusing in advance this way can be quite useful
  • nicely exposed portrait with good skin tones and sharp focusing
  • Long exposures are easy thanks to the full manual control
  • continuous shooting is satisfactory
  • Colour and sharpness Rich colours are recorded nicely in both JPEG
  • The focusing system through the viewfinder is great
  • The camera has a good dynamic range

Cons

  • It can be difficult to see in bright light
  • TTL center-biased metering with preset working aperture
  • Leica doesn't have a proprietary RAW format
  • no default level of noise reduction-
  • the skin tone tile looks overly pink
  • lighting measuring method is downright primitive
  • Memory cards go in the bottom by removing the entire bottom plate
  • Blue skies are saturated without loss of colour from other areas
  • The camera suffers quite badly with hard lighting
  • for shooting sports
  • overly magenta shifted skin tones

Leica M9 - Technical Overview

PoorAverageGoodExcellent
IconScreen size
2.5 in
Best:
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W710
Screen size: 6.7 in
IconISO maximum
2500
Best:
Pentax KP
ISO maximum: 819200
IconEffective pixels
18 Mpx
Best:
Hasselblad H6D-100c
Effective pixels: 100 Mpx
IconMax resolution
5212 x 3472 px
Best:
Leica M11
Max resolution: 9528 x 6328 px

Leica - Video Reviews (9)

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Leica M9 - Full Specifications

Icon
Sensor
Sensor typeCCD
Image sensor formatFull frame
Sensor size0.94 in
Sensor photo detectors19.0 Mpx
Effective pixels18.0 Mpx
Image ratio w:h3:2
Max resolution5212 x 3472 px
Other resolutions
  • 3840x2592
  • 2592x1728
  • 1728x1152
  • 1280x846
Icon
Optics and focus
Lens mountLeica M
Magnification (Crop factor)1.0 x
AF assist (auto-focus assist light)no
Contrast autofocusno
Focal length multiplier1x
Autofocus
  • Continuous Auto Focus
  • Single Auto Focus
Manual focusyes
Image stabiliserNo
Phase detection autofocusno
Icon
Photography features
Minimum shutter speed4.0 s
Maximum shutter speed1.0 s
Shutter priorityno
Aperture priorityyes
Manual exposure modeyes
Exposure compensation plus3
Exposure compensation minus-3
Expousure compensation steps1/3
Continuous shootingyes
WB BracketingNo
Subject / scene modesno
Flash sync speed1/180s
Built-in flashyes
Flash modes
  • Manual
  • Slow Sync
External flash connectionHot shoe
Flash metering systemM-TTL
External flashyes
Continuous drive2.0 fps
Self-timeryes
Metering modesCenter-weighted
Manual settingsyes
Self-timer options
  • 2
  • 12
Speed (JPEG)2.0 fps
Speed (RAW)2.0 fps
Icon
Audio features
Built-in microphoneno
Icon
Dimensions
Weight20.64 oz
Width5.47 in
Height3.15 in
Depth1.46 in
Icon
Power
Battery technology
Lithium-Ion
Icon
Other features
Timelapse recordingno
GPSno
Orientation sensoryes
Icon
Image
ISO80
ISO Autoyes
ISO minimum160
ISO maximum2500
Boosted ISO minimum80
White balance presets6
White balance modesAuto
Custom white balanceyes
Supported image file formats
  • JPEG
  • RAW
Image stabilizerno
Image stabilization typeNo
Uncompressed formatRAW
Icon
Screen and viewfinder
Screen size2.5 in
Articulated LCDno
Screen technologyLCD
Screen dots230000
Touch screenno
Live viewno
Viewfinder
Optical
Viewfinder magnification0.68 x
Separate info displayno
Icon
Videography features
Video recordingno
Icon
Design
Body typeMILC
Body materialAluminum-magnesium
Colour of product
  • Black,Chrome
  • Grey,Stainless steel
Anti-dust systemno
Environmentally sealedno
Icon
Storage
Compatible memory cards
  • SD
  • SDHC
Storage types
  • SD
  • SDHC
Icon
Connectivity
HDMIno
USB version2.0
Remote controlNo
NFCno
Wireless network (Wi-Fi)no
Firewireno

Leica M9 - Q&A

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Leica M9 Leica - Editorial Reviews (21)

3.1
Based on 21 reviews
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
Leica M9 Leica M9 review
TechRadar logo
TechRadar
Published: 22.08.2011
Leica M9 review
3.0

The 18MP digital camera with a full-frame sensor proves doubters wrong

Leica M9 Camera Test: Leica M9
Popular Photography logo
Popular Photography
Published: 17.01.2019
Camera Test: Leica M9

This 18MP digital rangefinder is truly worthy of the legendary brand.

Leica M9 Leica M9 Review
Imaging Resource logo
Imaging Resource
Published: 20.02.2012
Leica M9 Review
4.5

Leica M9 review, find out how the M9 stacks up against the competition in our real-world review with in-depth image quality comparisons.

Leica M9 Leica M9 Review - Performance
Imaging Resource logo
Imaging Resource
Published: 20.02.2012
Leica M9 Review - Performance

Leica M9 Review - M9 Performance

Leica M9 Leica M9 Review | Camera Decision
Camera Decision logo
Camera Decision
Published: 09.09.2009
Leica M9 Review | Camera Decision
2.4

Leica M9 is a 18.0MP Pro Mirrorless camera with a Full frame sized CCD sensor and Leica M mount. Read our M9 review to find its pros and cons.

Leica M9 Leica M9: Digital Photography Review
DPReview logo
DPReview
Published: 09.09.2009
Leica M9: Digital Photography Review

Expert news, reviews and videos of the latest digital cameras, lenses, accessories, and phones. Get answers to your questions in our photography forums.

Leica M9 An M9 In Paris – A Field Review - Luminous Landscape
Luminous Landscape logo
Luminous Landscape
Published: 13.01.2009
An M9 In Paris – A Field Review - Luminous Landscape

FacebookTweet Caveat Reader Because this review will be read by current and previous Leica owners as well as people who have never seen one in...

Leica M9 Leica M9 Review - Rediscovering a Joy in Digital Photography
35mmc logo
35mmc
Published: 31.12.2017
Leica M9 Review - Rediscovering a Joy in Digital Photography

Whilst far from being the best digital camera by the standards of modern cameras, the Leica M9 remains of one of the best digital cameras I’ve shot with!

Leica M9 An Ode to the Leica M9, The Best Digital Leica They Ever Delivered
The Phoblographer logo
The Phoblographer
Published: 08.08.2019
An Ode to the Leica M9, The Best Digital Leica They Ever Delivered

The Leica M9 was a classic and fantastic camera that is much needed in today's photography world. We don't need a crazy amount of tech.

Leica M9 Canon Rumors - Your best source for Canon rumors, leaks and gossip
Canon Rumors logo
Canon Rumors
Canon Rumors - Your best source for Canon rumors, leaks and gossip

The Leica M9 By Craig (CR Guy) Introduction The Leica M9 sparks a lot of conversation. I'm starting to get questions about why I shoot with one. This revie

Leica M9 Leica M9-P - First Impression Review
Digital Photography School logo
Digital Photography School
Published: 08.08.2011
Leica M9-P - First Impression Review
3.0

Over the last 9 days I’ve had the chance to use and review Leica’s newest camera – the Leica M9-P. In the following video (filmed after I’d been using it for 4-5 days) I share my first impressions of the camera – one that polarises many due to its expense and stripped back feature set. […]

Leica M9 The Leica M9: The Ultimate Street Photography Camera or Just Hype? My Practical Review
ERIC KIM logo
ERIC KIM
Published: 17.11.2011
The Leica M9: The Ultimate Street Photography Camera or Just Hype? My Practical Review

My Leica M9P* (gaffer tape upgrade) and 35mm Summilux 1.4.  Background About a few months ago, I finally achieved one of my lifetime goals: purchasing a digital Leica (the Leica M9 to be specific).…

Leica M9 Leica M9 Review: Shooting in Wetzlar, Germany | Red Dot Forum
Red Dot Forum logo
Red Dot Forum
Published: 10.09.2009
Leica M9 Review: Shooting in Wetzlar, Germany | Red Dot Forum

The Leica M9 could very well be the most anticipated Leica M ever. With film users holding out for a full-frame digital M before making the switch, the tens of thousands of existing M8 users waiting to upgrade, and photographers new to Leica waiting patiently for a camera that wowed them, the M9 has generated …

Leica M9 Leica M9 Hands-On Review
Photography Bay logo
Photography Bay
Published: 26.10.2009
Leica M9 Hands-On Review

Since the announcement of the Leica M9, there has been much interest in the powerful but little camera. The main reason for this is the full frame sensor in such a small body. I had the pleasure an…

Leica M9 Long term review: the Leica M9-P
Ming Thein | Photographer logo
Ming Thein | Photographer
Published: 03.03.2012
Long term review: the Leica M9-P

First things first: this isn’t going to be a technical review, because there are sites that do it much better than I can; it’s going to be subjective because there are things I do in my…

Leica M9 - Timeline

2006
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2011
Leica
2012
Leica
2012
2014

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