Compare Leica SL3 and Nikon Z9

Compare Leica SL3 vs Nikon Z9 to see which is better. Check what is the strength and weakness (pros and cons) of Leica SL3 and Nikon Z9.


Compare Leica SL3 VS Nikon Z9 to see which is better

Leica SL3 is a powerful mirrorless camera designed for professional photographers and enthusiasts. Its high-resolution 60MP image sensor, combined with the Maestro IV Image Processor and advanced hybrid autofocus system, offers exceptional image quality and performance.

Leica SL3 Key Features:

  • Full-frame BSI CMOS Sensor with Triple Resolution Technology (60MP / 36MP / 18MP)
  • Maestro IV Image Processor, 8GB Buffer
  • 5-Axis Sensor-Shift In-Body Image Stabilization (IBIS)
  • Hybrid Autofocus System (Phase Detection AF + Contrast AF + Object Detection AF + AI)
  • 5.67M dots OLED viewfinder and tiltable
  • 3.2" display with 2.3M dots
  • Up to 8K-Video and multiple video formats, including .h265 and ProRes
  • CFexpress Type B & SD UHS-II Card Slots

Nikon Z9 is the first flagship full-frame camera without a mechanical shutter, and it is also the first Nikon Z series camera to support 8K video. It comes with a 45.7 MP stacked CMSO sensor, Dynamic-area AF that simultaneously detects up to 9 different subject types, ergonomic 4-axis tilting touchscreen, etc...

Nikon Z9 Key Features:

  • 45.7-megapixel Stacked CMOS sensor.
  • Dynamic-area AF can detect up to 9 different subject types simultaneously when shooting stills and videos.
  • Ergonomic 4-axis vertical/horizontal tilting touchscreen monitor.
  • High-speed shutter captures 45.7MP stills at 30fps, 19MP stills at 60fps, and 11MP stills at 120fps.
  • 10-bit 8K UHD video at 24, 25 or 30 fps.

Reasons To Buy Leica SL3 Mirrorless Camera

Is Leica SL3 is better than Nikon Z9? Here are some the features of Leica SL3 more promising and recommended compared to Nikon Z9.


Released On
Leica SL3
2024-03-07 vs 2021-12-24
Nikon Z9
Sensor Resolution (Effective Pixels)
Leica SL3
60.3 Megapixel vs 45.7 Megapixels
Nikon Z9
Image Resolution Max
Leica SL3
9520 x 6336 vs 8256 x 4644
Nikon Z9
Video Resolution Max
Leica SL3
8192 x 4320 vs 7680 x 4320
Nikon Z9
Has Mechanical Shutter
Leica SL3
Yes vs No
Nikon Z9
Shutter Speed Min
Leica SL3
3600s vs 30s
Nikon Z9
Mechanical Shutter Speed Max
Leica SL3
1/8000 Seconds vs NA
Nikon Z9
Continuous Shooting Max (Mechanical Shutter)
Leica SL3
7 fps vs NA
Nikon Z9
Viewfinder Resolution
Leica SL3
5760K dots vs 3690K dots
Nikon Z9
Screen Resolution
Leica SL3
2300K dots vs 2100k dots
Nikon Z9
Standard ISO Max
Leica SL3
100000 vs 25600
Nikon Z9
Weight
Leica SL3
769.7g Body Only vs Approx. 1340 g
Nikon Z9
Built-In Bluetooth
Leica SL3
Bluetooth 5.0 vs Yes
Nikon Z9
Video Recording Limit
Leica SL3
No Limit vs 2 hours 5 minutes
Nikon Z9


Reasons To Buy Nikon Z9 Mirrorless Camera

Is Nikon Z9 is better than Leica SL3? Here are some the features of Nikon Z9 more promising and recommended compared to Leica SL3.


Indicative Price

The price displayed below is only for the reference. It may vary among different retailers and shops.

Nikon Z9
$5499 vs $6995
Leica SL3
Electronic Shutter Speed Max
Nikon Z9
1/32000s vs 1/16000 Seconds
Leica SL3
Continuous Shooting Max (Electronic Shutter)
Nikon Z9
120 fps vs 15 fps
Leica SL3
Viewfinder Magnification
Nikon Z9
Approx. 0.8x vs Approx. 0.78x
Leica SL3
Display Type
Nikon Z9
Multi-Axis Tilting vs Tilting
Leica SL3
Focus Points (Image)
Nikon Z9
493 points vs 315 Points
Leica SL3
Standard ISO Min
Nikon Z9
64 vs 100
Leica SL3
Expandable ISO Min
Nikon Z9
32 vs 50
Leica SL3
Expandable ISO Max
Nikon Z9
102400 vs 100000
Leica SL3
Battery Life (Image)
Nikon Z9
~770 shots (LCD monitor) vs ~260 shots
Leica SL3
LAN Terminal
Nikon Z9
Yes vs No
Leica SL3
PC (Flash) Sync Port
Nikon Z9
Yes vs No
Leica SL3
Image Stabilisation Compensation
Nikon Z9
6.0 stops vs 5-stops
Leica SL3
Anti-dust Shutter Curtain
Nikon Z9
Yes vs No
Leica SL3
Vehicle Tracking Autofocus
Nikon Z9
Yes vs No
Leica SL3
Stacked Sensor
Nikon Z9
Yes vs No
Leica SL3


Common Strength And Weakness Of Leica SL3 and Nikon Z9


Sensor Size
Leica SL3
Full Frame vs Full Frame
Nikon Z9
Sensor Cleaning
Leica SL3
Yes vs Yes
Nikon Z9
Video Frame Rate
Leica SL3
8K @ 30p vs 8K @ 30p
Nikon Z9
Has Global Shutter
Leica SL3
No vs No
Nikon Z9
Has Rolling Electronic Shutter
Leica SL3
Yes vs Yes
Nikon Z9
Display Size
Leica SL3
3.20 inches vs 3.20 inches
Nikon Z9
Viewfinder Refresh Rate
Leica SL3
120 fps vs 120 fps
Nikon Z9
Has Touch Screen
Leica SL3
Yes vs Yes
Nikon Z9
Built-In Wi-Fi
Leica SL3
Yes vs Yes
Nikon Z9
HDMI Port
Leica SL3
Type-A HDMI vs Type-A HDMI Connector
Nikon Z9
Type C USB Port
Leica SL3
Yes vs Yes
Nikon Z9
External Microphone
Leica SL3
Yes vs Yes
Nikon Z9
Headphone socket
Leica SL3
Yes vs Yes
Nikon Z9
Memory Card Slots
Leica SL3
2 vs 2
Nikon Z9
Optical Low-Pass (Anti-Alias) Filter
Leica SL3
No vs No
Nikon Z9
AF Joystick
Leica SL3
Yes vs Yes
Nikon Z9
Slow Motion Video
Leica SL3
Yes vs Yes
Nikon Z9
Autofocus Tracking
Leica SL3
Yes vs Yes
Nikon Z9
AF Assist Illuminator
Leica SL3
Yes vs Yes
Nikon Z9
In-body Image Stabilization (IBIS)
Leica SL3
Yes vs Yes
Nikon Z9
NFC
Leica SL3
No vs No
Nikon Z9
Built-in Flash
Leica SL3
No vs No
Nikon Z9
External Flash
Leica SL3
Yes vs Yes
Nikon Z9
Face (Human) Detection Autofocus
Leica SL3
Yes vs Yes
Nikon Z9
Animal/Bird Autofocus
Leica SL3
Yes vs Yes
Nikon Z9
Flash Sync Speed
Leica SL3
1/200s vs 1/200s
Nikon Z9
Insect Autofocus
Leica SL3
No vs No
Nikon Z9
Pixel Shift Multi Shoot
Leica SL3
No vs No
Nikon Z9
Image Color Dept (Bit Dept) Max.
Leica SL3
DNG: 14bit vs 14 bit NEF (RAW)
Nikon Z9
Image Color Dept (Bit Dept) Max.
Leica SL3
DNG: 14bit vs 14 bit NEF (RAW)
Nikon Z9


Leica SL3 vs Nikon Z9 Specs


Leica SL3
Nikon Z9
General
Released On
2024-03-07
2021-12-24
Model Number
SL3
Z9
Indicative Price
$6995
$5499
Lens Mount
Leica L-Mount
Z Mount
Sensor
Sensor Type
Full-frame BSI CMOS sensor
Full-frame Stacked CMOS sensor
Sensor Size
Full Frame
Full Frame
Sensor Resolution (Effective Pixels)
60.3 Megapixel
45.7 Megapixels
Sensor Dimension
35.9 x 23.9 mm
Sensor Cleaning
Yes
Yes
Stacked Sensor
No
Yes
Has 45.7MP stacked CMOS image sensor
Images
Image Resolution Max
9520 x 6336
8256 x 4644
Image Recording Format
DNG (raw data)
JPG
JPEG
RAW (NEF)
Pixel Shift Multi Shoot
No
No
Image Processor
Maestro IV Processor
EXPEED 7
Image Color Dept (Bit Dept) Max.
DNG: 14bit
JPG: 8bit
14 bit NEF (RAW)
Image Color Dept (Bit Dept) Max.
DNG: 14bit
JPG: 8bit
14 bit NEF (RAW)
Videos
Video Resolution Max
8192 x 4320
7680 x 4320
Video Frame Rate
8K @ 30p
4K @ 60p
FullHD @120p
8K @ 30p
4K @ 120p
FullHD @120p
Slow Motion Video
Yes
Yes
Time Lapse Video
Yes
Video Recording Limit
No Limit
However limit is dependent upon factors like memory
power
and internal camera temperature.
2 hours 5 minutes
Video Formats
MP4 (h.265; h.264; AAC Audio)
MOV (h.265; h.264; ProRes; LPCM Audio)
MOV (Linear PCM)
MP4 (AAC)
Video Color Dept (Bit Dept) Max.
Unknown
12 bit
Shutter
Shutter Type
Mechanical Focal Plane Shutter
Electronic Rolling Shutter
Electronic shutter
Has Global Shutter
No
No
Has Rolling Electronic Shutter
Yes
Yes
Has Mechanical Shutter
Yes
No
Shutter Speed Min
3600s
Mechanical Shutter: 3600 Seconds (60 Minutes)
Electronic Shutter: 60 Seconds
30s
Electronic Shutter Speed Max
1/16000 Seconds
1/32000s
Mechanical Shutter Speed Max
1/8000 Seconds
NA
Continuous Shooting Max (Mechanical Shutter)
7 fps
NA
Continuous Shooting Max (Electronic Shutter)
15 fps
120 fps
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Type
Electronic Viewfinder
Electronic Viewfinder
Viewfinder Resolution
5760K dots
3690K dots
Viewfinder Magnification
Approx. 0.78x
Approx. 0.8x
Viewfinder Refresh Rate
120 fps
120 fps
Display
Display Type
Tilting
Multi-Axis Tilting
Display Size
3.20 inches
3.20 inches
Screen Resolution
2300K dots
2100k dots
Has Touch Screen
Yes
Yes
Focus Features
Focus Points (Image)
315 Points
493 points
Focus Points (Video)
Autofocus Tracking
Yes
Yes
AF Assist Illuminator
Yes
With Built-in LED
Yes
In-body Image Stabilization (IBIS)
Yes
5-axis image stabilization
Yes
5-axis in-body Vibration Reduction (VR)
Image Stabilisation Compensation
5-stops
6.0 stops
Face (Human) Detection Autofocus
Yes
Yes
Animal/Bird Autofocus
Yes
Only Animal Detection
Yes
Insect Autofocus
No
No
Vehicle Tracking Autofocus
No
Yes
Exposure
Standard ISO Min
100
64
Standard ISO Max
100000
25600
Expandable ISO Min
50
32
Expandable ISO Max
100000
102400
Design
Weight
769.7g Body Only
~853g With Battery
Approx. 1340 g
Dimensions
Height: 108mm
Width: 141.2mm
Depth: 84.6mm
Height: 149.5mm
Width: 149mm
Depth: 90.5mm
Memory Card Slots
2
2
Storage Type
Slot 1: CFexpress Type B
Slot 2: SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II)
CFexpress (Type B)
XQD
Optical Low-Pass (Anti-Alias) Filter
No
No
AF Joystick
Yes
Yes
Anti-dust Shutter Curtain
No
Yes
Power
Battery Type
Leica BP-SCL6 Lithium-ion battery
EN-EL18d Rechargeable Li-ion Battery
Battery Life (Image)
~260 shots
~770 shots (LCD monitor)
~740 shots (Viewfinder)
Battery Life (Video)
~170min (LCD monitor and Viewfinder)
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi
Yes
IEEE802.11b/g/n
Yes
Built-In Bluetooth
Bluetooth 5.0
Yes
HDMI Port
Type-A HDMI
Type-A HDMI Connector
Type C USB Port
Yes
Yes
Micro USB Port
No
No
External Microphone
Yes
3.5 mm stereo jack
Yes
3.5 mm Stereo mini jack
Headphone socket
Yes
3.5 mm stereo jack
Yes
3.5 mm Stereo mini jack
LAN Terminal
No
Yes
PC (Flash) Sync Port
No
Yes
NFC
No
No
Flash
Built-in Flash
No
No
External Flash
Yes
Yes
Flash Sync Speed
1/200s
1/200s
DXOMARK Sensor Scores
DXOMARK Overall Sensor Score
98
DXOMARK Color Depth (Portrait)
26.3
DXOMARK Dynamic Range (Landscape)
14.4
DXOMARK Low-Light ISO (Sports)
2451