Leica M9 P

The Leica M9 P is a digital rangefinder from 2011. It pairs a full-frame sensor with the Leica M mount in a body measuring 139 x 80 x 37 mm and weighing 600 g, a genuinely compact combination.

It suits photographers who like to work at an unhurried pace. Focusing is manual through the optical rangefinder, and there is no autofocus, live view or video to fall back on.

Owning one means planning ahead a little. The rear screen is small and fixed, there is no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and the rated 350 shots per charge is easiest to live with alongside a spare battery.

The core of the M9 P is an 18 megapixel full-frame CCD sensor behind the Leica M mount. Full frame lets M lenses render at their native field of view, and the 600 g body keeps the whole kit easy to carry.

Focusing is entirely manual through the optical rangefinder, with no autofocus points at all. That makes the camera best suited to static or slow-moving subjects and to photographers who enjoy setting focus themselves. The 2 fps top speed matches this unhurried way of working.

The working envelope is tight. ISO runs from 160 to 2500, the shutter tops out at 1/4000, and there is no in-body stabilisation, so handheld work in dim light calls for steady technique. The shutter ceiling can also restrict wide apertures in bright light.

Those figures explain the modest Optics score of 42 and its place in the bottom 9% of cameras in our database for Optics. The M9 P was never built around headline specifications; its appeal lies in the rangefinder experience and the M lens system it belongs to.

The M9 P does not record video and has no built-in timelapse mode. It is a stills camera, full stop.

That absence keeps the controls simple, but it does mean a second device for anyone who needs motion clips alongside their photographs. The optical rangefinder and manual focusing reinforce the camera's deliberate, stills-first character.

Without a built-in interval mode, automated timelapse sequences are also out of reach in-camera. Anyone wanting moving images will need other tools alongside the M9 P.

Shooting is an optical experience. There is no live view, so composition happens through the rangefinder window and the rear 2.5-inch, 230,000-dot TFT screen serves mainly for reviewing results afterwards. The screen is fixed, offers no touch input and measures just 2.5 inches.

There is no built-in flash, but the hot shoe accepts an external unit when you want extra light. There is also no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or GPS, so there is no wireless transfer to a phone or computer.

The body has no weather sealing, so it needs care in rain or dust. The limited Features score of 17 reflects that absence along with the missing touch input, live view and Bluetooth, and the small, 230,000-dot screen.

A single SD or SDHC slot takes one card at a time. There is no second slot for overflow or backup, so packing a spare card is sensible for longer shoots.

The BP-SCL1 battery is rated for 350 shots, a specification figure rather than a promise for every shooting style. A charged spare takes the worry out of a long day out.

Charging happens in a separate charger rather than over USB, since the camera offers no USB charging. That makes a routine of charging the spare overnight and keeping it in the bag. The limited Storage & Battery score of 21 reflects the single slot, the 350-shot rating and the absence of USB charging.