Leica 18 Megapixels M9 Rangefinder Camera Review by ImagingResource

On September 09 2009, Leica announced the long-anticipated full-frame M9, the first digital M-series rangefinder to offer a full-frame sensor. The new M9 comes with a 18 Megapixels Kodak CCD, developed specially for Leica, which offers an equivalent ISO sensitivity of 160-2500 and optimised to exploit the particular qualities of the Leica M lens system. According to Leica, this M9 is the world's smallest full-frame system camera available in the market today. When compared to a DSLR, the exit pupil of a typical M-series lens is very close to the imaging surface, which can lead to unacceptable vignetting, especially with wideangle lenses. The M9 sensor solves the problem by employing further advanced and meticulously-designed micro lenses with a low refractive index. The micro lenses at the sensor edges are laterally displaced towards the image centre to match the characteristics of M lenses precisely. This optimised micro lens design captures and concentrates even the most oblique rays on the sensor, and reliably prevents image brightness fall-off at the edges and corners of the image. As a result, all existing Leica M lenses maintain their full performance when used for digital photography.

The M9 comes with a 2.5 inches LCD screen with 230,000 pixels, and TTL (through the lens) metering from a grey and white pattern printed onto the shutter blades. Like the M8 and M8.2, the M9's CCD sensor does not feature a built-in anti-aliasing filter, but according to Leica, the new camera does not need to be used with an accessory screw-in filter. The M9 is currently selling at around $5,895. Here is the review summary by ImagingResource:

"Shooting with the Leica M9-P was a great experience. It was not always easy to get a focused shot, nor to set exposure properly the first time. Modern autofocus and metering technology has spoiled us somewhat. But it's a great reminder of how film photography used to be, one you can also simulate by turning off your digital SLR's autofocus system and switching to center-weighted metering. What you'd be missing is the potential for accuracy offered by the Leica M9's rangefinder system. We found ours to be slightly mis-aligned vertically, which made fine focusing more difficult, but in good light it was easier to get focused shots, and quite clear when our subjects moved out of focus. My trouble focusing indoors was likely due to the very narrow depth of field wide open, as well as the curvature of field, as I usually recomposed the image after focusing. Controls on the Leica M9 are easy to use, have a quality feel, and it's easy to admire their simplicity. It didn't take long to get familiar with them, though it was always important to remember each setting before taking a shot. Because of the unique center-weighted metering, getting a properly exposed shot often required some experimentation. Quick snapshots are not easy with the Leica M9, making it less useful for spontaneous or child photography. It's great for more thoughtful composition, though.

Image quality is pretty good considering the relative age of the sensor. The highest available ISO is comparatively low, though, so indoor shots require that you lean on fast lenses, and the Summilux M 50mm f/1.4 we received for review certainly qualified. Contrast is high in the images, with darker shadows than we're used to seeing. We think it's partly how the images are processed to look like a high-contrast film. The result is pleasing to the eye, but analytical inspection reveals some plugged shadows in the JPEGs, where we'd like to see more recoverable detail. Raw processing seems to offer better dynamic range, however; an improvement of more than four stops over the JPEG images. Obviously shooting in RAW format is recommended for better post-processing control. 

The Pro/Con list above is heavier on the Con side partially because the Leica M9 has fewer features to mention than most cameras, and because there are a few issues with its large CCD sensor. See our Exposure page for a detailed analysis of its image quality. Color is more saturated than normal, probably to emulate film a little more closely. Obvious problems with demosaicing errors, moiré, and purplish specular highlights stem primarily from the camera's lack of a low-pass filter. But overall, we thought the image quality was pretty good despite the issues. Overall, we thought the Leica M9 lived up to its reputation, it's just a very different kind of camera, which makes comparisons to other cameras irrelevant. Bottom line, if you're looking for a digital camera that works like a Leica, the Leica M9 is for you. If you're looking for a simple snapshot camera to get pictures of family and friends, the Leica M9 will make you work harder than you probably want to. However, if you want to learn more about the art of photography by using a manual focus and manual exposure camera, the Leica M9 is a great way to go. Not only are the manual controls easy to use, the Leica M9 has something film Leicas don't: an LCD on the back to help you confirm and adjust exposure and focus after capture, better ensuring you got the image. Though the IR Lab begs to differ (they had a worse experience than I did, a valid data point if that's the kind of shooting you do), I found the Leica M9-P worked very well, and captured fine images that I really enjoyed, so it qualifies for a Dave's Pick."

Smooth, Charles W. Holley "CHUCK" - Jan 30 2013
What a camera should be,alows the photographer to be in charge,being able to use some of the great lenses of years ago...

My M9 Experience. (Coming from a DSLR background), James Maier "carbon111" - Oct 26 2012
Okay, I admit it, I was driven to check out the Leica digital rangefinder cameras because of the great time I've been having and the excellent photos I've been taking with the little Leica X2 point-and-shoot! For a short while I had an M8 but quickly sold it to help fund the M9. I guess the rangefinder paradigm is not for everybody but I fell in love with shooting 35mm film on my dad...

Caveat Emptor, J. Sheldon Cooper "Conspicuous Consumer" - Oct 15 2012
Clarification: i purchased an M9-P not an M9. I can't really review this camera as I never owned one, but I do own several Leica M film cameras, and a lot of expensive Leica glass. I bought a Leica M9-P and kept it for a day, and didn't like it all. I but I fail to understand how this older camera can be far superior to the more recently released, but similarly priced M9-P. Buyers o...

Caveat Emptor, Disgusted Customer "Conspicuous Consumer" - Oct 15 2012
Clarification: i purchased an M9-P not an M9. I can't really review this camera as I never owned one, but I do own several Leica M film cameras, and a lot of expensive Leica glass. I bought a Leica M9-P and kept it for a day, and didn't like it all. I but I fail to understand how this older camera can be far superior to the more recently released, but similarly priced M9-P. Buyers o...