Leica SL3-S Vs Nikon Z9: complete comparison

Leica
SL3-S change

Vs

Nikon
Z9 change
Leica SL3-S trophy medal sport medal street medal everyday

Nikon Z9 medal portrait medal landscape
80

Overall Score

74

Leica

SL3-S
Announced: 16 Jan 2025
Sensor Resolution: 24Mp
Sensor Type: Full frame BSI-CMOS
ISO: 100-200000
Weight: 850g
Physical Dimensions: 141 x 108 x 83 mm
Viewfinder: Electronic
Screen Type: 3.2" Tilting
Video Resolutions: 5952x3968
67
Image Quality
70
100
Speed Performance
72
96
Versatility
93
69
Comfort
66

Nikon

Z9
Announced: 28 Oct 2021
Sensor Resolution: 46Mp
Sensor Type: Full frame Stacked CMOS
ISO: 64-25600
Weight: 1340g
Physical Dimensions: 149 x 150 x 91 mm
Viewfinder: Electronic
Screen Type: 3.2" Tilting
Video Resolutions: 7680x4320
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The best camera for different types of photography

Leica
SL3-S

vs

Nikon
Z9

67
Portrait Portrait Portrait
70
68
Landscape Landscape Landscape
70
86
SportSport Sport
73
80
Street Street Street
75
82
Everyday Everyday Everyday
75

Leica SL3-S
pros and cons

Leica SL3-S

Leica

SL3-S
Announced: 16 Jan 2025
Sensor Resolution: 24Mp
Sensor Type: Full frame BSI-CMOS
ISO: 100-200000
Weight: 850g
Physical Dimensions: 141 x 108 x 83 mm
Viewfinder: Electronic
Screen Type: 3.2" Tilting
Video Resolutions: 5952x3968

prospros

  • This camera autofocus is able to follow moving subjects
  • The Leica SL3-S is tropicalized - this means you can use it also in adverse atmospheric and environmental conditions without ruining it
  • The integrated stabilizer allows you to shoot firmly even in low light conditions
  • The LCD display is a convenient and almost indispensable feature
  • The microphone input can be very useful if you shoot videos
  • Precise and fast autofocus, ideal for action photos, it performs well even in low light conditions
  • The second memory slot makes the camera more reliable, also for professional use
  • Thanks to the wireless connection, Leica SL3-S allows immediate picture sharing

conscons

  • Warning - Leica SL3-S battery has only 315.0 shoots autonomy. This might be a limiting factor if you think you'll have to do long photo sessions without having the chance to recharge it.

Leica SL3-S and its rivals

Review compare Leica SL3-S with overall score Portrait
Portrait		 Landscape
Landscape		 Sport
Sport		 Street
Street		 Everyday
Everyday
LeicaSL3-S Leica
SL3-S		 80 67 68 86 80 82

Nikon Z9
pros and cons

Nikon Z9

Nikon

Z9
Announced: 28 Oct 2021
Sensor Resolution: 46Mp
Sensor Type: Full frame Stacked CMOS
ISO: 64-25600
Weight: 1340g
Physical Dimensions: 149 x 150 x 91 mm
Viewfinder: Electronic
Screen Type: 3.2" Tilting
Video Resolutions: 7680x4320

pros pros

  • This camera autofocus is able to follow moving subjects
  • The Nikon Z9 is tropicalized - this means you can use it also in adverse atmospheric and environmental conditions without ruining it
  • The integrated stabilizer allows you to shoot firmly even in low light conditions
  • The LCD display is a convenient and almost indispensable feature
  • High resolution in video recording
  • The microphone input can be very useful if you shoot videos
  • Thanks to burst mode, it's ideal for action photos
  • Precise and fast autofocus, ideal for action photos, it performs well even in low light conditions
  • The second memory slot makes the camera more reliable, also for professional use
  • Thanks to the wireless connection, Nikon Z9 allows immediate picture sharing

Nikon Z9 and its rivals

Review compare Nikon Z9 with overall score Portrait
Portrait		 Landscape
Landscape		 Sport
Sport		 Street
Street		 Everyday
Everyday
NikonZ9 Nikon
Z9		 74 70 70 73 75 75

Leica SL3-S vs Nikon Z9, which is better?

In case you are wondering which of these cameras you should buy, then this is the right place to find an answer. Here you will find listed all the main differences among Leica SL3-S and Nikon Z9, calculated by the CameraRace iCamRank algorithm.

  • Technically speaking, Leica SL3-S is superior to Nikon Z9, with an overall iCamRank score of 80 and 74, respectively.
  • The image quality of Nikon Z9 (70) is superior to that of Leica SL3-S (67).
  • Leica SL3-S (100) performs better than Nikon Z9 (72) in terms of speed.
  • Leica SL3-S (96) and Nikon Z9 (93) are characterized by similar versatility.
  • Leica SL3-S (69) and Nikon Z9 (66) provide a similar handling experience.

But, as you may know, the technical performance is meaningless if applied to the wrong context. This is the reason why the iCamRank "weights" differently the camera technical features for each type of photography. Thus, below you'll find our suggestions, based on your preferred photography genre:

Nikon Z9 is better for portrait or landscape photography; Leica SL3-S is instead your choice if you shoot sport or street photography or for everyday use.

Need further details? Below you will find a full comparison of all the technical specifications.

Leica
SL3-S

Sensor
comparison

Nikon
Z9

BSI-CMOS

Sensor Type

Stacked CMOS

Full frame

Sensor Size

Full frame

36.0 x 24.0 mm up

Sensor Dimensions

down 35.9 x 23.9 mm

864.0 mm2 up

Sensor Area

down 858.01 mm2

24 Mp down

Sensor Resolution

up 46 Mp

6000 x 4000 down

Max Image Resolution

up 8256 x 5504

200000 up

Max Native ISO

down 25600

100 down

Min Native ISO

up 64

yes

RAW Support

yes

Leica
SL3-S

Lens
comparison

Nikon
Z9

Leica L

Lens Mount

Nikon Z

101 up

Number of Lenses

down 29

1

Focal Length Multiplier

1

Leica
SL3-S

Screen Type
comparison

Nikon
Z9

Tilting

Screen Type

Tilting

3.2"

Screen Size

3.2"

2333Kdot up

Screen Resolution

down 2089Kdot

yes

Live View

yes

yes

Touch Screen

yes

Leica
SL3-S

Viewfinder
comparison

Nikon
Z9

Electronic

Viewfinder

Electronic

5760000.0

Viewfinder Resolution

3686000.0

100

Viewfinder Coverage

100

0.76x

Viewfinder Magnification

0.8x

Leica
SL3-S

Features
comparison

Nikon
Z9

3600s

Min Shutter Speed

900s

-

Max Shutter Speed

-

fps

Continuous Shooting

30fps

yes

Shutter Priority

yes

yes

Aperture Priority

yes

yes

Manual Exposure Mode

yes

yes

Exposure Compensation

yes

yes

Custom White Balance

yes

yes

Image Stabilization

yes

no

Built-in Flash

no

None

Flash Range

None

1/200s

Max Flash Sync

1/200s

no built-in flash

Flash Modes

Front-curtain sync
Rear-curtain sync
Red-eye reduction
Red-eye reduction with slow sync
Slow sync Off

yes

External Flash

yes

yes

AE Bracketing

yes

no

WB Bracketing

yes

Leica
SL3-S

Exposure Modes
comparison

Nikon
Z9

yes

Multi-Segment

yes

yes

Average

yes

yes

Spot

yes

no

Partial

no

no

AF-Area

yes

yes

Center Weighted

yes

Leica
SL3-S

Dxo Sensor Scores
comparison

Nikon
Z9

dato non disponibile

DxO Overall Score

dato non disponibile

dato non disponibile

DxO Color Depth

dato non disponibile

dato non disponibile

DxO Dynamic Range

dato non disponibile

dato non disponibile

DxO Low Light ISO

dato non disponibile

Leica
SL3-S

Autofocus
comparison

Nikon
Z9

yes

AF Touch

yes

yes

AF Continuous

yes

yes

AF Single

yes

yes

AF Tracking

yes

yes

AF Selective

yes

yes

AF Center

yes

yes

AF MultiArea

yes

yes

AF Live View

yes

yes

AF Face Detection

yes

yes

AF Contrast Detection

no

yes

AF Phase Detection

yes

779 up

Number of Focus Points

down 493

Number of Cross Focus Points

0

Leica
SL3-S

Video Features
comparison

Nikon
Z9

5952 x 3968 @ 30p / 300 Mbps MOV H.265 Linear PCM

Video Resolutions

7680 x 4320 @ 30p MOV H.265 Linear PCM7680 x 4320 @ 25p MOV H.265 Linear PCM7680 x 4320 @ 23.98p MOV H.265 Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 120p MOV ProRes Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 120p MOV H.265 Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 120p MOV H.264 Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 100p MOV ProRes Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 100p MOV H.265 Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 100p MOV H.264 Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 60p MOV ProRes Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 60p MOV H.265 Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 60p MOV H.264 Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 50p MOV ProRes Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 50p MOV H.265 Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 50p MOV H.264 Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p MOV ProRes Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p MOV H.265 Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p MOV H.264 Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p MOV ProRes Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p MOV H.265 Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p MOV H.264 Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p MOV ProRes Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p MOV H.265 Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p MOV H.264 L

5952x3968

Max Video Resolution

7680x4320

H.264 H.265

Video Formats

H.264 H.265

yes

Microphone Port

yes

yes

Headphone Port

yes

Leica
SL3-S

Connectivity
comparison

Nikon
Z9

Built-in

Wireless Connectivity

Built-in

yes

HDMI

yes

USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 GBit/sec)

USB

USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)

Leica
SL3-S

Physical
comparison

Nikon
Z9

yes

Environmental Sealing

yes

no

Water Proof

no

no

Dust Proof

no

no

Shock Proof

no

no

Crush Proof

no

no

Freeze Proof

no

850g

Weight

1340g

141 x 108 x 83 mm

Physical Dimensions

149 x 150 x 91 mm

315 down

Battery Life

up 740

Battery Pack

Battery Type

Battery Pack

BP-SCL6

Battery Model

EN-EL18d

Leica
SL3-S

Other Features
comparison

Nikon
Z9

Yes (2, 6, 12, 30 sec)

Self Timer

Yes

yes

Timelapse Recording

yes

no

GPS

yes

CFexpress, UHS-II SD

Storage Type

Dual CFexpress Type B slots

2

Storage Slots

2

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