Leica SL3vs Lumix S9
Leica
Leica SL3 (2024)
Starting from £6499 new
Best for Professional & luxury hybrid shooters
View Leica SL3
Lumix
Lumix S9 (2024)
Starting from £1299 new
Best for Travel photographers, content creators & L-mount entry buyers
View Lumix S9
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Professional & Luxury Hybrid Shooters — Leica SL3 (2024): Leica's most capable mirrorless — 60MP, 30fps burst, 8K ProRes, and 7.5-stop IBIS with L-mount's growing lens ecosystem.
Travel Photographers, Content Creators & L-Mount Entry Buyers — Lumix S9 (2024): The most compact full-frame camera available — a perfect travel and content creation companion with brilliant colour science.
Who should buy what
Leica SL3 (2024)
- Leica photographers who want autofocus full-frame in the L-mount system
- SL2 owners upgrading to 60MP and improved autofocus performance
- Professionals who want Leica build quality with L-mount lens versatility
- Photographers who want to share lenses across Leica, Sigma, and Lumix bodies
Lumix S9 (2024)
- Travel photographers who want full-frame quality in the most compact package
- Content creators attracted to Real-time LUT and 10-bit video
- Photographers already in the L-mount ecosystem wanting a lightweight second body
- Lumix S5 II users who want something smaller for travel and casual shooting
Quick take: The leica sl3 has the highest resolution at 60mp; the lumix s9 is the most affordable; only the leica sl3 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Leica SL3 (2024) | Lumix S9 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £6,499 | £1,299 |
| Sensor | 60MP full-frame BSI CMOS | 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS |
| Resolution | 60.0MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 8K/30p, 4K/60p, Apple ProRes | 4K/60p (10-bit), C4K/60p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect AF with subject/face/eye detection | Contrast-detect AF with subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | 7.5-stop IBIS | IBIS — up to 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic | 30fps electronic |
| Battery Life | 410 shots (CIPA) | ~310 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 875g body only | 413g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 146.0 × 104.0 × 42.0mm | 124.6 × 73.9 × 52.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | 0.78" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots | None — rear screen only |
| Screen | 3.2" fixed touchscreen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen (touch drag AF) |
| Mount | Leica L-mount | Leica L mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II | Single SD UHS-II slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.1, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Leica SL3 | Lumix S9 |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Street | — | |
| Sports | — |
More comparisons with Leica SL3
Camera family history