Designed particularly for professional photographers, new ultra-discreet version of the
Leica M9 added to Leica rangefinder portfolio
Offering the same technical specifications as the highly successfully Leica M9, the M9-P combines all the
benefits of the original: compact size, full-frame, 18 megapixel 24 x 36mm sensor (35mm format),
sophisticated image processing and robust construction, with features designed for the professional user
or photographers who prefer a pure, even more unobtrusive styling.
The Leica M9-P includes a scratch-resistant, sapphire crystal covering on the LCD screen. This material is
so tough that the screen can only be produced using special diamond cutting tools and is one of the
world’s hardest materials. As a result, the sapphire glass LCD cover is extremely resistant to wear and
almost unbreakable, meaning many years of reliable use. In addition, thanks to an anti-reflective coating
on both sides of the cover, reviewing images on the display during composition and after capture is
further improved, particularly in unfavourable lighting conditions.
The external covering of the body of the M9-P, finished in vulcanite leatherette, features a more coarselytextured
finish that ensures a steady grip when shooting, making the M9-P feel particularly safe and
secure in the hand.
A further understated feature of the Leica M9-P is its minimalist styling,
which is focused on the most essential features. Many professional
photographers using Leica cameras have been known to tape over the Leica
‘red dot’ logo to make their equipment as inconspicuous and discreet as
possible. For this reason, the Leica red dot logo and the M9 lettering on the
front have been omitted. Instead, the top plate is engraved with the Leica
name in classic script form.
Since 1954, the Leica M system has represented an unmistakable, individual kind of photography and a
very conscious photographic style. With a Leica M, the photographer becomes a ‘part of the action’ in the
process of capturing challenging, authentic and creative images.
The rangefinder frames precisely the shot the photographer envisages, while allowing a clear view of the
scene outside the viewfinder frame. This allows the photographer to predict the decisive moment and
capture it discreetly and reliably at the right moment – in all fields of photography, from photojournalism,
reportage and ‘available light’ to the capture of portraits and aesthetic, fine-art images.
Another significant advantage for unobtrusive photography is the almost silent shutter, a feature of both
the M9 and M9-P. Moreover, when longer exposure times requiring an extremely steady camera stance
are essential, only a slight pressure on the shutter release button in ‘soft release’ mode is required.
Photographers can also select the most appropriate moment for re-cocking the shutter.
The functions of the Leica M are consistently constructed for extreme durability and a long working life.
The highest quality materials, intricate manufacturing processes and meticulous manual assembly at
Leica’s facility in Germany guarantee functional reliability for years to come.
In line with Leica’s commitment to system compatibility, almost all Leica M lenses built since 1954 can be
used with the M9 and M9-P – an important factor in the enduring value of the M series. The 18 megapixel
image sensor, specifically designed and developed for the M9, enables capture of the full 35mm film
format without any compromise. All M lenses mounted on the M9 and M9-P therefore offer the same focal
length as originally intended, and the enormous potential performance of the extensive M lens portfolio,
with focal lengths from 16 to 135mm, can be fully exploited by both cameras.
| Camera type | Compact digital view and rangefinder system camera
|
| Lens mount | Leica M bayonet with additional sensor for 6-bit coding
|
| Lens system | Leica M lenses from 16 to135 mm
|
| Image format /
image sensor |
5270 × 3516 pixels (18.5 megapixels) CCD sensor, active area approx. 23.9 × 35.8mm
/ 5212 x 3472 pixels (18 megapixels) (corresponds to the effective image format of
Leica M film cameras)
|
| Image file formats | Adjustable, DNG™: 5212 × 3472 (18 MP)
JPEG: 5212 × 3472 (18 MP), 3840 × 2592 (10 MP), 2592 ×1728 (4.5 MP), 1728 ×1152
(2 MP), 1280 x 846 pixels (1 MP)
DNG™ (RAW data), choice of uncompressed or slightly compressed (by non-linear
reduction of colour depth), 2 JPEG compression levels
|
| File sizes | DNG™: 18 MB (compressed) 36 MB (uncompressed)
JPEG: approx. 2 to10 MB (depending on image content)
|
| Colour spaces | Adobe® RGB, sRGB
|
| White balance | Automatic, manual, 7 presets, direct colour temperature selection
|
| Storage media | SD cards up to 2 GB / SDHC cards up to 32 GB
|
| Menu languages | German, English, French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, traditional Chinese,
simplified Chinese, Russian
|
| Compatibility | Windows® 7, Windows® XP/Vista®; Mac® OS X (10.6)
|
| Exposure metering | Through-the-lens (TTL) metering, centre-weighted at working aperture.
Centre-weighted TTL metering for flash exposure with system-compatible SCA-3000/2
standard flash units
|
| Metering principle |
Measured by light reflected by bright shutter blades on the first shutter curtain
|
| Metering range (at ISO
160/23°) |
At room temperature and normal humidity, equivalent to EV 0 to 20 or
f/1.0 and 1.2s to f/32 and 1/1000 s. Flashing left triangular LED in viewfinder
indicates values below metering capability
|
| Metering cell for
available light |
(continuous light measurement) Silicon photo diode with condensing lens, positioned
in the bottom centre of camera base |
|
Sensitivity range | ISO 160 /19° to ISO 2500/35°, adjustable in 1/3 ISO increments, with aperture
priority A and manual exposure setting, choice of automatic control or manual setting,
automatic control in snapshot profile
|
| Exposure modes | Choice of automatic shutter speed control with manual aperture selection – aperture
priority A – with corresponding digital display, or manual setting of shutter speed and
aperture and adjustment using LED light balance with indication of correct exposure, or
risk of over-exposure / camera shake (with snapshot profile only)
|
| Flash unit connection | Via accessory shoe with centre and control contacts
|
| Synchronisation | Optional synchronisation, on first or second shutter curtain
|
| Flash synchronisation
speed |
1/180 s; longer shutter speeds possible
|
| Flash exposure metering | (With SCA-3501/3502 adapter or SCA-3000-standard flash unit, e.g. Leica SF 24D /
Leica SF 58) Flash exposure control with centre-weighted TTL pre-flash metering
|
| Flash metering cell | 2 silicon photo diodes with condensing lens in camera base
|
| Flash exposure
compensation |
±3 1/3 EV in 1/3 EV steps, adjustable on SCA-3501/3502 adapter
On Leica SF 24D, ±3 EV in 1/3 EV steps with computer control or from 0 to -3 EV in 1
EV steps. On Leica SF 58, adjustable in all modes ±3 EV in 1/3 EV steps
|
| Displays in flash mode | Flash ready: flash symbol LED in the viewfinder constant
Correct flash exposure: LED constant or flashes rapidly after exposure
Under-exposure: LED extinguished after exposure
|
| Viewfinder principle | Large, bright-line frame viewfinder with automatic parallax compensation
|
| Eyepiece | Adjusted to -0.5 dioptre Correction lenses for –3 to +3 dioptre available |
|
Image framing | By activating two bright-line frames: for 35 and 135mm, or for 28 and 90mm, or for 50
and 75mm. Automatic activation when lens is attached. Any pair of bright-line frames
can be activated by using the image field selector
|
| Parallax compensation | The horizontal and vertical difference between the viewfinder and the lens is
automatically compensated in accordance with the relevant distance setting, i.e. the
viewfinder bright-line automatically aligns with the subject detail recorded by the lens
|
| Matching of viewfinder
and actual picture |
The size of the bright-line frame corresponds exactly to the sensor size of approx. 23.9
x 35.8mm at a setting distance of 1 metre. At infinity setting, depending on the focal
length, approx. 7.3% (28mm) to 18% (135mm) more is recorded by the sensor than
indicated by the corresponding bright-line frame and slightly less for distances shorter
than 1 metre
|
| Viewfinder magnification
(for all lenses): |
0.68×
|
| Large base rangefinder | Split or super-imposed image rangefinder shown as bright field in the centre of the
viewfinder image
|
| Effective rangefinder
base |
47.1 mm (actual rangefinder base 69.25 mm × viewfinder enlargement 0.68×)
|
| Viewfinder display | (Lower edge) LED symbol for flash status.
Four-digit, seven-segment digital display with dots above and below, display brightness
adjusted for ambient light, for: Warning of exposure compensation, display for
automatically generated shutter speeds in aperture priority mode, indication of use
metering memory lock, warning that the metering or setting ranges are over- or underexposed
using aperture priority and counting down exposures longer than 2s.
LED light balance with two triangular and one central, circular LED for manual exposure
setting. The triangular LEDs give the direction of rotation of the aperture ring and
shutter speed setting dial to adjust the exposure. Also as warning for over- or underexposure |
|
Displays on rear panel | 2.5" monitor (colour TFT-LCD) with 230,000 pixels. M9-P LCD with sapphire crystal |
|
Shutter | Microprocessor-controlled, exceptionally low-noise, metal blade shutter with vertical
movement |
|
Shutter speeds | For aperture priority (A) continuously adjustable from 32s to 1/4000s. For manual
setting 8s to 1/4000s in half steps, B for long exposures of any duration (in
conjunction with self-timer function, i.e. 1st release = shutter opens, 2nd release =
shutter closes, (1/180s) fastest shutter speed for flash synchronisation |
|
Shutter cocking | Using low-noise integral motor, optionally after releasing the shutter release button |
|
Series exposures | Approx. 2 frames/s, ≥ 8 frames in series |
|
Shutter release | Three levels: Exposure metering on – Metering memory lock (in aperture priority mode)
– Shutter release
Integrated standard cable release thread |
|
Self-timer | Delay optionally 2 (aperture priority and manual exposure setting) or 12s (menu
setting), indicated by flashing LED on front of the camera and corresponding display
on the monitor |
|
Camera power on /
power off |
Using the main switch on the camera’s top panel, selectable automatic power-off for
camera electronics after approx. 2/5/10 minutes, reactivation by pressing the shutter
release button |
|
Power supply | 1 Lithium-ion battery, nominal voltage 3.7 V, capacity 1900 mAh
Capacity display in monitor, when shutter held open (for sensor cleaning) additional
acoustic warning when capacity is low |
|
Battery charger | Inputs: 100–240 V AC, 50/60 Hz, automatic switching, or 12/24 V DC
Output: 4.2 V DC, 800 mA |
|
Camera body material | All-metal die-cast magnesium body, KTL dip painted finish and synthetic leather
covering. Top plate and base plate in brass.
M9: black or steel-grey paint finish
M9-P: black paint finish or silver chrome version, LCD with sapphire crystal
|
| Image field selector | Allows the bright-line pairs to be manually displayed at any time (e.g. for framing
comparisons) |
|
Tripod thread | A 1/4 (1/4 “) DIN, stainless steel, integrated in base plate
|
| Operating conditions | 0 to +40°C
|
| Interface | 5-pin Mini-USB 2.0 high-speed socket for fast data transfer
|
| Dimensions (W x D x H) | Approx. 139 × 37 × 80 mm |
|
Weight | M9: 585g M9-P: 600g (including battery) |
|
Accessories included | Battery charger 100–240 V with two mains cables (EU, USA, may differ for other
markets), car charger, Lithium-ion battery, USB cable, carrying strap, body cap,
instruction manual. Software: Adobe® Photoshop® Lightroom® 3 (downloadable -
licence code included) |
