Leica M9-P Review

Main Features

18MP - Full frame CCD Sensor

No Optical low-pass (anti-aliasing) filter

ISO 80 - 2500

2.5″ Fixed Type Screen

Optical (rangefinder) viewfinder

2 fps continuous shooting

No Video Mode

600g. 139 x 80 x 37 mm

Replaced Leica M9

$7,995.00

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Leica M9-P Overview

First introduced in June 2011 , Leica M9-P is a 18.0MP Pro Mirrorless camera with a Full frame (36 x 24 mm ) sized CCD sensor. Leica replaced the older M9 with this model. Follow the link to read our detailed comparison of these model:
Compare Leica M9-P vs Leica M9

Leica M9-P has an Overall Score of 53/100 and ranked #162 out of 174 in Mirrorless cameras (Top 10 Mirrorless), and ranked #445 out of 1157 in all Cameras (Top 10 Overall).

Leica M9-P Type Scores

Imaging

Features

Value for Money

Portability

Overall Score

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Leica M9-P Compared to other Mirrorless Cameras

Now let's get in to more details of our Leica M9-P review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

PROs

Optical Built-in Viewfinder

18.0MP - High Resolution Sensor

Flash Sync Port

Buy Leica M9-P from or B&H PHOTO

CONs

No Wireless Connection

No Image Stabilization

No Articulating Screen

No Full HD Video

No Touch Screen

No Face Detection Focusing

Max Sensitivity only ISO 2.500

Small LCD Screen ( 2.5″)

Low Screen Resolution ( 230kdots )

Slow Continuous Shooting: 2.0fps

Low Battery Life: 350 shots

No Environmental Sealing

Leica M9-P Lens Mount and Lenses

Leica M9-P has a Leica M lens mount and currently there are 59 native lenses available for this mount. Leica lenses are legendary in the camera world due to their optical and mechanical perfection, but they also come with a big price tag. Fortunately, some third party manufacturers also offers more affordable lenses for this mount.

Leica M9-P doesn't have a sensor based image stabilization system but 0 of these lenses already comes with Optical Image Stabilization.

Here are some of the most popular Leica M9-P Lenses on Camera Decision:

Popular Leica M9-P Lenses

	Focal Length on M9-P	Max Aperture	Weight	Focusing	Price
Voigtlander 25mm F4 Color Skopar Pancake	25mm	F4.0	156gr	MF	$419.00
Voigtlander 28mm F2 Ultron	28mm	F2.0	244gr	MF	$499.00
Voigtlander 21mm F4 Color Skopar Pancake II	21mm	F4.0	136gr	MF	$349.00
Voigtlander 35mm F2.5 Color Skopar	35mm	F2.5	134gr	MF	$409.00
Voigtlander 40mm F1.4 Nokton Classic	40mm	F1.4	175gr	MF	$444.95

Check our Leica M9-P Lenses page or use our Smart Lens Finder tool for more detailed lens search.

Leica M9-P Sensor and Photography Features

Leica M9-P has a 18.0MP Full frame (36 x 24 mm ) sized CCD sensor . You can shoot at maximum resolution of 5212 x 3472 pixels with aspect ratios of and 3:2. M9-P has a native ISO range of 80 - 2500 and it can save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post processing.

Leica M9-P is not the highest resolution Full frame camera. Canon 5DS with its 51.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Leica M9-P vs Canon 5DS or take a look at Highest resolution Mirrorless cameras list.

DxOMark Sensor Scores

DxOMark is a benchmark that scientifically assesses image quality of camera sensors. Leica M9-P sensor has been tested by DxO Mark and got an overall score of 68 for its image quality. You can find the details of their analysis of Leica M9-P here.

Anti-Aliasing Filter

Another important feature about Leica M9-P's sensor is the lack of anti-alias (Low-pass) filter. Removing anti-aliasing filter increases the sharpness and level of detail but on the other side it also increases the chance of moire occurring in certain scenes.

Let's look at how the size of the Leica M9-P's Full frame sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

Leica M9-P Physical Specs

Leica M9-P weighs 600 g (1.32 lb / 21.16 oz) and has external dimensions of 139 x 80 x 37 mm (5.47 x 3.15 x 1.46″). Considering that the average weight of Mirrorless type cameras is 407g, Leica M9-P is a significantly heavy camera for its class. On the other hand, with a thickness of only 37mm, it is quite small, 10mm thinner than the average of its class.

Weight Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

Leica M9-P

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Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

Leica M9-P

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Average

Max

Here is the front and top view image of Leica M9-P with the dimensions:

In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Leica M9-P, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.

Now lets compare the weight and thickness of Leica M9-P with its main competitors:

Leica M9-P Size Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Sensor	Weight	vs M9-P	Thickness	vs M9-P
Leica M9	18.0MP - Full frame	585g	15g lighter	37mm	equal thickness
Leica M8	10.0MP - APS-H	591g	9g lighter	37mm	equal thickness
Leica M Typ 240	24.0MP - Full frame	680g	80g heavier	42mm	5mm thicker
Fujifilm X-Pro1	16.0MP - APS-C	450g	150g lighter	43mm	6mm thicker
Leica M10	24.0MP - Full frame	660g	60g heavier	39mm	2mm thicker
Fujifilm X-T1	16.0MP - APS-C	440g	160g lighter	47mm	10mm thicker
Leica M-E Typ 220	18.0MP - Full frame	585g	15g lighter	37mm	equal thickness
Sony A7	24.0MP - Full frame	474g	126g lighter	48mm	11mm thicker

Leica M9-P doesn't have any environmental sealings on its body so you got to be extra careful to protect it against water and dust. If you shoot under these conditions very often, consider checking Top Mirrorless Cameras with Weather Sealing page.

Leica M9-P Other Features

LCD and Viewfinder

Leica M9-P has a Fixed Type 2.5″ LCD screen with a resolution of 230k dots. At only 2.5″, the screen is on the smaller side and 230kdot resolution is lower than most of the recent models in this class.

M9-P has a built-in Optical (rangefinder) viewfinder.

Max Shutter speed
Leica M9-P can shoot continuously at max speed of 2 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/4000 sec.

Flash
Unfortunately M9-P doesn't have a built-in flash but it has a flash shoe for mounting external flashes.

Video Features
Unfortunately Leica M9-P doesn't have Video recording ability.

Connectivity and Storage

Leica M9-P has a USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port to connect your camera to other devices.

Battery Leica M9-P is powered by a proprietary battery which provides a shooting life of 350 according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of Mirrorless type cameras is 354 shots, its battery life is about average in its class but it would still be wise to invest in some spare batteries for long photo trips.

Battery Life Comparison in Pro Mirrorless Cameras

Leica M9-P

Min

Average

Max

Sony A9 with its 650shots is the model with longest battery life among Pro Mirrorless cameras. Check the comparison of Leica M9-P vs Sony A9 or take a look at Longest Battery Life Mirrorless cameras list.

Leica M9-P Features Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Max Video	Battery Life	Wi-fi	Bluetooth	NFC
Leica M9 >>Compare to M9-P	None	350shots	No	No	No
Leica M8 >>Compare to M9-P	None	550shots	No	No	No
Leica M Typ 240 >>Compare to M9-P	1920 x 1080	500shots	No	No	No
Fujifilm X-Pro1 >>Compare to M9-P	1920 x 1080	300shots	No	No	No
Leica M10 >>Compare to M9-P	None	210shots	Yes	No	No
Fujifilm X-T1 >>Compare to M9-P	1920 x 1080	350shots	Yes	No	No
Leica M-E Typ 220 >>Compare to M9-P	None	shots	No	No	No
Sony A7 >>Compare to M9-P	1920 x 1080	340shots	Yes	No	Yes

Lowest Price
Current Lowest price for Leica M9-P is $7,995.00

What type of Photography is Leica M9-P Good for?

In this section, we review and score Leica M9-P in 5 different photography areas. This first spider web graph shows how the M9-P compares with the average Mirrorless camera.
Hover your mouse over the points to see the score details for each photography type.

Leica M9-P for Portrait Photography

Leica M9-P has a score of 64 for Portrait Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Portrait Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Mirrorless Cameras for Portrait Photography list.

Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 18.0MP
Optical Built-in Viewfinder

Average Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization

Read the details of how we scored Leica M9-P for Portrait Photography

Leica M9-P for Street Photography

Leica M9-P has a score of 53 for Street Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Street is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Mirrorless Cameras for Street Photography list.

Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Medium sized Body

No Live-view
No Image Stabilization

Read the details of how we scored Leica M9-P for Street Photography

Leica M9-P for Sports Photography

Leica M9-P has a score of 63 for Sports Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Sports Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Mirrorless Cameras for Sports Photography list.

Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 2.0fps

Environmental Sealings
Focus Points
No Image Stabilization

Read the details of how we scored Leica M9-P for Sports Photography

Leica M9-P for Daily Photography

Leica M9-P has a score of 70 for Daily Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Daily Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Mirrorless Cameras for Daily Photography list.

Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Medium size Body

600g

Read the details of how we scored Leica M9-P for Daily Photography

Leica M9-P for Landscape Photography

Leica M9-P has a score of 58 for Landscape Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Mirrorless Cameras for Landscape Photography list.

Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 18.0MP

No Live-view
No Environmental Sealings

Read the details of how we scored Leica M9-P for Landscape Photography

Leica M9-P Alternatives

In this section, we analyse how Leica M9-P compares with other Mirrorless cameras within a similar price range. In the Bubble chart below, you can see Overall Score vs Price comparison of M9-P and the top 10 contenders in the same range. Hover your mouse on the bubbles to see the details of the cameras.

Read a more detailed analysis of Leica M9-P alternatives.

Popular Comparisons of Leica M9-P

Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Leica M9-P amongst Camera Decision readers.

Leica M9

Compare

Leica M8

Compare

Leica M Typ 240

Compare

Fujifilm X-Pro1

Compare

Leica M10

Compare

Fujifilm X-T1

Compare

Leica M-E Typ 220

Compare

Sony A7

Compare

Leica M9-P Alternatives in DSLR Cameras

It would also be interesting to compare Leica M9-P with DSLR Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked DSLR cameras in Leica M9-P's price range.

Nikon D850

Compare

Sony A99 II

Compare

Pentax K-1

Compare

Pentax K-1 II

Compare

Nikon D750

Compare

Nikon D810

Compare

Nikon D810A

Compare

Nikon D500

Compare

Frequently Asked Questions about Leica M9-P

Does the Leica M9-P have Image Stabilization?
Does the Leica M9-P have RAW support?
Does the Leica M9-P have Weather Sealing?
Does the Leica M9-P have built-in GPS?
What is the Max ISO of Leica M9-P?
What is the Sensor Size of Leica M9-P?
is the Leica M9-P a Full Frame (FF) camera?
Does the Leica M9-P have Touch Screen?
Does the Leica M9-P have built-in Wireless?
What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Leica M9-P?

Leica M9-P Detailed Specifications

General
Brand	Leica
Model	Leica M9-P
Announced	2011-06-21
Body Type	Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Price	$7,995.00
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	Leica M
Number of Lenses	59
Focal Length Multiplier	1×
Macro Focus Range	n/a
Screen
Screen Type	Fixed Type
Screen Technology	TFT color LCD
Screen Size	2.5″
Screen Resolution	230k dots
Live View
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Optical (rangefinder)
Viewfinder Resolution	no electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage	n/a
Viewfinder Magnification	0.68
Photography Features
Min Shutter Speed	4s
Max Shutter Speed	1/4000s
Continuous Shooting	2.0 fps
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Exposure Compensation	Yes
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	no built-in flash
Max Flash Sync	s
Flash Modes	Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync
External Flash
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Exposure Modes
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	68
DxO Color Depth	22.5
DxO Dynamic Range	11.6
DxO Low Light ISO	854
	Report a correction

Sensor
Sensor Type	CCD
Sensor Size	Full frame
Sensor Dimensions	36 x 24 mm
Sensor Area	864.00mm²
Sensor Resolution	18 megapixels
Max Image Resolution	5212 x 3472
Max Native ISO	2,500
Min Native ISO	80
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
Video Features
Max Video Resolution	None
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None
HDMI
USB	USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Water Proof
Dust Proof
Shock Proof
Crush Proof
Freeze Proof
Weight	600g
Physical Dimensions	139 x 80 x 37mm
Battery Life	350 shots
Battery Type	Battery Pack
Other Features
Self Timer	Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None
Storage Type	SD/SDHC card
Storage Slots	1

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