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Leica M9 vs Sony A7R IV

Portability
79
Imaging
63
Features
30
Overall
49
Leica M9 front
 
Sony Alpha A7R IV front
Portability
62
Imaging
81
Features
93
Overall
85

Leica M9 vs Sony A7R IV Key Specs

Leica M9
(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
  • Released September 2009
  • Replacement is Leica M9-P
Sony A7R IV
(Full Review)
  • 61MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Push to 102800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 665g - 129 x 96 x 78mm
  • Revealed July 2019
  • Succeeded the Sony A7R III
  • Refreshed by Sony A7R V
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Leica M9 vs Sony A7R IV Overview

Lets look closer at the Leica M9 vs Sony A7R IV, both Pro Mirrorless cameras by companies Leica and Sony. There exists a crucial gap among the resolutions of the M9 (18MP) and A7R IV (61MP) but both cameras provide the identical sensor dimensions (Full frame).

Photography Glossary

The M9 was brought out 10 years prior to the A7R IV which is a fairly serious 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 Sony A7R IV being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a full comparison, here is a short highlight of how the M9 matches up versus the A7R IV in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Leica M9 over the Sony A7R IV

 M9 A7R IV 

Reasons to pick Sony A7R IV over the Leica M9

 A7R IV M9 
RevealedJuly 2019September 2009Newer by 119 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1440k230kCrisper screen (+1210k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Leica M9 and Sony A7R IV

 M9 A7R IV 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Leica M9 vs Sony A7R IV Physical Comparison

If you're intending to travel with your camera often, you're going to have to consider its weight and measurements. The Leica M9 has got exterior measurements of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") and a weight of 585 grams (1.29 lbs) and the Sony A7R IV has proportions of 129mm x 96mm x 78mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 665 grams (1.47 lbs).

Contrast the Leica M9 vs Sony A7R IV in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you select at that time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the M9 and the A7R IV.

Leica M9 vs Sony A7R IV size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the M9 and A7R IV is 79 and 62 respectively.

Leica M9 vs Sony A7R IV top view buttons comparison

Leica M9 vs Sony A7R IV Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very tough to see the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by looking through specs. The image underneath will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the M9 and A7R IV.

All in all, both of the cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit not the same megapixels. You should count on the Sony A7R IV to result in greater detail having its extra 43 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The more aged M9 will be behind in sensor technology.

Leica M9 vs Sony A7R IV sensor size comparison

Leica M9 vs Sony A7R IV Screen and ViewFinder

Leica M9 vs Sony A7R IV Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica M9 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A7R IV as a Portrait photography camera
69
you can focus manually
MP count good (18MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
does not have liveview
88
manual focus
sensor resolution is great (61 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
offers face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Leica M9 Street photography highlights
Sony A7R IV Street photography highlights
65
large sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
no moving screen
no image stabilization
79
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
has touch to focus
environment sealing
good high ISO (32,000)
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Sports Comparison

Leica M9 Sports photography info
Sony A7R IV Sports photography info
44
MP count good (18 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
does not have liveview
max fps low (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
terrible battery life (350 CIPA)
lack of phase detect auto focus
90
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is great (61 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
offers tracking autofocus
environment sealing
good battery power (670 shots)
has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Leica M9 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A7R IV as a Travel photography camera
54
MP count good (18MP)
does not have Time Lapse function
terrible battery life (350 per charge)
does not feature selfie friendly display
74
good battery power (670 CIPA)
environment sealing
supports bluetooth
has touch to focus
sensor resolution is great (61 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Leica M9 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A7R IV as a Landscape photography camera
60
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Leica M mount)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
no anti-alias filter
delivers RAW formats
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
does not have liveview
no image stabilization
terrible battery life (350 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse function
88
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is great (61MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
does not have anti-alias filter
good high ISO (32,000)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
good battery power (670 shots)
has dual storage slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Leica M9
Vlogging with Sony A7R IV
9
no video
37
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
has external microphone jack
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Leica M9 vs Sony A7R IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica M9 and Sony A7R IV
 Leica M9Sony Alpha A7R IV
General Information
Make Leica Sony
Model type Leica M9 Sony Alpha A7R IV
Class Pro Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Released 2009-09-09 2019-07-16
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Full frame Full frame
Sensor measurements 36 x 24mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 864.0mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixel 61 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 5212 x 3472 9504 x 6336
Maximum native ISO 2500 32000
Maximum boosted ISO - 102800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Min boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 567
Lens
Lens mount type Leica M Sony E
Number of lenses 59 121
Focal length multiplier 1 1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dot 1,440k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (rangefinder) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 5,760k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x 0.78x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync.
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution None 3840x2160
Video file format - MPEG-4, XAVC S, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 585g (1.29 pounds) 665g (1.47 pounds)
Physical dimensions 139 x 80 x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") 129 x 96 x 78mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 69 99
DXO Color Depth rating 22.5 26.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.7 14.8
DXO Low light rating 884 3344
Other
Battery life 350 photographs 670 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II compatible)
Storage slots One Dual
Pricing at launch $2,750 $3,498