Sony a7R Vs Leica M9 – Detailed Comparison

Our article today compares the Sony a7R vs Leica M9. Everyone who’s anyone in the industry knows that we are looking at two big-league pro-level cameras. So, today’s review should be interesting.

If you’ve read previous reviews where we’ve compared the Sony a7R (like this one on the Sony a7R vs Canon 70D . Click here to read it), you’d know that this is a pretty high-end camera.

And so is the Leica M9.

Which of these should you get? Keep reading to find out.

Get the Sony a7R now!	Get the Leica M9 now!

Now, we understand that not everyone would have the time to go through all the details in this article.

We, therefore, have created an overview section to help you make a quick decision. The next section down to “which camera is better for what?” comprises the comparison overview section.

That said, let’s get into this review.

Sony a7R Vs Leica M9 – Comparison Overview

Sony a7R Vs Leica M9 – Where Both Cameras Get It Right

Firstly, both of the cameras in comparison are designed with an external flash shoe.

Also, these two cameras have viewfinders. The viewfinder of the Sony a7R is electronic, while, that of the Leica M9 is a rangefinder.

Finally, they both support the RAW format of images and have high max sensor resolutions.

Get the Sony a7R now!	Get the Leica M9 now!

Sony a7R Vs Leica M9 – Where The Sony a7R Does It Better

First off, this camera has Wi-Fi connectivity, NFC connectivity, smartphone remote control.

Also, it has an articulated screen that is larger and has a higher screen resolution than the screen of the Leica M9.

It has a faster max shutter speed and takes more frames per second in continuous shooting mode.

Furthermore, the Sony a7R has a microphone and headphone port for recording good audio, coupled with that it full HD video resolution.

Besides that, this camera also has a higher sensor resolution, therefore, it has better chances at large print sizes.

This camera also has a higher max ISO value, face detection focus, and auto exposure bracketing features – all of which the Leica M9 lacks.

Finally, the Sony a7R is lighter in weight, is environmentally sealed, with better color depth and dynamic range.

Get the Sony a7R now!	Get the Leica M9 now!

Sony a7R Vs Leica M9 – Where The Leica M9 Does It Better

Firstly, the battery of this camera lasts longer.

Secondly, the pixel area of its sensor is approximately double that of the Sony a7R.

Sony a7R Vs Leica M9 – Where Both Cameras Get It Wrong

Both these cameras lack image stabilization feature.

Sony a7R Vs Leica M9 – Our Opinion Of The Price/Value Ratio

The Leica M9 is more than two times more expensive than the Sony a7R, which is interesting.

Now, for our opinion on which of the cameras will give you better value for your money. We have to go for the Sony a7R on this one as it’s less expensive.

But that’s not all. The Sony a7R doesn’t just cost less but has more features better than the features of the Leica M9.

However, we cannot say that the price difference isn’t justified, considering the make of the camera and also the components that make up the Leica M9 – fitting modern components into a vintage body design.

Get the Sony a7R now!	Get the Leica M9 now!

Sony a7R Vs Leica M9 – Comparative Brand Strengths

Looking now at the brands behind these two great cameras – Sony and Leica.

Anybody that is conversant with the camera industry would know that Sony isn’t a small brand in this industry. Although being involved in a lot of fields, when it comes to imaging and optics, Sony is the third largest brand in the world (coming behind Canon and Nikon).

Also, when it comes to cameras, Sony is the world’s largest manufacturer of mirrorless cameras. Sony cameras are known for fantastic low-light capabilities, and very high sensor resolutions.

As for Leica, it is a German company that has been in optics since the year 1914. The most popular Leica cameras are their rangefinder M series cameras (like the M9 in this Sony a7R vs Leica M9 comparison).

The Leica brand isn’t as popular as Sony. However, they have been around for a very long time and are known to have cameras that have shot some of the greatest artistes, entertainers, and icons of all time.

Sony a7R Vs Leica M9 – Comparison Table

	Sony a7R	Leica M9
Viewfinder	Electronic	Rangefinder
Wi-Fi Connectivity	Built-in	None
Articulating Screen	Yes	No
Face Detection Focus	Yes	No
Max Sensor Resolution	36 megapixels	18 megapixels
ISO Range	100 to 25600	80 to 2500
LCD Screen Size	3 inches	2.5 inches
LCD Screen Resolution	1.230k dots	230k dots
Max Shutter Speed	1/8000 seconds	1/4000 seconds
Continuous Shooting	4 frames per second	2 frames per second
Weight	465 grams	585 grams
Microphone Port	Yes	No
Headphone Port	Yes	No
Environmental Sealing	Yes	No
Color Depth	25.6	22.6
Dynamic Range	14.1	11.7
Video Resolution	1920 by 1080 pixels	No Video Mode
AE Bracketing	Yes	No
Near Field Communication	Yes	No
Smartphone Remote Control	Yes	No
	Get the Sony a7R now!	Get the Leica M9 now!

Get the Sony a7R now!	Get the Leica M9 now!

Sony a7R Vs Leica M9 – What Situation Is Camera Best For?

Sony a7R	Leica M9
The Sony a7R is what we call a do-it-all camera. This camera will perform to maximum satisfaction on whatever use you put it to.     It would work perfectly most for users who intend to do landscape photography.     It is a full frame sensor with a very large sensor, it also has a very high sensor resolution and environmental sealing.   These features it possesses are what makes it a great choice for a landscape photographer	The Leica M9, on the other hand, isn’t as multipurpose as the Sony a7R. However, it can perform at least above average for any use it is put to. This camera has a very small body, so you don’t have to worry about it taking up a lot of bag space when packing for travel or daily movement.
However, there is one feature the Sony a7R lacks that will affect some of the shooting choices you’ll be making with this camera.   This camera is not designed with any form of image stabilization, so, images might turn out blurry as a result of slight shakes experienced by the camera while the shutter is still open.	Now, this camera also lacks the image stabilization feature.   Another feature this camera lacks is the environmental sealing, so it might not be the best choice for wildlife or anything under harsh conditions.
Get the Sony a7R now!	Get the Leica M9 now!

Sony a7R Vs Leica M9 – Common Features

Now that we are done with the overview of the two cameras in this Sony a7R vs Leica M9 comparison, we shall now be getting into detailed explanations of these features highlighted in the overview section.

In this section, we’ll be discussing the features that can and can’t be found in the two cameras that make them pretty similar to each other.

Sony a7R Vs Leica M9 – Common Feature 1: External Flash Shoe

The external flash shoe is a feature that allows you to attach an external flash to the body of the camera. This external flash acts as a light enhancement tool.

There are scenes that require some form of light enhancement, some cameras are designed with built-in flashes (which we shall be discussing later in this section), while some are designed with just the external flash shoe.

To show how important and essential the external flash can be, some cameras have a built-in flash and an external flash shoe.

The external flash is also very essential for doing flash photography. Our two featured cameras both have external flash shoes.

Get the Sony a7R now!	Get the Leica M9 now!

Sony a7R Vs Leica M9 – Common Feature 2: Viewfinder

A viewfinder is a tool that allows the photographer to look through it to get a view of the scene before shooting.

Viewfinders are designed in two basic types, the first is the electronic viewfinder, while the second is the optical viewfinder.

The electronic viewfinder (EVF) is the viewfinder type that you’d commonly find on mirrorless cameras. This is because the EVF doesn’t need the mirror mechanism of the DSLR cameras to function.

The EVF is basically a small LCD screen. When the camera is placed on the scene to be shot, the sensor records the view of the scene and electronically projects the recorded view to the EVF, thereby, providing the photographer with the preview of the scene.

The Optical viewfinder (OVF) on the other hand, is more common to DLSRs as it functions with the mirror mechanism. The view on the OVF is exactly the same as looking through the lens of the camera.

For the optical viewfinder, light from the scene enters the camera through the lens of the camera and hits a mirror that bounces the light through a pentaprism. From the pentaprism, the light gets to the viewfinder. This is how the preview shown by the OVF is achieved.

Now, between the Sony a7R and the Leica M9, both have viewfinders. As we mentioned about the EVF and mirrorless cameras, the Sony a7R makes use of an electronic viewfinder.

As for the Leica M9, it makes use of a viewfinder known as a rangefinder. This type of viewfinder also doesn’t make use of mirrors and prisms. However, it is different from the EVF as it is not just an electronic display.

When using the rangefinder, what you see are two overlapping images. Then, you then have to manually align the two images.

Get the Sony a7R now!          Get the Leica M9 now!

Get the Sony a7R now!	Get the Leica M9 now!

Sony a7R Vs Leica M9 – Common Feature 3: RAW Support

Nothing matters to the photographer more than the image quality that they get from the cameras. This feature offers just that.

RAW is a file format used for saving images on the camera. In cameras, there are two basic formats that files are saved in, they are; JPEG and RAW.

If you have ever done anything image related even on mobile devices, then this most likely isn’t the first time you are coming across the JPEG format.

The JPEG format is a popular file format which is more like a compressed version of the images shot by the camera.

If the camera’s default setting is to save in JPEG, after the shot has been taken, the camera automatically edits and compresses the detail in the image – thereby, reducing the quality and size.

However, in the RAW format (which isn’t as popular and commonly supported as the JPEG format), the camera saves the image exactly as it was shot. Instead of the automatic compression the camera does in the JPEG format, the RAW format saves every inch of detail from the shot taken.

It is now left in your hands to do whatever form of editing you dim fit for the image. However, it is important to note that the RAW format offers this unbeatable image quality at the small price of storage space.

RAW format files are known to be very large in size, so they take up a lot of storage space on the camera.

As for the cameras in this Sony a7R vs Leica M9 comparison, they both support the RAW format of images.

Get the Sony a7R now!	Get the Leica M9 now!

Sony a7R Vs Leica M9 – Common Feature 4: No Built-in Flash

In the earlier parts of this section, we talked about a light enhancement feature. The built-in flash is another one.

This feature is designed as a part of the camera body. It is also integrated into the system of the camera. Although the built-in flash might not be the best solution for all light enhancement issues, it is a very great feature on cameras.

The built-in flash being a part of the system of the camera simply means that exposure-related settings made on the camera will also affect the built-in flash. So, using built-in flash means you’ll have the perfect exposure you desire on the images. However, the built-in flash has its limits.

As for the two cameras in this Sony a7R vs Leica M9 comparison, they aren’t designed with the built-in flash. Therefore, all forms of light enhancement must come from an external flash.

Sony a7R Vs Leica M9 – Common Feature 5: No Image Stabilization

If you have shot at very slow shutter speeds, you most likely have been through the experience of having blurry images.

When shooting at a slow shutter speed, the chances of images turning out blurry as a result of any form of slight shake are very high – especially when shooting with the camera hand-held.

The most common solution to this would be to always shoot with a tripod stand. This solution would only favor photographers who shoot landscape or wildlife who are permitted to use a tripod.

For other forms of photography that do not permit the use of a tripod stand, the image stabilization feature is what helps the photographer avoid this blurry nightmare.

Image stabilization works with gyro-sensors. These gyro-sensors detect the magnitude and direction of the shake or movement the camera has suffered and adjusts the lens – using an electromagnetic material – to counter the movement and remove the blurs.

It is important to note that this feature can only be useful when the shake the camera has suffered is just slight. If the camera suffers a mighty shove or complete position change while the shutter is open, the image will be nothing but a blur.

Both of these cameras do not have this feature.

Get the Sony a7R now!	Get the Leica M9 now!

Sony a7R Vs Leica M9 – Unique Features

In this section, we shall be doing a detailed breakdown of the features that distinguish the two cameras in this Sony a7R vs Leica M9 comparison.

Wireless Connections

In the world today, there are a lot of wireless features that can be found on various digital devices and gadgets. There are now functions on devices that allow for wireless file transfer, wireless charging, wireless payment methods and many more.

When it comes to cameras there are three major wireless features that can be found on digital cameras. We shall now highlight a few of those in this sub-section.

Wi-Fi Connectivity

This the biggest and most common wireless feature that can be found on any device at all. When a device has this feature, the device has the ability to the internet to share files, which is what makes it the widest.

This feature allows you to share files with other devices where ever they are with the use of an internet connection.

This feature is one of the easiest methods of sharing files. In some cameras, they allow you to share files directly with friends and family on various social media pages.

When a camera has Wi-Fi connectivity, all you have to do is give the camera access to an internet connection and then set the location where the files will be sent to. With just two baby steps, you have your files safe right where you want them.

This feature is only unique to the Sony a7R.

Get the Sony a7R now!	Get the Leica M9 now!

Near Field Communication (NFC)

This feature is another interesting wireless feature in that it doesn’t require an internet connection to function. This feature allows you to share files and also communicate with smartphones.

The thing about the NFC connection is that it isn’t a wide range, so, in order to make use of it, you must have the two devices close by each other as the connection isn’t wide range. For some cameras and devices, they require that the two devices come in contact for the connection to be made.

So, with this feature, all you need is an NFC compatible camera and an NFC compatible smartphone to come in contact with each other. Once this is done and the connection is made, you can now perform various functions between the camera and the smartphone.

Now, between the two cameras in this Sony a7R vs Leica M9 comparison, only the Sony a7R is NFC compatible.

Smartphone Remote Control

Unlike the previous wireless features mentioned above, this feature isn’t related to file transfer. The smartphone remote control is a wireless feature that allows you operate the camera remotely.

When it comes to shooting scenes that might be uncomfortable or unsafe to stay and shoot in, remotely controlling the camera becomes the only option – that is placing the camera on the scene and shooting form another position.

Now, there are a lot of remote control tools that exist, however, the smartphone remote control feature is pretty much the most impressive yet.

When a camera is compatible with smartphone remote control, all you need is a smartphone with the camera app preinstalled on the phone.

Once the connection between the phone and camera is made via the app, you can now access menu options, apply settings, and also trigger the shutter, all from the comfort of your smartphone.

As for the cameras in this Sony a7R vs Leica M9 comparison, only the Sony a7R is compatible with smartphone remote control.

Get the Sony a7R now!	Get the Leica M9 now!

Articulating Screen

In the common features section of this Sony a7R vs Leica M9 comparison article, we talked about the viewfinder – which is a great tool for framing images. Now, not all cameras are designed with a viewfinder.

For such cameras, they make use of the LCD screen for all framing and preview functions. Apart from cameras that aren’t designed with viewfinders, most cameras that have viewfinders also have LCD screens.

This is because there are some shooting positions that make it difficult and sometimes impossible to make use of the viewfinder of the camera.

It is such situations that make the LCD screen important. An even more interesting feature of the LCD screen is what we’re about talking about.

An articulating screen is a screen that has the ability to move in different directions. There are three basic types of articulating screens.

The first is the tilting or Tiltable type that moves about just one axis. This screen can only tilt slightly upwards and downwards.

The second is the fully articulated screen that moves about two axes that are at the right angle to each other. This allows the screen to both tilt and swivel.

Finally, the last type is the flex-tilt or cross-tilt screen, this screen about various axes. This allows the camera to move horizontally, vertically, and rotate certain angles while staying aligned to the axis of the camera lens.

As for the cameras in this Sony a7R vs Leica M9 comparison article, only the Sony a7R has an articulated screen and it is of the tilting type.

Get the Sony a7R now!	Get the Leica M9 now!

Face Detection Focus

The name of this feature already explains its function. The face detection focus feature detects the human face on the scene being shot and focuses on them.

Face detection uses the features of the human face to find the face on the scene. When the camera detects the face, it then locks down to keep it in focus.

So, if you’ll be shooting portraits, then this feature will be essential for your work, especially if you’ll be shooting subjects that find it hard to maintain a particular position. The face detection focus makes sure that this object remains the main subject in the image being shot.

This feature is also unique to the Sony a7R.

Microphone Port

This feature is one that is very essential for people who will be shooting video with their cameras. The microphone port feature allows you to connect an external microphone to the camera.

What the external microphone does is to enhance and amplify and record only the sound it can detect from the direction it is pointed.

Now, most cameras are usually designed with internal microphones. These internal microphones function properly. However, the only issue is that this internal mic isn’t very great at recording sound and video in noisy areas.

When making use of the internal microphone to shoot videos, the video will contain all the sound that was in the surrounding of the scene where the video is being shot.

So, if you’ll be using the camera to shoot video in air-tight rooms where there isn’t even the tiniest bit of background noise. This is what makes the external microphone port very important as it gives the user quality coupled with the vide.

Get the Sony a7R now!	Get the Leica M9 now!

Headphone Port

The headphone port is also self-explained. This feature allows you to connect a headset to the camera and is also influential in the audio quality you get from the camera.

With a headset connected to the camera, you can now listen to the audio of the video as you’re shooting in order to monitor the audio of the video as you shoot and make adjustments where necessary. This feature can only be found in the Sony a7R.

Video Mode

This feature is only unique to the Sony a7R. So, if you intend to shoot video with your camera, then the Leica M9 isn’t an option as it doesn’t have a video mode.

Now, when it comes to shooting video there is one big factor that determines the quality of the videos shot, and the size of screen the videos can be displayed on. This feature is called the Video resolution.

The video resolution of a camera is the number of horizontal lines that a video has stacked on each other from top to bottom. It is measured in pixels.

There are a lot of common video resolutions for digital cameras. The most modern and popular ones are called the High Definition (HD) display resolutions. They are 720p, 1080p, and 4K (2160p) resolution.

Each of these resolutions is great, however, they have their screen size limits. If a video with a particular resolution is displayed on a screen that is much larger than its limit, the video will lose quality and appear blurry.

As for the Sony a7R, it shoots videos in 1080p resolution. This resolution is known as a Full HD resolution.

It has 1080 horizontal lines stacked on each other from top to bottom that are 1920 pixels wide. This resolution is very good, however, it cannot be used for commercial cinematic purposes.

The screen size limit of this resolution is for high-end High Definition TVs and monitors to retain its quality.

Get the Sony a7R now!	Get the Leica M9 now!

Environmental Sealing

A lot of things are possible causes for damage to cameras. However, even for the most cautious photographers, the most unavoidable cause of damage is the entrance of weather elements into the camera.

The camera body has places that are slightly open and could be access points for these weather elements, so, rubber and silicon gaskets and linings are placed as such positions to keep the elements out. It is these gaskets and linings that are called environmental or weather sealing.

It is important to note that environmental sealing doesn’t mean that the camera is water-resistant or water-proof. However, the environmental sealing does save you a lot from the damage weather elements could cause you.

This feature is unique to the Sony a7R.

AE Bracketing

If you have ever shot under tough lighting conditions, then you will understand how important the feature – Auto Exposure Bracketing – we’re about to discuss is.

The tough lighting conditions mentioned above include scenes with a lot of shadows and/or variation in lighting. These conditions usually pose a serious challenge for photographers when trying to select the proper exposure settings for the scene.

With this feature, instead of manually trying and testing different exposure settings, this feature on the camera does all the work for you.

Now, how this feature works is that, it takes multiple shots automatically at different exposure settings. Most times the collection would be about three images all having different exposure levels, at least one of these images would be perfectly exposed.

This feature can only be found in the Sony a7R.

Get the Sony a7R now!	Get the Leica M9 now!

Sony a7R Vs Leica M9 – Unique Pros

Sony a7R Vs Leica M9 – Pros Of The Sony a7R

• First off, this camera has a lot wireless functionalities. It has Wi-Fi connectivity, NFC connectivity, and is also compatible with smartphone remote control.
• Also, this camera has an articulating screen that tilts.
• Furthermore, the Sony a7R has face detection focus for shooting portraits.
• The max sensor resolution of this camera is double that of the Leica M9.
• Also, for shooting in low light conditions, this camera has a very high max ISO value. It is also the higher of the two in this Sony a7R vs Leica M9 comparison.
• The LCD screen of this camera provides better display as it has a larger LCD screen and higher LCD screen resolution.
• Furthermore, if you’ll be shooting objects in super fast motion, then this camera has got you covered with its impressive max shutter speed value.
• Also, for this Sony a7R vs Leica M9 comparison, the Sony a7R shoots more frames per second in continuous shooting mode.
• As for the weight of the cameras in comparison, the Sony a7R is also the lighter of the two cameras in comparison.
• For the purposes of achieving clear audio in videos shot by the camera, the Sony a7R has a microphone as well as a headphone port that allows you to connect an external microphone and a headphone to the camera.
• Also, this camera has weather sealing that keeps it safe from damage by elements.
• Furthermore, this camera will provide more color detail in images as it has a higher color depth than the Leica M9.
• The dynamic range of the Sony a7R is also higher than that of the Leica M9.
• Finally, this camera has auto exposure bracketing for shooting some challenging lighting conditions.

Sony a7R Vs Leica M9 – Pros Of The Leica M9

• Firstly, the battery life of the Leica M9 lasts more shots per single charge than the Sony a7R.
• Also, the Sensor pixel area of the Leica M9 is significantly larger than that of the Sony a7R.

Get the Sony a7R now!          Get the Leica M9 now!

Sony a7R Vs Leica M9 – Unique Cons

Sony a7R Vs Leica M9 – Cons Of The Sony a7R

• The major con of this camera is its battery life. it takes just 340 shots per single charge which isn’t too impressive.

Sony a7R Vs Leica M9 – Cons Of The Leica M9

• Firstly, this camera has no wireless features. This means a lot of functions have to be performed with the good old USB cable.
• Also, the LCD screen resolution of this camera is very low, so, the display on the screen would be very poor.
• Furthermore, this camera doesn’t have any weather sealing.
• Finally, this camera has no video shooting ability.

Sony a7R Vs Leica M9 – Common Pros

	Sony a7R	Leica M9
External Flash Shoe	This component allows you to attach a powerful external light enhancement tool the body of the camera.	Same as the Sony a7R.
Viewfinder	This feature allows you look through it to properly frame the image before. The viewfinder on the Sony a7R is Electronic.	It performs the same function on the Leica M9. However, the Leica M9 has a rangefinder.
RAW Support	This is a file format that is of the highest possible quality the camera can produce.	Same as the Sony a7R.
	Get the Sony a7R now!	Get the Leica M9 now!

Get the Sony a7R now!	Get the Leica M9 now!

Sony a7R Vs Leica M9 – Common Cons

	Sony a7R	Leica M9
No Image Stabilization	This feature counters slight shakes experienced by the camera while shooting that could result in blurry images. The Sony a7R lacks this feature.	Same as the Sony a7R.

Sony a7R Vs Leica M9 – What Users Think About Both Cameras

Sony a7R	Leica M9
Users are generally impressed with the image quality and resolution this camera offers.   Also, there are a lot of good remarks about the body of this camera. Apart from the fact that the camera feels very good in the hands with its metal body, its small size also makes a lot of users impressed with this camera.   Its lightweight and low light capabilities also get a lot of mentions.	For the Leica M9, users kept going on and on about how impressive the image quality of this camera is.   Users are also very impressed with the variety of lenses the camera offers.   The user interface of this camera also makes a lot of users in love with it. According to users, it is very easy to use and navigate through settings and options.
The common issue users kept raising about this camera was about its auto focus system being quite slow.   Also, some users aren’t very happy with its lack of an image stabilization feature, as most Sony-FE lenses aren’t equipped with the vibration reduction or Image stabilization feature.   Finally, users aren’t very impressed with the battery life being so short.	As for the complaints users have, the major complaint is about the LCD screen and battery life of this camera being quite poor.   Also, its continuous shooting speed is not what users would really expect and love.
Get the Sony a7R now!	Get the Leica M9 now!

Sony a7R Vs Leica M9 – Our Take

Sony a7R	Leica M9
This camera is as good as they come, with so many features all invested into one camera.   We most of all love this camera because it is a fantastic multipurpose camera. It provides maximum satisfaction when shooting photos, and still does an epic job for shooting videos.   This camera basically has you covered for whatever you want it for and that’s why we are very impressed with it.	As for the Leica M9, it isn’t a kind of camera you come across. With its high sensor resolution and RAW support features, this camera already assures you great quality on your images.   Another big feature that puts the camera on our list is its portability. This camera will not be an issue for bag space.
Of course, this camera has one or two things that could be improved on, but, isn’t that the case with all cameras? It has great features already, so it should be appreciated for that.	There are a whole lot of features that this camera needs to make it a better camera. However, this camera will function very well when put to the kind of use it is designed for.
Do you agree? Then, Get the Sony a7R now!	You think so too? Then, Get the Leica M9 now!