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Leica M9


  • Introduced in September of 2009318
  • The M9 existed in four models namely M9, M9-P, M Monochrom (version 1), M-E318
  • The camera's image quality convinced even the greatest skeptics that Leica had truly succeeded in its transition to the digital era. At the time, the M9 was the smallest digital camera in the 35mm format and the world's first mirrorless full-frame camera. It offered a very different alternative to the bulky DSLRs produced by many other manufacturers, a change that was welcomed by photographers. This not only provided Leica with much-needed financial stability but also restored its reputation as an innovative force in the photography market. It is fair to say that the M9 was pivotal in ensuring the continuation of the M System and, ultimately, the survival of the entire company357.
  • Produced between 2009 and 2012, the M9 introduced the long-awaited full-frame sensor in the 35mm format, featuring an 18-megapixel resolution. This provided lenses with the same angle of view as an analogue camera, marking one of the great achievements within the M series. Consequently, it is undoubtedly among the milestones of M cameras. The M9 was equipped with a CCD sensor by Kodak, which included microlenses that were offset towards the edges. The slightly thicker infrared (IR) blocking filter on the sensor rendered the screw-in filters that were necessary for the M8 superfluous. Like the M8, Leica opted not to include an anti-aliasing filter in front of the image sensor on the M9, which would have artificially reduced optical resolution to avoid potential moiré effects on fine structures357.
  • The image sensor's base sensitivity could be boosted up to ISO 2500, and an ISO 80 setting was also available. Due to the larger sensor format, the rangefinder was revised again and now offered a magnification of 0.68x, with bright-line frames accommodating focal lengths from 28 to 135mm. The body featured a distinctive step next to the rangefinder, characteristic of the M9. The small display on the top, which had shown the remaining capacity of the memory card and battery on the M8, was removed and thus replaced the frame counter found on analogue models. Additionally, the Leica M9 adopted the metal focal plane shutter with motorized winding from the Leica M8.2357.
  • Special Editions of Leica M9:

 

Model Name References Year Notes
M9 Leica Futako Tamagawa Store 357 2009 special edition was released to mark the opening of the Leica Futako Tamagawa store in Tokyo. The camera was in steel grey with an à la carte cognac leather finish and special engraving on the top plate. 
M9 20 Years Ginza Mitsukoshi 357 2009 this special series was produced to mark the 20th anniversary of the Ginza Mitsukoshi store in Tokyo. The camera had a steel grey finish and black ostrich leather with ostrich embossing. 
M9 125 Years Amateur Photographer 357 2010 this special camera was produced to mark the 125th anniversary of the British photography magazine. The chrome-plated M9 in black leather featured the special engraving "Amateur Photographer 125th Anniversary 1884-2009". The camera was raffled off to readers as a set with a Summicron-M 35 f/2 ASPH
M9 100 Years Foto Rahn 357 2010 this special edition was produced to mark the 100th anniversary of the photo retailer Foto Rahn in Frankfurt on the Main. The camera was painted steel grey and had a brown ostrich-embossed, chestnut ostrich leather finish. In addition, the Leica script was engraved on the top plate. It was delivered with a shiny red calfskin strap. 
M9 Leica Futako Tamagawa Store 357 2010 this special series was released on the first anniversary of the opening of the Leica Futako Tamagawa Store in Tokyo. The camera had a steel-grey finish and cognac-coloured leather. 
M9 50 Years Ffordes 357 2010 this special edition was produced to mark the 50th anniversary of the British specialist for used and new photographic equipment. The steel-grey painted camera with black leather trim and a Summicron-M 35 f/2 ASPH. had the engraving that read "Ffordes LTD 1960-2010" on the top plate. 
M9 Neiman Marcus 357 2010 this exclusive special edition for the Neiman Marcus Christmas catalogue consisted of a silver chrome-plated Leica M9 with brown ostrich leather and a matching ostrich leather strap. Special numbering was engraved on the hot shoe, and customers could also have their own signature engraved on the top plate. The camera was supplied with a standard Summicron-M 35 f/2 ASPH. 
M9 30 Years Bilderfürst 357 2011 this special series was released to mark the 30th anniversary of the Leica Store Bilderfürst in Fürth. The black-painted camera was characterised by silver anodised controls and had a special engraving and numbering on the top plate
M9 China's 1911 Revolution 357 2011 this special series was launched in China to mark the 100th anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution. The black-painted cameras had a green leather coating Unlike the M7 of the same special series, they were delivered without a lens. A quote from Sun Yat-sen, the founder of modern China, was engraved on the top plate.