Leica M9 vs Leica SL2
79 Imaging
61 Features
30 Overall
48
57 Imaging
78 Features
83 Overall
80
Leica M9 vs Leica SL2 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 18MP - Full frame Sensor
- 2.5" Fixed Screen
- ISO 80 - 2500
- No Anti-Alias Filter
- No Video
- Leica M Mount
- 585g - 139 x 80 x 37mm
- Revealed September 2009
- Replacement is Leica M9-P
(Full Review)
- 47MP - Full frame Sensor
- 3.2" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 50000
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- No Anti-Alias Filter
- 1/8000s Max Shutter
- 4096 x 2160 video
- Leica L Mount
- 835g - 146 x 107 x 83mm
- Released November 2019
- Replaced the Leica SL
Mastering Nature Photography with a Digital Microscope Camera Leica M9 vs Leica SL2 Overview
The following is a detailed comparison of the Leica M9 vs Leica SL2, both Pro Mirrorless cameras and both are manufactured by Leica. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the M9 (18MP) and SL2 (47MP) but both cameras offer the identical sensor dimensions (Full frame).
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhoneThe M9 was released 11 years earlier than the SL2 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Leica M9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Leica SL2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.
Before going right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short view of how the M9 scores vs the SL2 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.
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This is a preview of the gallery photos for Leica M9 and Leica SL2. The complete galleries are provided at Leica M9 Gallery and Leica SL2 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Leica M9 over the Leica SL2
| M9 | SL2 |
|---|
Reasons to pick Leica SL2 over the Leica M9
| SL2 | M9 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Released | November 2019 | September 2009 | Newer by 123 months | |
| Screen size | 3.2" | 2.5" | Bigger screen (+0.7") | |
| Screen resolution | 2100k | 230k | Clearer screen (+1870k dot) | |
| Touch friendly screen | Quickly navigate |
Common features in the Leica M9 and Leica SL2
| M9 | SL2 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manually focus | Very exact focusing | |||
| Screen type | Fixed | Fixed | Fixed screen | |
| Selfie screen | Neither provides selfie screen |
Leica M9 vs Leica SL2 Physical Comparison
For anyone who is looking to travel with your camera, you have to take into account its weight and size. The Leica M9 provides outside measurements of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") with a weight of 585 grams (1.29 lbs) while the Leica SL2 has specifications of 146mm x 107mm x 83mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 3.3") along with a weight of 835 grams (1.84 lbs).
Check out the Leica M9 vs Leica SL2 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have attached at the time. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the M9 compared to the SL2.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the M9 and SL2 is 79 and 57 respectively.
Leica M9 vs Leica SL2 Sensor Comparison
Typically, it is tough to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions merely by looking through a spec sheet. The pic underneath might give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the M9 and SL2.
Clearly, each of the cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit different resolution. You should count on the Leica SL2 to render more detail as a result of its extra 29MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The more aged M9 will be behind in sensor innovation.
Leica M9 vs Leica SL2 Screen and ViewFinder
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Leica M9 vs Leica SL2 Specifications
| Leica M9 | Leica SL2 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Company | Leica | Leica |
| Model type | Leica M9 | Leica SL2 |
| Type | Pro Mirrorless | Pro Mirrorless |
| Revealed | 2009-09-09 | 2019-11-06 |
| Physical type | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | SLR-style mirrorless |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Chip | - | Maestro III |
| Sensor type | CCD | CMOS |
| Sensor size | Full frame | Full frame |
| Sensor measurements | 36 x 24mm | 36 x 24mm |
| Sensor area | 864.0mm² | 864.0mm² |
| Sensor resolution | 18 megapixels | 47 megapixels |
| Anti alias filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 3:2 | 3:2 |
| Full resolution | 5212 x 3472 | 8368 x 5584 |
| Max native ISO | 2500 | 50000 |
| Lowest native ISO | 80 | 100 |
| RAW photos | ||
| Lowest boosted ISO | - | 50 |
| Autofocusing | ||
| Manual focusing | ||
| Touch to focus | ||
| Continuous AF | ||
| AF single | ||
| Tracking AF | ||
| Selective AF | ||
| Center weighted AF | ||
| AF multi area | ||
| AF live view | ||
| Face detection focusing | ||
| Contract detection focusing | ||
| Phase detection focusing | ||
| Total focus points | - | 225 |
| Lens | ||
| Lens support | Leica M | Leica L |
| Amount of lenses | 59 | 30 |
| Crop factor | 1 | 1 |
| Screen | ||
| Screen type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
| Screen diagonal | 2.5 inch | 3.2 inch |
| Screen resolution | 230 thousand dots | 2,100 thousand dots |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch function | ||
| Screen tech | TFT color LCD | - |
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder type | Optical (rangefinder) | Electronic |
| Viewfinder resolution | - | 5,760 thousand dots |
| Viewfinder coverage | - | 100% |
| Viewfinder magnification | 0.68x | 0.78x |
| Features | ||
| Lowest shutter speed | 4 seconds | 1800 seconds |
| Highest shutter speed | 1/4000 seconds | 1/8000 seconds |
| Highest silent shutter speed | - | 1/40000 seconds |
| Continuous shooting rate | 2.0fps | 20.0fps |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Expose Manually | ||
| Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
| Custom WB | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Inbuilt flash | ||
| Flash distance | no built-in flash | no built-in flash |
| Flash options | Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync | no built-in flash |
| External flash | ||
| AEB | ||
| White balance bracketing | ||
| Highest flash synchronize | 1/180 seconds | - |
| Exposure | ||
| Multisegment exposure | ||
| Average exposure | ||
| Spot exposure | ||
| Partial exposure | ||
| AF area exposure | ||
| Center weighted exposure | ||
| Video features | ||
| Supported video resolutions | - | 4096 x 2160 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM/4096 x 2160 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM/4096 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM/4096 x 2160 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM/4096 x 2160 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM/3840 x 2160 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM/3840 x 2160 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM/3840 x 2160 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM/3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM/1920 x 1080 @ 120p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM/1920 x 1080 @ 100p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM/1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM/1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM/1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM/1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM/1920 x 1080 @ 23.98p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM |
| Max video resolution | None | 4096x2160 |
| Video file format | - | MPEG-4, H.264 |
| Microphone port | ||
| Headphone port | ||
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | None | Built-In |
| Bluetooth | ||
| NFC | ||
| HDMI | ||
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec) |
| GPS | None | None |
| Physical | ||
| Environment sealing | ||
| Water proofing | ||
| Dust proofing | ||
| Shock proofing | ||
| Crush proofing | ||
| Freeze proofing | ||
| Weight | 585 gr (1.29 lbs) | 835 gr (1.84 lbs) |
| Physical dimensions | 139 x 80 x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") | 146 x 107 x 83mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 3.3") |
| DXO scores | ||
| DXO All around rating | 69 | not tested |
| DXO Color Depth rating | 22.5 | not tested |
| DXO Dynamic range rating | 11.7 | not tested |
| DXO Low light rating | 884 | not tested |
| Other | ||
| Battery life | 350 images | 370 images |
| Battery type | Battery Pack | Built-in |
| Battery ID | - | BP-SCL4 |
| Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes |
| Time lapse recording | ||
| Storage type | SD/SDHC card | Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported on slot 1) |
| Card slots | One | Two |
| Cost at launch | $2,750 | $5,995 |