Reasons to choose M8.2
Released in 2008, M8.2 has about 486 mm² of sensor area, 10.3 MP effective resolution, and a 591 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.
Side-by-side comparison
Leica M8.2
vs Leica M9
VS
Sensor area
486 mm²
M8.2856 mm²
M9- Area ratio
- 1.76:1
- Absolute difference
- 370 mm²
- Relative difference
- 76.1%
The M9 has the larger sensor area. More area usually means greater light-gathering potential, though real image quality still depends on sensor architecture and generation.
These cameras were released 1 years apart. Consider sensor generation when comparing pixel metrics.
Key specification differences
M8.2MetricM9
10.3 MPEffective pixels18 MP
27 × 18Sensor35.8 × 23.9
6.87 µmPixel pitch6.89 µm
47.18 µm²Pixel area47.53 µm²
2.12 MP/cm²Pixel density2.1 MP/cm²
1.33Crop factor1.01
—Maximum video—
591 gWeight585 g
SDHC, Secure DigitalStorageSDHC, Secure Digital
Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery Li-ion batteryBatteryLithium-Ion rechargeable battery Li-ion battery
Amber marks the value that is generally preferable in this comparison context. It is not an overall camera score.
How to choose between these cameras
The M9 has the larger sensor area. The M9 has the lighter body. The M9 has the higher effective resolution. The M9 is the newer release. Also consider the lens system and subjects you shoot.
Reasons to choose M9
Released in 2009, M9 has about 856 mm² of sensor area, 18 MP effective resolution, and a 585 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.