The Leica M9 is a professional camera that claims to be the world's smallest full-frame system camera. It is an improvement on its predecessor, the M8, with a minor button re-arrangement and major internal changes such as a Kodak-developed CCD sensor with improved offset microlenses to optimize performance at the edges of the frame. The Leica M9 sports a sensor cover with improved filtering of infrared light making lens-mounted IR filters a thing of the past. The 35mm film-sized sensor means that the original intended field of view is provided. The Leica M9 features a microprocessor-controlled, silent, metal-leaf, focal-plane shutter that has shutter speeds of up to 1/4000 seconds. One additional nice thing about owning a Leica camera is that Leica is committed to compatibility, which means that almost all M lenses built since 1954 can still be used on the new M9. 

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Leica M9
MSRP$6,999.99
Release date August, 2009
BrandLeica
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Pros & Cons16
Reviews2
Details
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Pros & Cons

ProSCORE
2 reviews
77
negative
mixed
positive
2 positive
0 mixed
0 negative

[i] How is the ProSCORE calculated?

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Pros:
Do you agree?
smallest full-frame digital camera - large 18.5 megapixel 23.9x35.8mm CCD sensor
+2agreedisagree

compatible with all M-mount lenses
+2agreedisagree

extremely compact and lightweight compared to a DSLR with comparable sized sensor
+2agreedisagree

analog controls give it a proper film camera feel
+2agreedisagree

capable of taking fully uncompressed 14-bit DNG format images
+2agreedisagree

easy to pick up and use
+2agreedisagree

image quality on par with much larger, heavier, more complicated and equally expensive cameras
+2agreedisagree

easy to use menu system
+2agreedisagree

quiet - quieter than a D3S in quiet mode
+2agreedisagree

creates very sharp images with low noise
+2agreedisagree

Cons:
Do you agree?
only capable of 1-2fps continuous shooting
+1agreedisagree

annoying for new M8.2 buyers not expecting an upgrade so soon - a mere 8 months
0agreedisagree

extremely high price
0agreedisagree

LCD loses the previous generation's scratch-resistant Sapphire Glass Cover
0agreedisagree

no video mode
0agreedisagree

somewhat short frame buffer with annoying processing delay
0agreedisagree


2 people added to this review by submitting or voting on pros and cons. Add your say!

Details

Features

  • 36 x 24 mm CCD
  • 18 million effective pixels
  • 6.8 x 6.8 µm pixel pitch 
  • No anti-alias filter
  • ISO 160 - 2500 (ISO 80 'pulled'*)
  • Center-biased reflected from white & grey stripes on shutter blades
  • Quiet metal blade Shutter
  • 32 - 1/4000 sec shutter speed
  • 1/180 sec flash spync
  • Steel gray, Black

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This report was started September 21, 2009 at 12:03 am by sionorn
with the last edit occurring January 16, 2010 at 2:44 pm by whill
This page has been viewed 4068 times, with 56 edits by 4 contributors.
See the full report history »

Buy It

Leica M9 | Black

• Leica M9 18MP Digital Range Finder Camera (Black, Body Only)

UPC: 799429107048

EAN: 799429107048

MPN: M9 Black

Leica M9 | Steel Gray

• Leica M9 18MP Digital Range Finder Camera (Steel Gray, Body Only)

UPC: 799429107055

EAN: 799429107055

MPN: M9 Steel Gray

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Comments

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Reviews

Sort by: Most helpful  •  Newest  •  Most positive

Yale

avatar
January 4, 2010
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
62
negative
mixed
positive
10 pros
6 cons

Pros

  • smallest full-frame digital camera - large 18.5 megapixel 23.9x35.8mm CCD sensor
  • compatible with all M-mount lenses
  • extremely compact and lightweight compared to a DSLR with comparable sized sensor
  • analog controls give it a proper film camera feel
  • capable of taking fully uncompressed 14-bit DNG format images
  • easy to pick up and use
  • image quality on par with much larger, heavier, more complicated and equally expensive cameras
  • easy to use menu system
  • quiet - quieter than a D3S in quiet mode
  • creates very sharp images with low noise

Cons

  • only capable of 1-2fps continuous shooting
  • annoying for new M8.2 buyers not expecting an upgrade so soon - a mere 8 months
  • extremely high price
  • LCD loses the previous generation's scratch-resistant Sapphire Glass Cover
  • no video mode
  • somewhat short frame buffer with annoying processing delay

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

whill

avatar
January 16, 2010
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
100
negative
mixed
positive
10 pros
0 cons

Pros

  • smallest full-frame digital camera - large 18.5 megapixel 23.9x35.8mm CCD sensor
  • compatible with all M-mount lenses
  • extremely compact and lightweight compared to a DSLR with comparable sized sensor
  • analog controls give it a proper film camera feel
  • capable of taking fully uncompressed 14-bit DNG format images
  • easy to pick up and use
  • image quality on par with much larger, heavier, more complicated and equally expensive cameras
  • easy to use menu system
  • quiet - quieter than a D3S in quiet mode
  • creates very sharp images with low noise

Cons

Did not agree with any cons

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

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This product is also known as:

M, 9, M9