Leica SL2vs Nikon Z9
VS
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Commercial, Landscape, Video — Leica SL2 (2019): Leica's most capable system camera — excellent for photographers who want L-mount glass access.
Professional Sports & Wildlife — Nikon Z9 (2021): The Z9 redefined what professional mirrorless could be — no mechanical shutter, 45MP stacked BSI, and 8K RAW in the most rugged Z body.
Who should buy what
Leica SL2 (2019)
- Commercial photographers who want Leica quality with modern AF
- Filmmakers who want Leica glass with video capability
Nikon Z9 (2021)
- Professional sports, wildlife and photojournalism photographers
- Nikon D6 or D850 users making the final switch to mirrorless
- Those who need the fastest, most reliable AF Nikon has ever made
- Professionals who need a flagship body with no mechanical shutter
Quick take: The leica sl2 has the highest resolution at 47mp; the leica sl2 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Leica SL2 (2019) | Nikon Z9 (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £4,200 | £5,499 |
| Sensor | Full-frame CMOS 35mm | 45.7MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS |
| Resolution | 47.3MP | 45.7MP |
| Video | 5K 30fps, 4K 60fps, 1080p 180fps | 8K/30p RAW, 4K/120p, ProRes RAW |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF, AI-based scene recognition | Subject detection AF, 493-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops | 6-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 20fps | 20fps RAW / 120fps JPEG |
| Battery Life | 370 shots (CIPA) | 740 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 835g (body only) | 1340g body only |
| Dimensions | 146.0 × 107.0 × 80.5mm | 149.0 × 149.5 × 90.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.78× 5.76M-dot | 0.5" Quad-VGA OLED EVF, 3.69M dots, 120fps |
| Screen | 3.2" fixed touchscreen, 2.10M-dot | 3.2" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Leica L-Mount | Nikon Z-mount |
| Memory Cards | 2× SD UHS-II | Dual CFexpress Type B / XQD |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C 3.1, HDMI full-size | USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Leica SL2 | Nikon Z9 |
|---|---|---|
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Photojournalism | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Travel | — |
More comparisons with Leica SL2
Camera family history