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Leica SL2 vs Nikon Z9 Comparison

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Leica SL2

47 MP | Full frame (36 x 24 mm) CMOS Sensor

Leica SL2
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Nikon Z9

46 MP | Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm) Stacked CMOS Sensor

Nikon Z9
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Leica SL2 vs Nikon Z9 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing SL2 and Z9, two Pro Mirrorless cameras from Leica and Nikon. Leica SL2 was introduced to market in November 2019 and Nikon Z9 was launched in October 2021. As you can see, SL2 is 2 years older than Z9. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

We can expect this to be a close match up because both models are ranked amongst the best in Pro Mirrorless cameras. Out of 60 cameras in this class, Leica SL2 is ranked #9 with an overall score of 93 and Nikon Z9 is ranked #1 with an overall score of 100.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Leica SL2 and Nikon Z9 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Leica SL2 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2019-11-06
  • 47MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor
  • No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter
  • ISO 100 - 50000 ( expands to 50 - 50000)
  • Leica L Mount
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3.20" Fixed Type Screen
  • 5760k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 20.0fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (DCI) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 835g. 146 x 107 x 42 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Replaced Leica SL Compare

Nikon Z9 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2021-10-29
  • 46MP - Full frame Stacked CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 64 - 25600 ( expands to 32 - 102400)
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3.20" Tilting Screen
  • 3686k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 30.0fps continuous shooting
  • 8K - 7680 x 4320 video resolution
  • 120fps High-Speed Video
  • Built-in Wireless
  • Built-in GPS
  • 1340g. 149 x 150 x 91 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Leica SL2 and Nikon Z9 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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Reasons to choose Leica SL2 over Nikon Z9
Max Sensor Resolution
47 MP vs 46 MP 2% more pixels
Max ISO
50.000 vs 25.600 95% higher Max ISO
Max Elect. Shutter
1/40000s vs 1/32000s faster electronic shutter
Weight
835 g vs 1340 g 505 g lighter
Viewfinder Resolution
5760k dot vs 3686.4k dot 56% higher resolution
Flash Sync Port
Yes vs No Connect off-camera flash
Pixel Shift High-Res Mode
Yes (187) vs No Increased resolution with pixel shift
CHECK SL2 PRICE


Reasons to choose Nikon Z9 over Leica SL2
Zero Blackout Viewfinder
Yes vs No No Blackout during continuous shooting
Video Record Limit
Unlimited vs Limited Record clips longer than 30 minutes
LCD Screen
Tilting vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
Viewfinder Magnification
0.8x vs 0.78x Larger Viewfinder
Number of Focus Points
493 vs 225 268 more focus points
Continuous Shooting
30.0fps vs 20.0fps 10 fps faster
Battery Life
740 shots vs 370 shots 370 more frames with a single charge
Max Video Resolution
7680 x 4320 vs 3840 x 2160 Higher Resolution Video
AE Bracketing Range
±5 EV vs ±3 EV Wide Bracketing range is useful for HDR
Focus Bracketing
Yes vs No Take multiple photos shifting focus point
Focus Stacking
Yes vs No Stacks photos in-camera to maximize depth of field
Illuminated Buttons
Yes vs No Find the buttons easily in dark
CFexpress Card Support
Yes (Type B) vs none Read/Write in Ultra High Speeds
Animal Eye AF Tracking
Yes vs No Easily lock and track focus on animals
Vehicle Tracking AF
Yes vs No Easily lock and track racing cars and bikes
Webcam Function
Yes vs No Use your camera as a Webcam
Anti Flicker
Yes vs No Reduced uneven color and exposure under flickering light
Eye Tracking Focus
Yes vs No Autofocus system locks on the eye and tracks the subject
CHECK Z9 PRICE

Common Strengths of Leica SL2 and Nikon Z9
Wireless Connection
Yes vs Yes Better connectivity
Bluetooth Connection
Yes vs Yes Connect to other devices via Bluetooth
Image Stabilization
Sensor-shift vs Sensor-shift Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
Touch Screen
Yes vs Yes Easy control of camera functions
Viewfinder
Yes (Electronic) vs Yes (Electronic) Better framing and control
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Max Resolution
47 MP vs 46 MP Bigger prints and more details
LCD Screen Size
3.20" vs 3.20" Large display
LCD Screen Resolution
2.100k dots vs 2.089k dots High resolution screens
Microphone Port
Yes vs Yes High quality audio recording option
Headphone Port
Yes vs Yes better video control
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs Yes shoot at tough conditions
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs Yes creative shooting
Top LCD Display
Yes vs Yes Help viewing and changing settings easily
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Full-size HDMI Port
Yes vs Yes Use standard HDMI cables without adapters
Storage Slot
2 vs 2 Extra Storage Slot
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs Yes Remote control your camera with a smartphone
Common Weaknesses of Leica SL2 and Nikon Z9
Built-in Flash
No vs No Require external flash
Leica SL2 vs Nikon Z9: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Leica SL2 and Nikon Z9 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Leica SL2 has external dimensions of 146 x 107 x 42 mm (5.75 x 4.21 x 1.65″) and weighs 835 g (1.84 lb / 29.45 oz) (including batteries). Nikon Z9 has external dimensions of 149 x 150 x 91 mm (5.87 x 5.91 x 3.58″) and weighs 1340 g (2.95 lb / 47.27 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Leica SL2 and Nikon Z9. Leica SL2 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 3mm narrower, 43mm shorter and 49mm thinner than Nikon Z9.

Leica SL2 vs Nikon Z9 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Leica SL2 and Nikon Z9 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Leica SL2 and Nikon Z9.

Leica SL2 vs Nikon Z9 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Leica SL2 and Nikon Z9 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Leica SL2 and Nikon Z9.
Leica SL2 vs Nikon Z9 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Leica SL2 and Nikon Z9 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Leica SL2 is significantly lighter (505g ) than the Nikon Z9 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you have to also take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since both Leica SL2 and Nikon Z9 have the same Full frame sized sensor, their lenses for a similar focal length and aperture will be similar in size and weight.

Weight Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

SL2
Z9
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

SL2
Z9
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Both SL2 and Z9 have weather sealings in their body, making them resistant to water and dust.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Leica SL2 and Nikon Z9's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3.20".

On the other hand, Nikon Z9 features a Tilting screen where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over the head levels whereas the Leica SL2 has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to Z9.
Leica SL2 vs Nikon Z9: Sensor Comparison

Leica SL2 has a 47.0MP Full frame (36 x 24 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Maestro III processor. On the other hand, Nikon Z9 has a 46.0MP Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm ) sized Stacked CMOS sensor .

Another difference between these two cameras is that Leica SL2's sensor lacks anti-alias (Low-Pass) filter. Removing anti-alias filter increases the sharpness and level of detail but at the same time, it increases the chance of moire occurring in certain scenes.

Below you can see the SL2 and Z9 sensor size comparison.

Leica SL2 vs Nikon Z9 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Leica SL2 and Nikon Z9 Cameras


Leica SL2 and Nikon Z9 have almost the same sensor size so none of them has any significant advantage over other in providing control over depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

Leica SL2 vs Nikon Z9 Comparison of Available Lenses
Which camera has more lenses?

Number of available lenses is a big decision factor while choosing your interchangeable lens camera. When we look at the available lenses for these two cameras, we see that Leica SL2 has an advantage over Nikon Z9. There are 53 lenses for Leica SL2's Leica L mount, on the other hand there are only 32 lenses for Nikon Z9's Nikon Z lens mount.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. Both Leica SL2 and Nikon Z9 has Sensor based Image stabilization which means that all the lenses will be stabilized in these bodies. SL2's built-in Image stabilization system is effective to compensate vibration up to 5.5-stops according to CIPA standards whereas Z9's IS system is rated upto 6.0-stops.

Lens Type # of Leica SL2 Lenses # of Nikon Z9 Lenses
Standard Zoom 8 (7 Full Frame) 6 (5 Full Frame)
Standard Prime 11 (10 Full Frame) 5 (4 Full Frame)
Wideangle Zoom 4 (4 Full Frame) 2 (2 Full Frame)
Wideangle Prime 15 (14 Full Frame) 7 (7 Full Frame)
Telephoto Zoom 6 (6 Full Frame) 3 (2 Full Frame)
Telephoto Prime 7 (7 Full Frame) 4 (4 Full Frame)
SuperZoom n/a 2 (1 Full Frame)
Wideangle Fisheye Prime n/a n/a
Macro Prime 2 (2 Full Frame) 3 (3 Full Frame)
Perspective Control Prime n/a n/a
Telephoto Mirror Prime n/a n/a
TOTAL 53 (50 Full Frame) 32 (28 Full Frame)


Now let's compare some sample lenses from each mount with typical Focal ranges for Leica SL2 and Nikon Z9 to see how these lenses compares:

Fast Standard Zoom Lenses
Model FF Equiv. Weight Weight w/ Cam Length Street Price
Panasonic S 24-70mm F2.8 Lens Panasonic S 24-70mm F2.8
24 - 70mm 935gr 1770gr 140mm Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon Z 24-70mm F2.8 S Lens Nikon Z 24-70mm F2.8 S
24 - 70mm 805gr 2145gr 126mm Amazon B&H Photo
Fast Tele Zoom Equivalent Lenses
Model FF Equiv. Weight Weight w/ Cam Length Street Price
Panasonic S 70-200 F2.8 Lens Panasonic S 70-200 F2.8
70 - 200mm 1570gr 2405gr 209mm Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon Nikkor Z 70-200 F2.8 VR S Lens Nikon Nikkor Z 70-200 F2.8 VR S
70 - 200mm 1440gr 2780gr 220mm Amazon B&H Photo
Fast Normal Prime Equivalent Lenses
Model FF Equiv. Weight Weight w/ Cam Length Street Price
Panasonic S 50mm F1.4 Lens Panasonic S 50mm F1.4
50mm 955gr 1790gr 130mm Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon Z 50mm F1.8 S Lens Nikon Z 50mm F1.8 S
50mm 415gr 1755gr 87mm Amazon B&H Photo
Fast Wideangle Zoom Equivalent Lenses
Model FF Equiv. Weight Weight w/ Cam Length Street Price
Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG DN Art Lens Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG DN Art
14 - 24mm 795gr 1630gr 131mm Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon Z 14-30mm F4 S Lens Nikon Z 14-30mm F4 S
14 - 30mm 485gr 1825gr 85mm Amazon B&H Photo
24-105mm f4 Equivalent Lenses
Model FF Equiv. Weight Weight w/ Cam Length Street Price
Panasonic S 24-105mm F4 Lens Panasonic S 24-105mm F4
24 - 105mm 680gr 1515gr 118mm Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon Z 24-200mm F4-6.3 VR Lens Nikon Z 24-200mm F4-6.3 VR
24 - 200mm 570gr 1910gr 114mm Amazon B&H Photo
Super-Tele Zoom Equivalent Lenses
Model FF Equiv. Weight Weight w/ Cam Length Street Price
Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Lens Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS
100 - 400mm 1135gr 1970gr 197mm Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon Z DX 50-250mm F4.5-6.3 VR Lens Nikon Z DX 50-250mm F4.5-6.3 VR
75 - 375mm 405gr 1745gr 110mm Amazon B&H Photo
What types of Photography are Leica SL2 and Nikon Z9 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Leica SL2 and Nikon Z9 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Leica SL2 for Portrait Photography

GOOD

Nikon Z9 for Portrait Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 47.0MP
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 46.0MP
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Leica SL2 for Street Photography

EXCELLENT

Nikon Z9 for Street Photography

EXCELLENT
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Medium sized Body
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Medium sized Body
Read the details

Leica SL2 for Sports Photography

GOOD

Nikon Z9 for Sports Photography

EXCELLENT
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 20.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
225 Focus Points
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 30.0fps
Environmental Sealings
493 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 740 shots
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Anti Flicker feature
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/s
Read the details

Leica SL2 for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT

Nikon Z9 for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Medium size Body
835g
Body Thickness 42mm
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Anti Flicker feature
Medium size Body
1340g
Body Thickness 91mm
Read the details

Leica SL2 for Landscape Photography

GOOD

Nikon Z9 for Landscape Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 47.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 46.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Built-in GPS
Read the details

Leica SL2 vs Nikon Z9: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Leica SL2 and Nikon Z9, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Leica SL2 and Nikon Z9 scores compare:

Leica SL2
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #9 out of 101 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #9 out of 1243 in all Cameras
Nikon Z9
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #7 out of 101 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #7 out of 1243 in all Cameras

Nikon Z9 is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Leica SL2 in all criteria except one: Portability.
If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Leica SL2. Otherwise, Nikon Z9 is the better camera overall.

Leica SL2
Leica SL2
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Nikon Z9
Nikon Z9
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Nikon Z9 vs Leica SL2 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Leica SL2 Nikon Z9
Brand Leica Nikon
Announced 2019-11-06 2021-10-29
Body Type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor
Type CMOS Stacked CMOS
Size Full frame Full frame
Dimensions 36 x 24 mm 35.9 x 23.9 mm
Area 864.00mm2 858.01mm2
Megapixels 47 megapixels 46 megapixels
Max Resolution 8368 x 5584 8256 x 5504
Max Native Light sensitivity 50,000 ISO 25,600 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity - 102400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 64 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity 50 ISO 32 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 225 493
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Leica L Nikon Z
Number of Available Lenses 53 32
Screen
Type Fixed type Tilting
Size 3.20" 3.20"
Resolution 2,100k dots 2,089k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution 5,760k dots 3,686k dots
Viewfinder Coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.78x 0.8x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/8000s n/a
Max Electronic Shutter 1/40000s 1/32000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Sensor-shift Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
Max Flash Sync n/a 1/200s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 20.0 fps 30.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160 7680 x 4320
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264 H.264, H.265
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 835g 1340g
Dimensions 146 x 107 x 42mm 149 x 150 x 91mm
Battery Life 370 shots 740 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None Built-in
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score not tested 98
DxO Color Depth not tested 26.3
DxO Dynamic Range not tested 14.8
DxO Low Light ISO not tested 2451
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